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Each week, the Noise highlights under-started names who he believes are destined to torch the competition. To qualify, each player must have started in fewer than 60 percent of Yahoo leagues. Speaking as an accountability advocate, I will post results, whether genius or moronic, the following week. Scoring thresholds (0.5 PPR) – QB: 18 fantasy points; RB: 12 fantasy points (10 for shockers); WR: 11 fantasy points; TE: 10 fantasy points.
Chuba Hubbard, Panthers
| Start pct. | 56% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | vs. Saints |
| BetMGM line | Saints -7 |
| BetMGM total | 45 points |
| BetAlytics projection | N/A |
On All Hallow’s Eve, sometimes the most nondescript houses tucked away in the corners of a quiet neighborhood can yield the most bountiful treats.
Your son, dressed as the shrunken head character from Beetlejuice, rings the doorbell of one such location, mouths the magic words and a full-sized Snickers drops into his bag. Score! You crack a smile and mutter “Halloween hero” under your breath.
For the fantasy masses, Hubbard could reward backers with numerous, king-size treats in Week 9. How? A matchup against the sorrowful Saints awaits.
Dennis Allen’s club has come unglued defensively. New Orleans ranks No. 30 in EPA rush defense, giving up 5.25 yards per carry, 168.9 total yards per game, nine combined touchdowns and the seventh-most fantasy points to running backs. Also, since Week 3, six RBs have notched at least 14 fantasy points against the Saints.
Hubbard is the only bright spot on the Florida State of the NFL. Not a fair assessment? The Seminoles, a top-10 team in the AP preseason rankings, are currently 1-7. Yes, the analogy is entirely justified. The Hello Kitties of Charlotte are coughing up constant hairballs.
It was once believed Hubbard was only keeping the seat warm for rookie hotshot Jonathan Brooks, but the veteran is entrenched as Carolina’s No. 1 back with the youngster not guaranteed to log a snap this season. The incumbent is No. 12 in per-game average in 0.5 PPR formats and ranks appreciably in YAC per attempt (3.50, RB11) and total missed tackles forced (18, RB21).
Again, on a rotten Panthers roster, Hubbard is the franchise’s only fresh option. And in a matchup only a fantasy manager or gambler could remotely love, Chuba earns all of the enlarged bars.
Ride the sugar high even in 10-team leagues.
Fearless Forecast: 16 carries, 66 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 19 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown, 16.5 fantasy points
Week 9 Bonus Flames
Tony Pollard, Titans
| Start pct. | 54% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | vs. Patriots |
Similar to Hubbard, Pollard is a shining star on an otherwise repugnant team. At 1-6, the Titans are residing in the AFC South basement for myriad reasons. But even after last Sunday’s 52-14 shellacking by the Lions in Detroit, Tennessee could earn its second win of the year in a clash with New England that could set football back roughly 100 years. The pathetic Patriots check in at No. 25 in rush EPA D, conceding 4.74 yards per carry, 148.4 scrimmage yards per game, 10 total touchdowns and the second-most fantasy points to RBs. Tennessee’s workhorse has been the definition of "efficient,” ranking No. 3 in YAC per attempt (3.89), No. 13 in missed tackles forced (22) and No. 10 in expected fantasy points per game (16.5). Despite his transparent offensive line (No. 27 in run-blocking efficiency, per Pro Football Focus) and confrontations with multiple eight-man fronts (20.1%), Pollard will steadily produce Sunday. And for the sixth time in eight games, he should score at least 13 fantasy points.
Fearless Forecast: 17 carries, 71 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 3 receptions, 14 receiving yards, 16.0 fantasy points
Chase Brown, Bengals
| Start pct. | 37% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | vs. Raiders |
Drizzle a little maple syrup on a stack of flapjacks. The Canadian import — who prompts this booming voice on “BetMGM Tonight” to display a bottle of Chase Brown-branded syrup whenever the Cincinnati RB is discussed — is sure to pack the sweetness in Week 9. The Raiders are a highly exploitable No. 20 in rush EPA defense, yielding 4.67 yards per carry, 102.1 rushing yards per game, nine total touchdowns and the ninth-most fantasy points to RBs. Equipped with rubber-burning wheels, Brown has slowly taken over the Bengals backfield. He’s played at least 55% of team snaps in three straight games, compiling 14.3 touches per game, and he's impressively notched 3.03 yards after contact per attempt and forced a missed tackle on 19.2% of his carries this season. Also, he's scored a touchdown at least once in four of his last five games. It’s unlikely Brown will blow the doors off in rushing yardage against Las Vegas, but his chances of blasting into the end zone are quite substantial. Get down.
Fearless Forecast: 13 carries, 55 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 2 receptions, 12 receiving yards, 13.7 fantasy points
Season record: 11-11