Hello everyone. The voices behind this column and our podcasts are Ben Horwitz, Aaron Stalkfleet and Jacob Williamson. We are current seniors and involved in various things (and sports) at City. Our shared love of football and aggressive competitiveness is what initially inspired this column. Each week we plan to put out a different fantasy football prediction/analysis for the next NFL week. We appreciate your support and will be competing to see who has the best analysis.

This week we are doing a Boom/Bust analysis. We randomly pick the players below for this week’s games, and we each get to predict whether we think they will go above (Boom) or below (Bust) their ESPN fantasy projections. We each pick two players from each position group. We make picks based on matchups, personal opinion, and player projection. After the first week, we will be keeping track of our personal records of our predictions throughout the season. 

OUR RECORDS THROUGH 6 WEEKS

Ben: 24-19

Aaron: 23-20

Jacob: 20-22

This week’s (7) possible choices:

(All based on ESPN projections)

QB Patrick Mahomes 25.7 pts

QB Matthew Stafford 22.3 pts

QB Derek Carr 18.7 pts

QB Matt Ryan 19.7 pts

RB Derrick Henry 23.1 pts

RB Leonard Fournette 16.8 pts
RB Josh Jacobs 16.2 pts
RB Jonathon Taylor 16.1 pts

WR Tyreek Hill 21.6 pts

WR Calvin Ridley 18.5 pts

WR Antonio Brown 14.1 pts

WR A.J. Brown 14.0 pts

TE Darren Waller 15.0 pts

TE Kyle Pitts 13.0 pts
TE Ricky Seals-Jones 8.9 pts
TE Cole Kmet 7.6 pts

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Aaron’s Picks Week 7

(Total Record 23-20)

A great 5-3 week for me last week. That now makes two 5-3 weeks in a row. One game behind Ben for the top spot and obviously looking to continue the good stretch. 

QB Patrick Mahomes 25.7 pts – BOOM

I think the Chiefs game vs the Titans this week is going to be a shootout; similar to that of the Bills-Titans MNF game. Patrick Mahomes will have to perform like Josh Allen did in order to stay competitive with Derek Henry and Co. Mahomes booms, barely.  

QB Matt Ryan 19.7 pts – BOOM

Matt Ryan faces off this week against the Dolphins and just like the Jets a couple of weeks ago, this should be another great opportunity for a stellar showing. Ryan gets his number 1 receiving option back in Calvin Ridley as well. Everything and more points to Ryan booming and this selection is of higher confidence. 

RB Leonard Fournette 16.8 pts – BUST

Leonard Fournette has been on a nice run as of late. After starting off the season relatively slow, Fournette has come back to form. In his last 3 games, Fournette has accumulated a combined total of roughly 69 points. That is 23 points on average the last 3 weeks. Now, with all of that said, the Bucs welcome the Bears to town. The Bears Defense happens to rank second in the NFL in rushing yards allowed this year. For that reason, Fournette busts, despite the tear he has been on lately. This will be an interesting selection and hopefully, it turns out good. 

RB  Jonathon Taylor 16.1 pts – BUST
The 49ers Defense ranks first in the NFL in rushing yards allowed this year. Like with the Fournette selection, Taylor busting is a by-product of the defense, in this case, the 49ers Defense. Taylor busts this week for that reason and that reason only. Nothing complex with this reasoning. 

WR A.J. Brown 14.0 pts – BOOM

Brown looks to follow up a good performance on Monday Night Football with another good one against the Chiefs. He acquired 16 points in a win over the Bills and I think the matchup this week against the Chiefs should allow for another good performance. Brown booms

WR Calvin Ridley 18.5 pts – BOOM

I think it makes perfect sense to think Ridley will perform well. He has been out for the last couple of weeks with personal issues. Anyways, whether or not he gets over the 18.5 mark remains to be seen, but in any case, Ridley has a favorable matchup this week against a terrible Dolphins Defense. A boom is realistic with this scenario but this selection is of lower confidence. 

TE Cole Kmet 7.6 pts – BUST

Kmet hasn’t reached his point projection for this week in 4 of his 6 starts this season. In the games that he did go over his projection for this week, he scored 9.2 week one and 8.9 week 6. The idea is obvious. Kmet isn’t exactly playing really good football and thus fantasy owners should be hesitant, for now, in terms of starting him in your leagues. Kmet’s upside is nowhere to be found and he busts this week against a relatively good Tampa Bay Defense. 

TE Ricky Seals-Jones 8.9 pts – BUST

RSJ has only surpassed his projection twice this year. I think it’s realistic to not be high on him this week or really any week. Until he performs at a consistent level of booming 9-11 points weekly, consider him low volume for the foreseeable future. 

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Jacob’s Picks Week 7

(Total Record 20-22)

After going yet again 4-4 last week, I’m looking to continue improving my total record with this week’s picks. With having almost all my players booming this week due to lots of favorable matchups, I am confident these players will get the job done.

QB Matthew Stafford 22.3 pts – BOOM

Stafford has been playing great this year (4th rated QB in fantasy). He will put on a show against his former team in the Detroit Lions this week. The Lions have been a bad team this season and I expect McVay to have a great air raid game plan against a terrible Lions Defense. 

