Weekend Booms and Busts

(Playoff Week 2 Edition)

By Joe Goodwin

Saturday

Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens

Boom: JK Dobbins.  He is running with speed and aggression.  And to hear he is still not 100% amazes me.  He is trying to put himself in the first round discussion for next year.

Bust: Tyler Allgeier.  He can’t replicate last week’s performance, can he?  Baltimore has the 3rd best rush defense, so my guess is “NO.”

Cincinnati Bengals vs. New England Patriots

Boom: Joe Burrow.  He is in another world right now.  And he has so many weapons to use.  Burrow is putting up video game numbers.

Bust: Joe Mixon.  I just haven’t seen enough from this run game to count on consistently.  Saying that, I can see the Bengals offense using the passing game to win this one.

Detroit Lions at Carolina Panthers

Boom: Amon-Ra St. Brown.  With 31 targets in the past 3 games, Amon-Ra is the Big threat in the air for the Lions.  They are on a heater and so is St. Brown!

Bust: DeAndre Swift.  From fringe 1st rounder this year, nothing has gone according to plan this year for Swift.

Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans

Boom: Derrick Henry.  Too obvious?  This Titans team goes as Henry does.  He will see a lot of work. 

Bust: The passing game of the Titans.  With Tannehill’s injury, this unit is a BUST!

New York Giants at Minnesota Vikings

Boom: Dalvin Cook.  The Giants do not stop the run

Bust:

Buffalo Bills vs Chicago Bears

Boom: Stefon Diggs.  Last week, AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith both had huge games against the Bears and Diggs will continue that production.

Bust: David Montgomery.  This pick is based on usage.  Buffalo is going to make things difficult for Josh Fields and crowd the box which will also make Montgomery’s day long.

New Orleans Saints at Cleveland Browns

Boom: Alvin Kamara: His usage is exactly where a “boom” player should be.  He gets unquestioned share of the carries and his involvement in the passing game is there 

Bust: Nick Chubb.  I hate to see “hips” as an injury for running backs.  On a cold day, it only takes one player to land on top of you to make your whole day bad.  I don’t like that risk for Chubb. He’s obviously a start (you got here on his back), but he has a lot of bust potential.

Seattle Seahawks at Kansas City Chiefs

Boom: Geno Smith.  I went a little contrarian with this pick.  Kelce or Mahomes is obvious.  Fresh off his Pro Bowl nod, I love Geno in this game. The Seahawks need a win, and they will need Geno at his best to make that happen.

Bust: Kenneth Walker.  His talent is immense.  However, I see a shootout in this game, and don’t see Walker factoring into as much. 

Washington Commanders at San Francisco 49ers

Boom: Terry McLaurin.  The Commanders need a win to keep pace in the tight wildcard race in the NFC.  Scary Terry will need to be dynamic to try and stay in it for the Commanders.

Bust: CMC.  The Commanders run defense is stout and the 49ers may elect to use other weapons in this one.

Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys

Boom: Miles Sanders.  Without the dynamic Jalen Hurts under center, the Eagles will need to establish a run game with Sanders getting a lot of volume.

Bust: CeeDee Lamb.  The Eagles have had a lot of success bottling up other team’s best receivers and CeeDee will see a lot of Darius Slay in this one.

Las Vegas Raiders at Pittsburgh Steelers

Boom: DaVante Adams.  The Raiders have an exceptional weapon in Adams and should use it often against the middling Steelers pass defense.

Bust: Najee Harris.  A huge disappointment this year.  He has struggled to find touchdowns this year.  He needs TD’s to go “boom.”  Instead, he is a potential bust.

Sunday

Green Bay Packers at Miami Dolphins

Boom: Tyreek Hill.  He is the epitome of a BOOM player.  Everytime he touches the ball, he can take it to the house.

Bust: Christian Watson.  He is too touchdown reliant.  I needed 8 points from Watson last week to win my playoff matchup and had to wait until the final throw to get it.  

Denver Broncos at LA Rams

Boom: Cam Akers.  The volume is there for a BOOM to go off for Akers.  Now, can the blocking be there? 

Bust: Baker Mayfied.  Watching last week’s game without the heroics shows he is just an average QB.  If you need him in SuperFlex…hope he gets you double digits so you can move on.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Cardinals

Boom: Rachaad White.  A lot of talent.  And I can see his breaking off a few runs in this one.  He grabs those TD’s and BOOM!

Bust: DeAndre Hopkins.  Who is starting under center this week for the Cardinals?  Just the thought of that question does not bode well for Hopkins.

LA Chargers at Indianapolis Colts

Boom: Just Herbert.  He is getting his weapons back and he is too good to not enjoy the benefits of that health.

Bust: Michael Pittman.  Nick Foles gets the start for the Colts.  He is an all-time great Eagle, but not so much since then.  With no Taylor, this Colts team doesn’t look dangerous.