Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
The start of the season is upon us, and while we’re all excited for the opening act on the Road to the Grey Cup, each of the four games scheduled offers something extra to watch for. We’ll find a thing or two that will give fantasy players a needed edge to pull away from the pack.
We’ve waited long enough, so let’s look at the Week 1 schedule!
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Saskatchewan at Montreal
Thursday | 7:30 p.m. ET
What to Look For: There will be plenty of targets for Roughriders receivers Naaman Roosevelt and Duron Carter. With Rob Bagg sidelined for the opener and Chad Owens out indefinitely, Saskatchewan quarterback Kevin Glenn will need the duo to make plays as Glenn must deal with a pass rush that recorded 47 sacks and 14 interceptions last season.
However, if the Alouettes focus too much on Roosevelt and ex-Montreal standout Carter, the door is open for Nic Demski — whose Fantasy value has risen since Tuesday afternoon — and/or Ricky Collins to slide in and help move the chains for a Roughriders offence that was the league’s worst in scoring last season.
The game is also the Montreal debut of quarterback Darian Durant, who was traded by the Riders in mid-January. Durant gets to operate an improved Alouettes offence that also features the return of running back Tyrell Sutton, who was limited to just seven games last season. The fifth-year pro looked to be in his 2015 form during training camp and if the Alouettes get that version of Sutton (1,059 yards, five rushing touchdowns), the new-look offence is going to shine.
New Alouettes pivot Darian Durant will get re-acquainted with his former team (Dominick Gravel/Montreal Alouettes)
Keep an eye on how quickly Durant meshes with newly acquired wide receiver Ernest Jackson, who makes his Montreal debut after signing as a free agent in the off-season. Jackson, who played with the Grey Cup-winning REDBLACKS last season, gives the Alouettes the big-play element they missed last season when they were last in the league in passing yards. However, Jackson, who caught 88 passes for 1,225 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, wasn’t effective in his two games against Saskatchewan last season, pulling in a combined 10 receptions for just 95 yards without a score.
We are curious to see how the new-look Roughriders running game fares against the rugged Alouettes defence. Cameron Marshall returns to the league after failing to make it in the NFL; he rushed for 614 yards and five touchdowns with the Blue Bombers in 2015. If Glenn gets him involved in the passing game, look out! Marshall averaged 11.8 yards per catch in ‘15 and has the motor to cause damage after the catch. Greg Morris had a strong spring and should see his share of touches. If Kienan LaFrance, who shined for Ottawa in the post-season before signing with the Riders, is over his hamstring issues, he could be a sleeper.
Calgary at Ottawa
Friday | 7:30 p.m. ET
What to Look For: Stampeders wideout DaVaris Daniels takes his first steps towards an All-Star calibre season. Last year’s Most Outstanding Rookie caught a team-best nine touchdowns last season, but it’s his strong post-season showing (11 catches, 196 yards, two touchdowns) that has us believing Daniels will overtake the still-productive Marquay McDaniel as the top target of Bo Levi Mitchell. Daniels also had a rushing touchdown in the post-season, so fantasy owners shouldn’t be surprised if he gets a jet sweep or two to throw off the Ottawa defence.
We know the REDBLACKS can score with anyone, yet we’re getting the sense Ottawa would like to use a heavy dose of Mossis Madu to control the clock and (most of all) keep Mitchell and the Stamps’ offence on the sidelines. The REDBLACKS led the league in passing yards last season but with Madu firmly entrenched as the lead back, look for him to get between 14-19 touches. He did show he is capable of handling a significant workload, evidenced by his 21-carry, 125-yard performance against Edmonton in Week 19 last season. This could be one of those nights. Then again, we could say the same thing about Calgary’s Jerome Messam, the defending league rushing champ.
