The Canadian Press
While it appeared Argos Airways would be forced into infrequent takeoffs in the wake of losing their top pilot, there is now joy as Ricky Ray appears ready to take the controls after a week-long absence.
His return is the biggest news on the Week 9 injury front, which also tells us the Eskimos will be without their top receiver for a second week while the REDBLACKS will welcome one of their biggest off-season acquisitions to the lineup.
Edmonton at Winnipeg
Thursday | 8:30 p.m. ET
With Brandon Zylstra on the sideline, Vidal Hazelton remains a must-own receiver in Week 9 (The Canadian Press)
The undefeated Eskimos will head into Investors Group Field without receiver Brandon Zylstra ($4,534) for a second straight week, making Vidal Hazelton ($5,479) a strong WR1 against a Blue Bombers secondary ranked seventh against the pass. Edmonton does get receiver D’haquille Williams ($2,500) back into the lineup after a two-game absence. He’s an interesting Flex option who has a pair of 100-yard outings (both against BC) in the five games he’s played this season.
For the first time this season, the Blue Bombers did not have any changes to their lineup, as receiver Weston Dressler ($5,403) remains on the six-game injured list.
Ottawa at Hamilton
Friday | 7:30 p.m. ET
William Powell’s return to the lineup changes the landscape for running backs in fantasy (The Canadian Press)
Running back William Powell ($5,591) was sharp during practices this week and will handle the lion’s share of the carries in the REDBLACKS’ backfield. He has been more effective than Mossis Madu ($6,536), who’s been moved to the one-game injured list.
The REDBLACKS will also have receiver Kenny Shaw ($4,252) in the lineup as the former Argos standout now joins a corps that includes Greg Ellingson ($6,749), Brad Sinopoli ($4,633) and Diontae Spencer ($4,260). The big Fantasy winner here is pivot Trevor Harris ($10,641), who gets the receiver quartet being covered by the league-worst pass defence of the Tiger-Cats. However, Ottawa appears likely to be without receiver/return specialist Quincy McDuffie ($2,500), causing a huge hit to a REDBLACKS return game that had been revived by McDuffie in the previous two games.
Injuries on the defensive line could cause the Ticats to adjust their ratio issues to where they could end up using Mercer Timmis ($2,500) at running back, or suit up a trio of receivers including Mike Jones and reserves Felix Faubert-Lussier and Giovanni Aprile (each at $2,500). Neither Timmis nor any of the three receivers will have much, if any, Fantasy value.
Calgary at BC
Friday | 10:30 p.m. ET
Bryan Burnham’s status for Friday’s game in BC remains unknown (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
The bad news that Lemar Durant ($2,848) will be out for the remainder of the season was tempered by the return of receiver Juwan Brescacin ($2,500) to practice this week. Brescacin is on the 46-man roster and projected to start. While he won’t have any Fantasy value, his presence could be felt at some point later in the season. Rory Kohlert ($2,500) could also see more time as the Stamps are still without Kamar Jorden ($5,623), who remains on the six-game injured list.
The Lions may be without receiver Bryan Burnham ($5,567), who missed practice this week with the same foot injury that led him to be a last-minute scratch at Saskatchewan. This could come down to a game-time decision, which makes putting him in your Fantasy lineup a very risky proposition. Fellow receiver Nick Moore ($4,088), who missed much of last week’s loss at Saskatchewan with a back issue, did practise and should be ready to go as BC looks to rebound from the 41-8 setback to the Roughriders last Sunday.
Montreal at Toronto
Saturday | 4:00 p.m. ET
Ricky Ray’s return to the Argos will have major fantasy implications in Week 9 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
The trade of Vernon Adams to Saskatchewan makes Drew Willy ($2,352) the backup to Darian Durant ($9,221) and will lead to the Als activating Jacory Harris ($2,500) off the one-game injured list.
The return of Ray ($9,352) means everything to the Argonauts, who were held to a season-low 142 passing yards in last week’s loss at Montreal with Jeff Mathews ($5,094) and Cody Fajardo ($5,000) manning an offence that did not have a pass completion longer than 13 yards. Ray’s comeback automatically upgrades the Fantasy values of Toronto receivers S.J. Green ($5,396), Armanti Edwards ($3,298) and Anthony Coombs ($3,234), who had a combined 75 yards on nine total receptions. The Argos could be close to getting receiver DeVier Posey ($3,228) back in the fold, as he is eligible to come off the six-game injured list for Week 10.
