Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
There’s no fun until the job’s done, which means those Fantasy owners atop their leagues shouldn’t feel comfortable as Week 19 looms. One bad decision can alter all that hard work.
With a rash of injuries involving a host of the league’s top receivers and a handful of top-end backs struggling near the finish line, finding a decisive edge is more daunting this week. Someone must fill the gaps and with a host of previously under the radar players taking more prominent roles, a sleeper or two will emerge.
Who to start and who to sit? Follow along and let our conscience be your Fantasy guide.
Hamilton at Ottawa
Friday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Trevor Harris has been a solid fantasy play all year and will likely still be a good choice this week (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)
Start: Both pivots come in red-hot, yet the edge goes to REDBLACKS starter Trevor Harris ($10,950). One couldn’t go wrong with playing Ticats quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ($9,553), but Harris gets to take on a defence ranked last in both passing yards allowed per game (332.5) and touchdown passes allowed (30). Harris had one of his best Fantasy outings of the season in Week 9, when he threw for 394 yards and a pair of scores against Hamilton. He should be able to come close to those numbers even without the services of Brad Sinopoli, who is lost for the remainder of the season with an upper body injury.
Sit: Alex Green ($5,444) has scored in three straight games. The Hamilton running back will be hard-pressed to maintain his streak as he runs into a REDBLACKS defence that is stingy when it comes to allowing majors via the ground. Ottawa leads the league with just seven rushing touchdowns allowed this season and is tied for second with only seven runs of more than 20 yards allowed. Green himself has also seen his yards per carry take a downward arc, as he has gone from the 10.8 yards he managed in his Week 14 debut to last week’s 3.1 yards per carry against the Alouettes.
Montreal at Saskatchewan
Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET
Start: With Cameron Marshall ($5,918) sidelined this week, Trent Richardson has a great opportunity to reward Fantasy players as he gets the start against an Alouettes defence that allows a league-high 113.2 yards per game on the ground. Richardson looked solid in last week’s win over the Stampeders, rushing for 52 yards on nine carries that included a 22-yard run. He’s well-versed in carrying a heavy workload and if the Riders look to focus on the run with Naaman Roosevelt ($6,270) out and Duron Carter ($5,426) focusing on his role at cornerback, Richardson could turn out to be a great $2,500 investment. Saskatchewan has rushed for only 10 touchdowns, yet Richardson is a good bet to increase the total.
Sit: Kevin Glenn ($7,100) isn’t the same quarterback since injuring his right hand in the Banjo Bowl in Week 12. Since then, Glenn has thrown just two touchdowns (both in Week 17) while also tossing four interceptions. With Naaman Roosevelt ($6,270) unavailable and Duron Carter ($5,426) focusing mostly on his role at cornerback, Glenn’s value is further eroded.
BC at Winnipeg
Saturday, 4:00 p.m. ET
Avoid Chris Williams this week after the receiver has yet to find a rhythm in the Lions offence since returning from injury (The Canadian Press)
Start: Among the bushel of $2,500 receivers, Bombers’ pass-catcher Chris Givens has the best chance at earning more than double his salary. The former NFL wideout caught four passes for 41 yards and returned five kickoffs for 110 yards in his debut against Toronto and should see an increase in targets against a Lions team that is eighth in opponents’ average pass at 8.4 yards. Winnipeg is still seeking a reliable second option opposite Weston Dressler ($4,794), and Givens has the potential to fill the role.
Sit: Lions receiver Chris Williams ($3,484) was scratched last week, the latest setback in what has been a challenging season for the team’s biggest free agent acquisition. Williams has just one touchdown this year, and he’s failed to exceed 62 receiving yards since debuting with 75 and 95 yards in Weeks 7 and 8. The big play element Williams was supposed to add to the BC offence hasn’t been there and at this point in the season, it may not show up.
Calgary at Edmonton
Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET
Can’t afford Brandon Zylstra? Try going with Derel Walker this week (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Start: Eskimos receiver Derel Walker ($7,253) is averaging 10.7 Fantasy Points per game since returning to the Edmonton lineup in Week 12, becoming the second option behind Brandon Zylstra ($8,521). With quarterback Mike Reilly ($14,000) averaging 390.5 yards in the two previous meetings against the Stampeders, Walker should be in line for another solid performance. The Eskimos, who lead the league in passing yards per game (337.1), take on a Stamps pass D that is second, only allowing 262.9 passing yards allowed per contest.
Sit: Bo Levi Mitchell had a season-low 1.4 Fantasy Points in last week’s loss to Saskatchewan and has just two multiple touchdown games in the last seven weeks. Mitchell ($8,132) still finds a way to get the job done most of the time in real life, yet his Fantasy numbers have taken a sharp tumble from his 2016 marks of 5,385 yards and 32 scoring passes. The Eskimos top the league in fewest passing yards allowed per game (262.6) and have held Mitchell to just one touchdown while recording three of their 15 interceptions at the expense of last year’s Most Outstanding Player.
