Dave Chidley/CFL.ca
From the outset of the new season, injuries can make an impact on fantasy owners. The ailment of one player can open the door for another to step up and design a role for himself, while the loss of a significant piece of an offence cannot be properly replaced.
Week 1 is filled with a banged up player or two whose absence might produce a star turn. Let’s look at each game and how injuries will dictate who fills the bulk of fantasy rosters.
RELATED: MORE ON CFL FANTASY
» Ranking the top matchups from Week 1
» Make your picks in CFL Pick ‘Em
» The latest from CFL Fantasy
Hamilton at Toronto
Sunday | 4:00 p.m. ET
Receiver Luke Tasker ($6,253) returns to the team after missing the final six regular season games last year. He’ll pair up with Terrence Toliver ($6,078) to give Zach Collaros ($9,098) a good chance to be the highest-scoring pivot in Week 1. Running back C.J. Gable is fine, but considering Gable ($6,137) has an injury history, it bears to keep an eye on backup Ross Scheuerman ($2,500) and his usage.
S.J. Green ($3,777) will see action, but should probably be avoided as he is returning from a knee injury. The former Montreal All-Star slot will have better weeks ahead, though.
S.J. Green is a risky fantasy play early as he returns from injury with the Argos (Bea Sergon/Argonauts.ca)
Saskatchewan at Montreal
Thursday | 7:30 p.m. ET
Nic Demski ($2,500) is picking up steam, as he was named a starter in the wake of injuries to Rob Bagg and Chad Owens. Bagg is on the one-game injured list but Owens (foot) was placed on the six-game on Wednesday and has an indefinite timeline on his return. Newcomer Duron Carter ($4,436) and a healthy Naaman Roosevelt ($5,788) give quarterback Kevin Glenn ($8,093) two good targets, yet Demski has a chance to step up and be a good long-term option for the Roughriders. Ricky Collins ($3,590) will also see his value move forward as he replaces Owens as Saskatchewan’s return specialist.
Injuries to Rider receivers could see a boost in stock for Ricky Collins (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)
Allouettes pivot Matthew Shiltz ($2,500) was placed on the one-game injured list on Wednesday, leaving Jacory Harris as the third quarterback behind Darian Durant ($9,842) and Vernon Adams ($2,797). Receiver Samuel Giguere ($4,258) was also placed on the one-game list as well. Running back Tyrell Sutton returns to the lineup after missing the last five games of last season. Montreal’s new-look offence should serve Sutton ($5,782) well. A fact to remember: Sutton ran for 139 yards on 22 carries and had three catches for 17 yards and a touchdown the last time he faced the Riders’ defence in Week 20 of the 2015 season.
Calgary at Ottawa
Friday | 7:30 p.m. ET
Other than OL Quinn Smith and DL Junior Turner, both placed on the one-game IL, the Stampeders are in good shape for their Grey Cup rematch against the champion REDBLACKS. Receiver DaVaris Daniels ($6,016) left practice early on Tuesday with what coach Dave Dickenson said was a chest cold, but there’s no reason to be concerned about the 2016 Most Outstanding Rookie not being in the lineup.
While dealing with a chest cold, DaVaris Daniels has been cleared for action (The Canadian Press)
Pivot Drew Tate ($3,040) and receiver Kenny Shaw ($4,488) both returned to practice this week. Shaw has been dealing with hamstring issues but will make his Ottawa debut after signing as a free agent from Toronto and was running with the first team offence throughout the week. The REDBLACKS are counting on Shaw to be an important part of the passing game, so he’s a low-risk play for fantasy players.
Edmonton at BC
Saturday | 10 p.m. ET
LB Cory Greenwood was the only Eskimos player on the injured list, as the veteran defender was placed on the six-game on Wednesday. Running back John White gave the team a scare when he left the field after taking a hit during practice on Wednesday. The highest-salaried back in Fantasy ($9,098) returned without any serious damage and will be good to go against the Lions’ defence. Receiver Shamawd Chambers ($2,500) appears to be fine after hamstring issues slowed him down late in training camp.
John White dodged an injury scare this week in practice for the Esks (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Receiver Chris Williams ($6,951) isn’t completely healed from his ACL injury sustained last October. He’s close, yet it’s best to let him remain on the fantasy sidelines until the speedster shows he’s ready to return to his place among the league’s elite pass catchers. Fellow receiver Nick Moore, who also suffered an ACL injury last season, should see considerable action. If Williams doesn’t play or is limited in snaps, Moore ($4,320) would have moderate value.