QB Derek Carr 18.7 pts – BOOM

This was definitely a tougher pick for me to make. The Raiders have had an interesting season to say the least with their head coach being fired recently. With all the distractions going around the team I do believe that Derek Carr can get the job done this week against the Eagles. It will be interesting to see how the Raiders bounce back after a chaotic past few weeks.

RB Derrick Henry 23.1 pts – BOOM

They call him “King Henry” for a reason. Having scored 30 plus points the past two weeks has not only been great for fantasy owners, but it has also been fun to watch him bulldoze his way through defenses as well (literally). I continue to expect nothing less from the King himself as he takes on the Chiefs and their horrendous defense this week. 

RB Jonathon Taylor 16.1 pts – BOOM 

Taylor became a huge part of the Colts Offense over the past 3 weeks scoring a combined 80 pts. I continue to see him being a big part in this offense this week even against the 49ers defense (ranked number 1 in terms of rushing yards/game). Keep in mind that I see more points coming from touches this week than touchdowns. 

WR Calvin Ridley 18.5 pts – BOOM

It’s been two weeks since we last saw Ridley in action. Being one of the top receivers in the league in both receptions and yards. The falcons will need to use their number one deep threat this week on offense against the dolphins. With the Dolphins defense being one of the worst in the league you should expect a big game out of Ridley this week.

WR Tyreek Hill 21.6 pts –  BOOM

Depending on who you ask, Tyreek Hill is either the best WR in the league or he is a close second. In any game Hill is involved in, he is almost bound to have a big time play or two with his blazing speed. In a game that should be an offensive shootout this week against the Titans, expect Hill to be a big factor on offense for the Chiefs.

TE Darren Waller 15.0 pts – BOOM 

Waller is one of the most consistent tight ends this season, and for good reason. Being the top red zone target for a Raiders Offense that is improving by the week is definitely a good sign. Against the Giants who are just terrible, Waller will definitely get his touches and a touchdown or two this week. 

TE Ricky Seals-Jones 8.9 pts – BUST

Expect the Packers defense to shut down the Washington Football Team and their offense this week. Seals-Jones is probably one of the only bright spots on this offense, but unfortunately I just don’t see him booming this week.

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Ben’s Picks Week 7

(Total Record 24-19)

Rough week is all I have to say. It seems like I go from a great week to a bad week too often, and last week’s 2-6 was definitely a bad one. We look to bounce back as always, as some of the picks last week were just unlucky bad games by certain teams. Have to do better to stay ahead of the other guys’ records.

QB Matthew Stafford 22.3 pts – BOOM

Last week I trusted the Lions defense, you won’t catch me doing that again. Hopefully the run game is stifled and Stafford gets another big week. I see Cooper Kupp and the Rams offensive weapons having a field day. Bet on the whole Rams offense against the only team in the NFL with no wins.

QB Matt Ryan 19.7 pts – BOOM 

The Dolphins have been surprisingly horrible so far, with their supposedly solid defense in shambles. I think the Falcons have an underrated offense, and in a game between two bad teams, I think Ryan, Pitts, and Ridley have a field day. 

RB Derrick Henry 23.1 pts – BOOM

Henry is on pace to have the greatest rushing season of all time. He is averaging a ridiculous 130.5 rushing yards/game and 28.4 fantasy points/game. I think everyone expects him to run all over the struggling Chiefs defense, and continue his insane start. He had a huge game against one of the best defenses in the league on Monday night in Buffalo, so this week’s matchup reminds me of a freight train running over an ant.

RB Josh Jacobs 16.2 pts – BUST

Josh Jacobs is always a tough pick. He is simply not a great runner, as he has declined since his stellar rookie season in 2018. He is averaging an abysmal 3.2 yards per carry this year, and the only reason he is relevant in fantasy football is because he finds the end zone. However, after Kenyan Drake stole the show last week with two TD’s I just don’t see him reaching 16.2 points.

WR Calvin Ridley 18.5 pts –  BOOM

Similar to TE Kyle Pitts, I think the entire Falcons offense will have a field day this Sunday. With the Dolphins defensive struggles, I see Ridley having a bounce-back game after being on injury reserve for personal issues for the past couple weeks. This pick is of less confidence, but have no worries putting Ridley in your lineups this week. 

WR Antonio Brown 14.1 pts – BOOM

Once again, I am betting on a Bucs receiver. Brown is averaging 8.4 targets/game, and in fantasy, volume is king. He seems to be QB Tom Brady’s favorite target thus far, and with the volume and production he has shown so far, I see no reason to not start him except for the crowded WR room. On any given day, one of the three elite receivers on the Bucs offense can have a great day, which leaves the other two searching for targets. Even so I see him having another good week against a decent Bears defense. 

TE Darren Waller 15.0 pts – BUST

Waller is probably third-best TE in the league behind George Kittle, and the clearcut #1 in the league, Travis Kelce, but he has not been playing like it as of late. Week one he had 26.5 points, but since that huge week he has only reached the 15 point threshold once in five games. I just don’t want to bet anything on the Raiders offense this week, so let’s hope they don’t prove me wrong. 

TE Kyle Pitts 13.0 pts – BOOM
The Falcons have a great matchup against a Dolphins team that just lost to an 0-5 Jaguars team who barely have a coach. I think QB Matt Ryan will have a big game, which translates to both WR Calvin Ridley and Pitts. Pitts is coming off his best game of the season against the Jets in London where he racked up 27 points, and I look for him to break 13 points this week.