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).
Jaxson Dart, Giants
| Start pct. | 8% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | at Broncos |
| BetMGM line | Den -7 |
| BetMGM total | 39.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | NA pts |
Rocking the neck drip and surface swag, New York’s ascending franchise cornerstone certainly doesn’t lack confidence.
The pounding NYG issued on division rival Philadelphia last Monday Night was up there on the surprise scale with Penn State losing back-to-back games to UCLA and Northwestern.
Vanilla Vick’s G-Eazy vibes and overall gameplay are slick. Though his Beba Rexha (Malik Nabers) is no longer in the picture (ACL), he’s continuously delivered thumping statistical beats. In traditional scoring formats, he’s scored at least 20 fantasy points in each of his first three starts, ranking among the QB1 class in 12-team leagues overall during the stretch.
Peeling the onion layers, Dart has proven overly sweet in various advanced data categories. He’s only QB28 in adjusted completion percentage and QB18 in red zone completion percentage.
Still, discount Jalen Hurts raises the floor with his legs. The multidimensional rookie has booked 16.0% of the Giants' carry share, averaging 55.7 rush yards per game and 5.22 yards per carry the last three weeks. He also accounted for six combined TDs during the stretch.
Admittedly, the on-paper matchup is Medusa-ugly. Entering Week 7, the Broncos are No. 2 in dropback EPA defense, yielding only 6.23 pass yards per attempt, 196.3 pass yards per game, five combined TDs and the second-fewest fantasy to QBs.
Last week in the Land of Crooked Teeth, Denver demolished the aforementioned Fields, limiting him to only 5.4 fantasy points. However, no two games are ever the same and expect Brian Daboll to glean advantages from the game film.
In challenging formats, grip a pointy metal object, lean in and toss a shot. He may not be bull’s eye material, but another top-15 finish is potentially in the cards for the growing Giant.
Fearless Forecast: 172 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 1 interception, 48 rush yards, 1 rushing TD, 22.4 fantasy points
Spencer Rattler, Saints
| Start pct. | 4% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | at Bears |
| BetMGM line | Chi -5.5 |
| BetMGM total | 45.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | NA pts |
On a scorching summer’s day a slithery snake coils under the shady brush waiting to strike its unsuspecting prey. As a prairie dog attempts to scurry by, it lunges, sinks its fangs and slowly devours its victim.
Success.
New Orleans’ Rattler may not produce much statistical venom, but against enfeebled defenses he can consume yardage in noticeable chunks. Week 7’s matchup against Chicago presents one such rare opportunity.
Approximately one-hundredth of the unforgettable ‘85 version, the current Bears defense is Paddington-like. Cute, cuddly and squeezable, the loving unit has allowed even the most bearish quarterbacks to boom. See J.J. McCarthy and Geno Smith’s multi-TD efforts in Weeks 1 and 4 respectively.
Overall, Dennis Allen’s door greeters are No. 23 in dropback EPA D, giving up 7.84 pass yards per attempt, 219.4 pass yards per game, 10 total touchdowns and the fourth-most fantasy points to the position. Gelatinous.
Before the Saints training camp doors swung open in Metairie in late July most anticipated second-round draft pick Tyler Shough to be the main man. However, Rattler beat him to punch and has largely performed above low-level expectations. Entering the week, he’s QB20 in total fantasy production, on par with the likes of Justin Fields, Aaron Rodgers and CJ Stroud. For the SuperFlex crowd who slapped down a crisp George Washington on him, the minimal investment has indisputably yielded a profitable result.
A poor man’s Bo Nix, the former Gamecock isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer, He’s outside the QB top-20 in several advanced metrics -- including adjusted completion percentage, red-zone compilation percentage and deep-ball completion percentage. But generating over 15% of the team’s carry share, Rattler has buoyed otherwise mundane numbers via the ground. He’s scooted to at least 20 rush yards in four of six games.
With the Ravens and Bills on siesta, managers looking for a bye-week filler should entertain the Saints slinger. The underestimated predator could bite the box score.
Fearless Forecast: 221 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 22 rushing yards, 21.3 fantasy points