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).
Matthew Golden, Packers
| Start pct. | 22% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | at Cowboys |
| BetMGM line | GB -7 |
| BetMGM total | 47.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | 5.6 fpts |
Tequila is a wonderful elixir.
No, not the cheap high-fructose-corn-syrup-cut crap that you painfully ingested during forgettable nights your junior year at Ball State. As willing imbibers unfondly recall, that low-level Cuervo caused nothing but upchucks and next-day pounding headaches.
Now more refined and choosier in your seasoned years, the Mexican love juice consumed is smoother and downright delicious.
The $60 bottle of anejo you regularly pour is perfectly aged in oak barrels over the Czar-mandated 36 months. There’s no after sip bite. The vanilla and caramel nodes exhibited tickle the taste buds with a symphony of sumptuousness.
Golden is the fantasy equivalent of the finely-aged beverage. He may rank at a bitter-tasting WR80 in overall fantasy production in half-point PPR formats, but the rookie WR is on the brink of a major breakout.
Explosive signs were apparent in Week 3. In a shocking loss at Cleveland, he outwardly took a forward step. Sans Jayden Reed, the first-round pick led Packers WRs in receiving, securing four receptions (on 4 targets) for 52 yards. He also was active in the run game, chipping in nine rush yards. Again, it was far from an earth-shattering output -- he was WR38 on the week -- but Golden’s performance perked ears for those paying attention -- especially against the Browns lock-down defense.
Yes, Jordan Love will continue to spread around the targets, but as the rookie’s WR32 standing in unrealized air yards portends, profitable days will happen in short order. Is that the Don Julio talking? Possibly, but rumblings under the surface are audible.
Dallas is downright repugnant. Reeking like a corpse flower in full bloom, the sorrowful secondary enters Week 4 No. 31 in pass EPA defense. Only the friendly Flippers from Miami rank lower. Overall, the ‘Boys are THE most generous squad to opposing fantasy wide receivers allowing 41.4 half-point PPR points per game to the position. At No. 2 on that list? The Giants at a well-separated 34.6 points per game. Again, stanky!
Expected to draw CB Kaiir Elam primarily in coverage — the defender has given up an 82.4% catch rate, the four-most yards (209) and 137.5 passer rating to his assignments — Golden is in a prime position to shine.
Serve up a three-finger pour.
Fearless Forecast: 4 receptions, 57 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 13.7 fantasy points
Christian Kirk, Texans
| Start pct. | 4% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | vs. Titans |
| BetMGM line | Hou -7 |
| BetMGM total | 39.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | 4.6 fpts |
As the old saying goes, "Everything is big in Texas.” The local pro football franchise in Houston, however, is one significant exception.
Staring up at the stallions of the AFC South, Indianapolis, the 0-3 Texans have firmly stepped in cow manure. Already in full Chase mode, DeMeco Ryan’s slumping bunch is desperate for a win.
For Houston to get off the schneid, it must immediately rectify its most glaring weakness — pass protection. Currently No. 27 in pass-blocking efficiency according to Pro Football Focus, CJ Stroud has melted under the constant heat. Placed in pressurized situations on an inexcusable 41.2% of his dropbacks, he simply hasn’t had time to successfully survey and deliver clean passes downfield. It also explains why Stroud is third-to-last in aggressive percentage according to NFL NextGen Stats.
As disclosed over the summer, Kirk was brought in to help alleviate pressure. The slot man was signed to be Stroud’s version of Sterling Shepard, a short-field crutch with plus turn-and-burn abilities. Recall last fall in eight games with the Jags he averaged a very healthy 14.0 yards per reception. However, his 5.5 fantasy points per game in PPR formats was rather pulseless (WR81).
Tennssee is an alluring matchup. Three games under the belt, DC Dennard Wilson's group checks in at an unexciting No. 22 in dropback EPA defense. Most attractive, slot corner Roger McCreary has allowed a 78.6 catch percentage and the 24th-most yards (124) of any defensive back.
With his perviously compromised hamstring intact, Kirk lured eight targets last week in his Texans debut and against his former employer Jacksonville. Knocking off the dust, he caught only three passes for 25 yards. If he receives a similar volume in the followup, bet on a splashier return.
Sprout in the box score, Christian.
Keep it tight (TE Play) - Jake Ferguson, Cowboys vs. GB (55% started) - The gaping vacancy left by CeeDee Lamb should again funnel targets in the tight end's general direction. As witnessed last week in Chicago, he became Dak Prescott’s over-the-middle main man when Lamb exited with a high-ankle sprain. His PPR production had backers jubilantly shaking their butts. In total, he squeezed 13-of-14 looks, totaling 83 yards. That may seem highly uncommon, but in Week 2 he was equally superb, plucking 9-of-12 targets for 78 yards against the Giants. Holy statistical stimulation! Yes, Green Bay is an unforgiving No. 6 in dropback EPA defense. However, they’ve yielded the fourth-most receptions (21) to plus-sized targets. Sam LaPorta and Zach Ertz each tallied six catches against them. Their efforts are just shy of the number needed, but Ferguson’s mammoth target share should continue. Seven snatches should be the minimum. Unquestionably, he’s Dak’s most trustworthy intermediate field weapon. (FF: 8-71-1, 17.1 fpts)