June 18, 2019

DailyRoto: Week 2 Fantasy Rankings

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.

PLAY CFL TSN FANTASY
» Sign up and set your lineup for Week 1!
» The DailyRoto 2019 CFL Fantasy guide
» The latest from the CFL Fantasy Podcast


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.