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Week 12 Fantasy Flames: All aboard gravy trains Stafford, Rawls and Harris

Every week the Noise highlights 12-13 somewhat obscure, un-obvious 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). If you're a member of TEAM HUEVOS, reveal your Week 12 Flames in the comments section below.

[Yahoo Daily Fantasy: $10 could win you $50K in our $350K contest for Week 12]

Matthew Stafford, Det, QB (47 percent started, $32 in Yahoo Daily)


Matchup: vs. Phi
Family, parades, turkey, gravy, twice-baked potatoes, stuffing and Stafford fantasy smack-downs. These are Thanksgiving Day traditions. In his past three holiday feasts, "Country Jay Cutler" has carved up the competition averaging a gaudy 387 passing yards while totaling a 7:2 TD:INT split. More comfortable over the past couple weeks working in Jim Bob Cooter's aggressive vertical scheme, the passer has made strides in his reads, progressions and overall execution. Against Green Bay and Oakland he completed 63 percent of his attempts, totaled 556 yards and notched three touchdowns (one rush) to one interception. Most importantly, the Lions offensive line has offered more rigid protection, evidenced in his 33.8 pressure percentage since Week 10. His third game under Cooter should be his finest to date. Last week against Tampa, the Eagles resembled cooked geese. Jameis Winston humiliated them to the tune of 246 yards and five touchdowns. But the Buc isn't the only signal-caller to tee off on Philly. Over the past three weeks, the very brotherly defense has surrendered 7.41 yards per attempt, 254.3 yards per game and 10 TDs. Blame CB Nolan Carroll, who's allowed a 63.2 catch percentage, 127.4 QB rating and four TDs over that stretch. The Lions typically play inspired ball on Turkey Day. Bank on Stafford loading up your plate with points.

Fearless Forecast: 321 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 8 rushing yards, 24.6 fantasy points

Thomas Rawls, Sea, RB (19 percent started, $14)


Matchup: vs. Pit
The undrafted rookie, similar to other overlooked rushers Arian Foster, Fred Jackson and Priest Holmes before him, is the next great out-of-nowhere fantasy star. When thrust into the lead role, Rawls has proven to be a showstopper displaying terrific cutback skills, sharp vision, explosiveness and useful hands. He's generated 6.0 yards per carry and forced a missed tackle on nearly 15 percent of his attempts, an output similar to stealthy Falcon Devonta Freeman. With Marshawn Lynch possibly slated to undergo hernia surgery, Rawls could be the featured rusher rest of season, a role he's thrived in when called upon. In three of four games with at least 15 touches, he's reached triple-digits in yardage, including his supernatural 255 total yard, 2-TD destruction of San Francisco last week. Pittsburgh is a viable opponent. The Steelers check in at No. 2 in fewest fantasy points allowed to RBs, giving up 3.92 yards per carry, 80.3 rush yards per game and only two TDs to the position. Still, the 'Hawks offensive line, though unyielding in pass protection, has routinely mauled opponents in the trenches, indicative in their No. 9 rank in run-blocking according to Football Outsiders. On a likely 20-plus touch volume, Rawls skewers the Steelers.

Fearless Forecast: 20 carries, 102 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 20 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 19.7 fantasy points

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Alfred Blue, Hou, RB (15 percent started, $16)


Matchup: vs. NO
Whenever an opposing offensive player sees New Orleans on the calendar one can only assume they do a Drew Stanton jig. Chunk from "Goonies" could Truffle Shuffle his way to 100 yards and a TD versus the Saints. Brown-paper bags on fan heads are long overdue for the Fleur de lis, to say the least. On the year, RBs are performing 27.6 percent above the league average against 'Nawlins. It has yielded a staggering 5.05 yards per carry, 184.6 total yards per game and nine TDs to tugboats. In total, nine RBs have earned their "Flame" card against it. There's nothing special about Blue. He's a no nonsense downhill runner who breaks the occasional tackle (59.4 YAC%), but rarely makes guys whiff (9.3 MT%). Still with Arian Foster no longer in the picture and Jonathan Grimes and Chris Polk nothing more than bit players, Blue is Bill O'Brien's top dog. Over the past three weeks, he's compiled a 52.2 snap percentage and netted 18.7 touches per game. Assuming the sophomore rusher tallies a similar workload, he should work up a lather in a hurry. With or without Brian Hoyer, the surging Texans are sure to pound New Orleans into oblivion. Expect Blue to rumble to his third career 100-yard game and into the RB1 ranks.

