The Canadian Press
Week 5 of Fun with Fantasy Numbers seeks to ask the question, “Dude, where’s my offence?”
Getting Defensive: Week 5 saw an average of 32.6 points scored in each game, and while the Argos-Eskimos and Bombers-Lions produced a pair of tight contests, the three-game docket churned out only seven players who scored better than 20 Fantasy points.
Fantasy Analysis: Even with the Eskimos taking their first open date of the season, Week 6 should see more scoring, as BC at Ottawa and Winnipeg at Toronto has the makings of an offensive buffet. Saskatchewan at Hamilton on Thursday night could start the week’s schedule with fireworks as Jeremiah Masoli seeks to set a new CFL record with 10 straight 300-yard games.
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Andrew Harris led the way in Week 5, scoring 32.8 fantasy points in Winnipeg’s loss to the BC Lions. (The Canadian Press)
A Winning Pair: For the first time this season, the highest scoring player was also the most used. That honour goes to Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris, who put up 32.8 FP in Saturday’s loss at the Lions and was picked 11,301 times, nearly 3,000 more than Stampeders running back Don Jackson, who finished eighth overall with 15.6 FP.
Fantasy Analysis: Harris goes into Toronto with two straight 100-yard rushing efforts and has scored all four of his rushing touchdowns in the last three weeks. He’s the hottest back in the TSN CFL Fantasy game and will be atop the rankings at the position in Week 6. Harris’ receiving skills aren’t to be ignored, as they are a factor behind his scoring in double digits in each of the first five games.
No D’haquille, No Cry…: Edmonton receiver Duke Williams heads into the Eskimos’ open week with four straight 100-yard games. Williams also has four straight games of at least 20 FP and ranked second behind Harris with 27.3 FP in Friday’s win over the Argonauts. Yes, that means someone else gets to be the top receiver in this week’s rankings.
Fantasy Analysis: Williams, who was fourth in usage (8,181) last week, will return in Week 7 against Montreal on July 26. Long live the night.
Knowledge is Power: Fantasy players wisely stayed away from the Ottawa receiving corps, which was locked up by Calgary for a second time this season. The usually high-scoring trio of Greg Ellingson, Brad Sinopoli and Diontae Spencer managed a combined 22.3 Fantasy points in the 27-3 loss on Thursday night. Sinopoli was the most used at 5,508, ranking 10th overall, while Ellingson (2,311) was 23rd and Spencer (1,318) was the 29th most used.
Fantasy Analysis: Don’t expect the REDBLACKS offence to be held to a field goal when they welcome the rejuvenated Lions on Friday. Trevor Harris managed a total of 3.1 FP in the two losses to the Stampeders but has 45.5 in Ottawa’s two other games. He should trend upward from last week when he was the 24th most used player (2,245).
Rainey Days and Rainey Nights: Lions running back/return specialist Chris Rainey, 26th in usage, was the fifth highest scoring player of Week 5, producing 22.7 Fantasy points. Much of his production came after filling in for injured starting back Jeremiah Johnson, who went down with a lower-body injury. Rainey accounted for 246 all-purpose yards and played a key role in BC’s comeback from a 17-0 halftime deficit.
Fantasy Analysis: Johnson’s status against Ottawa is questionable, which means Rainey will see a considerable workload both on offence and special teams. Rainey has great RB2 potential most weeks but could be a borderline RB1 if Johnson is unable to answer the bell.
In a dramatic come from behind win for the Lions in Week 5, Chris Rainey ranked fifth among all playable fantasy picks with 22.7 points. (Jimmy Jeong, CFL.ca)
Shaq Week: BC receiver Shaquille Johnson was 53rd in usage, but the 297 who did plug him into the lineup were rewarded with 15.1 FP in the Lions’ win over the Blue Bombers. Johnson caught the game-tying touchdown from Travis Lulay and has put up double-digit Fantasy numbers twice this season.
Fantasy Analysis: Johnson only needs a pivot to target him more frequently. He has the talent to emerge as a reliable option for Lulay and the Lions’ offence, so expect to see him trend upward this week. He’s still more of a low-end Flex, but if Johnson delivers another solid outing, he will emerge as a sleeper, brimming on the edge of a breakout.
Green Day: Toronto receiver S.J. Green broke out of his early-season woes in a big way, catching 10 passes for 131 yards in Friday’s loss at Edmonton. Green was 22nd in usage, but his 25.1 Fantasy points ranked third overall.
Fantasy Analysis: James Franklin proved he will target Green heavily, which means the All-CFLer is going to return to his status as a WR1 for Saturday afternoon’s game against the Bombers. Green is third in the league with 38 targets and should get a steady dose of looks from Franklin against a Winnipeg defence that is eighth in opponent’s completion percentage.
Matty Iced: No quarterback was used more in Week 5 than Winnipeg’s Matt Nichols, who was sixth overall with 7,422. That also meant 7,422 disappointed users after Nichols managed only 2.6 Fantasy points in Saturday’s loss to BC, as three interceptions helped the Lions rally from a 17-0 deficit.
Fantasy Analysis: Nichols, who finished 42nd in FP in Week 5, needs a rebound week and could get it against a Toronto defence that is last in passing yards allowed (297.5). The Argos have also allowed nine passes of better than 30 yards, but the Bombers are eighth with only five passes of over 30 yards completed. To his defence, Nichols only has two regular season games this season under his belt, so it could be a case where he needs to shake off some more rust.
You Started Them WHY? Finally, a look at the players who found their way onto Week 5 lineups despite not playing a single down:
Eric Rogers, WR, Stampeders (Injury): 2,201
Terry Williams, RB Stampeders (Injury): 1,241
Travon Van, RB, Lions (Injured List): 688
Ricky Ray, QB, Argonauts (Injured List): 102
A host of players who were on open dates in Week 5 received their share of usage, led by Hamilton’s Masoli, with 599.
