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Fantasy Lames: Maclin to scare no one in Week 8

Each week the Noise highlights 10 over-started names whom he believes are destined to implode leave egg on his face. To qualify, each player must be started in at least 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. Speaking as an accountability advocate, I will post results, whether genius or moronic, the following week using the scoring system shown here. If you’re a member of TEAM HUEVOS, reveal your Week 8 Lames in the comments section below.

SEE WEEK 8 FLAMES HERE

Derek Carr, Oak, QB (51 percent started, $34 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: at TB
If the Oakland QB was the physical representation of his surname, what would he be? Ferrari? James Bond’s Aston Martin? 1993 Ford Fiesta? In fantasy terms, one of the most popular vehicles during the 90s seems appropriate. After a fiery start – Carr topped the 20-fantasy point mark in four his first five contests – he’s back to his mediocre ways. Against Kansas City and Jacksonville, Colin Cowherd’s frontrunner for MVP (SERIOUSLY?!) posted a reprehensible 5.9 yards per attempt, averaged 212 pass yards per game and totaled a 2:1 TD:INT split. His resulting 12.6 points per game in standard Yahoo leagues ranked outside the position’s top-20 over the span. It may be a small sample size, but his precipitous dip in YPA follows what virtual gamers routinely saw from the passer last year. Couple his sporadic shots downfield with the fourth-toughest fantasy schedule remaining and he’s practically waiver wire material in 12-team leagues. It’s doubtful his recent production will suddenly reverse course, even against Tampa. Yes, the Rum Runners have given up a very appealing 7.8 yards per attempt this year, but they displayed considerable improvement in the area in recent affairs. Since Week 3, they’ve conceded just 212.3 pass yards per game and a 7.1 YPA. Credit to corner Brent Grimes, who recall earned a torchable reputation preseason when Josh Gordon dusted him twice for TDs, has allowed a very respectable 73.6 passer rating this year. Compile the data, and it makes sense to employ the services of Jameis Winston (vs. Oak), Dak Prescott (vs. Phi) or Kirk Cousins (at Cin) instead.

Fearless Forecast: 252 passing yards, 1 passing touchdown, 1 interception, 10 rushing yards, 14.1 fantasy points

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Isaiah Crowell, Cle, RB (55 percent started, $20 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: vs. NYJ
Does anyone know of an able-bodied quarterback desperately seeking a temporary gig? The Browns, who clearly didn’t feed off the sports momentum gained by the Cavaliers and now the Indians, are inching closer to winless infamy. Hue Jackson, possibly down Josh McCown and Cody Kessler, may be forced to feature rookie Kevin Hogan as his signal-caller Week 8, an inaccurate thrower who completed 12-of-24 passes for 100 yards and two picks last week versus Cincinnati. If Hogan is relied upon again, stacked/base fronts will be commonplace for Crowell. The rusher, who has fallen shy of eight fantasy points in three of his past five clashes, is a yards-after-contact beast (RB7 in YAC/game) and currently ranks inside the position’s top-20 in fantasy points per game. However, goal-to-go situations will inevitably be rare if not nonexistent. Complicating matters, the Jets are ironclad in the trenches. On the year, the Puddle Jumpers have surrendered 3.6 yards per carry and 75.0 rushing yards per game. When also weighing Crow’s limitations in the pass game and it’s simple to understand why a depressed week should be expected. It’s wiser to roll the dice on upstarts Chris Thompson (vs. Cin), Devontae Booker (vs. SD) or Matt Asiata (at Chi) over him.

Fearless Forecast: 14 attempts, 55 rushing yards, 1 receptions, 3 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns, 6.3 fantasy points

Jonathan Stewart, Car, RB (50 percent started, $18 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: vs. Ari
Every year a group of steadfast individuals try to make Stewart a thing. To be fair, he’s a useful running back in spurts, but that’s the operative word, “spurts.” Perpetual setbacks (e.g. a hamstring pull which cost him multiple games this year), hindrances as a receiver and the presence of Cam Newton at the goal line have curtailed any notion he’s an elite fantasy producer. To be fair, 2015 was a near high watermark year for Stewart, his second-best campaign of his nine-year career. But the wheels have come off in Carolina and, right now, the Panthers are in a deep hole. A dreadful secondary and Cam drop-off (’15 passer rating: 99.4, ’16: 81.2) are primarily responsible for the downturn. When on the field this season, Stewart has performed respectably. He churned out 4.1 yards per carry and tallied the 11th-best juke rate among RBs. Still, he’s struggled against base fronts (3.8 ypc) and unless Newton finds his groove, more loaded boxes are on tap this week against Arizona. The Cardinals, one the of the league’s stingiest fronts, are giving up a mere 3.5 yards per carry and 69.0 rushing yards per game to tugboats. Calais Campbell, Corey Peters and Kevin Minter have excelled in plugging gaps. And they stonewalled guys like Carlos Hyde, Todd Gurley, Matt Forte and Christine Michael. Ring someone else’s doorbell.

