Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
With the Alouettes, Blue Bombers and Stampeders on Week 2 hiatus, the talent pool for TSN CFL Fantasy Football Presented by Leo Vegas remains rich despite being thin on depth.
Running back offers a host of intrigue with a trio of backs coming off 100-yard outings in Week 1 that will also be joined by Toronto’s James Wilder Jr. and Chris Rainey. Hamilton’s Sean Thomas-Erlington is flying under the radar, while a handful of backs are seeking to rebound after less than stellar debuts.
Friday’s Lions-Eskimos tilt offers stacking opportunities that some Fantasy users will take advantage of, and Saturday’s Tiger-Cats-Argonauts collision has a strong chance of a busy scoreboard.
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QUARTERBACKS
Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Player | Value | Opponent |
1 (2) | Jeremiah Masoli, HAM | $10,696 | TOR |
2 (1) | Mike Reilly, BC | $11,268 | EDM |
3 (4) | Trevor Harris, EDM | $9,229 | BC |
4 (3) | James Franklin, TOR | $9,471 | HAM |
5 (7) | Dominique Davis, OTT | $6,244 | SSK |
6 (8) | Cody Fajardo, SSK | $5,082 | OTT |
7 (T-14) | Isaac Harker, SSK | $2,500 | OTT |
8 (6) | Jonathon Jennings, OTT | $6,586 | SSK |
Mike Reilly ($11,268)’s homecoming is going to be a movie that Fantasy users are expecting a much better return from than last week’s debut. The Amazing Mike Reilly had only 13 Fantasy points in his first start. It would also help Reilly’s cause if the Lions offence stays on the field longer than last week’s 24:54 against the Bombers. Trevor Harris ($9,229) faces a BC defence that gave up just 184 passing yards to Winnipeg’s Matt Nichols, but allowed three passing majors in the red zone. Jeremiah Masoli ($10,696) is going to be money well spent, as nearly a third of his 2018 passing majors (11) came at the expense of the Argonauts. That number alone is why Masoli ranks atop the Week 2 list.
Fantasy users will stay away from Thursday’s Riders-REDBLACKS affair when it comes to pivots. Dominique Davis ($6,244) still has the stench of his four interceptions on him, and the combination of a Saskatchewan defence that allowed just 169 passing yards and the long odds of Davis scoring three rushing majors is too much for most to run with. Regardless of who gets the starting nod in Saskatchewan, neither Cody Fajardo ($5,082) nor Isaac Harker ($2,500) offers hope for a productive passing evening on Thursday Night Football.
RUNNING BACKS
Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Player | Value | Opponent |
1 (1) | William Powell, SSK | $8,967 | OTT |
2 (3) | C.J. Gable, EDM | $7,650 | BC |
3 (2) | James Wilder Jr., TOR | $8,385 | HAM |
4 (4) | Mossis Madu, OTT | $6,652 | SSK |
5 (12) | Sean Thomas Erlington, HAM | $4,083 | TOR |
6 (6) | Chris Rainey, TOR | $6,533 | HAM |
7 (8) | Brandon Rutley, BC | $5,316 | EDM |
8 (5) | Marcus Thigpen, SSK | $6,535 | OTT |
9 (11) | John White, BC | $4,320 | EDM |
10 (17) | Christion Jones, SSK | $2,816 | OTT |
11 (T-18) | Jordan Robinson, EDM | $2,500 | BC |
12 (7) | Tyrell Sutton, TOR | $6,137 | HAM |
Both William Powell ($8,967) and Mossis Madu ($6,652) are near locks for more than 20 touches on Thursday. The Fantasy value in both backs is enhanced by shaky play at pivot, yet each goes against rugged run defences. That shouldn’t deter Fantasy users, though. C.J. Gable ($7,650) is also in position for a Week 2 feast as he goes against a Lions defence that allowed 7.4 yards per carry to the Bombers on Saturday night. A strong start by the Edmonton passing game will open huge running lanes for Gable, who averaged 7.7 yards per carry and caught three passes for 29 yards and a touchdown in the Week 1 win over BC.
Wilder ($8,385) makes his 2019 debut and is determined to put last year’s inconsistent production behind him. Fellow Argos back Rainey makes his debut with Toronto and offers good RB2 potential with his return skills and ability to make things happen as a receiver. The Lions will likely run the ball more than the four attempts they put up in the loss to the Eskimos. Brandon Rutley ($5,316) ranks above John White ($4,320) after producing 226 kickoff return yards that also included a 108-yard return for a touchdown last week.
