Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Two of the league’s premier receivers appear ready to return in Week 11 as Edmonton welcomes back All-Star Adarius Bowman ($6,515) for its Labour Day matchup at Calgary, while Winnipeg gets sure-handed Weston Dressler ($5,292) in time for the Sunday afternoon showdown against Saskatchewan.
On the other side of things, Ottawa will be without both running back William Powell ($5,274) and receiver Kenny Shaw ($3,646), while Montreal goes without running back Brandon Rutley ($5,091)
In short, welcome to Week 11, when the injury fortunes of some teams improve, while others find themselves under the avalanche of the injury bug.
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Ottawa at Montreal
Thursday | 7:30 p.m. ET
The REDBLACKS will go with Mossis Madu ($6,766) at running back for a second straight week. Madu earned his keep by scoring touchdowns both on the ground and through the air in last week’s win against BC, and he should be a solid RB2 despite facing a tough Montreal run defence.
Shaw was placed on the six-game injured list on Wednesday and is likely done for the rest of the regular season. With Shaw out of the lineup, Jake Harty ($2,500) moves into the starting lineup and offers minimal Fantasy value. Quincy McDuffie ($2,500) is also out this week, which is not a bad thing considering receiver/return specialist Diontae Spencer ($4,714) had 317 all-purpose yards last week and is a strong WR2 option.
Tyrell Sutton ($6,160) returns to the Alouettes’ lineup after missing last week’s loss with a bruised knee. He should breathe life into a Montreal ground game that sputtered in last week’s loss to Winnipeg. The Als also get receiver Tiquan Underwood ($3,639) back on the roster after he missed the last two weeks with an injury. Underwood had five catches for 95 yards and a major in his first meeting against the REDBLACKS, but is behind B.J. Cunningham ($4,971) on the depth chart. Consider Underwood a very high-risk play at the Flex position.
Winnipeg at Saskatchewan
Sunday | 4:00 p.m. ET
Veteran receiver Weston Dressler was back at practice this week for the Bombers (BlueBombers.com)
The return of Dressler gives pivot Matt Nichols ($11,743) another weapon to team up with all-purpose back Andrew Harris ($7,970) and receiver Darvin Adams ($6,710). The Roughriders will keep a wary eye on Dressler, who caught six passes for 124 yards and two majors in the Week 2 shootout that saw the Bombers escape with a 43-40 overtime win. With Dressler back, T.J. Thorpe ($3,250) appears to be the odd man out as the team intends to keep running back Timothy Flanders ($2,558) and his versatility on the active roster.
The Riders will be without running back/return specialist Christion Jones ($2,500), but the team could activate receiver/return specialist Chad Owens ($5,076) for the first time this year. If Saskatchewan chooses to keep Owens out for one more week, receiver Nic Demski ($2,500) could handle return duties with running back Greg Morris ($2,500) also in play.
Edmonton at Calgary
Monday | 3:00 p.m. ET
Another big name returns to the fantasy fold as Adarius Bowman gets set to play Labour Day (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
With Bowman expected to return, Mike Reilly ($14,000) gets more firepower to add to Brandon Zylstra ($4,219) and D’haquille Williams ($2,910). Don’t be surprised if Bowman puts up WR1 numbers as Reilly will look to get him back into the swing against a tough Stampeders secondary. The receiving corps could get another jolt if Vidal Hazelton ($5,268) comes back to lineup after he sat out last week.
Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell ($9,833) is still bothered with shoulder issues, yet his 384-yard, two-touchdown effort in last week’s win over Toronto helped dispel any concerns the Stampeders had about him. Running back Jerome Messam ($7,724) is a week beyond the knee problems he had entering last week.
Toronto at Hamilton
Monday | 6:30 p.m. ET
The switch to Jeremiah Masoli shakes up the Ticats’ offence going into Labour Day (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
The Argos don’t have any serious injuries among their skill position players outside of Anthony Coombs ($3,071), with only receiver Chandler Worthy ($2,500) on the one-game injured list.
The Ticats come off the open week without major injuries to any of their skill position players, but the change to Jeremiah Masoli ($5,485) at quarterback could bring some life to an offence ranked last in the league in a host of categories.
