Fantasy Lames: Tell Cam to "scram" in Week 12

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 12 Lames in the comments section below.

SEE WEEK 12 FLAMES HERE

Cam Newton, Car, QB (86 percent started, $33 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: at Oak
It’s hard to say what’s more humorous: Cam’s Russell Westbrook-inspired post-game fashion choices or his recent on-field execution. A far cry from the top fantasy passer of last year, Newton has suffered an abrupt decline this season. Not only have his points per game output greatly diminished, he’s experienced steep drop-offs in noteworthy secondary categories like red-zone completion percentage, deep-ball completion percentage, passer rating and yards per attempt. Tattooed almost weekly by oncoming pass rushers, he could pin the blame entirely on increased pocket pressure, but the man in the mirror is equally culpable. His reads, progressions and overall feel have regressed. As a result, he’s no longer a weekly lineup lock. In fact, over the past four weeks he ranks QB21 on a per game basis, uncharted territory for a player who was largely the first passer drafted back in August. A flyby view of Carolina’s Week 12 matchup implies the poor man’s Colin Kaepernick needs to be employed. The Raiders, on the season, rank inside the position’s top-10 in most fantasy points surrendered. However, much of that damage came early in the year when Khalil Mack wasn’t collapsing pockets and corner Sean Smith underachieved. Firing on all cylinders of late, Oakland has allowed the eighth-fewest points to signal callers over the past six weeks. Inside the Black Hole, Newton’s value, like light and sometimes one’s sense of security, fails to escape.

Fearless Forecast: 242 passing yards, 1 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 39 rushing yards, 16.6 fantasy points

[Week 12 rankings: Overall | FLEX | QB | RB | WR | TE | DEF | K]

Jeremy Hill, Cin, RB (56 percent started, $17 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: at Bal
After abandoning him for weeks, owners with much disdain for Hill are suddenly burying the hatchet, and for good reason. With Giovani Bernard no longer part of the equation (ACL tear), vigorous workloads are a certainty for the rusher rest of season. Rex Burkhead will occasionally spell him on passing downs, but the fallen star showed previously he can handle a three-down workload when needed. Recall his rookie season, he caught 75 percent of his targeted passes. Brighter days are on the horizon for Hill. Enticing matchups against Philly, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Houston Weeks 13-16 could unlock his top-15 potential. Each of those opponents has allowed a very accommodating 4.2 yards per carry or more to RBs. That, however, is down the road. For matters at hand, Hill is an unappealing option even in 14-team leagues this week. Thanks to Cincinnati’s eroded offensive line – it ranks 24th in power run success percentage according to Football Outsiders – he’s topped only 4.0 yards per carry in a game twice this season. His vision and break-tackle ability have often resembled a blind shih tzu’s. His No. 56 standing in juke rate and No. 64 placement in yards after contact per touch are flat out hideous. To be fair, he’s busted seven runs of 15-plus yards, but it’s difficult to overlook the sores.

Thanks to a reinvigorated Terrell Suggs, C.J. Mosely and Timmy Jernigan, the Ravens have bottled up RBs with relative ease. On the season, they’ve conceded the second-fewest fantasy points to the position allowing a mere 67.5 rushing yards per game and 3.4 yards per carry. Heck, even Ezekiel Elliott managed only 3.9 yards per carry against them. Again, Hill will be a difference maker during the fantasy playoffs, but for those scratching and clawing to secure a spot in the second season, he’s avoidable in Week 12.

Fearless Forecast: 17 carries, 52 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 11 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns, 8.7 fantasy points

