The Boom or Bust play is one of the most talked about aspects of fantasy football each week. Boom or Bust players can be used in the deep lineup leagues, when it appears you are a heavy underdog in your head-to-head matchup or even in Guaranteed Prize Pool Tournaments in DFS.

In this article, I will cover five of my favorite boom or bust plays for Week 9 of the fantasy football season.

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• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Quarterback

Matthew Stafford, Lions QB vs MIN

Matthew Stafford is having one of the best campaigns of his career in the first season of the post-Calvin Johnson era in Detroit. Stafford is the QB9 in fantasy points per game with 19 points or more in six of eight games so far this season.

Due to injuries to Ameer Abdullah and Dwayne Washington, the Lions have struggled to get anything going in the running game as the Lions rank 27th in the NFL, averaging 85.5 rushing yards per game. Theo Riddick is returning to full health, but he has proven porous in the running game with a 3.7 yards per carry. To an extent, it has been a positive for the volume of Matthew Stafford as a passer. However, in a tough matchup on the road against a Minnesota defense that has allowed the second fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks so far this season, I think the lack of an ability to establish a run game will mean that the Lions won’t be able to move the ball against the Vikings defense, making Stafford an unattractive play in week 9.

Verdict: Bust

Running Back

Mark Ingram, Saints RB at SF

“The benching”. The horror story that was Mark Ingram in Week 8. Mark Ingram had 18 or more touches in each of his previous games before Week 8. However, Ingram was benched after fumbling, cutting his day short. Ingram has never had a fumbling problem during his career, but he was quickly benched after his mishap against the Seahawks.

The question fantasy players and analysts are asking now are whether or not the benching punishment will carry into the Saints Week 9 matchup against the 49ers. Ingram is a risky play, but I do think that the Saints coaching staff will return to trusting Ingram as the workhorse. He heads into a plus matchup against a 49ers defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to running backs so far this season.

Verdict: Boom

Wide Receiver

Corey Coleman, Browns WR vs DAL

Corey Coleman is expected to make his return to the Browns offense after being out with a broken hand since Week 2. Coleman was the first wide receiver drafted in the 2016 NFL draft at 15th overall, and showed early on he was worth that selection with seven catches for 173 receiving yards and two touchdowns in his first two NFL games.

Along with Coleman, Cody Kessler returns at quarterback against the Cowboys this week. I think that the return of Coleman will dampen much of the excitement around Terrelle Pryor. Coleman will be getting a bulk of the targets for a Browns team that will be trailing early. The Cowboys are 7 point favorites on the road. With heavy volume and his abilities, Coleman could be a top 10 play at wide receiver this week.

Verdict: Boom

Tight End

Lance Kendricks, Rams TE vs CAR

Lance Kendricks is the perfect example of an “unsexy” boom/bust play this week. Kendricks is the TE23 so far this season, but he has scored 10+ PPR points in four of seven games so far. When searching for a tight end streamer, targets are one of the most important things to look at and Kendricks has seen six-plus targets in four of seven games, as well as eight-plus targets in each of the last two games.

This week, Kendricks faces a Carolina defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points to the tight end position. In a plus matchup, and as one of the most targeted weapons on the team, Kendricks is definitely in a position to be a top-six scorer at tight end this week. You can’t ask for much more from a player who is on most waiver wires.

Verdict: Boom

Hail Mary of the Week

In the Hail Mary of the Week, I will choose a Boom/Bust candidate who is available on the waiver wire or at the end of benches in most fantasy football leagues and could have a big week.

Cole Beasley, Cowboys WR at CLE

With the return of Dez Bryant to the Cowboys lineup, many have soured on Cole Beasley as a fantasy asset. I think that souring may be a bit premature, though, as Beasley has nine-plus PPR points in every game this season and has had six or more targets in five of seven games. The two games where he didn't, Bryant was out anyways. I think that a false correlation between the two has been developed. Beasley is a great play this week against a Browns defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season.