The Canadian Press
Fun with Fantasy Numbers looks back at Week 15. The four highest scorers did their part in a Game of the Year candidate. Zach Collaros did something he had not done this season, Mike Reilly was good when he’s bad, and defences are happy William Powell has Week 16 all to himself.
Was That Fun or What? Bleary-eyed left coasters needed an extra jolt of coffee Sunday morning after staying up late to watch BC outlast Hamilton in a 35-32 overtime thriller that will have strong support for Game of the Year. The wild final minutes of regulation and overtime were a boon to Lions receiver Bryan Burnham, who topped the Week 15 pack with 33 Fantasy points, while Tiger-Cats receiver Mike Jones tallied 28.8 Fantasy Points on three catches for 138 yards and a pair of long majors from Jeremiah Masoli, who finished fourth overall with 24.1 FP. Lions quarterback Jonathon Jennings placed third with 28.4 FP, his best Fantasy outing in nearly two years.
Fantasy Analysis: Jennings was one of the week’s biggest surprises. Ranked 20th in usage (2,232), he looked a lot like the explosive pivot who threw for 5,227 yards and 27 majors in 2016. Having led the Lions to three straight wins, Fantasy users will see Jennings in a more positive light in Saturday’s rematch at Hamilton, but should also take some caution in not overhyping his remarkable totals from Week 15.
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Despite the loss, Montreal’s Johnny Manziel did manage to hit double digits in Fantasy points, however, the Als’ quarterback has yet to account for a touchdown in any of his three starts. (Jason Halstead, CFL.ca)
Collaros Doubles the Fun: Saskatchewan quarterback Zach Collaros was 27th in usage (1,693) and rewarded his base with 16.1 FP, placing him 12th overall. Collaros’ high finish was helped by his two touchdown passes to Jordan Williams-Lambert, which marked the first time this season he threw multiple majors.
Fantasy Analysis: Collaros also threw two interceptions and completed just 56 percent of his passes, washing away the impact of his touchdowns. He’s thrown an interception in each of his last five games and despite having the likes of Williams-Lambert and Naaman Roosevelt, who combined for 31.2 FP on Saturday, Collaros has been inconsistent all season. However, there will be a share of Fantasy users drawn to him and the Riders’ matchup against the Alouettes on Sunday.
When 19.6 Fantasy Points is Disappointing: Only Reilly can put up that total and still have Fantasy users feel a bit empty. Reilly finished fifth overall in Week 15, and while it’s a good ratio when considering he was ranked 16th in usage (2,603), the Edmonton star had just one touchdown pass in the loss to Ottawa and threw for “only” 276 yards.
Fantasy Analysis: Nit pickers will say Reilly is slumping because he’s failed to throw for more than 300 yards in three of his last four games while suggesting that his $14,000 salary should be dropped. Hogwash. Reilly has a combined 39 touchdowns and will be in good position to silence the naysayers when the Eskimos face a Blue Bombers team that he amassed 34.6 FP against in Week 1.
Nothing from Nothing Leaves Nothing: Argonauts receiver Duron Carter did not score a single point in the loss to the Roughriders, leaving him without a reception in each of his first two games with Toronto.
Fantasy Analysis: What’s the use of having Carter if you…never mind. Carter was ranked 15th in usage, and his 2,983 fantasy fans had to have been wondering the same thing after Saturday evening. His usage totals will fall considerably in Week 16 as Toronto draws the Calgary defence.
A Not-So Fantastic Four: Roughriders running back Tre Mason was second only to Bombers running back Andrew Harris in usage, but caused considerable damage to the 5,933 lineups he was in. Mason had only four Fantasy points, putting up 19 yards on eight carries and catching one pass for six yards in the win over the Argonauts.
Fantasy Analysis: Mase has yet to score a major this season and has been phased out of the passing game. The matchup against the Alouettes is a tempting play, but it’s beginning to look like Marcus Thigpen is about to return as the RB of choice in Saskatchewan.
Defences Breath Sigh of Relief: About the only thing stopping REDBLACKS running back William Powell is the open date he and Ottawa will have this week. Powell heads into the Week 16 bye having ripped off consecutive 100-yard games, including a 147-yard effort against Edmonton that allowed him to finish with 19.2 FP, the sixth-best total of the week.
Fantasy Analysis: Powell has four 100-yard games in his last six outings and has put up at least 82 yards in five of six. The league’s leading rusher appears set to close out the regular season in the same dominant fashion he did in 2017, so expect him to be among the most-used players in the Week 17 clash against Winnipeg on October 5.
Man, oh Manziel: Montreal pivot Johnny Manziel was 28th overall with 13.3 FP in the loss to BC. and has yet to account for a touchdown in any of his three starts.
Fantasy analysis: Short yardage specialist Antonio Pipkin scored the Alouettes’ lone touchdown on Friday as the passing major drought continues for Montreal’s receiving corps, which has just one touchdown reception in the last seven games. Manziel should be avoided for Friday’s game against Winnipeg, as all Als except running back William Stanback should be downgraded.
Wilder Times, Only with Fewer Users: Argos running back James Wilder Jr.was 32nd in usage but had one of his better weeks of the season with 19.2 Fantasy points in the loss to the Roughriders.
Fantasy Analysis: While he failed to score a touchdown in a fifth straight game, Wilder’s pass-catching skills (seven catches, 74 yards) helped him toward a tie for sixth in Week 15 FP. He will be a hard sell for users again this week as Toronto visits Calgary and its solid run defence.
