Week 19 Fantasy Injury Report: The return of Gable

Brandon C. Williams

CFL.ca

The penultimate week of the regular season brings a variety of movement among the league’s top receivers, yet there are a handful of running backs whose absence will impact the decisions of Fantasy owners. With the finish line in sight, here’s a look at who’s healthy and who’s made a trip to the injured list.

Hamilton at Ottawa
Friday | 7:00 p.m. ET

Brad Sinopoli is the most notable injury for the REDBLACKS making room for Jake Harty to get the start (The Canadian Press)

The Tiger-Cats’ offence gets a boost as receiver Jalen Saunders returns to the lineup after missing last week’s win over Montreal. Saunders ($4,432) is just 23 yards away from reaching 1,000 receiving yards and has been a mark of consistency for Fantasy owners, scoring at least 7.6 Fantasy points in five of his previous six games. The return of Saunders moves Jasper Collins ($2,500) to a reserve role behind starting slotback Felix Faubert-Lussier ($2,500), although Collins will handle kickoff return duties, as return specialist Willie Quinn ($2,500) is on the one-game injured list for another week. Receiver Andy Fantuz ($3,487) remains on the one-game IL.

The REDBLACKS will start Jake Harty ($2,500) in place of Brad Sinopoli ($3,545), who is out for the remainder of the season with an upper body injury. With return specialist Quincy McDuffie ($2,500) on the one-game injured list, the Fantasy impact of receiver Diontae Spencer ($6,556) is bolstered as he will handle both kickoff and punt return duties. Spencer has a punt return for a touchdown this season while also averaging 23.3 yards on kickoff returns.

Montreal at Saskatchewan
Friday | 9:30 p.m. ET

Cameron Marshall will not play this week which means Trent Richardson will likely see more time with the ball (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Versatile fullback Jean-Christophe Beaulieu ($2,500) is on the one-game injured list and is replaced by Nathan O’Halloran ($2,500). Receiver George Johnson ($2,500) was also put on the one-game IL and will be replaced in the starting lineup by Stephen Adekolu ($2,500). Running back Brandon Rutley ($5,121) returns to the roster after spending last week on the one-game injured list and will serve as the backup to Tyrell Sutton ($6,701).

The Roughriders will sit running back Cameron Marshall ($5,918) to assure he is ready to go once the playoffs begin. The move means Trent Richardson ($2,500), who comes off a 52-yard effort in a backup role in last week’s win over the Stampeders, gets the start, making him a great RB2 option against an Alouettes defence ranked last against the run. Greg Morris ($2,500) will serve as the backup, as Kienan LaFrance ($4,427) remains on the IL. Receiver Naaman Roosevelt ($6,270) is out, and with Duron Carter ($5,426) still focusing on playing cornerback, Bakari Grant ($4,567) and Chad Owens ($5,287) become the top receiving options for Kevin Glenn ($7,100).

BC at Winnipeg
Saturday | 4:00 p.m. ET

Timothy Flanders will miss his third-straight game this week (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

With receiver Nick Moore ($2,926) returning from the injured list last week, the Lions do not have any offensive skill position players on the IL, except for running back Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, who will likely miss his sixth straight game after sustaining injuries in an auto accident last month.

Bombers running back/slotback Timothy Flanders ($3,953) did not practice this week and will most likely miss his third straight game. Backup fullback Mike Miller ($2,500) will also likely be sidelined.

Calgary at Edmonton
Saturday | 7:00 p.m. ET

Marken Michel will miss this week’s game after leaving with an injury early in last week’s contest (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

The status of return specialist Roy Finch ($4,981) remains uncertain, although it’s unlikely he will see any snaps at running back with the team looking to give Dominique Williams a look in the final two games. Slotback Marquay McDaniel ($4,349) will miss a second straight game and will be joined on the injured list by receiver Marken Michel ($4,434), who suffered a hamstring injury in last week’s loss to Saskatchewan.

The injury-plagued Eskimos will have running back C.J. Gable ($8,531) return after he missed last week’s win over BC. However, depth behind Gable could be an issue as Pascal Lochard ($2,500) will be sidelined with a lower body injury, while LaDarius Perkins ($5,315) will most likely be out after suffering a knee injury last week. Running back Kendial Lawrence ($3,760) could return to the roster after missing the last two-plus months. Both fullbacks, Alexandre Dupuis ($2,500) and James Tuck ($2,500), will also be out of action, while receiver D’haquille Williams’ ($3,061) status remains in question after he was put on the one-game injured list last week.

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