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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.
Alexander Mattison, Raiders
| Start pct. | 15% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | at Saints |
| BetMGM line | Saints -1 |
| BetMGM total | 39.5 points |
| BetAlytics projection | N/A |
The blood, sweat and beers.
You’ve poured your heart and soul for months to reach this moment. Late nights working the waiver wire, hours of podcast listens, hundreds of news blurb reads and several Sunday shirt soaks. You persevered. You survived. And you’re one final step from berating league mates ceaselessly as grand poobah of all things virtual pigskin.
It’s championship week. Are your soldiers ready to fire?
At first glance, he may seem like a Beetle Bailey, but the generally passed over Raiders rusher is fully prepared for combat — hand-to-hand if necessary. It’s the Aints for crying out loud, a franchise which trotted out a sorrowful Single-A team last Monday in Green Bay. Locals suffering through the action Sunday at the Superdome are sure to break out the brown paper bags.
Since Week 11, New Orleans is a wretched No. 29 in rush EPA defense. Also, the Saints have allowed 4.86 yards per carry, 137.9 total yards per game, 18 total touchdowns and the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Twelve RBs have achieved flame status against them in 0.5 PPR formats.
The Silver and Black, like New Orleans, have Caribbean beach umbrella drinks top of mind. They’re aiming for a prized pick with the hope of drafting Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.
Still, at times, Mattison should march uninhibitedly through the opposition. He’s outside the position's top 40 in yards created per touch (3.04), yards after contact per attempt (2.57) and total missed tackles forced (13), but with Sincere McCormick on IR and Ameer Abdullah as the only competition, Mattison is set to grip at least 65% to 70% of the team’s opportunity share.
Last Sunday against another softy, Jacksonville, the former Viking cracked the position’s top 20 with 56 combined yards and a TD. In the followup, expect a similar outcome.
Make gamers moolah, Mattison.
Fearless Forecast: 13 carries, 53 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 16 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 14.4 fantasy points
Week 17 Bonus Flames
Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks
| Start pct. | 55% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | at Bears |
(NOTE: If Walker's ankle injury keeps him on the sidelines, Zach Charbonnet slides into this space with an identical projection.)
A box of chocolate-flavored Teddy Grahams are this year’s Chicago Bears. With Matt Eberflus thankfully gone and plenty of talent to build around, the franchise should finally move in the right direction this offseason, provided general manager Ryan Poles lures current Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson away from the Motor City. Until then, terrible tackle football shall continue. The Bears are completely cuddle-worthy in the trenches. Since Week 12, they’re dead last in rush EPA defense, conceding 4.79 yards per carry, 179.2 total yards per game, five touchdowns and the most fantasy points to RBs. In his lineup return, Walker III proved more effective as a receiver than runner, catching eight passes and totaling 59 yards against Minnesota. However, the Seahawks running back ranks No. 5 in total missed tackles forced (61), No. 14 in yards created per touch (4.05) and No. 26 in yards after contact per attempt (3.05), so he'll have no problem barreling through Chicago’s joke of a front line. In Week 17, The Third will be a high-flying bird.
Fearless Forecast: 15 carries, 64 rushing yards, 1 touchdown, 5 receptions, 26 receiving yards, 17.5 fantasy points
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
| Start pct. | 45% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | vs. Chargers |
Rah rah sis boom bah. Strike up the damn band. Stevenson has significant FLEX appeal in competitive formats. The Patriots running back has only been sporadically deployable as evidenced by his RB25 standing in per-game average in 0.5 PPR leagues, but, at home, he could have a peak week. Over their last five contests, the Chargers have been a suboptimal No. 26 in rush EPA defense, yielding a massive 4.90 yards per carry, 164.4 total yards per game, five combined TDs and the ninth-most fantasy points to RBs. Game flow is always a concern with New England. If Justin Herbert erupts early, Stevenson’s ground contributions could be abandoned. However, with the Pats only four-point ‘dogs, that's an unlikely development. Stevenson, who is No. 15 in missed tackles forced, is likely to again amass at least 15 touches en route to a strong RB2 day. Lock and load a musket in 12-team leagues.
Fearless Forecast: 14 carries, 61 rushing yards, 1 touchdown, 2 receptions, 12 receiving yards, 14.3 fantasy points
Season record: 24-21