August 7, 2018

RotoExperts: CFL Week 9 Fantasy Rankings

TSN CFL Fantasy Football users will have to decide if investing more than a quarter of their $40,000 salary cap on Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris will deliver a better rate of return than Harris’ previous outing. Harris put up a pedestrian 12.8 Fantasy points in the Blue Bombers’ Week 7 victory over the Argonauts, a number considerably lower than the 20-plus FP he had put up in five of his first six games. Friday’s game against the Tiger-Cats sets up as a potential monster evening for Harris, who faces a Hamilton run defence ranked in the bottom third of the league in rushing yards allowed per game and in average yards per carry.

Running back doesn’t offer too many bargains in Week 9. Chances are strong most users will have to spend some of those hard-earned salary bucks on the likes of Ottawa’s William Powell ($7,406), BC’s Jeremiah Johnson ($7,158) and Edmonton’s C.J. Gable ($6,932). The closest back to a value play would be Travon Van of the Lions, whose $4,816 price tag will be tempting should Chris Rainey ($6,627) miss a second straight game.

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After breaking out of his slump last week against Toronto, Ottawa’s Diontae Spencer will be hoping to ride that train of momentum as the REDBLACKS hope to get back in the win column. (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)

Despite last week’s two-catch performance against Saskatchewan, Edmonton’s D’haquille Williams ($8,697) edges out Hamilton’s Brandon Banks ($9,190) atop the receiver standings. Williams, whose five-game run of at least 100 receiving yards also came to an end, gets a good rebound matchup against the same BC defence that he totalled 24.9 Fantasy points against back in Week 3. Banks, who already has five 100-yard games, face off against a much-improved Winnipeg pass defence, meaning money spent on Jalen Saunders ($7,577) and Luke Tasker ($6,566) could be a risky play. This could be the week either Terrence Toliver ($5,192) or Chris Williams ($4,556) can be a better play at lower price tags.

With Ottawa’s Diontae Spencer ($7,653) breaking out of his slump in last week’s loss at Toronto, perhaps this will be the week that teammate Greg Ellingson ($5,955) snaps out of his. Keep Winnipeg’s Nic Demski ($4,918) in mind as well, as he has thrived as a hybrid runner/receiver in his last two games.

The air raid sirens are prepared for Edmonton’s Mike Reilly ($14,000), who brings the league’s most potent passing attack into Vancouver on Thursday night. With 20 touchdowns (14 passing, six rushing) under his belt, Reilly is on pace to finish with a staggering total of 51 majors. On the other side of the field, BC’s Travis Lulay ($6,043) has sleeper potential in a game that could keep up those on the east coast well into Friday morning.

Johnny Manziel ($7,000) gets another start for the Alouettes as they take on the REDBLACKS on Saturday night. He should be much better than his brutal debut against the Tiger-Cats.

Defensively, Ottawa ($3,381) draws Montreal this week, making them the defence of choice. Winnipeg ($6,179) is the highest salaried unit but present a risk, as a hot start from Hamilton pivot Jeremiah Masoli ($10,063) could make Friday’s game an offensive-friendly contest.

Here are the rankings for Week 9:

Quarterback

Matchup Rank (Position Rank) Player Value Opponent
1 (1) Mike Reilly, EDM $14,000 BC
2 (3) Trevor Harris, OTT $8,405 MTL
3 (2) Jeremiah Masoli, HAM $10,063 WPG
4 (5) Matt Nichols, WPG $7,722 HAM
5 (7) Travis Lulay, BC $6,043 EDM
6 (6) Johnny Manziel, MTL $7,000 OTT
7 (4) Chris Streveler, WPG $7,843 BC
8 (T-13) Cody Fajardo, BC $5,000 WPG

Running Back

Matchup Rank (Position Rank) Player Value Opponent
1 (1) Andrew Harris, WPG $10,136 HAM
2 (4) C.J. Gable, EDM $6,932 BC
3 (3) Jeremiah Johnson, BC $7,158 EDM
4 (2) William Powell, OTT $7,406 MTL
5 (7) Tyrell Sutton, MTL $6,589 OTT
6 (5) Alex Green, HAM $6,686 WPG
7 (6) Chris Rainey, BC $6,627 EDM
8 (T-15) Jordan Robinson, EDM $2,500 BC
9 (T-15) William Stanback, MTL $2,500 OTT
10 (10) Travon Van, BC $4,816 HAM
11 (11) Kienan LaFrance, WPG $3,821 WPG
12 (13) Mercer Timmis, HAM $3,135 OTT

Receiver

Matchup Rank (Position Rank) Player Value Opponent
1 (2) D’haquille Williams, EDM $8,697 BC
2 (1) Brandon Banks, HAM $9,190 WPG
3 (4) Derel Walker, EDM $7,921 BC
4 (5) Diontae Spencer, OTT $7,653 MTL
5 (6) Jalen Saunders, HAM $7,577 WPG
6 (10) Darvin Adams, WPG $5,798 BC
7 (3) Brad Sinopoli, OTT $8,041 MTL
8 (7) Luke Tasker, HAM $6,566 WPG
9 (11) Bryan Burnham, BC $5,602 EDM
10 (8) Greg Ellingson, OTT $5,955 MTL
11 (9) Emmanuel Arceneaux, BC $5,810 EDM
12 (13) Kenny Stafford, EDM $5,043 BC
13 (12) Terrence Toliver, HAM $5,192 WPG
14 (17) Weston Dressler, WPG $4,551 HAM
15 (14) Nic Demski, WPG $4,918 HAM
16 (15) B.J. Cunningham, MTL $4,881 OTT
17 (T-26) Eugene Lewis, MTL $2,500 OTT
18 (T-26) R.J. Harris, OTT $2,500 MTL
19 (18) Ricky Collins Jr., BC $4,035 EDM
20 (16) Chris Williams, HAM $4,556 WPG
21 (T-26) Drew Wolitarsky, WPG $2,500 HAM
22 (25) Ernest Jackson, MTL $2,520 WPG
23 (T-26) T.J. Graham, MTL $2,500 OTT
24 (T-26) Nathaniel Behar, EDM $2,500 BC
25 (T-26) Cory Watson, BC $2,500 EDM

Defence

Matchup Rank (Position Rank) Team Value Opponent
1 (4) Ottawa $3,381 MTL
2 (3) Edmonton $3,522 BC
3 (1) Winnipeg $6,179 HAM
4 (2) Hamilton $4,085 WPG
5 (T-5) BC $3,200 EDM
6 (T-5) Montreal $3,200 OTT