Sean-Thomas Erlington ($4,083) is flying under the radar. He amassed 103 yards from scrimmage in Week 1 and faces a Toronto defence that had its issues with pass-receiving backs in 2018. Here’s hoping we will see more of Marcus Thigpen ($6,535), who all but fell off the Fantasy face of the earth during Saskatchewan’s loss to Hamilton. The presence of Christion Jones ($2,816) will continue to cut into Thigpen’s touch count.
RECEIVERS
Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Player | Value | Opponent |
1 (1) | Brandon Banks, HAM | $13,000 | TOR |
2 (6) | Bryan Burnham, BC | $6,671 | EDM |
3 (8) | S.J. Green, TOR | $6,221 | HAM |
4 (2) | Luke Tasker, HAM | $8,551 | TOR |
5 (12) | Kenny Stafford, EDM | $4,661 | BC |
6 (4) | Brad Sinopoli, OTT | $7,157 | SSK |
7 (3) | Derel Walker, TOR | $8,206 | HAM |
8 (7) | Greg Ellingson, EDM | $6,514 | BC |
9 (22) | Duron Carter, BC | $3,314 | EDM |
10 (13) | R.J. Harris, OTT | $4,619 | SSK |
11 (16) | Ricky Collins Jr., EDM | $4,273 | BC |
12 (20) | Lemar Durant, BC | $3,772 | EDM |
13 (11) | Naaman Roosevelt, SSK | $5,331 | OTT |
14 (9) | Armanti Edwards, TOR | $5,848 | HAM |
15 (15) | Mike Jones, HAM | $4,347 | TOR |
16 (21) | Bralon Addison, HAM | $3,762 | TOR |
17 (28) | Caleb Holley, OTT | $2,731 | SSK |
18 (T-29) | K.D. Cannon, SSK | $2,500 | OTT |
19 (18) | Ryan Lankford, OTT | $3,864 | SSK |
20 (27) | Dominique Rhymes, OTT | $2,828 | SSK |
21 (14) | Kyran Moore, SSK | $4,380 | OTT |
22 (T-29) | Tevaun Smith, EDM | $2,500 | BC |
23 (T-29) | Shaquille Johnson, BC | $2,500 | EDM |
24 (25) | Cory Watson, SSK | $3,038 | OTT |
Brandon Banks ($13,000) carved up the Argonauts for 23 receptions for 466 yards and five touchdowns in his three games against them in 2018. Best believe that’s why he’s atop the list. This will be a good week for Ticats receivers across the board, so feel free to play Luke Tasker ($8,551), Mike Jones ($4,347) and Bralon Addison ($3762). The spotlight will be on Toronto’s receiving corps, which was bolstered by the addition of Derel Walker ($8,206). He and S.J. Green ($6,221) earn high Week 2 rankings, but can quarterback James Franklin ($9,471) consistently get them the ball?
There are good plays to be had in the Lions-Eskimos game. BC’s Bryan Burnham ($6,671) has a reasonable sticker price, but look out for Lemar Durant ($3,772) after he caught six passes for 75 yards and a score in Week 1. Duron Carter ($3,314) comes in with a low salary and looks like he will be more involved than the six receptions and 65 yards he totaled in Week 1. The Eskimos look as if they will make Kenny Stafford ($4,661) and Ricky Collins ($4,275) featured targets.
The value of Roughriders receivers continues to be dented with the uncertainty at quarterback. Naaman Roosevelt ($5,331) might be the only Saskatchewan receiver worthy of serious consideration. The REDBLACKS have challenges at the receiver spot, with R.J. Harris ($4,619) appearing to be Davis’ go-to outside of Brad Sinopoli ($7,157). Keep an eye on Caleb Holley, whose $2,731 salary has sleeper potential.
DEFENCES
Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Team | Value | Opponent |
1 (3) | Saskatchewan | $5,393 | OTT |
2 (2) | Edmonton | $3,648 | BC |
3 (7) | Hamilton | $3,963 | TOR |
4 (1) | Ottawa | $3,540 | SSK |
5 (4) | BC | $3,200 | EDM |
6 (8) | Toronto | $3,200 | HAM |
The Roughriders ($5,393) top the Week 2 list, as their ballhawking secondary will be on the hunt to force turnovers against the error-prone Davis. On the flip side, the REDBLACKS ($3,540) merit consideration as they will go against either an erratic passer (Fajardo) or a rookie (Harker) at pivot.
It will be best to steer clear of both the Eskimos ($3,648) and Lions ($3,200) considering the possibility of a high-scoring affair. Hamilton ($3,963) is a good play as they will force Franklin to put the ball in the air more than the Argos would prefer.