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Matt Forte, NYJ, RB (50 percent started, $26 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: vs. NE
Presumably doing backstrokes in the same rejuvenating waters as Frank Gore, Forte has stiff armed Father Time and cranked out a very useful RB2 line through 11 weeks. He hasn’t been utilized in the same capacity during his peak season under Marc Trestman in Chicago, but the cagey vet has racked appreciable yards after contact (2.5 average) and crossed the chalk with regularity (seven TDs). His 3.9 yards per carry and 0.08 tackles avoided per attempt (No. 54 at RB) are rather appalling, but his 71.0 percent opportunity share and recent string of top-20 performances has owners convinced he’s must-start material. However, ardent supporters should remove the rose-colored glasses. Game flow is critical to Forte’s fantasy success. Unsurprisingly, in contests which the Jets have played competitively, he’s tallied sizable workloads. However, in lopsided affairs, Bilal Powell has seen equal or in some cases more work. Considering how Tom Brady has annihilated the competition and given Ryan Fitzpatrick’s perpetual stink, it’s easy to surmise Powell will total several second-half touches, limiting Forte’s numbers. If the case, the former Bear would have a only first-half window to operate, a tall task versus a Pats front allowing 3.8 yards per carry to RBs. On a presumed 13-15 touches, New York’s luxury vehicle drives into the East River.

Fearless Forecast: 13 carries, 47 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 15 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns, 7.7 fantasy points

Marvin Jones, Det, WR (50 percent started, $17 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: vs. Min
When I plucked Jones on Draft Day in Round 7 of 12-team exercises, the exuberant feeling of scoring buy-one-get-one Yankee candles on Black Friday overtook my body. In what was sure to be an aggressive vertical offense under Jim Bob Cooter and tied to an effective quarterback, the former Bengal was bound to be a WR2 fixture. Over the first five weeks of the season, Jones was that and then some. Living up to my self-perceived enormous promise, he was the second-most valuable wideout over that span, amassing 27 catches, 519 yards and four touchdowns. However, his existence among elites was short lived. In his next five games, he tumbled down the mountainside totaling a 11-157-1 line, an output that placed him in Andrew Hawkins territory (WR82). Puke. Why the downturn? Early in the season, Jones, one of the league’s best contested catch targets, thrived off single coverage. Defenses, naturally, adjusted and employed more downfield double teams, which he’s struggled against. As a result, Golden Tate, Eric Ebron and Theo Riddick have benefited from increased Matthew Stafford looks. Given the matchup this week, more of the same is on deck. Xavier Rhodes and Terrance Newman are in the midst of Pro Bowl caliber seasons. The divine duo has allowed a combined 39.8 passer rating and 6.1 fantasy points per game to assignments. Overall, the Vikings have yielded just 24 pass plays of 20 or more yards, the second-fewest in the league. Stafford usually plays like a man possessed on Thanksgiving, but it’s hard to back the fading Jones.

Fearless Forecast: 3 receptions, 31 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns, 4.6 fantasy points

Travis Kelce, KC, TE (87 percent started, $17 in Yahoo DFS)
Matchup: at Den
If there was an award for worst reality TV star, Aaron Rodgers’ brother and Kelce would be obvious frontrunners. Though many in the fantasy community would gladly date the Chief after his 7-107-0 effort versus Tampa, he isn’t worth swiping right for Week 12. Denver, which was malleable across the middle earlier this year, has stiffened in that area of the field. Weeks 1-6 the Broncos surrendered 5.0 receptions and just over 57 yards per game to the position. Since then, due in large part to the stifling play of Brandon Marshall and T.J. Ward, they’ve given up a lowly 4.5 receptions and 35.0 yards per game, containing the likes of Antonio Gates, Coby Fleener and C.J. Fiedorowicz. Likely again without the services of Jeremy Maclin, offensive coordinator Brad Childress will attempt to feed Kelce some 7-9 times. It’s very possible he grabs 4-6 of those targets, but his propensity for disappearing – he’s failed to reach 50 yards in a game five times – and the matchup arrows toward a downtrodden effort. Strongly debate the merits of Eric Ebron (vs. Min), Zach Ertz (vs. GB) or Fiedorowicz (vs. SD) as potential replacements.

Fearless Forecast: 4 receptions, 38 receiving yards, 0 touchdowns, 5.8 fantasy points

BONUS WEEK 12 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: 34-44

Noise Record: 57-52 (Week 11: 5-5; W: Carson Palmer, Mark Ingram, Stefon Diggs, Darren Sproles, Buffalo D/ST; L: Lamar Miller, Dez Bryant, Steve Smith, Todd Gurley, Jimmy Graham)

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).