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).
Brock Purdy, Niners
| Start pct. | 41% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | vs. Panthers |
| BetMGM line | SF -7 |
| BetMGM total | 47.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | NA pts |
Ain’t he so Purdy was expected to be a beauty pageant king in fantasy only weeks ago.
Sadly, a debilitating turf toe setback sidelined him for multiple weeks, turning the once coveted QB into Medusa-ugly roster blight.
Last week in Arizona, the bubble wrap was finally removed. Against a banged up bunch of birds, a rusty Purdy twirled a respectable 200 yards on 26 attempts, tossing three touchdowns. Overall, he completed an outstanding 73.1% of his attempts.
At times, he appeared like a player who had missed considerable action, but a number brilliant air strikes offered reminders of his QB1 consistency. Now firmly back in the mix and with an extra day to heal, the Gold Panner is a valuable bouillon for fantasy managers chasing end-season riches -- especially against Carolina’s horrible erratic pass defense.
This season, the Panthers rank No. 26 in dropback EPA defense. Through 11 weeks, they’ve yielded 7.26 pass yards per attempt, 223.1 pass yards per game, 16 total touchdowns and the eighth-fewest fantasy points to signal callers. Pouring salt into the still-fresh wound, starting corners Mike Jackson and Jaycee Horn rank inside the top 15 in most pass yards allowed. They’re counquerable -- quite conquerable.
Turnovers have been problematic for San Francisco’s slinger this year. In three games, he’s tossed four INTs. Still, with Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall, JaJuan Jennings and Kendrick Bourne on roster, he has the weapons required to crush Carolina.
It’s taken an eternity for Kyle Shanahan’s offense to recover from various physical ailments. Somehow remaining in the thick of it out west, his Niners are primed for a fantastic finish in undeniably one of the most heated divisional races in the sport. The Rams and Seahawks are keenly aware.
There’s no reason to apply an extra layer of lip gloss or mascara. Purdy’s natural touchdown-spinning beauty is bound to shine through.
This week, place a crown on his head.
Fearless Forecast: 233 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 12 rushing yards, 20.9 fantasy points
Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers
| Start pct. | 55% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | at Rams |
| BetMGM line | LAR -6.5 |
| BetMGM total | 49.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | NA pts |
Whether witnessed in his commercial exploits on the small screen, shotgunning beers with random fans at celebrity golf events or on-field wizardry, Mayfield is represents nothing but pure and unfiltered joy.
The fun-loving quarterback has regressed somewhat in Year 2 with the Buccaneers, but despite the derailments of Bucky Irving and Mike Evans, he's chugged along at a serviceable level. He's also assisted in making Emeka Egbuka a frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year. The reborn passer has also elevated Cade Otton and Tez Johnson into solid week-to-week fantasy contributors.
Mired in a mini slump, Mayfield only has one multi-TD pass game over his last four. He's also only eclipsed 230 pass yards one time during the stretch.
Despite the vertical downturn, he's often padded game lines with his opportunistic legs. Running as though a burdensome weighted vest drapes the torso, Mayfield's wheel spins have chewed up real estate. Four times this season he's "booked" it for 30-plus ground yards -- including his 39 yards and rush TD score showing last week in Buffalo.
Transparently, Baker's advanced profile leaves much to be desired. He is a respectable No. 14 in red-zone completion percentage, but outside the top 20 in five other completion categories, he's not performed efficiently.
This week, however, in what should be another scoreboard smoking game, he should deliver 20+ fantasy points for only the fifth time this season.
Admittedly, many go-to metrics paint an ominous picture. The Rams enter the week No. 4 in dropback EPA D, giving up a mere 6.62 pass yards per attempt, 240.3 pass yards per game, 13 total touchdowns and the 10th-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks.
But what jumps off the screen and smacks the face is the projected total. The third-highest on the NFL Week 12 board, oddsmakers are convinced a shootout will commence. This gullible gambler is also a believer.
This week, the "Touchdown maker" lives up to the playful moniker.
Fearless Forecast: 259 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions 17 rushing yards, 22.7 fantasy points