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 10 of the fantasy football season.
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Quarterback
Drew Brees, Saints QB vs DEN
At times in the last couple of seasons, Drew Brees has appeared to be a jekyl and hyde quarterback with much success at home while struggling on the road. In 2016, Brees is the QB2 overall averaging 27.6 fantasy points per game, his two sub-20 point performances coming on the road against San Diego and the New York Giants. If this game were on the road, Brees would be an easy fade and bench.
However, Brees and the Saints offense will face the Broncos and the league's best defense against fantasy quarterbacks at home in New Orleans. In a rare week with 7 games with over/unders of 48.5, Saints/Broncos is one of those games that projects as a shootout with an over/under of 49. Despite, the tough matchup, I am starting Brees with confidence and he makes for an excellent GPP play as he will likely be low-owned.
Verdict: Boom
Running Back
Legarrette Blount, Patriots RB vs SEA
In past seasons, though many have complained about the unpredictability of Patriots running backs under Belichick, I actually think they have been predictable with running back roles being heavily dependent on game flow.
Since joining the Patriots in 2013, Legarrette Blount has averaged 6.48 PPR points per game in games decided by 7 points or less, in games with wider margins he has averaged 11.71 PPR points per game. Even though the Patriots are 7.5 point favorites, this is a rare case where I will go against Vegas and say this will be a close game which isn’t a good thing for Blount. James White will be the running back to start in this game, which projects as a shootout with an over/under of 50 on Sunday night.
Verdict: Bust
Wide Receiver
Quincy Enunwa, Jets WR vs LA
Quincy Enunwa has served as the deep threat on the Jets offense in 2016, and that has made him a boom/bust play throughout the season with 4 games below 9.3 PPR points and 5 games with 12 PPR points or more. In addition to the inconsistencies of a deep play threat in general, Enunwa has also suffered along with the porous play of Ryan Fitzpatrick who hasn’t been able to support multiple fantasy relevant players like he did last season with Eric Decker and Brandon Marshall.
In week 10, the Jets face a Rams defense that is middle of the road against wide receivers allowing 17th most fantasy points to wide receivers. In a week filled with projected shootouts, the Rams/Jets have the lowest over/under of the week at 39.5, this game projects to not be fruitful for any fantasy players and has the makings of one of the Enunwa “bust” weeks.
Verdict: Bust
Tight End
Cameron Brate, Buccaneers TE vs CHI
As is the case with most tight ends that are considered streamers and low end TE1’s/high end TE2’s, Brate has had his up and downs week to week this season. Brate has 4 games with 11 PPR points or more and 4 games with 6 PPR points or less. With Vincent Jackson out for the season, the Buccaneers have been using Adam Humphries as the #2 target in the offense, but Brate has been the #2 target for the team in the red zone. Red zone targets are always at a premium when considering tight end streamer targets.
In week 10, Mike Evans has been cleared from concussion protocol, but just in case, the Buccaneers may try not to target him the usual 10+ times which opens up the possibility for more targets for Brate at home against a Bears defense that has allowed 23 or more points in 5 of 8 games.
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.
Marqise Lee, Jaguars WR vs HOU
Most of the talk about the Jaguars from a fantasy perspective this season has been the lack of big performances from Allen Robinson and the porous play of Blake Bortles. Quietly, Marqise Lee has had a decent season for the Jaguars with 9.4+ PPR points in 5 of 8 games, including averaging 11.6 PPR points in the last 4 games.
In week 10, Allen Hurns is in concussion protocol along with a knee injury that has hobbled him this season. At the very least, Hurns will be limited this week, making Lee the #2 target on a pass heavy team that is likely on most redraft waiver wires and very cheap in DFS formats. The matchup isn’t the best against a Texans defense that has allowed the 3rd fewest points to wide receivers, but I think that Lee will make up for it with volume.