Mike Sturk/CFL.ca
TORONTO — The TSN CFL Fantasy game is easy for any fan to play, with just seven roster spots and a $40,000 salary cap.
However, success requires, at a bare minimum, knowledge of which star players are sitting due to injury. With such small rosters, a wasted spot on a player who isn’t in the lineup can be a devastating blow to your week’s score.
Meanwhile, the more dedicated Fantasy player will want to keep close tabs on who’s practising with the first-team offence. Practice reports can be the source of hidden gems that produce big numbers despite low ownership percentage, providing an edge over the rest of the field.
With that, CFL.ca breaks down some of the critical roster notes for each game:
Ottawa at Calgary
Thursday | 9:00 p.m. ET
Mossis Madu, RB, OTT
Mossis Madu ($6,015) will miss his second straight week after sitting out Ottawa’s season-opener in Week 2. Either way he’s not to be trusted in Fantasy right now as William Powell ($8,333) is the bell cow back in the nation’s capital, although he has a tough matchup against Calgary’s powerful defensive front.
Austen Hartley, REC, OTT
The REDBLACKS will start an eighth Canadian this week, knocking Noel Thomas Jr. ($2,500) out of the lineup with Austen Hartley ($2,500) taking his place. It’ll be the 22-year-old’s first career start, though he’s not considered a viable Fantasy option at this moment.
Marken Michel, REC, CGY
Stamps wideout Marken Michel ($4,343) will miss his second straight game after suffering an injury in the opening week of the season. Calgary’s receiving corps is already one of the deepest in the CFL, but Michel’s absence could mean more looks for Reggie Begelton ($2,500) and DaVaris Daniels ($4,357).
Lemar Durant, REC, CGY
Lemar Durant ($2,563) is listed on the Stampeders’ depth chart, but isn’t necessarily a lock to draw into Thursday’s lineup vs. the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Fantasy players may want to take a wait-and-see approach as he works his way back from a season-ending injury.
Reggie Begelton, REC, CGY
With Marken Michel ($4,343) out, Reggie Begelton ($2,500) continues to get a look in the Stamps’ offence, this time moving into the field wideout position. Begelton is talented but is a risky play considering he may not demand a high volume of targets.
Winnipeg at Hamilton
Friday | 7 p.m. ET
Luke Tasker, REC, HAM
After missing practice early in the week, Luke Tasker ($6,318) is expected to play Friday vs. the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Tasker is a high-volume option in Hamilton’s red-hot passing offence and can be inserted into the lineup with confidence.
Alex Green, RB, HAM
No word yet on the status of Alex Green ($5,868), who remains on the Ticats’ six-game injured list after sustaining a hand injury out of camp. For now it appears Mercer Timmis ($3,000) is the player to own in the Hamilton offensive backfield.
Andrew Harris, RB, WPG
After leaving last weekend’s game with a lower-body injury, Andrew Harris ($6,392) is ready to go in Week 3 according to TSN’s Darrin Bauming. Harris remains the workhorse back in the Bombers’ surging offence.
BC at Edmonton
Friday | 10 p.m. ET
Bryant Mitchell, REC, EDM
Bryant Mitchell ($3,644) is back at practice according to CHED’s Dave Campbell, as the Eskimos’ receiver continues to work his way back from an injury that sidelined him the first two weeks of the season. He’s an intriguing play if he makes it back into the Esks’ starting lineup, especially with injuries to Vidal Hazelton ($3,621) and Juron Criner ($2,500).
Montreal at Saskatchewan
Saturday | 9 p.m. ET
Zach Collaros, REC, SSK
The Riders have placed quarterback Zach Collaros ($6,232) on the six-game injured list after he exited a Week 2 loss to Ottawa. It’s a tough start to Collaros’ first year in Riderville and could have an impact on other players in the Riders’ offence.
Brandon Bridge, REC, SSK
With Collaros out, Brandon Bridge ($6,000) gets the biggest opportunity of his career to step into the huddle and take a No. 1 starting quarterback job. Bridge is the second-cheapest quarterback and has an enviable matchup, a home game against the struggling Montreal Alouettes, but comes with some risk as well.
Duron Carter, REC, SSK
It looks like Duron Carter will not be a Fantasy factor for the foreseeable future, as Chris Jones has revealed Carter will play corner until Nick Marshall returns. This could mean more looks for Naaman Roosevelt ($5,162) and Caleb Holley ($3,606), but the Riders’ offence is less dynamic as a whole as a result
Marcus Thigpen, RB, SSK
Back from his two-game suspension, Marcus Thigpen ($4,000) was back at Riders practice this week and should factor into the game plan against the Montreal Alouettes. Although, with Jerome Messam ($3,959) and Tre Mason ($3,000) also in the mix, it’ll be important to keep close tabs on the Riders’ depth chart when it comes out on Friday.
Shaquelle Evans, REC, SSK
With Duron Carter’s move to defence, Shaquelle Evans ($2,500) should continue to start at boundary wideout. The 27-year-old is worth a flyer as a bargain buy with the minimum $2,500 salary after recording four catches for 56 yards against Ottawa.
Tre Mason, RB, SSK
Former NFL running back Tre Mason ($3,000) has flashed big potential in his first two CFL games, but could be out of the lineup this week with the return of Marcus Thigpen and a crowded Rider backfield. Check the depth chart when it comes out and adjust accordingly.
Chris Williams, REC, MTL
According to Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette, Chris Williams ($3,960) was not at practice on Wednesday and was replaced at his boundary wideout spot by Chris Harper ($2,500).
