CFL Week 2
The purpose of this article is to help break down the weekly CFL slate by offering insight into the players to help formulate the best lineup possible. It is imperative that you check on injury statuses before each game since it can change at any notice. I’ll list several players that I like at each position but then have my full player pool listed below.
Matchups
SSK @ OTT (49 O/U, -6 OTT)
BC @ Edmonton (55.5 O/U, -4.5 EDM)
Hamilton @ Toronto (52 O/U, -2 HAM)
QB
Trevor Harris ($10,500) – Harris balled out in week 1 and I have a feeling this could be a week to week occurrence with him and this offence. This week, Harris will face off against former Eskimos great Mike Reilly, so you know Harris will be out to prove his worth in front of this Eskimos crowd. He could also get a huge bump if Davaris Daniels is healthy and good to go. The BC defence did a great job holding Nichols to just 184 passing yards in their first game but also allowed 3 passing touchdowns so there is definitely some passing TD upside to rolling out Harris this week.
Mike Reilly (11,000) – From a fantasy standpoint, Mike Reilly underperformed a bit in week 1 by passing for just 324 yards and 1 TD. This could be a huge bounce back spot and who doesn’t love a good narrative with him returning to his former team! Reilly knows the ins and outs of his former defence and I am sure he will look to exploit them all game long. The Eskimos defence looked up and down in their week 1 game against Montreal and almost lost the game so I think this could be a back and forth game and even game stack worthy from a fantasy perspective.
Jeremiah Masoli ($10,700) – I faded Masoli week 1 but I will not be doing that in week 2. The Masoli/ Banks connection is too good to pass up and based on their history vs Toronto, Masoli is my fav. QB this week! Looking at last season, Masoli dominated the Args defence by throwing for 1,030 yards, completing 72% of his passes while throwing 11 passing TDs in 3 games. In my eyes, he comes in as the top option on this slate and it will be easy to pair him with the likes of Banks.
Cheaper Option- James Franklin ($8,000) (Franklin benefits by getting a top WR option added in Derel Walker but it will take a lot for him to keep up with the other QB options above).
RB
William Powell ($8,300)- After a dominant week 1 performance, Powell showed that he has the ability to be the top running back in the CFL with this Roughrider running attack. He saw the bulk of the carries and should see a similar work load every single week. There are several things that are making me uneasy about using him heavily this week. First, the Roughriders are platooning the QB position so there will be some inconsistency as to who will be leading this offence. Also, Ottawa has shown that they have themselves a tough defence and with knowing how important the running attack is to the success of the Roughriders, they might cue in on Powell and force the rotating QBs to beat them. Powell still should be looked at as the best overall back this week but I don’t necessarily think he is a must play due to price, QB situation, and matchup.
Sean Thomas Erlington ($5,400)- Hamilton does not run the ball as much as Winnipeg or SSK so it makes it tough to fully trust Sean Thomas Erlington every week. With that being said, I think STE could be a fine cheaper option this week for several reasons. He saw double digit carries in week 1 so I am guessing the workload will be similar to that. He was also involved in the passing game so that also adds to his overall fantasy value. Hamilton is one of the highest scoring offences in the league so having STE in your lineup is just another way to get exposure to this powerful offence.
Mossis Madu Jr. ($5,500)- Madu played really well in week 1 and saw a full workload, carrying the pigskin 24 times for 112 yards while recording 6 catches for 28 yards. He faces a stingy Roughrider defence who held Hamilton’s offence in check last week. Madu is only $5,500 on DK so at this price point, I am willing to roll him out against one of the best defences in the league in hopes that he can see the similar number of touches on the ground and be just as involved in the passing game.
