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).
Trevor Lawerence, Jaguars
| Start pct. | 23% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | at Raiders |
| BetMGM line | Jaguars -3 |
| BetMGM total | 43.5 |
| BetAlytics proj. | NA pts |
By the Mexican government’s strict guidelines overseen by its appointed tequila Czar a true anejo must be subject to “an aging process of at least two months in direct contact with the wood of oak or Encino oak containers.”
Though punishment for violators was not disclosed, one can assume it involves a barrel cactus, bare buttcheeks and some sort of squatting motion.
Ouch.
In the NFL Lawrence has painfully chapped asses over the years, but as the delicious love juice described above proves, taste can become smoother with time.
Prior to his one-week siest, Lawrence ranked QB12 in overall fantasy scoring, In his fifth season, he’s not torching the record book or even the nearest leaf bag, but on the surface he’s produced flavorful results. Sip on his advanced data, however, and the back burn scrapes the throat with an unwanted twinge.
So far this fall, the former No. 1 overall pick doesn’t rank inside the league’s top-20 in a single completion percentage category. As his sub-85.0 passer ratings against zone or man coverage indicate, the superficial strides made are somewhat misleading. However, Week 9 presents a golden opportunity to buoy his production across the board.
This Sunday, the Jaguars exchange greetings with languishing Las Vegas. On the season, Pete Carroll’s crew checks in at No. 26 in dropback EPA defense, allowing 7.14 pass yards per attempt, 257.0 total yards per game, 12 total touchdowns and the 14th-most fantasy points per game to QBs. Looking closer, not one of their DBs ranks inside the top 35 in pass coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus.
Lawrence isn’t exactly a top-shelf elixir, but he also isn’t corn syrup-cut Cuervo. Using his legs effectively on occasion to pad the bottom line, he has excellent odds of tallying 19.0 or more fantasy points for the fourth time this season.
The tequila Czar agrees, he isn’t the finest option on the menu, but the generated buzz should help accomplish the Week 9 mission.
Fearless Forecast: 247 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 0 interceptions, 14 rushing yards, 21.8 fantasy points
Joe Flacco, Bengals
| Start pct. | 17% on Yahoo |
| Matchup | vs. Bears |
| BetMGM line | Chi -1.5 |
| BetMGM total | 51.5 pts |
| BetAlytics proj. | NA pts |
UPDATE: Ian Rapoport reports Flacco is dealing with an AC joint in his shoulder and his status is "up in the air." Please, fantasy gods, don't resurrect the zombie Jake Browning.
Just call 2025 the Year of the Crusty Quarterback.
Aaron Rodgers and Matthew Stafford have had turn-back-the-clock moments, but none have been more surprising than Joe Flacco’s rebirth in Cincinnati.
Shoving aside the Centrum Silver, chair yoga sessions and stories about jungle fights in ‘Nam, the forty-something passer has cannonball-splashed in the Fountain of Youth. In his first three games wearing Bengals stripes, he amassed 261.3 yards and eight touchdowns, scoring 25.0 fantasy points per game. Hell, he’s even “motored” to clutch gains on the ground. For a player who entered the league when Mark Brunell was still active in 2008, it’s rather stunning what he’s accomplished.
In Week 9, the senescent slinger should again stiff arm Father Time.
Cincinnati welcomes the flavorful gummy Bears. Gelatinous and fruitful on defense, Dennis Allen's unit enters the week a lackluster No. 19 in dropback EPA D. Overall, they've allowed 7.81 pass yards per attempt, 216.6 pass yards per game, 2.3 pass touchdowns per game the seventh-most fantasy points per game to signal callers. Heck, recently benched Saints QB Spencer Rattler scored over 20 fantasy points against them.
Flacco's remarkable resurgence is largely due to the weapons around him. Displaying "elite" traits, he's wisely funneled throws in Ja'Marr Chase's general direction, targeting him an absurd 54 times over three games. During the stretch, they've connected 37 times for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Single parties, find someone in life who gazes upon thee like the 40-year-old QB does No. 1. Tee Higgins has also experienced a turnaround, but the bubbling Flacco-to-Chase bromance is the steamiest in the known universe. Seriously, it's up there with Bert and Ernie.
Under the hood, the partially petrified passer isn't quite smooching Nancy Numbers. Including prior action logged up the Ohio road in Cleveland, he's outside the top-20 in six different completion percentage categories. Still, given his electric surrounding arsenal and premium matchup, the graybeard warrants gamers' attention.
Shuffleboard sessions at the Shady Acres Retirement Center can wait.
Fearless Forecast: 252 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 4 rushing yards, 20.0 fantasy points