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).
Jameson Williams, Lions
| Start pct. | 40% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | at Commanders |
| BetMGM line | Det -9.5 |
| BetMGM total | 49.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | NA pts |
The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
A popular adage embedded in the lexicon of fantasy football, it often applies. Jamo's bounce back performance in Week 9 was a clear example.
With an oversized can of WD-40 in hand, Lions OC John Morton lubed the mental gears, determined to jumpstart his slumping and dissatisfied wide receiver. After all, the third-year speedster was supposed to take a massive step forward in his usage and overall production. Over the summer, promises were made to feature him more on downfield explosives, maximizing his electric 4.39 40-yard wheels to the fullest.
In Week 2, his 108-yard, 1-TD effort against Chicago leaned into the belief. However, rust accumulated thereafter, as he fell short of 45 yards and scored only once in his next five games.
Last week, Williams reemerged against one of the better on-paper secondaries in the league. In Minnesota's stunning upset of Detroit at Ford Field, he tallied six targets, four receptions, 66 yards and a touchdown. His left sideline tightrope for six was nothing short of jaw-dropping.
As his eye-caching rankings in average depth of target (WR5, 17.0), yards per reception (WR6, 16.9) and unrealized air yards (WR15, 357) imply, Dan Campbell's widely held WR2 could be in the midst of a monster second half. Fantasy managers who went the extra mile to acquire his services in August drafts are optimistic their patience will finally be rewarded.
This week, Detroit travels to the nation's capital for a meeting with woeful Washington. In the land of excessive spin doctoring and political attacks, he should earn indecisive gamers' votes.
Now down Marshon Lattimore for the season (ACL) and with Jayden Daniels (arm) indefinitely sidelined, the Commanders are quickly crumbling. They enter the weekend, No. 29 in dropback EPA defense, conceding the second-most WR yards and third-most fantasy points to the position. Sam Darnold, who bombarded them for 330 yards and four touchdowns last Sunday night, is still completing passes against them.
Most specifically speaking, Williams is slated to exchange pleasantries with veteran corner Jonathan Jones. The elevated backup has allowed a very attractive 118.8 passer rating on only 27 coverage snaps played. Even better, he surrendered a 146.1 passer rating with the Patriots in 2024. Hello!
Keep feeding the man, Morton.
Fearless Forecast: 4 receptions, 77 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 15.7 fantasy points
Keenan Allen, Chargers
| Start pct. | 51% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | vs. Steelers |
| BetMGM line | LAC -3 |
| BetMGM total | 45.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | NA pts |
Justin Herbert and Madison Beer are one of the hottest couples in the known universe. No matter what team admirers play for, their collective photogenic smoke is blatantly obvious.
Whether witnessed at NBA games, walking the street or partying at random team functions, the camera always finds them. However, at the team's Halloween shindig last week, it was Allen who hilariously stole the snapshot.
This week against the Steelers, he could have fantasy employers eyes rolling back.
What version of Mike Tomlin's defense that trots out on Sunday is anyone's best guess. Last week, the Steel Curtain returned versus Indianapolis, repeatedly swarming Daniel Jones under. The intense heat applied led to five sacks and a critical victory.
However, if the Soft Curtain again makes a cameo, a steady dose of Herbert bombardments awaits. This season, Pittsburgh ranks No. 19 in dropback EPA defense, giving up the most receiving yards and fourth-most fantasy points to the wideouts.
Slicing and dicing the matchup, Allen is expected to primarily line up against CB Joey Porter Jr. Through nine weeks, the DB ranks a modest No. 55 in pass coverage grade. Allen, who is still one of the craftiest route runners in the game, should gobble up passes working on customary short-to-intermediate routes.
The slot machine's advanced profile only adds support. Averaging 8.3 targets per game, the bearded baller ranks top 30 among qualifying WRs on PlayerProfiler in total red-zone targets (11), yards after catch (151), juke rate (8.0%), yards per route run (1.98) and fantasy points per route (0.48). Who cares he's on the wrong side of 30.
At home and presented with a premium matchup, he should be universally started in 12-team formats.
Fearless Forecast: 5 receptions, 61 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 14.6 fantasy points
Keep it tight (TE play): Dalton Schultz, Texans (at Jax, 14% started) - With CJ Stroud's status very much in doubt (concussion), change may indeed be in the air, but regardless if its the incumbent or Davis Mills under center, the sure-handed Schultz warrants your attention. Fighting through shoulder and knee soreness against denying Denver in Week 9, he reeled in at least five receptions for the fifth time in six games. The end-zone has remained elusive for the Texan, but the useful PPR returns have made him a consistency king in PPR formats. Overall among TEs, he's top 10 in total targets (48) and yards after catch (180). Again, the production isn't earth shattering by any stretch, but he's reliable. This Sunday facing a Jags defense he snagged five passes against in Week 3, he could again land inside the position's top-12 for the third time in his last four games. On the year, Jacksonville has surrendered the second-most fantasy points to plus-sized weapons, allowing 6.9 catches per game, 75.0 yards per game and six touchdowns to the position. Belly up to the bar and order a Lone Star. (FF: 5-48-1, 13.3 fpts)