Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca
The playoffs have a way of showing who is made of legendary material and who is not. It works both ways, as the best Fantasy owners can’t miss when it counts, while others falter when the chill and wild dips well past normal temps.
This weekend’s Division Semi-Finals are loaded with star power, yet knowing who can fit into your $30,000 salary cap and deliver requires savvy and a nugget of knowledge that can carry a Fantasy owner into next week’s Division Finals with a ton of momentum. Luckily, we have savvy and more than enough nuggets to make a difference.
Here we go….
Saskatchewan at Ottawa
Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET
Don’t want to dump almost half of your salary on Mike Reilly? Try going with Trevor Harris (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Start: If paying $14,000 for Edmonton’s Mike Reilly leaves an uneasy feeling to your salary cap, investing in Ottawa pivot Trevor Harris ($9,931) sounds more reasonable. Harris comes into the game having thrown for at least 300 yards in five of his last seven games while throwing 14 of his league-tying (with Reilly) 30 touchdown passes in the same span. What makes Harris more interesting is his effectiveness throwing the deep ball; he’s completed 47 percent of his passes of 20 or more yards with a league-best 14 scoring tosses. In need of more facts? Try one more: Harris leads the league with 2.09 points per possession, and with running back William Powell ($8,023) giving the REDBLACKS a big-time running threat, it’s safe to assume Harris will put up good numbers.
Sit: Regardless of who starts, it’s best to stay away from the Roughriders’ running backs. Saskatchewan finished last in the league with 82.1 yards per game while averaging just 4.6 yards per carry, second-worst only to Edmonton. Projected starter Cameron Marshall ($5,537) has been the team’s most effective runner, but he missed eight games with injuries and had only three games with better than 71 rushing yards. Trent Richardson ($2,500) started the week in a walking boot, and while it is reportedly for cautionary reasons, that fact is unnerving. Shakir Bell ($5,594) could be the X-factor here. Bell has averaged 5.8 yards per carry in his two years in the league and would be able to exploit an Ottawa run defence allowing 5.4 yards per attempt.
Edmonton at Winnipeg
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET
Derel Walker could be the key to your fantasy lineup this week (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Start: While most Fantasy owners will load up with Eskimos running back C.J. Gable ($7,499) and receiver Brandon Zylstra ($7,900), the best play is receiver Derel Walker at $5,755. Walker has been consistent since his return to Edmonton and he should be able to make plays against a Winnipeg pass defence that has allowed a league-high 33 passing majors. He had seven catches for 82 yards and a touchdown against the Blue Bombers in Week 15, and stands a good chance to eclipse 100 yards receiving for the first time since his return in Week 12.
Sit: Clarence Denmark has been unable to seize the opportunity to be the Bombers’ second receiving option after Darvin Adams was lost indefinitely. Denmark has five catches for 37 yards in his last four games, dropping his salary $2,708. There is some value sitting here, but it’s hard to envision Denmark snapping out of his funk, especially against an Eskimos defence that is second in the league in fewest passing yards allowed per game this season at 264.1. Denmark has seven catches for 67 yards and a touchdown in two games against Edmonton this season, yet would need to at least duplicate that combined total to justify having him in your lineup.
