Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
James Wilder appears to have finally found his stride, as the Argonauts running back made believers out of Fantasy owners who questioned whether his 267 yards of offence in Week 13 was a fluke. The rookie from Florida State delivered an impressive follow-up with a 28.7 Fantasy Point output, which led all players for a second straight week.
Wilder needed only 10 carries to amass 141 rushing yards in Toronto’s win over Montreal, highlighted by an 85-yard major that is now the league’s longest run this season, a rush that topped his 76-yard scoring jaunt the previous week against the Eskimos. Once again, he showed his all-purpose skills, pulling in six passes for 77 yards, including a 45-yard catch and run. In a span of just 21 carries, Wilder became the league’s sixth-leading rusher, while also leading the league with an average run of 8.4 yards.
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» Bio: James Wilder by the numbers
James Wilder Jr. proved his breakout was no fluke, running all over the Als’ defence (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Running backs carried a Week 14 that saw just two pivots record more than 20 Fantasy Points. Wilder was one of two backs who broke through the 20 FP barrier, as Montreal’s Tyrell Sutton put up a season-best 20.7 Fantasy Points with his first 100-yard game of 2017. The Alouettes back was one of the few highlights in the team’s 33-19 loss to the Argonauts, putting up 107 yards and a major on 15 carries while catching five passes for 42 yards.
The Blue Bombers duo of Andrew Harris and Timothy Flanders left their Fantasy owners more than pleased with their respective efforts. Harris had 19.2 FP in Winnipeg’s victory over Ottawa, recording 83 yards and a touchdown on the ground along with six receptions for 49 yards. Flanders, getting the start at slotback, caught five passes for 28 yards and a major to go along with his 55 yards on seven carries, finishing with 14.3 FP.
BC’s Jeremiah Johnson had 17.8 FP in the Lions’ last-second loss to Hamilton, while Ottawa’s William Powell produced 16.7 FP in the REDBLACKS’ defeat at the Bombers. Ticats back Alex Green had an impressive debut, putting up 15.5 FP in the win over the Lions, while Calgary’s Jerome Messam finished with 13.5 FP in the Stampeders’ win over the Roughriders, their ninth straight victory overall.
Only four receivers had double-digit production this week, headlined by the long-awaited breakout of Winnipeg’s Darvin Adams, who put up 25.5 FP after he caught seven passes for a season-high 195 yards and a touchdown during the Bombers’ victory over the REDBLACKS. Hamilton’s Luke Tasker had a season-best 15.6 FP to help the Ticats rally to defeat the Lions, with Saskatchewan’s Devon Bailey producing 12.8 FP in their loss to Calgary.
With almost 200 receiving yards, Darvin Adams enjoyed his biggest outing of 2017 (CFL.ca/Jason Halstead)
Toronto’s S.J. Green rounded out the small list of double-digit receivers with a 10.8 FP total in the win over Montreal, marking the sixth time he’s performed the feat this season.
Lions pivot Jonathon Jennings did not throw a touchdown pass, but he did deliver a season-best 23.2 FP in the loss to the Tiger-Cats, throwing for a season-high 345 yards and adding 34 yards rushing along with a major on the ground. Winnipeg’s Matt Nichols put up 20.8 FP, the third game of 20 or more FP in his last four, with 319 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Ottawa.
Two starting quarterbacks failed to reach double-digits, as REDBLACKS pivot Ryan Lindley ended up with four points, while Saskatchewan’s Kevin Glenn had just 3.1 before he was replaced in the loss to Calgary.
