Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Injuries and surprising performances held sway in compiling the Week 2 start/sit breakdown. The running back position is very volatile once fantasy owners get past the top four salaried performers, while the numbers indicate a number of middle to low-salaried receivers merit must-start status.
With the season-opener for Winnipeg coming on Canada Day, the potential for one of the Bombers’ top receivers to begin his season with big numbers is strong. Receivers looking to impress their new employers also crack the list, one that merits a look right now.
Ottawa at Calgary
Thursday | 9:00 p.m. ET
After a quiet first game in his new colours, Diontae Spencer is likely to break out (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Start: REDBLACKS receiver Diontae Spencer ($4,336) will be more productive after amassing a mere eight yards on his three receptions in Week 1. Kenny Shaw ($4,389) didn’t practise on Monday and looks headed for at least the one-game injured list. Ottawa didn’t sign Spencer to average 2.6 yards per catch, so expect him to be the second option for pivot Trevor Harris.
The REDBLACKS were more of a controlled passing team in the opener, averaging 6.7 yards per attempt. That’s a number that should improve, as we expect Harris to stretch the Stampeders’ defence more often. If so, Spencer – who should also give his Fantasy owners extra points with punt return duties – will be the receiver who benefits, as the Ottawa offence will look for someone to provide a big play threat with Shaw on the sidelines.
Sit: Bench REDBLACKS running back William Powell ($5,615) this week. The Ottawa backfield is on the verge of being cluttered, as Powell recovers from the ankle injury he sustained in Week 1. Mossis Madu ($6,315) – who was inactive for the opener – has been getting the bulk of the first-team reps in practice, and the surprising performance of fullback Brendan Gillanders ($2,500) makes for too much uncertainty to feel confident about playing any of them.
Madu is sixth in salary this week while Powell is eighth, so playing either one of them as your RB2 is a risky investment. Right now, the best move for Fantasy owners is to lay back and see how the distribution of carries plays out this week before committing to an Ottawa back.
BC at Toronto
Friday | 7:00 p.m. ET
After a tough first week, Brandon Whitaker may be a risky play in Week 2 (Thomas Makacek/Argonauts.ca)
Start: Argonauts receiver S.J. Green is a bargain at $3,950 this week. Green reminded everyone why he has been among the league’s premier pass catchers over the last decade by catching seven of eight targets for 124 yards in the Week 1 win over the Ticats. There’s no question he’s the featured receiver in Toronto’s up-tempo attack, and any questions about him easing into things after recovering from last season’s ACL injury were clearly answered.
Quarterback Ricky Ray completed nine of his 12 passes of 15 or more yards last week, several of them in the direction of Green, who faces a BC pass defence that allowed Edmonton’s Mike Reilly to go 5-for-8 on passes beyond 15 yards last week.
Sit: The league-wide uncertainty at running back makes benching Brandon Whitaker ($6,118) a bit of a risk, yet it’s undetermined whether the Argonauts are going to use the run as an afterthought or if Whitaker’s nine-carry, 21-yard effort in Week 1 was the direct result of Toronto’s passing game holding a hot hand they (wisely) kept playing.
That Whitaker had little production as a receiver (two catches, 15 yards on six targets) is also cause for concern. This may be a good week for fantasy owners to consider playing a combination of two of the top four backs, because the suggestion of starting Whitaker would not be a decision made in good faith.
Montreal at Edmonton
Friday | 10:00 p.m. ET
Darian Durant looks to build on a Week 1 victory over the Saskatchewan Roughriders (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Start: Only Toronto’s Ray had a better completion rate (12.3 yds/completion) than Reilly’s 11.3 mark, a number that was achieved despite target magnet Adarius Bowman ($7,153) catching just two passes for 13 yards. Bowman will rebound, but it’s Brandon Zylstra ($4,789) who has emerged as the WR2 the Eskimos needed in the wake of Derel Walker heading to the NFL. When you add Zylstra’s seven-catch, 152-yard performance in Week 1, the second-year wideout has totaled 41 receptions for 660 yards and three touchdowns in his first seven games as a professional.
The Alouettes were second in defensive pass efficiency last week (83.4). However, there’s a big difference between playing Kevin Glenn and the Roughriders’ offence and the offensive attack of Reilly ($14,000) and the Eskimos, which is capable of scoring from any part of the field on any given play. Zylstra came into the season as a potential breakout candidate and will continue to play like one on Friday night.
Sit: Darian Durant ($9,818) had a good debut outing with the Alouettes, but it’s hard to envision him trading shots all night with Reilly. For all the flashes of potential the new-look Montreal offence showed against Saskatchewan, they still managed only 331 total yards, ranking them seventh overall. Despite giving up 27 points, the Edmonton defence held Jonathon Jennings and the high-powered BC attack to 355 yards, third-best in the league, lending further credence to keeping Durant sidelined.
While there’s reason to feel confident that the Als will be more proficient on offence, don’t expect for that revelation to happen in Week 2.
Winnipeg at Saskatchewan
Saturday | 9:00 p.m. ET
Duron Carter may not be in for a bounce back in Week 2 against the Bombers (Riderville.com)
Start: Go all-in on Blue Bombers receiver Darvin Adams ($6,576), he of the four 100-yard outings in just eight games last season. Prorate Adams’ 2016 numbers over a full 18-game slate and he’s in the receiver’s penthouse with Bowman and BC’s Emmanuel Arceneaux. What makes Adams scary good this week is the fact the Roughriders allowed a league-high 35.6 per cent of passing yards to come after the catch. Those are numbers that indicate Winnipeg triggerman Matt Nichols (a potential bargain at $10,109) could have a splendid Canada Day statistically.
Sit: Even at a reasonable price ($4,355), it won’t pay to have Roughriders receiver Duron Carter on your roster. Naaman Roosevelt ($5,957) is the unquestioned WR1 in Saskatchewan while Bakari Grant ($5,474) pulled in six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown in his Riders debut. Nic Demski was a perfect 7-for-7 on targets for 87 yards, leaving Carter – who was held to just two catches for 12 yards on nine targets – as the odd man out.
The Bombers did lead the league in interceptions last season, and if the Winnipeg offence puts up points early, the thought of Glenn ($7,780) throwing the ball 40-plus times in catch-up mode is an uncomfortable feeling.
