John Woods/THE CANADIAN PRESS
Fun With Fantasy Numbers looks at a Week 9 that felt like everyone had at least one REDBLACKS player in their lineups while also wondering just how much more Trevor Harris could have scored if Ottawa didn’t turn the football into a Christmas gift for the Montreal defence. The week also saw the return of Greg Ellingson to Fantasy prominence and Alex Green’s Ticats Two-Step receive an encore presentation.
In Ottawa We Trust: Five of the seven most used players in Week 9 were REDBLACKS, with quarterback Trevor Harris leading the way with 9,256 users, placing him only behind Eskimos running back C.J. Gable’s 9,889. Running back William Powell (8,343) and receivers Brad Sinopoli (6,822) and Ellingson (6,591) were ranked third through fifth, respectively, with receiver/return specialist Diontae Spencer (5,657) ranked seventh.
Fantasy Analysis: It’s becoming safe to invest in Ottawa’s offence, which put up 601 yards in the 24-17 win over the Alouettes. However, a dropped touchdown pass by Spencer and five turnovers kept the REDBLACKS from making their offensive outburst more productive. Whether they can keep the momentum going against a tough Blue Bombers defence on Friday will be a huge test.
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After going through a bit of a slump that lasted the better part of five weeks, Ottawa’s Greg Ellingson bounced back against the Alouettes. (The Canadian Press)
Guess Who’s Back: Ellingson snapped out of a five-game slump with 11 receptions for 110 yards in Saturday’s win, finishing with 22 Fantasy points, the seventh best total of Week 9.
Fantasy Analysis: He was overdue and the matchup against the Alouettes was his best bet for rebounding. Winnipeg is going to be a tougher challenge on Friday, so don’t go in assuming he can repeat those numbers against a rugged Blue Bombers defence.
The Harris Brothers: Trevor Harris put up 22.1 Fantasy points on Saturday behind the strength of 487 passing yards. He also found a kindred spirit in REDBLACKS receiver R.J. Harris, who put up 19 FP, including his first touchdown. At $2,500, Harris was a solid bargain that only 1,409 users benefited from.
Fantasy Analysis: R.J. Harris will continue to trend upward, as he is becoming a reliable weapon in the Ottawa passing game. The duo will be an affordable stack against a Winnipeg pass defence which held Hamilton’s Jeremiah Masoli to just 251 yards in Friday’s win over the Tiger-Cats.
Andrew a Work of Art: Bombers running back Andrew Harris finished eighth in usage with 5,649 but number one in production in Week 9, finishing with 22.8 Fantasy points in the win over Hamilton. The league’s leading rusher tallied his sixth rushing touchdown of the season while also cracking into the Top 12 in receptions.
Fantasy Analysis: Though not his best game of the season, Harris’ ability to find the goal line and value in the Winnipeg passing game justifies a salary that continues to soar beyond $10,000. Ottawa’s defence has played better than expected this year, so while he’ll be atop the rankings at running back, Fantasy users will have to decide if spending more than a quarter of their salary cap on Harris will pay off with a big Friday night.
Green Acres: Tiger-Cats running back Alex Green found the end zone twice in Friday’s loss at the Bombers, giving him his second multi-major game in as many weeks since he returned off the six-game Injured List. Ranked sixth in usage at 5,767, Green tied for third with Eskimos pivot Mike Reilly and fellow Hamilton teammate Brandon Banks with 22.2 Fantasy points.
Fantasy Analysis: All four of his scores were from inside the 5-yard line, so it should be clear to potential Fantasy users that Green is the guy Masoli and the Ticats turn to when the stripe gets close. Hamilton is off in Week 10 but keep Green in your hearts when they face a suspect Edmonton run defence on August 23.
Van-tastic: BC running back Travon Van did a stellar job filling in for injured starter Jeremiah Johnson, putting up 19 Fantasy points in the Lions’ win over the Eskimos on Friday night. Van put up 143 all-purpose yards and scored a rushing touchdown that helped BC pull away in the fourth quarter.
Fantasy Analysis: Fantasy users knew that Van would thrive against the Eskimos, which is why he was the 10th most used player with 5,274. Van will have to wait and see if Johnson returns for Saturday’s game against the Argonauts, and if the Lions must go to him a second straight week, Van should remain a popular choice.
Working as the replacement of the injured Jeremiah Johnson, BC’s dual-threat back Travon Van finished the week tied for third in overall Fantasy Point scoring. (Johany Jutras, CFL.ca)
Arceneaux of Woe: While Van delivered, Lions teammate Emmanuel Arceneaux didn’t, as he managed just 4.5 Fantasy points, a total that ranked him 37th overall. That was painful for his 2,853 Fantasy users who were hoping Arceneaux could have built off his only touch of the night, a nifty 39-yard catch and run.
Fantasy Analysis: He has only four catches in his last two games, albeit for 92 yards. Imagine what kind of Fantasy numbers he could put up averaging 23 yards per catch if Travis Lulay targets him more often against the Eskimos in two weeks.
He’s Human After All: For a second straight game, Edmonton receiver D’haquille Williams was silent, catching only four passes for 46 yards in the loss to BC on Thursday. After torturing opposing defences for much of the season, Williams has a combined six receptions for 87 yards in his last two games.
Fantasy Analysis: Teammate Derel Walker has benefited from Williams’ mini-skid, scoring 22.7 FP in Week 9. Both should be among the most used receivers in Week 10 as Edmonton gets to feast on the same Montreal secondary that allowed Trevor Harris to complete a near-record 44 passes on Saturday night. Williams won’t need too many targets to return among the elite Fantasy receivers.
Let’s Be Ernest: Yes, that would be Alouettes receiver Ernest Jackson putting up 11.1 Fantasy points on Saturday. While the total isn’t jaw-dropping, it did mark the first time since Week 1 that Jackson had more than five FP.
Fantasy Analysis: Jackson and Adarius Bowman combined for nine catches in the loss to Ottawa, and if Johnny Manziel can build upon his improved numbers (10.3 Fantasy points), the duo could have deep sleeper potential for Saturday’s game against Edmonton.
