RotoExperts: Week 19 Fantasy Rankings

Edmonton pivot Mike Reilly is back to his $14,000 salary, achieving the feat just in time for Fantasy owners to ponder whether to invest more than one-third of their $40K salary cap on a red-hot dual-threat who just so happens to be facing the league’s toughest defence in the form of the Stampeders.

It’s easy to dismiss paying such a stiff price for Reilly, but Fantasy owners should keep in mind that he threw for a combined 781 yards and three touchdowns in the two previous meetings against Calgary. The Stamps are second in the league in fewest passing yards allowed per game, making the decision to plug Reilly into the lineup a risky proposition that has no middle ground.

In the case of Hamilton’s Jeremiah Masoli ($9,553), the ground he’s faced over the past four games has been of a higher sort, as he goes into the contest against Ottawa having ripped off at least 288 yards and a pair of touchdowns in five of his last six games, and three straight 300-plus yard outings over the last three weeks. His play is one of the reasons adding Tiger-Cats’ players has been profitable over the last month of play, with receiver Brandon Banks ($6,932) being the primary beneficiary of Masoli’s run. Hovering near the bottom of the Top 30 Fantasy receivers at one point this season, Banks is now the third-most expensive pass catcher entering Week 19, trailing only Edmonton’s duo of Brandon Zylstra ($8,521) and Derel Walker ($7,253).

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Mike Reilly had a big week in Week 18 and moved back to his $14,000 salary this week (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Running back Alex Green ($5,444) hasn’t had as high a profile as his Ticats teammates, but he has scored in each of his last three games after debuting with a 140-yard outing. He’s become one of the more consistent performers at a position where consistency has been lacking among the top-shelf talent like Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris ($7,388) and BC’s Jeremiah Johnson ($7,070). Edmonton’s C.J. Gable ($8,531) is expected to return after missing last week, but he’s facing a Calgary defence that tops the league in stopping the run. Stampeders back Jerome Messam is now a bargain at $5,713. However, he comes with the risk of continuing his recent struggles and the possibility of seeing limited carries as the team prepares for the post-season.

Bo Levi Mitchell ($8,132) had his worst game of the season last week and the Calgary field general also has lingering injuries that could be cause for some concern. Winnipeg’s Matt Nichols ($10,295) misses the injured Darvin Adams and will need someone other than Harris and Weston Dressler ($4,794) to contribute to the Bombers’ passing game. Ottawa’s Trevor Harris ($10,950) is coming off an open week, hoping to pick up where he left off since a shoulder injury sidelined him for three contests.

Injuries to Adams, Saskatchewan’s Naaman Roosevelt, Stampeders’ duo Marquay McDaniel and Marken Michel, Ottawa’s Brad Sinopoli and Hamilton’s Jalen Saunders saps much of the talent available at receiver, while Duron Carter’s move to cornerback (although he is expected to play some at receiver this week) and last week’s scratch of BC’s Chris Williams further takes away from the position. While the star quality remains high near the top, the drop-off in depth becomes apparent.

Defensively, the best play is Saskatchewan ($4,950), which faces a Montreal offence averaging just 18.9 points per game. Winnipeg ($5,199) also has value as they take on a Lions offence that has lacked consistency.

QUARTERBACKS

RUNNING BACKS

RECEIVERS

DEFENCE