June 25, 2018

Week 2 Fantasy Recap: Cheap picks boosting value with production

(Peter McCabe, CFL.ca)

We have fun with Fantasy numbers after a Week 2 where the average margin of victory was 30 points:

Mercer, Mercer, Me 

Hamilton running back Mercer Timmis and his $2,500 salary ran his way through the Eskimos defence for 133 yards and two majors in Friday’s 38-21 victory (which happened to be the “nail-biter” of the weekend). To say a scant few outside of Mercer’s family and friends who benefited from his 25.3 Fantasy Points is putting it mildly, as only 118 participants in the TSN CFL Fantasy game installed him in the lineup.

The number of Timmis supporters was one less than what teammate Johnny Manziel had for the week. Somehow, it appears unlikely Timmis, who was 62nd in player usage, will fly so low under the radar for Friday’s home date against Winnipeg, especially since he’s probably now the back of choice for coach June Jones.

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118 fantasy owners weren’t feeling so timid with Timmis after he put up 25.3 points against Edmonton. (Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca)

Two Live Drew

Compared to Bombers receiver Drew Wolitarsky, Timmis’ player usage was prolific, but the second-year Winnipeg wideout receives the first “Hidden Gem” award following a Friday evening where he put up 20.6 FP in the 56-10 win over Montreal. Wolitarsky, who caught two touchdown passes from Chris Streveler, had only 57 Fantasy players who used him in their lineups, tying him with Blue Bombers teammate Kienan LaFrance for 79th in player usage.

Oh, Jerome…

Roughriders running back Jerome Messam fell to second overall in player usage with 7,723, nearly 30 per cent fewer than Week 1. It also meant there were 7,723 disappointed Fantasy players who groaned with the underwhelming 2.8 FP Messam totalled in the loss to the REDBLACKS. Messam’s production placed him 69th among the 88 players who put up points in Week 2, and with Marcus Thigpen expected to return from suspension this week, Messam’s usage is about to collapse darn fast.

Youth Movement

Streveler had the highest score of Week 2, as his 37.6 Fantasy Points were keyed by 246 yards and three touchdown passes along with 98 yards and a touchdown rushing. The Winnipeg pivot saw his numbers rise in player usage, moving to 17th overall with 2,485 Fantasy players riding his hot hand. Two things are certain to rise entering Week 3, as both Streveler’s $6000 salary and player usage will trend upward.

Offensive in Ottawa

The REDBLACKS had four of the top 14 FP producers in Week 2, with running back William Powell leading the way with 25.8 in the win over the Roughriders, placing him seventh overall. Receivers Greg Ellingson (22.4 FP) and Diontae Spencer (21.6) and quarterback Trevor Harris (21.4) were 12th thru 14th.

Ottawa had a fifth player with at least 13 Fantasy points, as receiver Brad Sinopoli had 13.4 FP, ranking him 22nd overall.

Eric the Red 

It didn’t take long for Calgary receiver Eric Rogers to return to the form that made him an All-CFL selection with the Stampeders in 2015. Rogers finished with 30.1 Fantasy Points in Saturday’s win over Toronto, a total that was second only to Streveler. There was moderate faith in Rogers among Fantasy players, as he was used by 1,195 players, ranking him 29th overall.

He was far from the most popular Stampeders player in Week 2. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell was the fifth-most used player with 4,269 while running back Don Jackson (3,499) was 10th, receiver Kamar Jorden (2,717) was 15th and running back/return specialist Terry Williams (1,718) was 21st.

 

An Alouette Stands Alone

Fantasy players have shown little trust in the Alouettes. Running back Tyrell Sutton was the only Alouettes player who was ranked among the top 36 most-used players in Week 2, ranking 18th with 2,103 users. He finished 28th in overall Fantasy Points, finishing with 11.1 FP, just behind the 11.5 FP of teammate B.J. Cunningham.

That’s Life…

Tiger-Cats receiver Mike Jones came out of nowhere with 17 FP in Week 1. He had zero in Week 2, much to the chagrin of the 341 Fantasy players who used him. Jones’ numbers were expected to dip with the return of Terrence Toliver to the lineup, but no one expected him to be shut out. Chances are that Jones’ plateau might have already reached the ceiling.

Missing in Toronto

Even before Ricky Ray’s frightening injury late in the third quarter of Saturday’s loss to Calgary, Toronto’s receivers were giving Fantasy players grief. The duo of S.J. Green and Armanti Edwards combined for just 7.3 Fantasy Points, ranking them 61st and tied for 64th, respectively. The Argonauts have Week 3 off and will hope the down week will help spark a stagnant offence that has managed just three touchdowns thus far, two of which are runs from quarterback James Franklin.

The reigning Grey Cup champs have only mustered up three touchdowns, two coming from their short-yardage quarterback in James Franklin. (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)

Week 2 Honour Roll

Seventeen players put up at least 20 Fantasy points this past week:

Quarterback

NAME TEAM WEEK 2 FANTASY POINTS
CHRIS STREVELER WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS 37.6
JEREMIAH MASOLI HAMILTON TIGER-CATS 29.2
MIKE REILLY EDMONTON ESKIMOS 26
BO LEVI MITCHELL CALGARY STAMPEDERS 25.4
TREVOR HARRIS OTTAWA REDBLACKS 21.4

Running Back

NAME TEAM WEEK 2 FANTASY POINTS
WILLIAM POWELL OTTAWA REDBLACKS 25.8
MERCER TIMMIS HAMILTON TIGER-CATS 25.3
ANDREW HARRIS WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS 24.6
TERRY WILLIAMS CALGARY STAMPEDERS 20.3

Receiver

NAME TEAM WEEK 2 FANTASY POINTS
ERIC ROGERS CALGARY STAMPEDERS 30.1
LUKE TASKER HAMILTON TIGER-CATS 27.3
BRANDON BANKS HAMILTON TIGER-CATS 23.7
DIONTAE SPENCER OTTAWA REDBLACKS 21.6
GREG ELLINGSON OTTAWA REDBLACKS 21.4
DREW WOLITARSKY WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS 20.6
D’HAQUILLE WILLIAMS EDMONTON ESKIMOS 20.5

You’re Playing Them WHY?

And, finally, a look at the Fantasy owners who chose to use the following players despite the fact they were either injured or suspended

NAME POSITION TEAM INJURY/SUSPENSION NO. OF SELECTIONS
VIDAL HAZELTON REC ESKIMOS INJURED 713
MARKEN MICHEL REC STAMPEDERS INJURED 621
MARCUS THIGPEN RB ROUGHRIDERS SUSPENDED 531
MOSSIS MADU RB REDBLACKS INJURED 313
ALEX GREEN RB TIGER-CATS INJURED 132
TRENT RICHARDSON RB ROUGHRIDERS SUSPENDED 111
MATT NICHOLS QB BLUE BOMBERS INJURED 104