RaiseAPint

After a wacky Week 12, here are three unheralded medal-earners (started in less than 20-percent of Y! leagues) projected to finish in fourth place who ended up setting the fantasy pace:

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buf, QB
Y! Percent started: 16-percent
Over the past week possibly no offense faced more scrutiny than the Buffalo Bills. The ridicule was well-deserved. Earlier this season, Chan Gailey's ragtag group of reclamation projects executed at a high level. Over the first eight weeks, the Bills scored at least 23 points in every game. Bargain buys Fred Jackson and Ryan Fitzpatrick were lineup staples for many.

However, after Week 8, the stampede stopped.

From Weeks 9-11, Buffalo averaged just 8.7 points per game, a laughable performance that led to three consecutive losses. Most damning, Jackson, who comprised 40-percent of the club's offense, was placed on injured reserve with a leg injury just before Thanksgiving. As a result, owners and fanalysts alike placed the odds of a BUF rebound against the W-hungry Jets at 50:1, equal to Matt Leinart's chances of NOT sucking. Among the Y! Fantasy brass, no Bill was ranked as a starter Week 12 in 12-team leagues.

TurkeyFreak

After blowing a week's worth of calories, digesting several empty fantasy performances (e.g. Kevin Smith, Ray Rice and Frank Gore) and dodging streams of pepper spray fighting crazed soccer moms over a $2.84 waffle iron at Wal-Mart, it's time to get back to work.

On this week's extra tasty program, Brad Evans and Andy Behrens talked Turkey Day takeaways, provided the latest on injured stars Michael Vick, Adrian Peterson and Ryan Mathews, pulled the wishbone over Vince Young's Week 12 value, explained why Donald Brown won't make you frown, played a game of over/unders, and, of course, answer your pressing questions. Just woke up from your T-Day hangover? We got you covered. Listen to the rebroadcast below.

LISTEN TO THE FANTASY FREAK PODCAST SHOW HERE

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Image courtesy of US Presswire

MurrayRipped

Each week the Noise highlights 10 bold names who he believes are destined to torpedo your team. For those playing the Lames home edition, each player must be started in at least 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues to qualify. As an accountability advocate, results, whether genius or moronic, will post the following week using the revamped scoring system shown here . If you're a member of TEAM HUEVOS, post your Week 12 Lames in the comments.

DeMarco Murray, Dal, RB (Noise Week 12 RB Rank: 13, 87-percent started)
Matchup: vs. Mia
Admittedly coming off the most-physical game of his young career, Dallas' newest star could again dim against a very underrated Miami frontline. Last week in Washington, the rookie and veteran Felix Jones combined for a measly 90 yards on 30 carries. The absence of hole-creator Tony Fiammetta led to an uncharacteristic amount of marginal gains. With the fullback still weakened by an unknown illness, likely sidelining him for the second-consecutive week, it could be tough-going for Murray yet again. Miami has routinely gobbled up opposing rushers. Cameron Wake, Karlos Dansby and Paul Soliai each rank in the top-20 at their respective positions defending the run per Pro Football Focus. Stats back it up. Since Week 7, the 'Fins have surrendered a lowly 3.4 yards per carry, 103.0 total yards per game and zero touchdowns to RBs, equal to the third-fewest fantasy points allowed. On the year, only Ben Tate and Ryan Mathews have surpassed the century mark against them. No question Murray is a talented drag-racer with plus versatility and surprising power. But sans the services of his lead-blocker and based on the matchup, his owners could suffer a nasty case of indigestion Thanksgiving Day.
Fearless Forecast: 22 carries, 80 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 19 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns, 12.9 fantasy points

Vinsanity

Each week the Noise highlights 12 somewhat obscure, unobvious names who he believes are destined to torch the competition. For those playing the Flames home edition, each player must be started in fewer than 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues to qualify. As an accountability advocate, results, whether genius or moronic, will post the following week using the revamped scoring system shown here . If you're a member of TEAM HUEVOS, post your Week 12 Flames in the comments.

