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).
Tez Johnson, Buccaneers
| Start pct. | 16% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | at Saints |
| BetMGM line | TB -4.5 |
| BetMGM total | 46.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | 5.7 pts |
Just days ago a sophisticated heist fit for a Hollywood blockbuster starring anyone but Glenn Powell sacked the world-renowned Louvre in Paris. The well-conceived burglary involved a robotic ladder and was carried out with precision and speed. In a brisk seven minutes, the crown jewels -- a crown, necklace and earrings dating back to Napoleon -- were stolen as the thieves escaped on motorcycles.
Fantasy managers who embezzled Tez Johnson off waivers this week will also soon feel they pulled off the crime of the century.
Last Monday in Detroit, Mike Evans’ broken collarbone immediately presented the fleet-footed Johnson with a golden opportunity. He seized it. After halftime and with his team dragged down by a deficit, he tallied chunk catch after chunk catch. In the end, Baker Mayfield targeted his promoted wideout nine times, connecting on four passes for 58 yards and a touchdown. Johnson’s resulting 13.8 fantasy points in half-point PPR finished an eye-catching WR17 on the week.
Adding in Chris Godwin’s extremely cloudy status (fibula), the scrawny receiver (5’10” and 154 pounds) could routinely flex in the box score moving forward. His laudable after catch abilities explain why he ranks near the top in yards per catch (18.7) among all wide receivers. Most importantly, Mayfield has supreme confidence in him. Averaging a hefty 2.37 fantasy points per target, Johnson could soon become a WR2/WR3 fixture in 12-team leagues. Yes, recency bias is a hell of a drug.
This week in New Orleans, look for Tez to earn all the beignets. The Saints enter the week No. 20 in dropback EPA D, giving up the 14th-most fantasy points to WRs.
Getting specific, the elevated Buc should dance most often with CB Kool-Aid McKinstry. OH YEAH! The conquerable corner enters the week No. 64 in pass coverage grade on Pro Football Focus, allowing a 70.6% catch rate, the fifth-most yards of any NFL DB (353), four touchdowns and a 118.9 passer rating.
Rob your opponent blind in a bye-heavy week. Skewer the competition with the Buc.
Fearless Forecast: 5 receptions, 63 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 14.8 fantasy points
Rashod Bateman, Ravens
| Start pct. | 4% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | vs. Bears |
| BetMGM line | Bal -6.5 |
| BetMGM total | 49.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | NA pts |
Bateman is all about giving back.
Admittedly blessed to be in a situation that has afforded him such opportunities, the charitable wide receiver hosted a Halloween party at the local Ronald McDonald House during the Ravens’ bye week, providing a much needed distraction and bringing joy to families in need. The best part: His “Bateman Boo-tique” allowed kids to pick out their own costumes. Bravo, Rashod. Bravo.
This week on the gridiron, Baltimore’s downfield threat is set to bestow baller numbers for willing backers against the visiting Bears.
Chicago is showing improvement defensively, but many of those strides have come in the trenches. In the secondary, Dennis Allen’s crew remains a work in progress. This season, they’re a mediocre No. 18 in dropback EPA defense, yielding 7.73 pass yards per attempt, 221.7 pass yards per game, 2.5 pass touchdowns per game and the fifth-most fantasy points to QBs. Yep, they’re still flavorful gummies.
Bateman has only been useful sporadically. Outside the top-75 wide receivers in fantasy points per game, he’s No. 55 or worse in air yards, deep-ball looks, average yards of separation per target, yards per route run and fantasy points per route. No surprise, he’s fallen off dramatically from last year’s employable FLEX-level production in 12-team formats.
However, with Lamar Jackson expected back at the controls and given the prime mano-y-mano matchup, he’s a debatable WR3 option. His projected primary assignment, CB Nashon Wright, has given up a 69.0% catch rate, 106.3 passer rating, the 22nd-most yards of any DB and four touchdowns to his assignments.
One Jackson effortless flick is all that’s needed for Bateman to reach double-digit fantasy numbers for only the second time this year.
Start him for the kids.
Fearless Forecast: 3 receptions, 55 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 13.0 fantasy points
Keep it tight (TE play): Mason Taylor, Jets (at Bengals, 22% started) -- No one knows how the ball is bouncing in Aaron Glenn's head. What's known is his team is still winless seven games in, desperate to escape the constant ineptitude. It's unknown at print time whether Justin Fields will be benched for Tyrod Taylor, but, as ESPN's Rich Cimini recently argued, the current backup is a better fit for the offensive scheme. Cimini's assessment is spot on. Impressively, Taylor is No. 4 in adjusted completion percentage. The regressing Fields, meanwhile, sits at No. 14 in the category. And that standing seems puzzling. Regardless who is under center, Taylor is a phenomenal play for the matchup advocates in attendance. No defense has surrendered more fantasy points to TEs than the Bengals. This season, plus-sized weapons have averaged 6.9 receptions and 76.6 yards per game against them. Most delightful, tight ends have scored nine times versus Cincy. With or without Garrett Wilson in uniform, Taylor should often attract his QB's attention. Hell, maybe Vinny Testaverde will come out of retirement. (FF: 4-46-1, 12.6 fpts)