Week 12 Fantasy Football WR/TE: Iosivas wins race

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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).  

Andrei Iosivas, Bengals 

In Nintendo classic Mario Kart, gamers have a variety of timeless characters to choose from -- Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Toad, Bowser, Wario, D.K. and ... Yoshi. 

When the Nintendo 64 controller was gripped during this writer's formative years, the lovable green dinosaur oddly wearing brown shoes was always selected -- always. 

This week, fantasy's Yoshi is a player worth picking. He may spin out on a banana peel given the difficult opponent, but with hawk tua enthusiast Ja'Marr Chase out due to suspension, the volume alone could transform Cincinnati's WR3 into Bullet Bill. 

Working primarily out of the slot with Chase and Tee Higgins burning DBs outside, Iosivas has only occasionally moved chain gangs. Earning a rather uneventful 3.4 targets per game, he's scored 10+ fantasy points in PPR formats just twice in 10 games. Equally discouraging, the glossed over WR checks in at WR70 in average yards of separation per target (1.29), WR89 in yards per route run (0.89) and WR68 in red zone target share (12.2%). Swimming in a pool with Great Whites may seem less risky, but his top-35 standing in yards per catch (13.5) and top-12 catchable target rate (80.6%) are signs of potential. 

Most importantly, Joe Flacco -- or Joe Burrow -- has to funnel Chase's 11.7 targets per game somewhere. 

New England is a frontrunner to represent the AFC in Santa Clara for myriad reasons. Most convincingly, its defense has performed at a consistent and notable level. The Patriots enter Week 12 No. 13 in dropback EPA defense, yielding the 15th-fewest yards to wide receivers. They're un-suffocating play on the back end offers encouragement. So does Iosivas' projected primary matchup. Slot corner Marcus Jones has given up a 65.6% catch rate and four TDs to his assignments. 

In a game with one of the highest totals on the board largely due to Cincinnati's laughably awful defense, Iosivas is likely to speed backers to a checkered flag. 

Ride with Yoshi at WR3 in 12-team leagues. 

Fearless Forecast: 5 receptions, 71 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 15.6 fantasy points 

Colston Loveland, Bears

When recently asked when it's acceptable to decorate for Christmas, fellow tight end Travis Kelce provided a spot on answer, "After Thanksgiving." 

Setting up the tree immediately after Halloween toes the line. Lighting up a fake spruce in July, however, is borderline psychotic. 

With the holiday season mostly here, Loveland is sure to place plenty of presents under that whenever-lit tree. 

The Bears are atop the NFC North for several reasons, but the rookie's evolution is one of the most under-publicized. Flourishing of late in the pass game, he's displaying the skills that made him the organization's coveted first-round pick in last April's Draft. Attracting 15 targets over the last three weeks, the former Wolverine has hauled in 13 receptions for 213 yards and two touchdowns. His resulting 39.8 points scored in half-point PPR formats rank him TE4 during the stretch. 

Rome Odunze and DJ Moore will continue to vie for Caleb Williams' affections, but Loveland is sure to make hearts go pitter pat in Week 12. 

The Bears welcome a Pittsburgh defense that's been routinely picked apart by opposing passers. Allowing the most pass yards per game this season (281.5), the suffering Steelers are a wonderfully giving unit. Specific to plus-sized targets, they've conceded 6.3 receptions per game, 67.1 yards per game, six total touchdowns and the sixth-most fantasy points to the position. 

Given his slick route running and Williams' growing confidence in him, plug Loveland in. 

Decorating your abode, however, remains up for debate.

Fearless Forecast: 4 receptions, 52 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 13.2 fantasy points 

Deep league dive: Mack Hollins, Patriots (at Bengals, 2% started) - A tell-tale sign we've officially reached the checked-out portion of the fantasy football season is when a recently productive wide receiver continues to sip margaritas in free agent pools virtually unnoticed. See Hollins. Over the last three weeks, he's performed at a WR3 level in 12-team formats (WR35), totaling 17 targets, 12 receptions and 179 yards. With only two touchdowns to his name in 10 games, the end-zone has remained elusive, but he'a always a pay-dirt threat on explosives. As discussed above, Patriots/Bengals should smoke the scoreboard -- especially on the visitor's side. This season, no defense ranks lower than Cincinnati in dropback EPA D. In total, the Bungles have allowed nine double-digit fantasy scorers at WR. Down the rabbit hole, Hollins will line up opposite CB Josh Newton, a DB who ranks No. 75 in pass coverage grade according to PFF. Averaging a sensational 2.14 fantasy points per target (WR14), bank on the field-stretcher connecting with Drake Maye on an explosive pass play or three. (FF: 3-74-1, 14.9 fpts)