Week 10 Fantasy Flames RB: The Rico resurrection

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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).  

Rico Dowdle, Panthers

In some attics, low-wattage bulbs slowly burn barely carrying out their intended purpose. 

For days inside Dave Canales’ dome, the light emitted was faint. Despite Rico Dowdle’s near team record-setting performance against Miami and encore Dallas dissection, the white-hot rusher underwent a reduced role. Chuba Hubbard, coming off a calf strain that sidelined for multiple weeks, reentered the picture, relegating Carolina’s rushing reaper to curtailed carries. 

Canales’ dimness, thankfully, only proved temporary. 

After studying the film from a blowout loss to Buffalo, the head coach experienced an epiphany. Post examination, he called Dowdle “exceptional,” a clear indication he was about to flip the script. 

Last Sunday as a double-digit underdog in Green Bay, the Panthers again unleashed its peak-efficient punisher. On 25 carries, Dowdle smashed and dashed his way to 130 yards and two touchdowns. Hubbard, meanwhile, ate scraps, toting the rock only five times. 

Make no mistake, Dowdle is here to stay as the starter. With his club firmly in the playoff picture, he will dominate the opportunity share moving forward. Yes, the Panthers defense is largely lackluster, but as long as game scripts don’t spin negatively out of control, the flashy back should remain a top-12 fantasy fixture, no matter the format. After all, he enters Week 10 No. 4 in YAC per attempt (3.80) and No. 10 in total missed tackles forced (24) at Pro Football Focus. 

This week, bank on him carrying truckloads of mail against the one-win Saints. 

In New Orleans, the brown bags are back. In a dogfight with the Jets and Titans for No. 1 NFL Draft honors, the Saints are an unwanted watch. This season, they, however, are No. 12 in rush EPA defense, allowing 4.17 yards per carry, 135.7 total yards per game, nine touchdowns and the-10th most fantasy points to RBs. 

In the end, Dowdle could probably slither and slunk to 100 yards on quaaludes. And you think that’s an exaggeration. 

Congrats to those who stashed his services. Uncle Rico is about to carry you to a postseason berth, if not an outright title. 

Thank goodness Canales saw the light. 

Fearless Forecast: 22 carries, 118 rush yards, 1 touchdown, 2 receptions, 9 receiving yards, 19.7 fantasy points

Quinshon Judkins, Browns 

Whether in fantasy or gambling, there are some heaping-smoldering-meaningless matchups. To stomach even one second of them, some sort of action is needed. 

Seriously, Browns-Jets is a matchup Guantanamo prison bosses would probably use as harsher punishment than weeks of solitary. Three hours of Dillion Gabriel and Justin Fields (?) is downright unbearable. 

However, starting Judkins is a convenient excuse to endure the viewing hardship. Give yourself a reason. 

The powerful Browns back has greatly exceeded expectations that were set in August. At that time, an ongoing domestic violence investigation clouded his status. For a several consecutive days, it was fathomable he wouldn't register a single snap in an NFL uniform this season. 

But once the fog lifted, Judkins promptly entered the picture, displaying an old school between-the-tackles grind the Browns faithful revere. He's finished among the position's top-20 in four of seven games. Overall, he's RB6 in YAC per attempt (3.69) and RB16 in total missed tackles forced (22) according to PFF. Given the stacked fronts that have routinely crossed his path -- he's encountered the second-most eight-plus men fronts in the NFL (44.1%) --  Judkins' production has unquestionably impressed -- especially when considering Cleveland ranks No. 26 in run-blocking efficiency. 

The single-engine Cessnas would struggle transporting an overweight passenger from Poughkeepsie to Albany. Entering Week 10, the one-win Jets are No. 23 in rush EPA defense, giving up 4.41 yards per carry, 108.7 rush yards per game, nine combined touchdowns and the ninth-most fantasy points to RBs. 

The projected total at BetMGM (36.5) in Browns-Jets anticipates a running clock and leather helmets, but Judkins should plow ahead for a relevant return. 

Fearless Forecast: 21 carries, 82 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 10 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 16.2 fantasy points  

Deep league dive: Terrell Jennings, Patriots, RB (2% started, at TB) - Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel takes great pleasure in egging fantasy manager front doors. With Rhamondre Stevenson out last week, every manager with a pulse was counting on TreVeyon Henderson to finally receive a vigorous workload. Truth be told, his 18 touches for 87 yards was exactly what the doctor ordered, but, naturally, Jennings was handed goal-line work, scoring on a three-yard TD versus Atlanta. Bastard of the rat. If Stevenson is again sidelined (toe), another backfield split should be expected. Yes, Henderson is sure to handle the heavy side -- he out-snapped the complementary back 51-17 last Sunday -- but Jennings shouldn't be immediately dismissed. Remember, he gripped the pigskin a dozen times in Week 9. Tampa is a rock solid No. 3 in rush EPA D entering the matchup, but their vulnerability in flat (5.2 rec/g allowed to RB) could lead to Jennings taking advantage as a receiver a time or three. For those in deep formats, he's worth FLEX consideration. Then again, Corey Dillon will probably come out of retirement wrest away touches. Stupid Vrabel. (FF w/no Rhamondre: 10-38-1, 3-16-0, 12.9 fpts)