Let’s take a look at some of the trending boom and bust fantasy players from week 13 in the NFL. Playoffs are right around the corner and it will be important to know which players are trustworthy or not going forward.
Boom
Bryce Young CAR QB 23.62 Points
Since returning to the lineup from his midseason benching, Bryce Young has looked like a completely different football player. His play has looked more and more like the #1 overall pick out of Alabama.
On Sunday, Young completed 26 of 46 passes for 298 yards and a TD. He also added 17 yards of rushing with another touchdown. It was his highest yardage total of the season and just his 2nd outing where he scored more than 1 total TD.
Young is owned in just 3.8% of ESPN leagues and isn’t a reliable fantasy starter, but his rise in play could hold value in dynasty leagues or if your QB position is in complete ruin in redraft leagues.
Chase Brown CIN RB 17.5 Points
Brown has been a solid starter for weeks now, but putting up big numbers on limited carries against the stout Steelers defense is impressive. Brown handled the ball just 15 times but managed 100 total yards and a TD.
Chase Brown’s ADP for ESPN leagues was #114 (10th round of 12-team leagues) which qualifies him as a late round league winner for many.
Russell Wilson PIT QB 27.86 Points
After a loss in Cleveland on 11/21, Justin Fields used the 9-day break to channel the fountain of youth. He looked like the Russell Wilson of old on his way to a 414-yard, 3-TD day against the division rival Bengals. He did throw an interception on a play where receiver George Pickens fell to the ground.
In the coming weeks, Wilson faces a couple of defenses that gave him trouble already in the Browns and Ravens, plus an Eagles defense that looks like one of the league’s best. Start Wilson if you must, but only as an act of desperation heading into the fantasy playoffs
Bust
Kirk Cousins ATL QB 6.1 Points
Kirk Cousins looked all out of sorts on Sunday against the Chargers defense. He managed only 245 yards while playing from behind most of the game and accounted for zero scores. He threw four interceptions including this head scratcher..
The talk this week may be whether its time to see what Michael Penix can offer to get some consistency going with the Falcons offense.
Quentin Johnston LAC WR 2.2 Points
Quentin Johnston couldn’t possibly turn in another dud like he had in week 12, could he? Well, he could and he did. He followed up his 5-target, zero-catch game with a 4-target game with 2 catches for a whopping 12 yards.
Johnston’s boom ability is what keeps us interested in him as fantasy managers. He has 6 TDs on the year and has all the talent and tools to explode with big plays at any time.
Johnston is worth a roster spot, but shouldn’t be played as anything other than a desperate flyer or stream.
Tank Dell HOU WR 2.8 Points
Dell was a popular pick to have an explosive year in his 2nd year with QB CJ Stroud. With his #66 ADP (6th round), many expected him to be a WR2/FLEX starter, despite the Texans adding Stefon Diggs.
It never came to fruition, and once Diggs went down with a season-ending injury, many thought Dell would pick up the pieces and resume his production from 2023. So far this season, Dell has just 1 game of 100+ receiving yards and just 2 TDs on the season.
He turned in another stinker against the poor Jaguars defense. He caught just 1 of 4 targets for 23 yards on Sunday. At this point, Dell belongs on a roster but not as a starter.
All points totals are from FanDuel Fantasy
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