Jason Halstead/CFL.ca
We know BC quarterback Travis Lulay is done for the season. We know Trevor Harris won’t play for Ottawa when the REDBLACKS take on the Alouettes on Sunday. And finally, after a week of suspense, it’s been reported that the Riders will start Brandon Bridge over Kevin Glenn, whose bruised right hand will sideline him for Friday’s game against the Tiger-Cats.
Week 13 brings change at quarterback, and while the Lions confidently go forward with Jonathon Jennings and Ottawa goes with savvy veteran Drew Tate, Bridge, making his first start, will offer a variety of appeal to Fantasy owners looking to make a risky move at pivot.
While the injury upheaval among the league’s top passers has dominated matters, there are other various ailments that will impact Fantasy decisions.
Saskatchewan at Hamilton
Friday | 7:00 p.m. ET
At a relatively low cost ($6,000), Brandon Bridge offers appeal this week in fantasy (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
Bridge ($6,000) has completed 13 of his 20 passes for 203 yards and three majors and has two carries for 13 yards and a score this season. Bridge has the physical attributes and the receiving corps that could make him a very interesting play for Fantasy owners. While the Ticats have improved their defence in recent weeks, they are still last in the league in passing yards allowed per game.
Running back Cameron Marshall ($6,770) is out for at least one more week, giving Fantasy owners another opportunity to play the bargain that is Kienan LaFrance ($3,500), who gets to run against a Hamilton ground defence that is last in the league.
As for the Ticats, running back Sean Thomas Erlington ($2,500) returns from among the injured and is listed as the backup to C.J. Gable ($5,789) on the depth chart. Running back Ross Scheuerman ($3,000) is also back on the roster, while receiver Felix Faubert-Lussier ($2,500) should play despite missing practice time this week. Receiver Andy Fantuz ($4,668) is close to returning after missing all of this season recovering from a knee injury, but he’s not there yet.
Edmonton at Toronto
Saturday | 4:00 p.m. ET
Travon Van’s return to the lineup shakes up the running back landscape this week (David Chidley/CFL.ca)
The Eskimos placed running back LaDarius Perkins ($5,546) on the one-game injured list, opening the door for Travon Van ($4,630) to return to the roster after he missed the last six weeks with a shoulder injury. Van will likely handle the return duties as Edmonton also put return specialist Jamill Smith ($2,500) on the practice squad. Perkins’ absence moved Pascal Lochard ($2,500) to the starting lineup. Lochard, who has four carries this season, offers some intrigue to Fantasy owners, yet expect Van to be more involved than expected.
Argos running back Brandon Whitaker ($5,222) was placed on the one-game injured list on Friday, a move that now puts James Wilder ($3,000) into the starting lineup. Wilder has shown flashes of his potential and could be an asset in the passing game, yet remains a huge gamble because of Toronto’s heavily pass-oriented attack. Receiver Chandler Worthy ($2,500) also returns and was listed as a starter. Worthy does not offer much Fantasy value.
BC at Calgary
Saturday | 7:00 p.m. ET
After a bounce back performance in Week 12, is Jonathon Jennings a sleeper this week? (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)
With Lulay done for the season with a torn ACL, the Lions move forward with Jennings ($8,245), who had his best Fantasy output with a 21 FP effort in last week’s win over the Alouettes. He has just six passing majors this season and has been intercepted nine times, making him a huge risk for Fantasy owners as the Stampeders lead the league in fewest points allowed per game. The team will also be without backup running back Shaquille Murray-Lawrence ($2,500), who was involved in an auto accident near the team’s facilities on Sunday. Murray-Lawrence suffered minor injuries, but the team wants him to recoup for the time being.
Star receiver DaVaris Daniels ($6,146) is on the one-game injured list with a knee injury sustained in last week’s win over the Eskimos. Reginald Begelton ($2,500) moves into the starting lineup but has just one reception this season. The potential beneficiary of Daniels’ absence could be Anthony Parker ($3,344), who had four catches for 62 yards last week and has at least one reception of 20-plus yards in each of his last five games. The Stamps got good news on the receiver front as Kamar Jorden ($5,973) returned to practice this week. While he won’t suit up on Saturday, the outlook is good for Jorden to eventually come back at some point in the next few weeks.
Ottawa at Montreal
Sunday | 1:00 p.m. ET
Drew Tate is another new name for fantasy rosters heading into Week 13 (The Canadian Press)
With Harris ($10,573) dealing with a separated shoulder that he expects to sideline him for two weeks, Tate ($6,000) makes his first start for the REDBLACKS. He has a 33-15 TD-INT margin in his career. He’s also 10-4 as a starter and it doesn’t hurt that Tate will have Greg Ellingson ($6,663), Diontae Spencer ($6,490) and Brad Sinopoli ($4,717), the league’s leader in pass receptions, as a foundation.
Running back William Powell ($5,702) is expected to remain on the injury list, giving Mossis Madu ($6,951) another start in the backfield. Return specialist Quincy McDuffie ($2,500) may be sidelined another week, which would enhance Spencer’s appeal to Fantasy players.
The revamped Alouettes will likely keep running back Brandon Rutley ($5,441) as a healthy scratch. The team is close to bringing receiver Alex Carroll ($2,500) off the injured list.
