CFL Fantasy Podcast, Ep. 36: The Masoli effect

CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO — How will the Jeremiah Masoli injury impact the Hamilton Tiger-Cats?

That’s the question heading into Week 8, as a torn ACL has sidelined one of the CFL’s premier passers for the remainder of the 2019 season.

Masoli’s injury may not only impact the Ticats’ Grey Cup odds this season, but also their success in Fantasy from players like Brandon Banks ($14,000), Luke Tasker ($7,820), Bralon Addison ($6,087) and Maleek Irons ($4,500).

“I know there’s a lot of people who are high on Dane Evans right now,” said Pat Steinberg. “Marshall Ferguson’s a big fan of his and there’s a lot to like there. I’m curious to see — this is the second elite, big-name quarterback to go down this season. Nick Arbuckle‘s performance has been solid since he’s taken over, but it’s pretty clear that Arbuckle is not Bo Levi Mitchell. What is Dane Evans? I don’t know.”

Steinberg joined Jeff Krever and Hannah Nordman on the CFL Fantasy Podcast presented by LeoVegas, where Masoli’s injury was a topic of interest.

Banks is the most expensive player in the game, coming in at $14,000, and his play on the field has justified the price tag so far in 2019. Heading into Week 8, Banks leads the league with 554 receiving yards, while also scoring on two missed field goal returns.

But with Masoli’s injury, Banks and the rest of the Ticats’ weapons may not see a lot of play until Evans can prove himself as a passer.

“It pretty much puts the entire roster on my no fly zone for Week 8,” said Nordman. “I have no idea how Evans is going to handle the role, I have no idea who he’s going to have chemistry with. We’ve barely seen him this season. Until I know something about him, I can’t really take any of these guys.”

You can hear the entire debate in this week’s CFL Fantasy Podcast presented by LeoVegas:

Masoli’s injury continues what’s been a difficult year for starting quarterbacks in the CFL. Mike Reilly, Trevor Harris and Matt Nichols are the last three standing, while Reilly is putting together the worst statistical season of his career.

Several backups, however, have made the most of their opportunity, as Cody Fajardo, Vernon Adams and Nick Arbuckle have all proven capable of handling a starting job. The Ticats’ success will hinge on Dane Evans doing exactly the same.

“The interesting one is going to be Evans,” said Steinberg. “We talk a lot about cost-effective quarterbacks, but it’s the same thing, I’m not ready to put him in a lineup as a starting quarterback. I’m very much in a wait and see mindset when it comes to Hamilton.”

“When you look up and down the Ticats’ lineup, it’s not that they aren’t good players or that they aren’t going to produce at all,” said Krever. “To me it comes down to value, because these guys are priced as players coming from the best offence in the CFL.

“It’s going to be really hard to get a return on that investment if there’s any kind of drop off in production in that Tiger-Cats offence, which there’s going to be. You’re going from one of the most exciting quarterbacks in the CFL to Dane Evans, and it’s not to say Dane Evans won’t be a good one, but there’s going to be a learning curve there, and the numbers aren’t going to come right away.”

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