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Like a smooth jazz song, scoring flowed brilliantly in the CFL during the 2022 season as teams combined for 50.4 points per game, marking the first time since 2018 the league crossed the half-century mark in point production.
The rise in scoring was also enabled by a wave of pivots with downfield thinking, evidenced by the 8.4 yards per attempt they averaged, falling shy of the CFL-record 8.6 yards per attempt in 1960.
A whirlwind of offseason moves could result in even more scoring in 2023, a potential reality CFL fantasy users will not mind. As we introduce our fantasy positional primer, always keep in mind the initial rankings are only initial. We’ve got 21 weeks (and three weeks of postseason play) to view the shuffling of players.
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Quarterbacks
The top three will be reliable plays most weeks. From there, the 4-9 spots are interchangeable with each pivot sporting a viable case both for and against their location here.
1. Vernon Adams Jr., BC ($13,000): Nathan Rourke left for the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars but left a now-healthy Adams the keys to an offence that tallied 56 majors along with three returning 1,000-yard receivers.
2. Taylor Cornelius, Edmonton ($12,000): Prorate his numbers over 18 games, and Cornelius would have produced over 4,800 yards from scrimmage last season. No quarterback in the CFL can break the will of an opposing defence with a 70-yard pass and a 70-yard run like this budding superstar.
3. Zach Collaros, Winnipeg ($14,100): Collaros produced touchdown drives 27.1% of the time, making one of only three pivots to eclipse the 20% mark. You can’t suggest regression when the Blue Bombers continue to sport an All-Star receiving corps.
4. Cody Fajardo, Montreal ($12,000): His running prowess (22 rushing majors the past three seasons) went a long way toward ranking him, but the change of scenery and a more efficient offensive line will buy Fajardo time to fire downfield frequently.
5. Jeremiah Masoli, Ottawa ($13,000): Injuries limited Masoli to just four games in 2022, but all signs point toward a major rebound. He’s averaged at least 8.1 yards per attempt in each of the past six seasons.
6. Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton ($13,000): The biggest wild card at the position, how long will it take for Mitchell to remind everyone he’s still an elite fantasy option? Having the likes of Tim White and Duke Williams to throw to will do wonders for a quick answer.
7. Chad Kelly, Toronto ($10,300): All he’s being asked to do is replace a former East Division All-Star (McLeod Bethel-Thompson) who led the Argos to the Grey Cup. No sweat at all. Don’t be surprised if Kelly starts slow, but the bet here is that he ends the season as a dual threat who can carry both the Boatmen and fantasy teams.
8. Trevor Harris, Saskatchewan ($12,000): The wily vet is just 1,390 yards from becoming just the 19th quarterback to eclipse the 30,000-yard mark in his career. If the Riders open up the offence, the league’s career leader in completion percentage may have a sixth 4,000-yard passing campaign left in his 37-year-old arm.
9. Jake Maier, Calgary ($13,500): The Stamps are expected to be run oriented this season, which will limit Maier’s effectiveness. He only had eight carries in 2022, which also works against his fantasy value.
10. Caleb Evans, Montreal ($5,000): He enters the season as the backup to Cody Fajardo, but Evans has shown his upside in flashes the past two years. He may be the most athletically-gifted pivot in the CFL.
11. Tre Ford, Edmonton ($5,500): If Evans is the league’s most athletically-gifted pivot, then Ford isn’t too far behind.
12. Dane Evans, BC ($8,000): An effective Plan B if Vernon Adams Jr. is lost for an extended period.
Running Backs
Dedrick Mills could be an insurance option at the running back position behind Ka’Deem Carey (stampeders.com)
Three players rushed for over 1,000 yards in 2022. There’s a very good chance the club will add more members this season if several players can avoid the injury bug.
1. Ka’Deem Carey, Calgary ($13,700): A 1,400-yard season is possible considering Carey had just 164 rushing attempts in 2022. No back will be as important to his team’s success as Carey.
2. William Stanback, Montreal ($13,300): We’ve seen what a healthy Stanback can do, evidenced by his 1,176-yard campaign in a shortened 2021 schedule. If Stanback gets at least 180 carries and maintains his career 6.1 yards per carry average, he has the best chance to unseat Carey atop the league’s rushing mountain.
3. James Butler, Hamilton ($13,300): Butler had a league-high 210 carries last season on his way to a 1,060-yard season. He hops from West to East searching to bring life to a Tiger-Cats ground game that has struggled in recent years.
4. Kevin Brown, Edmonton ($12,100): In just six games, Brown rushed for 466 yards, finishing tenth in the league. With defences focused on stopping the Elks’ potentially-lethal passing game, the running lanes will be frequent for Brown, who also showed exceptional receiving skills out of the backfield.
