Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
Both the Western and Eastern Semi-Finals will feature their share of explosive talents that carried many a TSN CFL Fantasy football squad this season, but the four participants also have a host of sleepers capable of putting together a Sunday of 20 Fantasy Points.
If the regular season is a guide, the biggest gun in the available arsenal is Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli ($10,760), who had considerable success against the Lions. In consecutive weeks (15 and 16), Masoli tagged the BC secondary for 37 completions in 51 attempts for 400 yards and five majors, amassing a combined 43.9 Fantasy points. Pulling off a third straight gem will be hard since receiver Brandon Banks, who caught nine passes for 72 yards and two majors in Week 16, is sidelined.
It is a coin toss behind Masoli. Winnipeg’s Matt Nichols ($6,811) ended the regular season in solid fashion yet has been neutralized by the same Roughriders defence he’ll visit Sunday afternoon. In three regular-season games, Nichols averaged only 162 passing yards and had a 2:5 TD:INT margin. That’s one more touchdown than Saskatchewan’s Zach Collaros ($5,323) had in a pair of games against Winnipeg, while BC’s Travis Lulay ($5,966) has thrown two interceptions in each of his last three regular season games.
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Although he’ll be backing up Matt Nichols, QB Chris Streveler has been utilized throughout the season, managing to be a strong Fantasy pick. (Johany Jutras, CFL.ca)
Don’t be surprised if Fantasy users flock in the direction of Bombers backup pivot Chris Streveler ($8,692), who accounted for 20 majors in his rookie season.
There is better clarity at running back, where Hamilton’s Alex Green ($9,441) sits atop the position. While he did not play against BC in the regular season, Green’s eight touchdowns in eight games and his 12.1 yards per catch are strong factors in playing him this week. League rushing champ Andrew Harris ($8,075) brings his dual-threat skills to the table but was held in check by the Roughriders in the Bombers’ last two meetings against them, managing only 57 rushing yards on 20 carries. Still, Harris scored 11 touchdowns in the regular season and can be dangerous as a receiver (58 receptions).
BC’s Tyrell Sutton ($6,181) will have a chance to go against a Hamilton run defence that got better in holding down yards allowed per game yet still finished eighth in yards per carry (5.4). Cameron Marshall ($5,275) appears to be the lead back in Saskatchewan, but the presence of Marcus Thigpen ($6,570) and Tre Mason ($4,765) could carve into his touches from scrimmage. There is always the explosive potential of Lions’ do-all Chris Rainey ($6,587), who should be ready to go after leaving the regular season finale with a lower-body injury.
Although Luke Tasker ($8,886) is the top receiver available, the position is filled with sleeper types who could steal the show — and a team’s Grey Cup hopes — in the blink of an eye. A good example would be Tasker’s Hamilton teammate Mike Jones ($5,360), who had one of his four 100-yard games this season at the expense of the Lions, a Week 15 gem that saw him catch three passes for 138 yards and two majors. The return of Saskatchewan’s Naaman Roosevelt ($5,689) gives the Riders a veteran presence, but rookies Jordan Williams-Lambert ($4,527) and Kyran Moore ($4,350) have shown their ability to deliver top-end Fantasy numbers.
Moore and Hamilton’s Terrell Sinkfield ($5,359) bring the bonus of returning the ball, but Fantasy users should also remember 2017 Grey Cup Most Outstanding Player DeVier Posey ($5,790) looms large should the Ticats put too much focus on Bryan Burnham ($6,165).
Defensively, Saskatchewan ($5,440) and its record-setting 11 majors is a toss-up against Winnipeg ($6,300), which has recorded at least two sacks in each of their last six games while also putting up at least 17 Fantasy points four times during the regular season.
Semi-Finals’ Fantasy Rankings:
Quarterback
| Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Player | Value | Opponent |
| 1 (1) | Jeremiah Masoli, HAM | $10,760 | BC |
| 2 (3) | Matt Nichols, WPG | $6,811 | SSK |
| 3 (7) | Zach Collaros, SSK | $5,323 | WPG |
| 4 (5) | Travis Lulay, BC | $5,966 | OTT |
| 5 (2) | Chris Streveler, WPG | $8,692 | SSK |
| 6 (4) | Jonathon Jennings, BC | $6,627 | HAM |
Running Back
| Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Player | Value | Opponent |
| 1 (1) | Alex Green, HAM | $9,441 | BC |
| 2 (2) | Andrew Harris, WPG | $8,075 | SSK |
| 3 (5) | Tyrell Sutton, BC | $6,181 | HAM |
| 4 (7) | Cameron Marshall, SSK | $5,275 | WPG |
| 5 (3) | Chris Rainey, BC | $6,587 | HAM |
| 6 (9) | Tre Mason, SSK | $4,765 | WPG |
| 7 (4) | Marcus Thigpen, SSK | $6,570 | WPG |
| 8 (10) | John White, HAM | $4,686 | BC |
| 9 (11) | Kienan LaFrance, WPG | $3,732 | SSK |
| 10 (T-13) | Sean Thomas Erlington, HAM | $3,000 | BC |
| 11 (T-13) | Mercer Timmis, HAM | $3,000 | BC |
| 12 (6) | Jeremiah Johnson, BC | $6,180 | HAM |
Receiver
| Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Player | Value | Opponent |
| 1 (2) | Luke Tasker, HAM | $8,886 | BC |
| 2 (3) | Darvin Adams, WPG | $7,176 | SSK |
| 3 (5) | Bryan Burnham, BC | $6,165 | HAM |
| 4 (13) | Jordan Williams-Lambert, SSK | $4,527 | WPG |
| 5 (8) | Naaman Roosevelt, SSK | $5,689 | WPG |
| 6 (11) | Weston Dressler, WPG | $5,256 | SSK |
| 7 (6) | DeVier Posey, BC | $5,790 | HAM |
| 8 (9) | Mike Jones, HAM | $5,360 | BC |
| 9 (16) | Kyran Moore, SSK | $4,350 | WPG |
| 10 (12) | Nic Demski, WPG | $4,811 | SSK |
| 11 (10) | Terrell Sinkfield, HAM | $5,359 | BC |
| 12 (15) | Drew Wolitarsky, WPG | $4,352 | SSK |
| 13 (18) | Shaquelle Evans, SSK | $4,148 | WPG |
| 14 (21) | Marquay McDaniel, HAM | $3,570 | BC |
| 15 (T-25) | Patrick Lavoie, SSK | $2,500 | WPG |
| 16 (T-25) | Kenbrell Thompkins, WPG | $2,500 | SSK |
| 17 (T-25) | Caleb Holley, SSK | $2,500 | WPG |
| 18 (24) | Shaquille Johnson, BC | $2,620 | HAM |
| 19 (19) | Ryan Lankford, WPG | $3,839 | SSK |
| 20 (23) | Ricky Collins, BC | $3,190 | HAM |
Defence
| Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Team | Value | Opponent |
| 1 (1) | Winnipeg | $6,300 | SSK |
| 2 (2) | Saskatchewan | $5,440 | WPG |
| 3 (3) | Hamilton | $3,695 | BC |
| 4 (4) | BC | $3,200 | HAM |
