June 12, 2017

Eskimos bring plenty of firepower to the table

An Eskimos offence that averaged 30.5 points and 432.7 yards per game in 2016 should be just as explosive this season. With quarterback Mike Reilly throwing to Adarius Bowman, Fantasy owners will reap the benefits on a weekly basis; although, the loss of star wideout Derel Walker (signed with NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers) could lead to a potential breakout player at the position. A full season of John White as the lead back could give Edmonton its first 1,000-yard rusher since Jerome Messam crossed the barrier in 2011.

QUARTERBACKS: Mike Reilly had the best season of his career in 2016, passing for a league-high (and career-best) 5,554 yards and 28 touchdowns. While no longer the runner he was earlier in his career, Reilly also set a personal best with nine rushing touchdowns on his way to amassing 406 rushing yards on 102 carries.

Reilly will be at the top of the list for many Fantasy owners, especially considering he threw for over 300 yards in 12 of his 17 games. That type of consistency makes him appealing, and with Bowman returning, there’s strong reason to believe Reilly will deliver a solid 2017 campaign. There’s little chance of Reilly regressing as he did in 2014, when he threw for just 3,327 yards and 16 touchdown passes after a breakthrough 2013 season in which he threw for 4,207 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Mike Reilly will look to carry over a career year after breaking the 5,000-yard mark (The Canadian Press)

James Franklin completed 19 of 24 attempts for 334 yards and four touchdowns in spot duty last season and is entrenched as the backup to Reilly. Former REDBLACKS backup Danny O’Brien was signed in early May to provide depth, while Zach Kline will look to at least secure a roster spot on the practice squad.

RUNNING BACKS: The shifty White finished fourth in the league in rushing a year ago with 886 yards after a ruptured Achilles sidelined him for the entire 2015 campaign. Averaging 5.4 yards per carry, White tied for second with six runs of 20-plus yards and was sixth with 23 carries of 10 or more yards. He also showed a nose for the goal line with eight touchdowns, and he added a ninth score among his 58 receptions for 464 yards. If Reilly continues to stretch defences with his arm, White should be able to find more running lanes this season and perhaps flirt with the 1,000-yard barrier for the first time.

Edmonton lost Shakir Bell’s 425 yards and 6.3 yards per carry to the REDBLACKS, leaving a hole that could be filled with free agent signing Travon Van. Free agent pickup Kendial Lawrence will see some touches but will be used as the team’s return specialist. LaDarius Perkins, who spent last season on the practice roster, offers the experience of having played with the Indianapolis Colts and Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the player to watch could be Marion Grice, who was recently released by the REDBLACKS. Like Perkins, Grice also has NFL seasoning, having played with the Arizona Cardinals and at 6-foot, 213 pounds he could bring a more physical running style than any of the other backs.

SLOT BACKS/WIDE RECEIVERS: Walker’s departure to the NFL breaks up the record-setting duo he and Bowman became last season, when they set a league record for receiving yards by teammates (3,318), while also becoming the first pair with 100-plus catches in team history. Still, Bowman will remain one of the game’s best all-around slot backs after leading the league with 120 catches and 1,761 yards to go along with nine touchdowns. He’s recorded three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and has gone over the century mark in two of the previous three campaigns, so look for Bowman to be atop the salary list in Fantasy play.

In the absence of Derel Walker, look for Brandon Zylstra to emerge in the Esks’ offence (Esks.com)

The return of Shamawd Chambers, who spent last season with the Roughriders, gives the Eskimos another big receiver and should help take pressure off Bowman. Chambers has always had the talent to become a quality receiver, but he’s been plagued by inconsistency and injuries. If there is a breakout player at the position, it’s likely Brandon Zylstra, who caught 34 passes for 508 yards and six touchdowns in six starts after being activated off the practice roster. He was nominated as the Eskimos’ Most Outstanding Rookie. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Zylstra presents an imposing size/speed combo that merits watching. He could be a star on the rise.

Newcomer Vidal Hazelton had 70 receptions for 803 yards and six touchdowns in his CFL debut season with the Argonauts in 2015, but he was limited to just 27 catches in what was an injury-plagued 2016 season. Bryant Mitchell had five catches in his rookie season and should see the field more often this year.

DEFENCE/SPECIAL TEAMS: The Eskimos had just 33 sacks, placing them eighth in the league. One-third of those came from tackle Almondo Sewell, who earned CFL All-Star honours for the fourth straight season while also being named to his fifth straight West Division All-Star team. Odell Willis remains a pillar of consistency, as his seven sacks marked the seventh straight season he has recorded at least six QB takedowns. Willis is 32, yet is showing few signs of slowing down entering his ninth season.

The team finished fourth with 15 interceptions and returned three for touchdowns in 2016. Considering linebackers Deon Lacy and J.C. Sherritt shared the team lead with three picks, the Eskimos will be counting on the secondary to be more involved. Edmonton’s Fantasy value will hinge on Lawrence, who is expected to revive a return unit that was last in punt return average and eighth in kickoff return average last season. Lawrence spent the off-season looking at film of Hall of Fame return specialist Gizmo Williams and feels confident he can be the needed spark the Eskimos need in the battle for field position.