Fearless Forecast: 19 carries, 104 rushing yards, 3 receptions, 13 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 19.2 fantasy points

Eddie Lacy, GB, RB (38 percent started, $14)


Matchup: vs. Chi
After trudging his way through the first 10 weeks of the season, Lacy, ran as though a beautifully browned bird plated with all the trimmings and trappings awaited him in the end zone last week in Minnesota. Resembling the runaway beer truck of last year, the rusher willed his way to a season-best 100 yards on 22 carries. In total, he gained 76 of his yards after contact. Though James Starks will remain in the mix, Lacy's rebound effort signals his return to the top of the depth chart. Mike McCarthy, who commented last week how light and nimble No. 27 looked in practice, appears to have renewed faith in Lacy, a belief that should lead to the rusher to log some 15-20 carries Thursday night. At this point last year, the Bears were in disrepair defensively. Physically battered and largely unmotivated, Chicago was trounced weekly. Though it's improved in several categories, opposing rushers are still getting the best of the Bears. They've surrendered 103.2 rushing yards per game to RBs, the eighth-highest mark in the league. With that in mind and weighing Aaron Rodgers' storied history against the arch-rival, Lacy should bulldoze his way to a second-consecutive triple-digit total. He's played unbearably for much of the season, but the rolling cheddar wheel, unlike Jeremy Hill, has regained this writer's trust. He's a door-buster deal at $14 in Yahoo DFS.

Fearless Forecast: 20 carries, 101 rushing yards, 1 reception, 6 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 17.2 fantasy points

Dwayne Harris, NYG, WR (2 percent started, $16)


Matchup: at Was
Pull the lever on New York's slot machine in deeper leagues and chances are you could score a jackpot. Harris has filled the void left by former Pro Bowler Victor Cruz adequately. Establishing a solid chemistry with Eli Manning of late, he's ventured into WR3 territory. Over his past three clashes, he's enticed 19 targets catching 10 passes for 120 yards and three touchdowns. He won't turn the fantasy world on its ear, but a serviceable, top-36 line is achievable in Week 11. Early in the year, Washington showcased a respectable defense. Three quarterbacks failed to cross the 15-fantasy point line in its first five games. However, it's reversed course since. Over their past five games, eight wideouts have reached double-digit points versus the 'Skins. Digging deeper, slot corner Will Blackmon has allowed a 14.9 yards per catch and 95.7 QB rating to his assignments. Odell Beckham and Rueben Randle went berserk in the first matchup. Both are strong plays in the follow-up, but Harris, too, will be heard.

Fearless Forecast: 4 receptions, 58 receiving yards, 1 touchdown, 13.8 fantasy points 

SHOCKER SPECIAL (Under 10 percent started)

Josh McCown Cle, QB (1 percent started, $20)


Matchup: vs. Bal
Oh Johnny Football. You simply can't retire the beer bong. Just when everything was breaking your way, you decide to channel your inner Diddy and blow a GOLDEN opportunity. ... On Tuesday, Mike Pettine benched Manziel after a new video showing the QB partying during the Browns' bye week surfaced. McCown, the floor is again yours. Trust the starter-turned-backup-turned-starter Monday, and you could score some serious DFS cash. No organization has endured more bad luck than Baltimore. Steve Smith, Justin Forsett , Terrell Suggs and Joe Flacco, who all suffered catastrophic injuries, are done for 2015. Equally disheartening, the Ravens' once frightening defense scares no one, particularly quarterbacks. DBs Jimmy Smith, Shareece Wright, LaDarius Webb and Kyle Arrington combined have allowed a 117.7 QB rating to the opposition. Overall, six slingers have scored at least 19 fantasy points against Baltimore, including McCown who clotheslined it for 457-2-12-1 in the first matchup Week 5. Given the favorable opponent and McCown's previous success, he's a top-15 play and preferred investment for those DFS players who typically go cheap at QB.

Fearless Forecast (If he starts): 282 passing yards, 2 passing touchdowns, 1 interception, 23 rushing yards, 20.5 fantasy points

BONUS WEEK 12 FLAMES

#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: 31-53

Want to bull rush Brad? Find him on Twitter. Also, check out the Yahoo! Fantasy and Rotoworld crew every Tuesday-Thursday on 'Fantasy Football Live' starting at 6:30 PM ET on NBC Sports Network (Find channel here).