{"id":219419,"date":"2009-12-22T13:27:40","date_gmt":"2009-12-22T18:27:40","guid":{"rendered":"urn:newsml:sports.yahoo,yhoo:20050301:fantasy,article,yhoo-ept_sports_fantasy_experts-210398:1"},"modified":"2009-12-22T13:27:40","modified_gmt":"2009-12-22T18:27:40","slug":"noise-out-from-ljs-shadow-charles-attracts-religious-following","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/219419","title":{"rendered":"Noise: Out from LJ’s shadow, Charles attracts religious following"},"content":{"rendered":"

Brad and Andy return
\nlive this week to answer your questions and discuss their flames, lames and deep names for Week 16. Submit
\nyour questions for Wednesday night’s<\/strong> "Fantasy Freak Show" via email (Please include name\/city) at freakshow670@yahoo.com<\/a>.You can also
\ndial the studio line starting at 8 PM PT\/10 PM CT\/11 PM ET<\/strong> at
\n312-644-6767 or text us at 67011. You can also follow the show, and the Noise, via Twitter<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n<\/a>
<\/p>\n

Just seven weeks ago Larry Johnson<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> and his former employer
\nparted ways in a divorce that would make Tiger Woods’ expected marital dissolution
\nseem amicable. <\/p>\n

Back in late October, the long-time Chief, then just 75
\nyards shy of Priest Holmes’<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> all-time team rushing record, wasn’t a happy camper
\nplaying for a substandard team. Fueled, as he described, not by anger but
\nrather overt competitiveness<\/a>, he purposely rocked the boat by issuing
\nnon-Rupaul approved remarks toward KC supporters and other disparaging barbs
\nthrown at front office officials and coaches on his Twitter account. After a
\nbrief hiatus in "football purgatory<\/a>," he was appropriately dumped, only to be rewarded with a
\nroster spot on a Super Bowl contender known historically for harboring unsavory
\ncharacters. <\/p>\n

But beauty can emerge from the ugliest situations. <\/a><\/p>\n

Left in the wake of Johnson’s maelstrom laid a babe of
\ndivine origins – a star of wonder, star of light, star with royal beauty
\nbright. His name: Jamaal Charles<\/a>(notes)<\/a>.<\/span> <\/p>\n

During the most critical time of the season, the JC of KC
\nhas guided owners, and presumably Magi, to thy perfect light. Sickly teams
\nburned by forgettable draft picks (i.e. Matt Forte<\/a>(notes)<\/a>)<\/span> and injury misfortunes
\n(i.e. Ronnie Brown<\/a>(notes)<\/a>)<\/span> have been healed by his holy powers. Since becoming a starter in Week 9, the multipurpose
\nthreat has flashed the tools needed to be an every-down back – power,
\nexplosiveness and versatility. In a way, he’s resembled a miniature version of
\nChris Johnson<\/a>. <\/p>\n

His numbers are nothing short of outstanding. In his seven starts, the second-year standout has averaged 129.3 total yards
\nper game and scored six touchdowns. He’s also netted an astonishing 5.4 yards
\nper carry. His incredible down-the-stretch consistency – he’s scored in six
\nstraight – is eerily similar to what Pierre Thomas<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> achieved at this exact point
\na season ago. Surely his eBay-profitable image will miraculously surface on
\npierogies<\/a>, Cheetohs<\/a>, dental x-rays<\/a> and the flabby arms of beer-pounding fans (Like this guy<\/a>).  <\/p>\n

Though the Chiefs continue to lose games, Charles’ riveting
\nrun has injected excitement back into one of the league’s most loyal fanbases. He’s the perfect weapon for a creative offensive mind. Todd Haley, who
\nonce believed the youngster was merely a lightweight platoon back, is starting
\nto come around. After last week’s surprisingly entertaining clash with Cleveland, a game in
\nwhich Charles was overshadowed by Jerome Harrison’s<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> historic day, the normally
\nunflattering coach spoke highly of his rising back. From the KC Star<\/a>:    <\/p>\n

"Jamaal again showed he’s pushing to try to be
\none of the top guys in the league at that position. He’s continued to impress me. Those are things we have to grab on to … "<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

With Cincinnati
\nhosting KC this week, media outlets will understandably
\nfocus on Johnson, but his former understudy could grab the headlines. <\/p>\n

Cincinnati
\nboasts an unyielding frontline. Only one rusher, the aforementioned Harrison,
\nhas surpassed the century mark against it. And on the year, the Bengals have
\ngiven up just 3.9 yards per carry to backs. More discouraging, they’ve
\nsurrendered just four ground scores since Week 7. <\/p>\n

Despite the daunting task, Charles’ well-roundedness is
\nproblematic for Cincinnati.
\nThe Bengals have stuffed backs between the tackles, but against flexible
\nweapons, they’ve struggled. On the season, they’ve yielded the sixth-most
\nreceptions (5.7 per game) and third-most yards to backs (51.2 ypg). The
\n22-year-old, who possesses tender hands, will likely contribute significantly
\nin the passing game. Don’t bet against him. <\/p>\n

As for Grand-Ma-Ma, you know he’s itching to gift Scott
\nPioli and Haley a gingerbread cookie in the shape of an acrimonious "bird." Due
\nto his improved play (2.7 ypc with KC, 4.7 with Cincy) and KC’s’ horrendous
\ninterior execution, he certainly could produce excellent flex numbers. The
\nChiefs have allowed a very generous 5.4 yards per carry, 222.8 total yards per
\ngame and eight touchdowns to backs since Week 11, equal to the most fantasy
\npoints. If LJ, who probably believes revenge is a dish best served cold, can
\nconvince Marvin Lewis to expand his role, he could gain appreciable numbers on 10-12
\ntouches. For weeks the Bengals coaching staff has wanted to limit Cedric
\nBenson’s<\/a>(notes)<\/a><\/span> workload. Maybe this time they actually do. <\/p>\n

In fantasy and reality, the dissolved relationship between
\nJohnson and the Chiefs couldn’t have worked out better. Charles, who could
\ncreep into the late first-round next drafting season, has been a godsend.
\nMeanwhile Johnson, motivated by retribution, could yield sizable flex totals
\nfor bling-seeking owners in deep formats. \n<\/p>\n

Depending upon your situation, it’s possible the former
\nteammates could deliver more than socks and underwear this holiday weekend. <\/p>\n

Week 16 Fearless
\nForecast (Charles): <\/strong>19 carries, 79 rushing yards, 5 receptions, 37
\nreceiving yards, 1 touchdown, 17 fantasy points <\/strong><\/p>\n

Week 16 Fearless
\nForecast (Johnson): <\/strong>10 carries, 53 rushing yards, 1 reception, 5 receiving
\nyards, 1 touchdown, 11 fantasy points <\/strong><\/p>\n

What are your thoughts on Johnson\/Charles this week? Where
\ndoes the JC of KC go in drafts next year? What is your favorite Christmas
\ncarol? Holiday desert treat? What form of
\npunishment should the Noise accept for jinxing Arian Foster<\/a>(notes)<\/a>?<\/span> Discuss. <\/p>\n

—<\/p>\n

Image courtesy of the
\nAP<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Brad and Andy return live this week to answer your questions and discuss their flames, lames and deep names for Week 16. Submit your questions for Wednesday night’s "Fantasy Freak Show" via email (Please include name\/city) at freakshow670@yahoo.com.You can also dial the studio line starting at 8 PM PT\/10 PM CT\/11 PM ET at 312-644-6767 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-219419","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219419","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=219419"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/219419\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=219419"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=219419"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mereja.media\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=219419"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}