5. Jamal Morrow, Saskatchewan ($11,000): Despite missing eight games with a broken wrist, Morrow still finished eighth with 1,533 all-purpose yards. If return specialist Mario Alford wasn’t so good, a healthy Morrow reaching 2,000 all-purpose yards would be a safe prop bet.
6. Brady Oliveira ($12,300), Winnipeg: There’s nothing flashy about Oliveira. Instead, he’s become as reliable as a brisk October night at IG Field.
7. Andrew Harris, Toronto ($10,000): There’s enough mileage left in those Hall of Fame-bound legs as Harris enters the final year of his career. The question will be how will the Argos pace him over the course of the regular season to assure Harris is ready to go come playoff time.
8. A.J. Ouellette, Toronto ($10,000): If the Argonauts decide to keep Harris on a limited number of touches, the unsung Ouellette showed that he’s capable of handling the bulk of responsibilities in the ground game while also displaying receiving skills that made him a sneaky good fantasy option late last season.
9. Devonte Williams, Ottawa ($10,800): Williams was the most effective among a REDBLACKS backfield that was walloped with injuries in 2022 and showed enough to merit an opportunity to open the regular season as the team’s featured back.
10. Dedrick Mills, Calgary ($9,800): There’s a productive back waiting to happen if asked to take the lead role for the Stamps. Mills had three 100-yard games last season while averaging 6.9 yards per carry as the understudy to Ka’Deem Carey.
11. Peyton Logan, Calgary ($10,500): Logan delivered 1,399 yards and a major while emerging as one of the league’s premier return specialists.
12. Antonio Williams, BC ($2,500): One of only two backs on the Lions roster entering the final week of preseason, the NFL castoff has the potential to move up the rankings as the season
develops.
13. Shannon Brooks, Edmonton ($2,600): The Elks feel like they have a solid backfield duo with Kevin Brown and Brooks, who head coach and general manager Chris Jones referred to as “a violent runner.”
14. Walter Fletcher, Montreal ($10,000): The Als’ RB2 is going to get his share of snaps. Not many backs can average 12.2 yards per catch like Fletcher did with his 29 receptions with Montreal after being traded from Edmonton.
15. Taquan Mizzell, BC ($7,200): After bouncing from various NFL training camps, Mizzell may have finally found a home as he competes for carries in BC’s high-scoring offence.
16. Jackson Bennett, Ottawa ($8,000): Bennett impressed enough in limited duty to earn a two-year extension in the offseason. Don’t be too shocked if he eventually becomes the lead back for the REDBLACKS.
Receivers
Ten players recorded at least 1,000 receiving yards in 2022, with three others finishing within 51 yards of the milestone. If yards per attempt remain at its 2022 level, it won’t be hard to envision at least 15-17 1,000-yard playmakers this season.
Lions’ wide receiver Dominique Rhymes is amongst the top fantasy options in 2023 (BCLions.com)
1. Eugene Lewis, Edmonton ($14,000): The Beast of the East is now the Best of the West after inking a deal to join the Elks. As good as his 2022 numbers (91-1,303-10) were, a full season of teaming up with Taylor Cornelius could make those pale in comparison.
2. Dalton Schoen, Winnipeg ($14,000): Don’t expect a sophomore slump from Schoen. Zach Collaros won’t allow him to slip from a season where Schoen delivered one of the best debut campaigns in CFL annuals.
3. Dominique Rhymes, BC ($13,500): Only Schoen finished with more receiving yards and majors than Rhymes, who thrived despite having two other 1,000-yard receivers around him. It shouldn’t take long for he and Vernon Adams to get into sync, much to the fear of secondaries across the league.
4. Tim White, Hamilton ($13,400): Oh, Bo Levi Mitchell is going to love getting the ball to White, who led the league with 145 targets last season. Even with the addition of Duke Williams to the Ticats, White will be good for at least 8-10 targets every night.
5. Lucky Whitehead, BC ($13,500): He comes off a career year (1,011 yards) despite missing three games. Whitehead was one of just six players to record at least 400 yards after the catch and makes defences and fans hold their collective breaths each time the ball is in his hands.
6. Jaelon Acklin, Ottawa ($13,000): His fantasy numbers would be more impressive if he could find the end zone more than the two times he did in 2022. Count on Jeremiah Masoli to assure the end zone visits become more frequent.
7. Malik Henry, Calgary ($12,100): Third in the league with 16.5 yards per catch in 2022, Henry established himself as the big play threat of the Stampeders passing attack. There’s still ample room for even bigger numbers now that Jake Maier has full control of pivot.
8. Dillon Mitchell, Edmonton ($10,900): The explosive youngster averaged an eye-opening 18.2 yards per catch in nine games with the Elks and will team up with Eugene Lewis to give Edmonton fans a reason to feel optimistic about a sudden turnaround.
9. Reggie Begelton, Calgary ($13,400): The biggest reason to expect a rebound from Begelton is that he’s not going to average 11.3 yards per catch (career low) as he did last season. Even with the Stampeders focusing on the run, Begelton will cross 100 targets with
ease.
10. Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Toronto ($12,400): A star was born last season as Gittens was named the East Division’s Most Outstanding Canadian after catching 81 passes for 1,116 yards while becoming the featured receiver on the Grey Cup champs. Watch him and Chad Kelly mesh into a productive pass-catch duo.
11. Keon Hatcher, BC ($11,000): He would be the featured receiver on several teams but plays a complimentary role with the Lions, one that should see him finish with 1,000 yards a second straight season.
12. Justin Hardy, Ottawa ($8,700): Hardy caught 39 passes in his last five games and was targeted at least 10 times in three of the seven games he played in. There is strong sleeper potential here.
13. D’haquille “Duke” Williams, Hamilton ($9,000): The former All-Star waited until Bo Levi Mitchell signed with the Tiger-Cats before fulfilling his promise to join Mitchell. When he’s on, there are few receivers who can put abject fear in defences like Williams.
14. Kian Schaffer-Baker, Saskatchewan ($11,200): The Riders will have to wait for Schaffer-Baker to return from a hip injury yet believe so much in his upside that they signed him to a raise. He’s worth the ranking here.
15. Kaion Julien-Grant, Montreal ($7,800): On a short list of 2023 breakout stars, Julien-Grant has the chance to make this ranking look bad. With Eugene Lewis gone, the Alouettes are looking at the National wideout to make the WR1 role in Montreal his own.
16. Steven Dunbar Jr., Edmonton ($12,000): Dunbar left the Ticats to become the third-highest paid receiver in the league when he signed with the Elks, so even with Eugene Lewis and Dillon Mitchell, there will be plenty of targets available for him.
17. Nic Demski, Winnipeg ($13,100): Slic Nic found the end zone 10 times last season and will remain the receiver Zach Collaros looks for as the Bombers near the goal line.
18. Derel Walker, Saskatchewan ($10,600): The veteran reunites with former Elks teammate Trevor Harris to give the Roughriders a savvy duo until Kian Schaffer-Baker returns.
19. Jake Wieneke, Saskatchewan ($10,900): A brutal 2022 resulted in Wieneke leaving the Alouettes and signing with the Roughriders, where he will seek to return to the form that made him the East Division Most Outstanding Rookie in 2021.
Others to Consider
Wide receiver Markeith Ambles had 737 receiving yards and five touchdowns in 2022 (argonauts.ca)
20. Markeith Ambles, Toronto ($10,800)
21. Tyson Philpot, Montreal ($10,000)
22. Rasheed Bailey, Winnipeg ($11,000)
23. Jalen Philpot, Calgary ($7,800)
24. Brayden Lenius, Saskatchewan ($8,500)
25. Jevon Cottoy, BC ($10,100)
26. DaVaris Daniels, Toronto ($11,600)
27. Greg Ellingson, Montreal ($10,000)
28. Nate Behar, Ottawa ($8,800)
29. Janarion Grant, Winnipeg ($8,500)
30. Mario Alford, Saskatchewan ($8,800)
31. DeVonte Dedmon, Ottawa ($10,400)
Defences
With the increased salary cap of $70,000 and the ability to choose any player or defence as a captain (which offers twice the points), defences will have added impact in this season’s CFL fantasy game.
1. Calgary ($12,500): Emerging superstar Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund (eight sacks) helps anchor a defence that led the CFL with 56 sacks in 2022.
2. Toronto ($11,100): The presence of linebacker Wynton McManis (95 total tackles, two interceptions, one major) is a big reason why the Grey Cup champs led the league in lowest opponents QBR (84.1) last season.
3. BC ($10,300): The bulk of a unit that recorded 45 sacks and forced 30 turnovers last season returns, making the Lions a solid play most weeks.
4. Ottawa ($10,100): Anchored by the presence of CFL sack leader Lorenzo Mauldin, the REDBLACKS could develop into a much-improved unit that fantasy users can count on.
5. Winnipeg ($8,400): Most of the gang that captured three straight West Division titles is back. They may be older, but the Blue Bombers can still shut down opposing offences.
6. Montreal ($9,900): The Alouettes had just 14 total interceptions last season but they knew what to do once they did (three pick sixes).
7. Saskatchewan ($7,700): Losing Darnell Sankey certainly hurts, but former Stamps defensive linemanStefen Banks joins a defence that includes budding star defensive back Jayden Dalke and the steady Larry Dean at linebacker.
8. Hamilton ($8,400): Adding defensive lineman Kwaku Boateng to a line that includes Ja’Gared Davis and Malik Carney — along with the addition of longtime Stamps linebacker Jameer Thurman — will give this unit a veteran presence up front.
9. Edmonton ($5,600): There’s still work to do when it comes to improving the Elks’ defence, but stealing linebacker A.C. Leonard from the Roughriders will go a long way toward the unit’s rise.