Mossis Madu looks to build on a strong 2016 season with the REDBLACKS (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
Roy Finch is going to make us hold our breath at some point in the game. Calgary’s return specialist is a threat to take a kick of any variety all the way, and while he may not touch the ball much on offence, Finch had 2,256 return yards and ran back two punts for touchdowns. He’s not too far from rivaling Chris Rainey of the Lions as the league’s top return specialist.
As good as Kenny Shaw was last season, he could be even better this year. The free-agent signee caught 77 passes for 1,004 yards and five touchdowns with Toronto, yet will be more dangerous catching passes from Trevor Harris. The Stampeders’ defence had its hands full with Shaw in two meetings last season as he caught a combined 14 passes for 182 yards and a touchdown, something to keep in mind as you’re filling out your Fantasy lineup.
Edmonton at BC
Saturday | 10 p.m. ET
What to Watch For: A potential air show between the two highest-salaried quarterbacks in Fantasy, Eskimos gunslinger Mike Reilly and Lions pilot Jonathon Jennings. Both come with a full complement of firepower at the skill positions and, if this quickly develops into a game of “Can You Top This?,” East Coast viewers will be bleary-eyed by game’s end.
Both pivots have something to prove after remarkable 2016 campaigns. Reilly’s looking to show there’s reason for opposing defences to ‘Fear the Beard’ following a year in which he set career bests across the board, including a league-best 5,554 yards and 28 touchdown passes. In the case of Jennings, the third-year signal caller seeks to cement his place among the league’s elite passers. No one in the league has his dual-threat ability, a facet the Eskimos’ defence must account for.
While the quarterbacks take centre stage, both teams have top-end ground games that can dictate the pace of the contest. Edmonton’s John White was fourth in the league in rushing, while BC’s Jeremiah Johnson was fifth. The duo are also the two highest-salaried backs in CFL Fantasy, with White’s ability to be an effective receiver giving him the edge over Johnson, who lets his 210-pound frame help churn the clock for the Lions.
Jeremiah Johnson led the CFL’s No. 1 rushing attack a year ago in BC (David Chidley/CFL.ca)
BC’s Emmanuel Arceneaux is the top-salaried receiver, while Edmonton’s Adarius Bowman is second. Playing both will give you high production at the position, but the combined cost of $16,627 would put a crimp into the construction of an effective lineup. If you must choose, please use a coin with best-of-three settings.
The potential show-stealer here is Eskimos receiver Brandon Zylstra, Currently at $4,163, Zylstra is the second option in Edmonton and should be able to pick up where he left off from his impressive six-game debut last season, when he caught 34 passes for 508 yards and three touchdowns. He’s set for a breakout campaign and will use this game as a possible springboard.
Hamilton at Toronto
Sunday | 4:00 p.m. ET
What to Look For: A healthy Zach Collaros will try to take advantage of an Argonauts defence that allowed a league-worst 568 points last season. Collaros has fired 43 touchdowns over his last 22 games and with a healthy Luke Tasker and Terrence Toliver at receiver, the door is open for Collaros to take his game to the next level. Toliver is one of the league’s most lethal big-play receivers, as he caught 11 passes of more than 30 yards last season and scored nine touchdowns. He showed his explosive prowess against the Boatmen, catching a combined 10 passes for 175 yards and a touchdown in his last two games against them in 2016. Like Collaros, both Taker and Toliver must show they can remain healthy. If the trio does avoid injury this year, there is fantasy gold to be found.
The Ticats are looking for a career season from the 6-foot-5 Terrence Toliver (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Brandon Whitaker held off the challenges to his starting job and enters the season as the league’s best dual-threat back. Whitaker led the team in both rushing and receiving last year and will be a solid fantasy play this week. James Wilder will be a factor at some point this season, but we don’t expect to see him do so on Sunday.
S.J. Green will need some time to get back to full speed after last year’s devastating knee injury, leaving the question of who will be the featured receiver for the Argos. Jeff Fuller looks to be the top option, yet picking a Toronto receiver this week would be a shot in the dark. It might be best to let the issue go and watch who Argonauts pivot Ricky Ray throws to.
