RotoExperts: Divisional Finals Fantasy Rankings

Edmonton Over Everything is the mantra of the four teams still alive for a Grey Cup title. For Fantasy users, sorting through who really wants to play next Sunday evening will require sorting through the past.

TSN CFL Fantasy football users won’t be shocked to see Hamilton’s Jeremiah Masoli atop the list at quarterback as he prepares to face Ottawa for a fourth time this season. Masoli’s $11,516 salary will cut into lineup flexibility, but Masoli threw for 259 yards and three touchdowns in little more than a half in the 48-8 win over BC in the East Semi-Final, making him a strong play. In his previous three games against the REDBLACKS, Masoli averaged 312.3 yards per game yet his 4:4 TD:INT margin will evoke some concern.

Ottawa’s Trevor Harris is right behind him and comes at a friendlier $9,691. He’s had success against the Ticats in his last two games against them, throwing for 608 yards and four touchdowns in consecutive wins over Hamilton in Weeks 19 and 20, clinching the East Division for the REDBLACKS. Harris also has the best receiving corps among the surviving playoff teams, as Diontae Spencer ($10,937), Brad Sinopoli ($7,985) and Greg Ellingson ($7,432) are among the Top Five at the position.

RELATED: Divisional Finals
» Head to Head: Who has the edge in the Eastern Final?
» Numbers Don’t Lie: 3 stats that will define the Western Final
» On to the Next One: Division Finals set for next weekend

Jeremiah Masoli will enter the Divisional Finals with the edge over the rest of the remaining leather-slingers. Can the Tiger-Cats signal-caller have a repeat of his performance from last weekend? (Johany Jutras, CFL.ca)

Not to take away from the West Division’s pivots, Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell ($8,911), the league leader with 35 touchdown passes, has been at or near average since putting up his last game of at least 20 Fantasy points in Week 16. Since then, Mitchell has not exceeded better than 15.1 FP via his passing but has thrown four TDs with no interceptions in 77 regular season attempts.

Matt Nichols of Winnipeg ($7,252) has thrown just one interception in his last six games. However, Nichols’ numbers against the Stamps have been mixed, as he sports a 3:2 TD:INT margin while throwing for a combined 616 yards. Fantasy users will find it hard to trust Nichols if the game becomes a high-scoring affair, and there’s also concern that Nichols could revert to the version who threw eight picks during a four-game stretch in midseason.

Running back is a coin toss between Ottawa’s William Powell ($8,764) and Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris ($8,852), the league’s top two rushers. Powell was beaten out by Harris in the regular season finale, giving Harris his second straight rushing title. But Powell gets the edge due in part to having three weeks to recoup for Sunday after he sat out the final two regular season games before last week’s bye.

Potential Harris users will consider that he was held to just 13 yards on seven carries in the Bombers’ Week 11 loss to Calgary, but he does have 11 catches for 95 yards in two regular-season games against the Stamps. Meanwhile, Powell rushed for 87 yards in his previous meeting against the Tiger-Cats in Week 19.

Hamilton’s Alex Green ($9,344) is the most expensive back for Finals Sunday, but his receiving skills make him worth strong consideration, as Green has averaged 12.1 yards per catch in the regular season. Calgary’s Don Jackson ($7,213) ran for 91 yards and a touchdown against BC in the regular season finale and finally looks like the back who led the league in rushing earlier in the season before injuries slowed him down.

Keep an eye on Calgary’s Terry Williams ($4,923), whose return skills make him a bargain. Williams has three majors on punt returns this season, although each game against East Division.

The REDBLACKS trio makes a good foundation at either receiver or flex, but attempting to play all three would be difficult, especially Spencer, who has a lofty $10,937 salary. Hamilton’s Luke Tasker ($9,500) comes in behind Spencer after catching a pair of touchdowns in the win over BC. Winnipeg’s Darvin Adams ($6,993) has past success against the Stampeders, with eight receptions for 153 yards and two touchdowns, while Calgary’s Markeith Ambles ($4,415) and Hamilton’s Bralon Addison ($4,000) have played like anything but rookies, which is why both are in the Top 10.

There’re tons of sleeper potential beyond the Top 10, as Calgary’s Chris Matthews ($3,500), Hamilton’s Mike Jones ($4,750) and Winnipeg’s Nic Demski ($4,640) are flying under the radar. Veterans Bakari Grant of the Stamps ($3,688) and Marquay McDaniel ($3,728) are near the bottom of the Top 20, but each could reward Fantasy users willing to gamble on them.

Defensively, the Stampeders ($4,680) get the edge over the Blue Bombers ($6,105), as Calgary’s home field advantage and difference in salary makes them the more appealing option. Hamilton ($4,467) scored 22 Fantasy points in last week’s win and have a combined eight sacks in their last two games, while Ottawa’s inability to consistently get to the passer (two sacks in their last four games) makes them a shaky choice at a $3,394 salary.

Here are RotoExperts’ Player Rankings ahead of the Divisional Finals:

Quarterback

Running Back

Receiver

Defence