Vince Young, Phi, QB (Week 12 Noise QB Rank: 7, 14-percent started)
Matchup: vs. NE
Young's return to the starting lineup in nearly a year was at times rocky, other times spectacular. Admittedly jittery at the onset, he misjudged schemes, under-threw receivers and nailed Giants' jerseys square in the numbers. But once he found a groove and felt comfortable, vintage Vince resurfaced. In Tim Tebow fashion, he orchestrated a demoralizing 8-plus minute fourth-quarter drive, capped by an 8-yard TD strike to Riley Cooper, which sent Eli Manning and cohorts back to the locker-room with mopey faces. Overall, his 258-2-3 line was quite useful. This week, with Michael Vick still a major question mark, he could elevate his game against the league's second-friendliest pass defense. New England's secondary is tattered and torn. Injuries and ineffectiveness have battered the unit throughout the season. So desperate for fresh bodies, Bill Belichick deployed special teamer/WR Julian Edelman in a couple defensive packages Monday night. Even at full-strength quarterbacks have feasted on the Pats. Seven QBs have thrown for at least 250 yards and two touchdowns against them in 10 games. Sure, you wouldn't want the clicker in Mr. Wonderlic's hand in a Quiz Bowl competition, but versus a feeble defensive opponent he's a signal caller that could provide all the right answers, especially with Jeremy Maclin likely back.
Fearless Forecast: 24-38, 274 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 14 rushing yards, 25.1 fantasy points

CJ2Lame

In a tradition folklore says began when Abraham Lincoln spared the life of "Jack," a gobbler his 10-year-old son, Tad, befriended in 1863, several U.S. presidents have pardoned a turkey just before Thanksgiving. Last year, President Obama rescued Apple, a 45-pound white turkey, from the butcher's block. This week, a pair of Butterballs from Minnesota are expected to win a permanent vacation to Mount Vernon.

If the feathered friends are named "Hillis," "Johnson" or "Mike," spurned fantasy owners are hoping the Commander-in-Chief won't offer clemency.

All-Turkey candidates Peyton Hillis, Chris Johnson, Mike Williams, among others, deserve to be stuffed, cooked and smothered in gravy. Each, who had high expectations entering 2011, have underwhelmed massively, causing nothing but heartache for those that invested in them.

[Related: NFL Week 11 Least Valuable Players]

With trade deadlines in most leagues expired, many fanatics, especially those in shallow formats, face a tough decision: Cut a player prized on draft day for an upstart like Kevin Smith or hold steady hoping the underachiever will eventually wake up from his tryptophan-induced coma?

Here are the unfortunate fowls that make up this year's All-Turkey team.

GumbyandPokey

The unforgiving injury imp is hungry. And it will stop at nothing to destroy your playoff dreams. Last week, the insatiable beast snacked on the hands, thumbs, feet and ribs of several notable quarterbacks. Matt Schaub and Matt Cassel were felled by season-ending injuries. Meanwhile, Michael Vick, Ben Roethlisberger and Matthew Stafford suffered painful setbacks that could directly impact their availability or overall effectiveness in the coming weeks. The fallout for marquee names such as DeSean Jackson, Dwayne Bowe and Andre Johnson could be severe. On this week's show, Craig Shemon, Brad Evans and Andy Behrens analyzed each situation and provide owners with a list of widely available crutches that could help playoff-tracking teams remain upright.

Also on this week's shocking episode, we gave you the latest news on wounded stars Vick, Jeremy Maclin, A.J. Green, Frank Gore and Darren McFadden, exchanged heated words on the Week 11 value of Ryan Mathews, explained why Chris Johnson

VickRolled

Each week the Noise highlights 10 bold names who he believes are destined to torpedo your team. For those playing the Lames home edition, each player must be started in at least 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues to qualify. As an accountability advocate, results, whether genius or moronic, will post the following week using the revamped scoring system shown here . If you're a member of TEAM HUEVOS, post your Week 11 Lames in the comments.