James Wilder Jr. ($7,200)- I loved using James Wilder Jr. all last season long and he could be a strong option this year. HIs price is pretty favorable for his upside but the biggest concern is the backfield that he is apart of. In the off-season, the Args added Tyrell Sutton, Chris Rainey, Brandon Burks and Mercer Timmis. All of these guys are capable running backs and have started for other teams so I am hesitant on using JWJ right off the bat since we do not know if it will be a running back by committee starting out or if he will be getting the load from the start of the season. With his price and potential outcome, he could be a great play but he is not the safest play just because of how crowded that backfield is.
CJ Gable ($8,200)- Gable saw 20 touches in week 1 while recording 3 catches and a TD. He was involved in both the rushing game and passing attack so this leads me to thinking that he could be the top option if looking to pay up at the running back spot. The BC Lions just faced the Andrew Harris and allowed him to run for over 140 yards while also allowing him to make 5 catches. Winnipeg has a more balanced offence but when comparing them to Edmonton, they do not even come close to the offensive weapons that the Eskimos will be rolling out there. BC will have their hands full with containing Ellingson, Stafford, Collins Jr. and possibly Daniels, which could allow Gable to have a big day since the main focus will be on the receiving crew and not on him.
WR
Brandon Banks ($9,600)- Banks went HAM (pun intended) against Toronto last season and should be heavily considered this week. He faced Toronto 3 times last season and in those 3 games, he had 23 total catches while amassing 466 receiving yards and 5 total TDs. Banks is the main go to guy in this Hamilton passing attack so I think he is in for a huge bounce back game after a somewhat quiet week 1 performance vs SSK.
Derel Walker ($8,400)- Walker will be making his debut in an Argonaut uniform this weekend so I have a feeling he will want to prove his value as the top target for James Franklin. Walker saw limited action in pre-season but he turned his limited opportunity into a big performance with recording 3 catches for 132 yards and a TD. In my opinion, Walker is a top 5 WR in the league so I am sure he will be able to help this Argonaut passing game and have an immediate positive impact.
Ricky Collins Jr. ($5,900)- RCJ had a very impressive debut with his new team in week 1 as he recorded 9 catches on 12 targets while going for 175 receiving yards. One thing that really stands out is that he had 76 yards that were recorded after the catch so that means he is finding ways to get up field and make guys miss. With his speed and big play ability, he will be a consistent weapon in this Trevor Harris led attack.
Kenny Stafford ($5,600)- Stafford showed glimpses of upside last season but was greatly overshadowed by Derel Walker and Duke Williams. In just his first game of the season, Stafford had 7 catches on 10 targets while going for 98 yards and 2 receiving TDs. He seems to be emerging as a scoring threat this season so at his cheaper price point, it will be hard not to consider him on a weekly basis.
*If Davaris Daniels plays, both Ricky Collins Jr. and Kenny Stafford could take a small hit on potential upside.
D/ST
SSK- I am putting my faith back into the Roughriders defence this week. They faced a top offence in Hamilton and still did a good job suppressing them and holding them the best they could. Ottawa played amazing against Calgray and I do not think they will dominate top defences in the league on back to back games.
Ottawa- On the other side of this game, the Roughriders will be without Zach Collaros so they will be using a QB by committee. With the revolving door between Fajardo and Harker, I think the Redblacks defence could have a solid game overall. THey were able to hang with the defending Grey Cup champs in week 1 and pull out a victory so it makes sense that they could do the same this week when facing a weaker offensive team in Saskatchewan.
Player Pool (Giving a variety of options to help with your build)
QB- Masoli, Reilly, Harris, Franklin
RB- Madu, Gable, Powell, STE, JWJ(If we find out he gets the bulk of the carries, he moves up on my list)
WR1(8k+)- Banks, Burnham, Walker
WR2(6k to 7.9k)- Daniels (If playing), Carter, Green, Addison, Harris
WR3 (Sub 6k)- Collins Jr., Stafford, Durant, Cannon, Adjei
D/ST- SSK, OTT (Very close so I am ok with either D)
Fav.Teams to Stack (In Order)
- Hamilton
- BC
- Edmonton
