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Week 4 Fantasy Flames: Bears' Howard to claw way to top-15 numbers

Every Wednesday the Noise highlights 12 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 using the scoring system shown here (Thresholds – QB: 18 fpts, RB: 13 fpts, WR: 11 fpts: TE: 10 fpts; .5 PPR). If you’re a member of TEAM HUEVOS, reveal your Week 4 Flames in the comments section below.

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Andy Dalton, Cin, QB (19 percent started, $29)
Matchup: vs. Mia
Possibly the only man in America who could challenge Donald Trump for ‘Most Orange Human,’ the fire-headed passer has largely left his owners in the red this season. In total against the Jets, Steelers and Broncos he found the end zone just twice and averaged a pedestrian 16.3 standard fantasy points per game, good for a ranking outside the QB top-20. Still, there are numerous reasons a turnaround is imminent. For starters, he’s taken numerous shots downfield netting a very healthy 8.1 yards per attempt. Additionally, the Red Rifle has hit targets accurately at point-blank and long range. Overall, he’s nailed 65.2 percent of his throws and checks in at No. 2 in deep-ball completion percentage. Again, the underlying profile is awfully encouraging. This week, so is the opponent. Miami, which made the Cleveland QB rotation of Cody Kessler and Terrelle Pryor appear suitable, presents an exploitable opportunity. Jimmy Garoppolo is the only passer to register multiple TDs against it thus far, but DBs Byron Maxwell and Xavien Howard have surrendered a combined 66.6 catch percentage and 84-plus passer rating to their assignments. As a unit, Miami has allowed 7.4 pass yards per attempt. Yes, it’s a prime-time game (Dalton career splits – Day: 92.1 passer rating, Night: 75.8), but under the lights expect Dalton to be more pale-skinned hero than goat-like ginger.

Fearless Forecast: 281 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 11 rushing yards, 19.3 fantasy points

Cameron Artis-Payne, Car, RB (7 percent started, $20)
Matchup: at Atl
CAP was far from a fantasy superhero in Carolina’s committee last week against Minnesota. Though he totaled an unexciting 58 total yards on 13 touches, his secondary metrics painted a rosier picture. Against one of the league’s stingiest run defenses, he notched 3.4 yards after contact and a 30.8 percent juke rate, advanced analytics that suggest he’s on the right path to quickly gaining fantasy respectability. Why? He’s making defenders miss and driving for extra yardage through contact, two fundamental characteristics Justin Forsett wishes he possessed. Fozzy Whittaker out-snapped him 35-31, but I’m anticipating an uptick in opportunities based on this week’s accommodating matchup. When it comes to defending the run, the Dirty Birds are a finger-lickin’ good opponent. On the season, they’ve yielded 172.3 total yards per game, 1.4 touchdowns per game and 4.8 yards per carry to RBs, equal to the fifth-most fantasy points allowed. Last year in limited action Week 15 versus Atlanta, Artis-Payne averaged a stupendous 11.2 yards per touch. In the rematch and with a more substantial workload, he should penetrate the RB2 class in 12-team leagues

Fearless Forecast: 15 carries, 64 rushing yard, 2 receptions, 14 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 14.8 fantasy points

Jordan Howard, Chi, RB (18 percent started, $14)
Matchup: vs. Det
Hallelujah! There is a higher being! John Fox has finally seen the light! At least, the fantasy community hopes so. Howard’s role, rumored to expand entering Week 3, finally heightened in Dallas, even before Jeremy Langford was carted off with an ankle sprain, an injury that will keep him out of action for the next 4-6 weeks. The bulky, bruising rookie repeatedly flashed as a rusher and receiver. Including his 92 total yards evening against the Cowboys, he’s amassed 5.6 yards per carry and an impressive 2.8 YAC in a pair of contests. Constructed for the rigors of a voluminous workload, he should see abundant touches this week against visiting Detroit. On the year, the Lions have conceded the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position, but looks, they are deceiving. The primary justification for their high rank in the category stems from 1) A horrific pass defense, which QBs have taken advantage of, 2) No RB has scored against them. In reality, the Lions are cuddly kittens in the trenches evidenced by their 5.3 yards per carry allowed. Digging deeper, not a single Detroit linebacker or lineman has drawn a 50-plus run grade thus far. Game flow will be an endless concern for any Bears back, but given Howard’s well-rounded skill set and opportunity, he should deliver a top-15 result. Fear ‘The Revenant.’