Michael Vick, Phi, QB (Noise Week 11 QB Rank: 13, 72-percent started)
Matchup: at NYG
No pain-free game. No Jeremy Maclin. No guarantee DeSean Jackson will wake up in time for kickoff. No thanks. The risk of playing a rib-cracked Vick against a nearly healed Giants defense is immense. Philly's offensive line, which couldn't protect its QB from a chubby preschooler earlier this year, has shown some improvement. The passer, for the most part, has had additional time in the pocket over the past couple weeks. Unfortunately, the opposite result has occurred. His rushing production remains as formidable as ever (63.7 ypg since Week 4), but downfield connections have been few and far between. Against a pair of average secondaries, Chicago and Arizona, Vick averaged a miserable 4.7 yards per attempt. Gut feeling says he'll cowboy up and play this week in a last-ditch effort to turn the Eagles' nightmare season around. However, the final tally likely won't be pretty. Recall in his first encounter with the G-Men in Week 3, he managed just 11.3 fantasy points in standard leagues (176-0-1, 31 ryds), his worst full-game performance as Philly's starter. He also was felled by a broken hand late. And, in that contest, Osi Umenyora was on the sidelines in street clothes. The rematch could be just as ugly. Collectively, the Giants, in particular Corey Webster, have executed fairly well against the pass. Only Rex Grossman and Tom Brady have thrown for at least 250 yards and two scores against them. Because of his duality, No. 7 is always a threat for statistical explosions, but given the circumstances (Injury, matchup, Maclin's likely absence) he's one to avoid even if active. The Giants will have a cure for the Vickness.
Fearless Forecast: 17-29, 193 passing yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, 27 rushing yards, 14.4 fantasy points

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PalmerPoint

Each week the Noise highlights 12 somewhat obscure, unobvious names who he believes are destined to torch the competition. For those playing the Flames home edition, each player must be started in fewer than 60 percent of Yahoo! leagues to qualify. As an accountability advocate, results, whether genius or moronic, will post the following week using the revamped scoring system shown here . If you're a member of TEAM HUEVOS, post your Week 11 Flames in the comments.

Carson Palmer, Oak, QB (Week 11 Noise QB Rank: 6, 10-percent started)
Matchup: at Min
Gamers, what does Carson have to do to earn your respect? Run for touchdowns? Join the Occupy Oakland movement? Out-wrestle the Ultimate Warrior for the Intercontinental Belt? It's criminal the "Red Baron" A) Isn't universally owned. He's still available in 60-percent of Y! leagues. B) Hasn't received widespread support from fanalsyts as an every-week starter. After back-to-back top-10 performances, it's time to shower the former Pro Bowler in adoration. For a player just four weeks removed from eating Cheetohs while reclined in his barcalounger, what he's accomplished with a condensed playbook is nothing short of spectacular. Yes, his six picks are a black-eye, but his progressions, delivery and exceptional play in the no-huddle have erased doubts. It's scary to think, as Hue Jackson remarked last week, the QB "is just getting warmed up." This week, Carson reaches the boiling point. Minnesota's secondary, sans Antoine Winfield, is an exposed unit. Without its leader on the field from Weeks 5-8, the Vikes surrendered 8.0 yards per attempt, 286.5 yards per game and 2.0 air strikes per game. Look for Palmer, who's notched 9.8 yards per attempt in three games, to take numerous shots downfield with Denarius Moore against Minnesota's broken Cover 2. Expect the pair to connect often. Throw in the Raiders' vulnerabilities on defense, and Palmer is destined for QB1 numbers yet again. Enough is enough. Unless you have unbenchable alternatives, the underappreciated passer needs to be in your lineup.
Fearless Forecast: 21-34, 279 passing yards, 3 passing TDs, 1 interception, 24.9 fantasy points

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