CFL Fantasy Podcast, Ep. 44: Can anyone stop Chris Streveler?

TORONTO — Chris Streveler is quickly becoming one of the biggest weapons in TSN CFL Fantasy.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers pivot continues to put up big numbers at an affordable price, providing Fantasy users back to back weeks of 30-plus point production.

With a sub-$9,000 price tag that won’t last forever, has Streveler put himself on the must-start radar in Week 16 against Hamilton?

“He might not be the most pure passer, he might not be the CFL’s best all around quarterback,” said Pat Steinberg of the CFL Fantasy Podcast, “but when it comes to Fantasy, when you’re talking about his ability to turn a five yard gain into a 20, 25 yard touchdown, he has to be knocking on the door to not just being the No. 1 Fantasy quarterback but right now maybe one of the top CFL Fantasy players going.”

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Streveler was simply dominant against Montreal last week, rushing for 84 yards and three touchdowns while adding a fourth major through the air. In four starts since the injury to Matt Nichols, Streveler has totaled 45 rushing attempts (11.3 per game) and found the end zone seven times on the ground.

Failing to reach 200 passing yards in a game, Streveler is not your prototypical CFL quarterback. But from a Fantasy perspective, as Steinberg argues along with Jeff Krever and Hannah Nordman, there’s nothing wrong with that.

“Chris Streveler is a selfish, selfish man when it comes to Fantasy,” said Krever. “When we’re talking about the points, he doesn’t want to share them, he wants them all to himself. He is the Bombers’ offence from a Fantasy perspective right now.”

More in this week’s episode of the CFL Fantasy Podcast presented by LeoVegas:

With Matt Nichols‘ status unknown, Streveler could be the Bombers’ starter for the foreseeable future. The question, then, is whether his playing style can sustain success for his team.

Winnipeg is 2-2 with Streveler behind centre, averaging a meager 154 passing yards per game. Yet the Bombers could just as easily be 4-0 over that span, having given up a 24-point lead to Montreal and losing to Saskatchewan on a last-play field goal.

Just like the Alouettes quieted Streveler in the second half in Week 15, will opponents adjust?

“Are people going to stop him from running soon? I don’t think it’s possible,” said Nordman. “That run that he had in Winnipeg in the Banjo Bowl, where he ran through like eight guys and Willie Jefferson‘s on the sideline just laughing — he’s the best running back in the league, but he also picks up points throwing?

“I don’t think you can stop him. I think I’m rolling with him for the foreseeable future. He was the first guy I put in my lineup this week.”

Steinberg adds that Streveler, with a minimum of nine rushing attempts in every start this year, has the volume to continue doing significant damage on the ground.

“Maybe it’s not the best way for the Bombers to win the Grey Cup, but in terms of getting the most out of Streveler, you’re not going to force him to be something he’s not,” he said. “You might as well play to his strengths and continue allowing him to do what he does best.

“While he’s the starter, until Matt Nichols comes back, I expect to see double digit rushes every single week. If you’re getting that from a quarterback and he’s also getting you the touchdowns, you can’t not think about that as an option.”

“The thing about that Bombers’ offence is it revolves around him,” added Krever. “He runs like a bull. Tackling this guy — he carries defenders. He’s unique. You talk about successful quarterbacks in the CFL throwing for 300-plus yards, he’s not that. Yet I think at his current salary he’s the most effective quarterback in Fantasy right now.”