Fearless Forecast: 15 carries, 70 rushing yards, 4 receptions, 24 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 17.4 fantasy points

The bright light shines on Jordan Howard as he faces the languishing Lions. (Getty)
The bright light shines on Jordan Howard as he faces the languishing Lions. (Getty)

Terrelle Pryor, Cle, QB (17 percent started, $17)
Matchup: at Wash
Last week in a game that conjured memories of George Blanda, Sammy Baugh and Kordell Stewart, Pryor compiled one of the most versatile performances in NFL history. On South Beach, the former Raiders quarterback not only took snaps from under center, completing three of five passes for 35 yards, he was the featured Wildcat rusher tallying 21 yards and a score on the ground. Not be to outdone as a receiver, he grabbed eight passes for 144 yards from rookie Cody Kessler. Fantasy’s newest ‘Slash’ is not only wailing the whammy bar on ‘November Rain,’ he’s feeding the box score with statistical riches. And another handsome payoff is on tap for those who choose to invest in his services. Down DeAngelo Hall and Bashaud Breeland, the Redskins secondary is forced to lean on Josh Norman and Greg Toler, one of the lowest-rated corners three years running. Norman was owned last week by Odell Beckham, responsible for giving up 106 of the receiver’s 121 yards. Pryor’s length, expanded route tree and Swiss Army knife profile are sure to slice and dice the competition. Undeniably the hottest waiver add this week, he’s worth an immediate plug-n-play. Keep in mind, Washington has yielded 8.9 pass yards per attempt.

Fearless Forecast: 28 pass yards, 33 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 89 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 21.7 fantasy points

Phillip Dorsett, Ind, WR (18 percent started, $20)
Matchup: at Jax
Ker-plunk! Dorsett, served up a golden opportunity on a silver platter, dished out an unappetizing line for those who took the plunge, me included. On four targets, he managed just three receptions for 23 yards without a score versus San Diego. Outside T.Y. Hilton’s colossal performance, Indy’s passing offense mostly disappointed. But it’s time to double down on Dorsett. Fruit continues to hang low for the speedster with Donte Moncrief sidelined the next several weeks. Inevitably he’ll deliver, possibly this week against suffering Jacksonville. The Jags defense, despite upgrades acquired via free agency and the Draft, remains toothless. Though as a whole they’ve allowed only 6.4 yards per attempt and 201.7 pass yards per game, DBs Jalen Ramsey and Davon House have shown hospitality. Ramsey and House each rank outside the top-90 in catch percentage allowed and have given up a combined 108.9 passer rating. However, to be fair, Ramsey hasn’t allowed a big gainer as shown in his 7.0 yards per route surrendered. Still, it seems likely Dorsett will see an uptick from last week’s minute targets share. With Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb and Jordan Matthews on a one-week siesta, the Colt is worth saddling up as a WR3 in 12-team formats.

Fearless Forecast: 4 receptions, 66 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 14.6 fantasy points

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WEEK 4 SHOCKER SPECIAL (Under 10 percent started)

Dwayne Washington, Det, RB (6 percent started, $10)
Matchup: at Chi
With Ameer Abdullah officially ground, processed and packed for the remainder of the season, the-little known product, coincidentally from Washington, is slated for favorable workloads complementing Theo Riddick as Detroit’s ‘big back.’ He didn’t invigorate libidos last week at Lambeau (35 total yards, 0 TDs), but his 11 touches, 2.4 YAC and prominent goal-line role were a harbinger. And his 3.8 ypc was nothing to scoff at considering the unrelenting Packers run D. Washington will largely be a situational fantasy commodity, one only employable when the matchup or heavy bye weeks warrant. This week is one such occasion. Chicago, decimated by injuries after losing LBs Lamar Houston and Danny Trevathan, are a sieve in nearly all facets. Matthew Stafford, like Dak Prescott before him, should be able to move the ball uninhibitedly through the air presenting Washington with plentiful goal-to-goal opportunities. Yes, the Bears have surrendered a mere 4.0 yards per carry to RBs, but tied with the Redskins for third-to-last in rush yards per game allowed to RBs, they are clearly vulnerable. On roughly 12-15 touches, look for the newcomer to crack the position’s top-24. At an RB-minimum $10 in Yahoo DFS, he’s practically free money.

Fearless Forecast: 14 carries, 61 rushing yards, 2 receptions, 10 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 14.1 fantasy points

BONUS WEEK 4 FLAMES

BonusWeek4FlamesC
BonusWeek4FlamesC

#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 “Flames” (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: 9-12

Noise season record: 13-23 (Week 3: 3-9; W: Dak Prescott, Christine Michael, DeVante Parker, L: Marcus Mariota, Theo Riddick, Chris Ivory, Miami D/ST, Dennis Pitta, Phillip Dorsett, Quincy Enunwa, Sammie Coates, Tyrell Williams)

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).