The Canadian Press
Fun With Fantasy Numbers looks back at a Week 16 that was Moore than TSN CFL Fantasy football users expected, especially those who stacked their rosters with Eskimos. The week saw another injury to a Stampeders receiver and cleared the path for another Stampeders receiver to step up with good Fantasy numbers. Johnny Manziel and the Alouettes put up a handful of firsts along while the #AddNickMarshall campaign picked up steam.
The Moore the Merrier: Roughriders receiver Kyran Moore had just 1,184 users, but they were left looking wise after the rookie put up nine catches for 126 yards and a touchdown in Sunday’s win over the Alouettes. Moore also had 33 yards in punt returns and finished with 28.9 Fantasy points, tying him with a certain returning receiver in Hamilton (more on that soon) for the week’s best total.
Fantasy Analysis: Ranked 33rd in usage, Moore gave Zach Collaros an unexpected target who thrived in the absence of Naaman Roosevelt and helped the Saskatchewan pivot put up a season-high 394 yards. He won’t be ignored in the Thanksgiving Day clash against the Eskimos, as Moore may be the downfield threat the Riders passing game has lacked all season.
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Brandon Banks topped the leaderboard in Week 16 of Fantasy alongside Roughriders’ Kyran Moore with 28.9 FP. (The Canadian Press)
The Banks Always Open: After missing two games with a groin injury, Ticats receiver Brandon Banks returned to the lineup and performed as though he’d never missed a snap, catching nine passes for 79 yards and two touchdowns in Hamilton’s win over BC on Saturday. The 28.9 FP he put up marked the third straight game Banks tallied at least 28 FP and the sixth time in the last seven contests that he has scored at least 20 Fantasy points.
Fantasy Analysis: Second in the league in catches (78), yards (1,112) and receiving majors (nine), Banks will give opposing defences the Thanksgiving gift of being off in Week 17.
One Dark, Stormy (and Unproductive) Night in Edmonton: Edmonton’s surprising 30-3 loss to Winnipeg on Saturday night was a team effort that also sunk a host of Fantasy rosters that loaded up on Eskimos players. Receiver D’haquille Williams had a Week 16-best 5,901 users while running back C.J. Gable was sixth at 4,032 and receiver Bryant Mitchell’s 3,633 users placed him ninth. Mitchell was able to muster 12.9 Fantasy points, but Gable finished 43rd with 6.4 FP and Williams’ season-low 5.7 FP ranked 47th overall.
Fantasy Analysis: Did we forget to mention Mike Reilly and his 6.7 FP that tied him for 41st? Reilly failed to produce a touchdown for the first time this season and did not throw a major for only the fifth time in the last three years. While the Eskimos will put up better numbers on Thanksgiving Day, do keep in mind that they have lost four of their last five and must snap their funk against a Saskatchewan team that has been locked in of late. Ouch.
Never as Good as the First Time: Montreal quarterback Johnny Manziel had the week’s eighth-best total with an 18 FP performance in the Alouettes loss to the Roughriders. Manziel completed just nine passes but did throw his first two touchdowns in a Montreal uniform. It was also a day of firsts for Adarius Bowman and Ernest Jackson, as both scored their first majors of the 2018 campaign as recipients of Manziel’s magic.
Fantasy Analysis: Als return specialist Stefan Logan joined the first time fun with a 74-yard punt return for a touchdown, his first since 2016. In defeat, the Montreal offence showed signs of progress and left fans feeling positive about Manziel’s potential. That talk will be silenced by the arrival of the Calgary defence, which faces the Alouettes on Thanksgiving Day. It won’t be a good week to invest in Montreal talent.
Next Stamp Up II: Marken His Spot: Calgary receiver Reggie Begelton broke the hearts of the 4,211 users he garnered with an injury early in Friday’s game against Toronto. As has been the case this season, another Stampeders wideout filled the void in grand fashion, with Marken Michel playing the role of hero in the 38-16 win. Michel ran for a 36-yard touchdown and added a 21-yard scoring catch to finish with 22.1 Fantasy points, the week’s third-best total.
Fantasy Analysis: Begelton, who is lost for the remainder of the season with a broken arm, joins DaVaris Daniels and Kamar Jorden on the IL. No worries, as Michel showed he can handle the feature role for Bo Levi Mitchell. He’ll be highly sought after in this week’s game against the Alouettes, but Fantasy users will be thrilled about the prospects of Eric Rogers returning to the lineup along with the promise of Lemar Durant, Juwan Brescacin and Markeith Ambles; the latter who caught three passes for 69 yards in his CFL debut on Friday.
Dial D for Dexter: In his first CFL game, Toronto running back/return specialist Dexter McCluster left a positive impression, finishing with 15.1 Fantasy points in the Argos’ loss to the Stampeders as he tallied 119 all-purpose yards.
Fantasy Analysis: McCluster led the team in rushing as he filled in for James Wilder Jr. who left the game with an injury. Consider McCluster a strong bargain if Wilder is unavailable for Saturday’s game against the Lions.
We’ll Always Have Week 15: Jonathon Jennings had just 0.3 Fantasy points in BC’s loss to Hamilton on Friday, throwing three interceptions, of which two were run in for scores during the 40-10 defeat. Jennings’ five rushing yards were the reason he did not finish with negative points. As it was, Jennings — who was 15th in usage — was 80th overall in scoring this week.
Fantasy Analysis: His memorable Week 15 is now a distant memory. Jennings won’t have nearly as much usage in Saturday’s game against Toronto and could face the prospect of being benched in favour of either Cody Fajardo or Travis Lulay.
Moonlighting Should be Rewarded: Roughriders defensive back Nick Marshall scored twice in Sunday’s win over the Alouettes, giving the former Auburn pivot six scores this season. His 12.3 Fantasy points placed Marshall 20th overall this week.
Fantasy Analysis: Although he won’t have a lot of usage, there is a reason for having Marshall placed among the pivots. Sooner or later, Marshall’s going to throw for a major or two and really make things interesting. At the very least, he should be added for the postseason.
So Good That He’s Quiet: Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris had 19.7 Fantasy points in Saturday’s win over Edmonton that included his first rushing touchdown in more than a month. His numbers aren’t as impressive as they were earlier in the season, but Harris is just two majors from tying his career-best 13 scores that he recorded in 2012.
Fantasy Analysis: Harris looks primed to finish the season in dominant fashion as he attempts to help carry the Bombers back into the postseason. He’ll be atop the rankings at running back when he squares off against Ottawa’s William Powell on Friday. Powell leads the league in rushing yards, with Harris right behind him.
