August 20, 2018

Week 10 Fantasy Recap: Williams-Lambert has fully arrived

Arthur Ward/CFL.ca

Fun With Fantasy Numbers looks back at Week 10 when Mike Reilly continued to do Mike Reilly things, a star may have been born in Saskatchewan and regime change may have arrived in a pair of backfields.

Heir Jordan: The Roughriders may have found their replacement for Duron Carter. Rookie receiver Jordan Williams-Lambert was a key factor in Saskatchewan’s surprising 40-27 win over previously undefeated Calgary, as he caught 10 passes for 152 yards. His 25.2 Fantasy points were the eighth-highest total in Week 10 and fourth-best among receivers.

Fantasy Analysis: Williams-Lambert was used by just 1,293 Fantasy owners, a number that should at least double when the Roughriders take on the Lions Saturday night. With pivot Zach Collaros improving each week, Williams-Lambert is trending strongly and will be among the Top 15-20 receivers in the Week 11 rankings. With his size and speed, Williams-Lambert has the potential to do for Saskatchewan when D’haquille Williams has done for the Eskimos this season.

BE THE GM IN CFL FANTASY
» Play TSN CFL Fantasy
» Make your picks in CFL Pick ‘Em
» Landry’s five takeaways from Week 10

McLeod Bethel-Thompson seems to be a miracle man as, for the second straight week, he’s led the Argos to victory after trailing. (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)

Could 8,437 People Be Wrong? Yes, they can, especially when it comes to selecting C.J. Gable and he doesn’t suit up. Gable was the most-selected player this week but was put on the one-game Injured List, opening the door for…

Shaq Attack in Edmonton: Gable’s replacement, rookie Shaquille Cooper, put up the sixth-best total of Week 10, finishing with 25.3 Fantasy points in the Eskimos win over the Alouettes. Cooper, making his first career start, rushed for 102 yards and had 41 yards receiving while scoring his first professional touchdown, making sages out of the 2,510 users who switched to him for the last-minute replacement.

Fantasy Analysis: With the Eskimos on a short week, Cooper could see another start when Edmonton visits Hamilton on Thursday night. Even if Gable returns to the lineup, the running game should thrive against a Tiger-Cats team that allows a league-high 128.4 yards per game and 6.0 yards per carry.

Adams Cuts Like a Knife: Winnipeg’s 44-21 loss to Ottawa was overshadowed by Blue Bombers receiver Darvin Adams, who had the best performance of Week 10. Adams caught eight passes for 162 yards and touchdown receptions of 45 and 72 yards from Matt Nichols to finish with 36.2 Fantasy points. Those numbers were huge for the 2,420 Fantasy users who selected him.

Fantasy Analysis: Adams had just four catches for 29 yards in his previous two games, but one of the league’s best receivers may have begun to hit his stride. Playing him at Calgary on Saturday isn’t as imposing as it may have looked after Williams-Lambert was able to carve up the Stampeders secondary.

Everybody Wants to Be Like Mike: Stop if you’ve heard this before: Mike Reilly had a good week. The 10th-most used player (4,424) had the second-best total when he put up 36 Fantasy points against the Alouettes. Edmonton’s elite pivot passed for three touchdowns and burrowed his way into the end zone for a fourth major on the night. In two games against Montreal, Reilly compiled 839 passing yards with seven passing majors and two rushing touchdowns.

Fantasy Analysis: Reilly has quietly scored rushing touchdowns in four straight games and is on pace for over 6,000 passing yards and 54 combined scores. However, his $14,000 salary presents a challenge, as the Eskimos take on a Hamilton defence that is second in fewest passing yards allowed per game. His touchdown potential keeps him atop the rankings at pivot, but don’t expect a 400-yard gem on Thursday night.

B.J. and the Pipkin: Alouettes receiver B.J. Cunningham has his best Fantasy output of the season by scoring 20.2 FP in Montreal’s loss to Edmonton. Cunningham had a season-best 82 yards receiving and scored on what was quarterback Antonio Pipkin’s first career touchdown pass, a 22-yard connection in the fourth quarter.

Fantasy Analysis: This may not be an outlier for Cunningham’s Week 11 potential, as starter Johnny Manziel is expected to return to the lineup for Friday’s game at Toronto. The Argos struggle against the pass, yet the inconsistency at the quarterback position will continue to make playing Cunningham (who had just 606 users) a high-risk proposition.

 

Stanback! A Change May Be Coming: Alouettes running back Tyrell Sutton was carted off the field late in Saturday’s loss to the Eskimos. While he reportedly was able to walk following the game, the door may be open for coach Mike Sherman to give rookie William Stanback more touches. Stanback had a 47-yard kickoff return on Saturday and had a 30-yard catch and run on his only touch of the night on offence.

Fantasy Analysis: Stanback is a big (6’0, 233) back with exceptional speed. If the Alouettes choose to sit Sutton down for Friday’s game against the Argonauts, Stanback will have intriguing Fantasy potential, as he has averaged nearly 12 yards in his 10 touches from scrimmage while averaging 23.6 yards on kickoff returns.

Caring is Sharing (We Think): Tre Mason had just 8.6 Fantasy points for Saskatchewan on Sunday night, but the number to look at is the 15-6 edge he had over fellow running back Marcus Thigpen when it came to touches from scrimmage.

Fantasy Analysis: Mason may be on the verge of overtaking Thigpen as the Roughriders’ lead back. There’s Fantasy value in using Mason when Saskatchewan visits BC on Saturday night.

Busting Out Rhymes: Ottawa receiver Dominique Rhymes had only 209 users but made them feel like dancing after he put up a surprising 19.1 Fantasy points in the REDBLACKS win at the Blue Bombers.

Fantasy Analysis: Another week, another Ottawa receiver stealing the show from stars Greg Ellingson and Diontae Spencer. Quarterback Trevor Harris has ripped off three straight 300-yard games and will bid for a fourth when the REDBLACKS, who are off in Week 11, return to action against the Alouettes on August 31.

Bo Loses, But Bo Wins: Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell suffered his first loss of the season on Sunday night, but the 3,499 Fantasy users who ran with him won nicely as he put up 26.4 Fantasy points in the 40-27 loss. Mitchell threw a season-high four touchdown passes as the Stampeders fell short attempting to overcome a 31-6 third quarter deficit.

Fantasy Analysis: Those who paired DaVaris Daniels with Mitchell won in a big way, as Daniels’ two touchdown receptions helped him finish with 25.3 Fantasy points. The duo will have another opportunity to rack up Fantasy numbers when Calgary hosts Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon.