Week 7 Fantasy Flames RB: Hold onto the rock, Rhamondre

SIGN UP: Get the best player prop and game betting projections at BetAlytics. Use code JUICE for a special promo rate.

Each week the Noise highlights under-started names who he believes are destined to torch the competition. To qualify, each player must be 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 – QB: 18 fantasy points; RB: 12 fantasy points [10 for shockers], WR: 11 fantasy points: TE: 10 fantasy points; .5 PPR).  

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots 

For fans of the timeless Far Side satirical cartoons, many TreVeyon Henderson investors are the kid from the Midvale School for the Gifted.

No matter how many times they push, the door simply won’t open. 

Talking last week to Patriots play-by-play radio voice Bob Socci on BetMGM Tonight, the floodgates on Henderson weren’t expected to unleash even in light of Antonio Gibson’s season-ending knee buckling. Somewhat of a touch increase was in the cards for the rook, but Mike Vrabel was committed to Stevenson as his primary back -- provided the incumbent kept the rock firmly gripped. 

Last week in New Orleans, Rhamondre considerably out-snapped the youngin', recording a 70.7% snap share. Neither blew up the box score against a formidable Fleur de lis front, but it’s clear the workload will remain somewhat unchanged as long as mistake-free football is played. 

In Week 8, the Patriots visit NashVegas, a location where the best gridiron defense belongs to the college Commodores. 

In the trenches, the local pro franchise is paltry at best. This season, the Titans are No. 24 in rush EPA D, allowing 4.65 yards per carry, 141.5 total yards per game, 10 combined TDs and the third-most fantasy points to RBs.

Stevenson is a wildcard, but fantasy is often all about maximizing matchups. Also, he’s performed somewhat efficiently in a number of key areas -- including his 23.5% missed tackle rate. 

This Sunday, pull the handle and look like a genius. 

Fearless Forecast: 11 carries, 41 rush yards, 3 receptions, 16 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 13.2 fantasy points 

Kimani Vidal, Chargers

In this day and age, the free press is under constant attack. People with journalism degrees are just trying to do their jobs, but from a cloud above media legend Walter Conkrite looked down with discontent at the string of erroneous reports issues last Sunday morning. 

Among the inaccurate NFL disclosures, none was more fallacious than what was broadcast about the Chargers. 

Prior to LAC's tilt in Miami, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported Hassan Haskins was "expected to be the lead back." Of course when the breaking news made the rounds on social media, points-craving fantasy managers elevated the supposed RB1 into lineups. Most believed Vidal would only grovel for scraps. 

However, once the action begin, the opposite occurred. Much to everyone's astonishment, it was actually Kimani who levied a Kung Fu kick on the competition. Displaying elusive feet, soft hands and drive-through-contact finishes (3.44 YAC/attempt), he totaled 135 yards and a touchdown on 21 touches. He finished the week RB5 in half-point PPR leagues. Haskins, meanwhile, barely made a peep with 23 yards on seven touches. 

Garafolo "deserves" so many Pulitzers. 

Other imprecise notes on Zay Flowers and the Arizona backfield split are a reminder to take every news-byte with the entire mine of salt. Coaches, no different than politicians or business leaders, sometimes purposely mislead in an attempt to gain an advantage. Frankly, it's the reason why The Coachspeak Index exists. When "news" breaks that close to kickoff off beLIEve nothing. 

With the upper-hand achieved, Vidal is a highly employable FLEX-minimum RB in Week 7. His opponent, surprising Indianapolis, is No. 15 in rush EPA defense, allowing an appreciable 4.26 yards per carry, 109.2 total yards per game and four combined TDs to RBs. 

Those who chose to zig while the masses zagged in pursuit of Haskins will only continue to live comfortably. On another 15+ plus touches, Vidal once again proves he's the LAC back with the most bolt. 

Fearless Forecast: 15 carries, 62 rush yards, 1 touchdown, 3 receptions, 18 receiving yards, 15.5 fantasy points 

Deep league dish: Brashard Smith, Chiefs (vs. Raiders, 1% started) - As Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt continue to spin their wheels in mud, Smith slowly is earning more and more of the opportunity share. The rookie isn't the flavor of choice between the tackles, but outside the box he's become a reliant pass game weapon for Patrick Mahomes. On his roughly 6-9 routes run per game, he's steadily received 3-4 targets per game. In every contest since Week 4, he's grabbed at least three passes for 20 yards. Though Smith has yet to attract attention beyond those of deep leaguers, he could soon turn heads with the 12-team audience. KC's Week 7 foe, Las Vegas, has been remarkably inflexible in the trenches, ranking No. 6 in rush EPA defense. However, they have routinely conceded dump-offs in the flat (4.2 rec/g, 22.7 rec ypg to RBs). Yes, admittedly, this is a heave ho chuck from the 50, but this #TeamHuevos CEO isn't all about recommending Bijan Robinson to start like some fanalysts. Throw a prayer in PPR. (FF: 1-6-0, 4-32-1, 11.8 fpts)