Fearless Forecast: 16 attempts, 69 rushing yards, 1 reception, 4 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns, 7.8 fantasy points

[Week 8 rankings: Overall | FLEX | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K]

Allen Robinson, Jax, WR (92 percent started, $26 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: vs. TEN
Those who sank a presumed Round 2 pick in the Jags’ services are living in an endless nightmare. Thanks to Blake Bortles’ ongoing incompetence, Robinson is on pace for an appalling 69-789-8 line. If that pace is maintained he would likely finish outside the WR top-36, a bewildering free fall for a player most believed was headed in a completely different direction only months ago. By all means, fantasy owners equipped with pitchforks and torches are gathering around Jacksonville facilities, in a metaphoric sense, waiting patiently for Bortles to emerge, but the entire blame shouldn’t be pinned on the QB. Yes, Bortles is basically thrift store Blaine Gabbert, ranking near rock bottom in completion percentage (59.7) and passer rating (76.4), but offensive coordinator Greg Olson also deserves a lambasting. It’s absolutely unacceptable, Robinson, one of the league’s finest deep-ball receivers, is averaging 5.4 yards per target, down from 9.3 in 2015. Ridiculous. The wideout is still attracting 31.2 percent of the red-zone target share, but in rare instances when the Jags have knocked at the door, they’ve squandered scoring chances. Again … QB play. Bortles would overthrow a wide open Eiffel Tower from 10 yards out. Throw in Allen Hurns’ regression, zero run game, an ineffective offensive line and increased defensive attention and it’s a formula for decline. Tennessee is far from lockdown against the pass giving up 7.7 yards per attempt, but CB Jason McCourty, who Robinson should a significant amount of, has allowed only 7.7 fantasy points per game this year. In what will surely be another face-melting primetime affair, the WR is worth circumventing.

Fearless Forecast: 5 receptions, 57 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns, 8.2 fantasy points

Jeremy Maclin, KC, WR (76 percent started, $19 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: at Ind
When you trick or treat at Maclin’s house, he gives all the little ghouls and ghosts the Charlie Brown treatment. Instead of handing out sweet, satisfying candy he gut-punches souls with flavorless rocks, lots of them. Fantasy owners know the feeling. Selected as a WR2 by most on draft day, the Chiefs wide receiver, who finished inside the top-17 in consecutive seasons with a 86-1203-9 average line, is on pace for a hard-to-swallow 72-888-3 output. His sharp decline in targets share (’15: 29.7, ’16: 21.5) and yards per target (8.8, 7.4) are perturbing. Andy Reid’s high reliance on Spencer Ware and his defense continue to suppress opportunities. Alex Smith is throwing the ball more compared to last year, but he’s been less efficient downfield, crippling Maclin’s value. Even when blessed with favorable matchups, the receiver hasn’t delivered. He hasn’t found the end zone since Week 1 and has yet to eclipse 80 yards in a game. And he faced the friendly likes of New York (Jets), Pittsburgh, Oakland and New Orleans. Indy, which has allowed 8.0 yards per attempt and 291.6 pass yards per game, presents another prime opportunity, but anticipate an uneventful effort. Maclin should see a ton of Vontae Davis, arguably one of the best cover corners in the league. The ex-Illini has conceded a lowly 50.2 passer rating and 6.5 fantasy points per game. Employable options are scant with six teams on vacation this week, but it’s doubtful Maclin suddenly snaps out of his season-long funk.

Fearless Forecast: 4 receptions, 48 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns, 6.8 fantasy points

BONUS WEEK 8 LAMES

#TEAMHUEVOS Picks of the Week
Each week one fortunate guest prognosticator will have a chance to silence the Noise. Following the rules stated above, participants are asked to submit their “Lames” (1 QB, 2 RBs, 2 WRs, 1 TE, 1 D/ST) by midnight PT Tuesdays via Twitter @YahooNoise. How large are your stones?

Reader Record: 19-24

Noise Record: 36-34 (Week 7: 5-5; W: Todd Gurley, Russell Wilson, Zach Ertz, DeAndre Hopkins, Houston D/ST; L: LeGarrette Blount, Jarvis Landry, Matt Forte, Mark Ingram, Antonio Brown)

Follow Brad on Twitter (@YahooNoise) and check out his new TV show, ‘The Fantasy Football Hour,’ Wednesdays on Altitude TV (Channel 681 on DirecTV, 412 on DISH).