By Bob Coatsworth,
CFL.ca
Quarterback
The only reason anyone should have to consider Anthony Calvillo over Dave Dickenson is because of Dickenson’s tendency to get injured. It’s true, the nine-year veteran has spent much of the season on the shelf, but got through the last game or so unscathed. The Lions do the worst job of protecting their quarterbacks. They allowed 56 regular-season sacks, but with a Grey Cup berth on the line they didn’t surrender any to Saskatchewan, a club that ranked second in putting pivots on their backs. Lions’ quarterbacks passed for 745 yards and seven touchdowns in two games against the Als in 2006. Dickenson threw four of the seven majors, including three in their 36-20 victory in Week 14. To start Calvillo over Dickenson would be sacrificing too much potential.
Projections – Dickenson: 25-32, 310 yards passing, 3 TD; 6 rushes, 36 yards.
Calvillo: 23-38, 321 yards passing, 2 TD; 2 rushes, 6 yards.
Running Back
Both teams chose to run about 35 per cent of the time in 2006. Robert Edwards (1,137 yards, 14 TD) accumulated higher season totals than Joe Smith (887, 9 TD) but had significantly more attempts as Smith didn’t break onto the scene for good until Week 6. Taking these factors into account, you’d have to consider both team’s propensity and ability to run the ball about the same heading into the Grey Cup. In both regular-season meetings the ground game took a back seat to the pass. I expect this to remain consistent with Edwards in danger of seeing less carries if B.C. builds up a big lead early on.
Projections – Smith: 13 rushes, 66 yards, TD; 5 catches, 27 yards.
Edwards: 15 rushes, 59 yards; 2 catches, 12 yards.
Wide Receiver
Montreal’s Kerry Watkins is the best pick in the wide receivers category. The third-year Alouette turned his season around in the second half, finishing up with 1,153 yards and five scores. If you can swing it, use one of your three trades on him. Watkins is far and away the No. 1 wide receiver on either team. He led Montreal with six catches and 132 yards in the Week 12 meeting against B.C. and followed up with another four catches, 83 yards and two scores in their Week 14 affair.
Projections – Watkins: 7 catches, 112 yards, TD.
Paris Jackson: 5 catches, 63 yards, TD.
Thyron Anderson: 5 catches, 57 yards.
Terrence Edwards: 3 catches, 32 yards.
Kendrick Jones: 3 catches, 27 yards.
Slotback
Geroy Simon is the biggest individual star at the Grey Cup. The CFL’s soon-to-be Most Outstanding Player had many thinking down the stretch he’d break the single-season receiving yards record. Although he fell short, he posted career and league-highs in yards (1,856) and touchdowns (15). Ben Cahoon represents Simon’s stiffest competition in the category, but has been more of a possession receiver than a numbers guy in 2006.
If Simon’s not already in your line-up, he should be. Watch out for sleepers like Jason Clermont and Ryan Thelwell. Both these B.C. slotbacks became more involved late in the season – Clermont especially. The former Regina Ram scored twice against Montreal.
Projections – Simon: 11 catches, 156 yards, 2 TD.
Cahoon: 6 catches, 70 yards, TD.
Clermont: 7 catches, 73 yards.
Thelwell: 4 catches, 35 yards.
O’Neill Wilson: 2 catches, 13 yards.
Defensive Back
Mark Washington led B.C.’s defensive backs with 65 tackles this year, Korey Banks had 50, while Barron Miles picked up 39. On the Montreal side, Duane Butler led the Alouettes with 68 tackles, Ricky Bell had 49 and Chip Cox was third among defensive backs available to be selected with 40. Montreal’s defence should be on the field the most Sunday, so consider Bell or Butler.
Projections – Bell: 7 tackles.
Butler: 6 tackles.
Washington: 4 tackles.
Cox: 3 tackles.
Banks: 3 tackles.
Miles: 2 tackles.
Linebackers
Javy Glatt is the most productive fantasy defender at the Grey Cup with 82 regular-season tackles and six sacks. Tim Strickland is Montreal’s best linebacker. His seven sacks and 57 tackles are closely followed by Kai Ellis, who had 67 tackles this season, but didn’t record any sacks. Remember, three points are awarded for each quarterback takedown. It’s a real bonus if your selections offer that dimension to their game.
Projections – Glatt: 6 tackles, sack.
Ellis: 5 tackles.
Strickland: 4 tackles, sack.
Otis Floyd: 3 tackles.
Carl Kidd: 2 tackles.
Dwayne Taylor: 2 tackles.
Kickers
Both Grey Cup kickers had fantastic performances in their Scotiabank Championship games. B.C.’s Paul McCallum was five-of-five on field goals and added four converts for 19 points. Damon Duval made good on all four of his field-goal attempts and had three converts totalling 15 points. The Grey Cup will be the Lions to lose and should be high-scoring. Take McCallum over Duval.
Projections – McCallum: 3 FG, 4 XP, 13 pts.
Duval: 2 FG, 3 XP, 9 pts.
Bob Coatsworth works as an editorial coordinator at The Score Television Network and has been a fantasy sports enthusiast for years.
(The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of the Canadian Football League)
