Welcome to Week 2, Boom or Bust. Here we discuss some players that we think will overperform or underperform their Week 2 ranking. A boom is a player projected to outperform consensus weekly expectations; a bust is a player likely to underperform them. See the full Week 2 Boom or Bust conversation here.
Boom- Javonte Williams, RB
(Cowboys vs. NYG)
Week 1 was encouraging enough to keep the momentum for this matchup. The expectation from the tape talk was an early tilt toward the passing game, then heavier Williams usage once the lead is established. Which is exactly the kind of script that feeds carries and red-zone chances. The group even floated the idea of “at least one” touchdown. The optimism is explicitly week-specific; they flagged a tougher run of games after this (Chicago, Green Bay, Jets).
Bust- Jonathan Taylor, RB
(Colts vs. DEN)
This is a matchup-driven fade. Denver’s defense was labeled the league’s toughest, which compresses Taylor’s margin for error. Especially with short scores at risk of being siphoned by the quarterback, as happened twice last week. Even in a soft opener, Taylor’s fantasy line lagged because of those goal-line keepers, and there was a note that he came out “a little banged up,” which adds workload uncertainty in a grinder.
Boom- Keenan Allen, WR
(Chargers at LV)
Allen looked as sharp as he has in years and led his team in targets in Week 1. This is a clean indicator that the quarterback trusts him where it matters. Against a defense you can throw on, that reliability is the edge to play. Teammate volatility was acknowledged, but Allen was framed as the steady option you start without second-guessing, health permitting.
Bust- D’Andre Swift, RB
(Bears at DET)
The box score reads like empty volume. 17 carries for 53 yards with three catches for 12, and the broader offensive look was described as hectic and disjointed, which doesn’t help Swift convert touches into value. Detroit on the road doesn’t soften the view. The comp raised on the show was telling: even a stronger runner needed a touchdown last week just to salvage a day, and Swift’s Week 1 profile didn’t suggest bankable efficiency.
Boom- Stefon Diggs, WR
(Patriots vs. MIA)
This was a straightforward matchup endorsement. Diggs’ six-for-57 opener was serviceable, and the stance was to start passing games against Miami until that defense proves otherwise. The comment “Diggs still has it” reflected confidence, not nostalgia, as Miami provides clear passing opportunities.
Bust- Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB
(Commanders vs. GB)
Yes, the debut line popped (10 carries, 82 yards, TD). The problem is the opponent and the role. Green Bay just squeezed early-down rushing to a crawl. Detroit’s backs combined for poor efficiency despite volume (Jahmyr Gibbs 9-for-19; David Montgomery 11-for-25). While running backs can get there via check-downs against the Packers, the show emphasized that it isn’t Croskey-Merritt’s lane: he saw one target (incomplete) and isn’t the designated receiving back. If the ground game stalls and he’s not catching passes, the fantasy line likely follows.
Boom- Trey Benson, RB
(Cardinals vs. CAR)
Efficiency created its own argument: eight carries for 69 yards on the ground, plus a single reception that out-gained his backfield mate’s four catches combined. If that per-touch gap persists, a gradual changing of the guard is plausible. For Week 2, the draw against a defense described as one of the league’s softest makes Benson a viable option even before any formal shift in workload.
Bust- Ricky Pearsall, WR
(49ers vs. NO)
The fade wasn’t about talent. He delivered a 4-for-108 opener, earning praise, but several factors loom: a probable quarterback switch, numerous receiver injuries, and a run-heavy strategy centered on Christian McCaffrey. With New Orleans not conceding much through the air in Week 1, the projected target squeeze and low passing volume push Pearsall to the bench for now.
See the full Week 2 Boom or Bust conversation here: