The Canadian Press
Week 15 starts with two teams depleted by injuries and ends with an opportunity that presents one of the few chances to stack on one offence. In between, opportunities abound despite the rash of injuries at pivot that may include Montreal’s Darian Durant ($7,602), whose hamstring could sideline him against Calgary.
Who’s going to add a jolt to your Fantasy team and who’s better off banished from your lineups? Let’s find out.
Saskatchewan at Ottawa
Friday | 7:00 p.m. ET
With Naaman Roosevelt leaving last week’s contest with an injury, it could be Bakari Grant who will appeal to Fantasy owners this week (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)
Start: With Naaman Roosevelt ($6,995) out after taking a vicious hit in last Sunday’s loss to the Stampeders, the opportunity to play Bakari Grant ($5,204) presents itself to Fantasy owners. Grant led the Riders with six catches for 68 yards against the near air-tight Calgary pass defence, and he’s caught 22 passes for 279 yards and a major over his last four games. Roosevelt averaged nearly eight targets per game, and while Duron Carter ($5,373) will get his share of looks from Kevin Glenn ($9,836), Grant’s recent run plays perfectly against a REDBLACKS defence that is seventh in passing yards allowed per game (303.3). Ottawa is tied with Hamilton with 26 passes allowed of more than 30 yards. Grant has four receptions of 30-plus yards and it wouldn’t be too much of a shock if he adds to that total on Friday night.
Sit: Whoever starts at pivot for the REDBLACKS. Entering Wednesday, it looked like Ryan Lindley ($5,000) had the edge to gain the starting nod despite his 16-for-36, 151-yard effort in last week’s loss at Winnipeg. The normally quick-strike Ottawa passing game failed to record a completion of more than 20 yards with Lindley at the helm. The former NFL quarterback is facing a Roughriders defence that tops the league with a 63.7 percent completion percentage allowed and is second in the league in opponents’ QBR (91.7). Drew Tate ($5,665) still holds a chance to start and while Trevor Harris ($10,650) did throw on Monday, his return may wait another week or two. Regardless of who starts, the negative impact on the REDBLACKS’ receiving corps will be felt, especially Greg Ellingson ($6,258) and Diontae Spencer ($6,824).
Montreal at Calgary
Friday | 9:30 p.m. ET
The league’s leading rusher, Jerome Messam, will be sidelined in Week 15 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Start: Call us crazy, but even with the loss of Jerome Messam ($6,972), we still like the Stampeders’ running game. Terry Williams ($2,500) has just one carry this season for a loss of one yard, yet showed flashes of his potential in his only appearance of the season in Week 3 when he also caught three passes for 64 yards. Williams gets his first career start against an Alouettes defence that has allowed a league-high 104.4 yards per game on the ground, and he should get enough touches to make gambling on him as a Flex option worthwhile. Without Messam and receiver DaVaris Daniels ($6194), expect Williams to get his chance to stand front and center in a suddenly youthful Stampeders offence.
Sit: As rough as things have been for the Alouettes during their six-game losing streak, the Montreal special teams coverage units have remained solid, making Stampeders return specialist Roy Finch ($5,232) a risky venture. Finch leads the league with a 16.3 yard average on punt returns, yet faces an Als coverage squad that is third in fewest yards allowed per punt return at 9.6 yards. Montreal isn’t too shabby when it comes to limiting kickoff returns, limiting foes to just 21.9 yards per runback. One of the few players in the league who can score from any part of the field, playing Finch against one of the strengths of Montreal may not work out well, not matter who much the Als are struggling.
Toronto at Hamilton
Saturday | 6:30 p.m. ET
James Wilder Jr. has had two big weeks in a row and will likely continue this week against the Tiger-Cats (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Start: Did you think we were going with anyone other than Wilder? Ricky Ray ($9,732) and the Argonauts’ passing attack has learned to appreciate the big rookie who has amassed 475 yards from scrimmage in the last two games, including 331 yards on the ground while averaging a video game-like 15.7 yards per carry. That goes against the strength of the Tiger-Cats, who allow a league-low 4.8 yards per carry and a respectable 93.8 yards per game. Hamilton has allowed just seven runs of over 20 yards this season, yet will have to contend with Wilder, who leads the league with eight carries of the 20-plus variety. No player in the league is hotter than Wilder, who should produce a third straight game of impressive Fantasy totals.
Sit: The ever-changing Hamilton passing game may get Andy Fantuz ($4,704) for the first time this season, which could push Jalen Saunders further out of the picture. After catching 10 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown against Saskatchewan in Week 13, Saunders ($3,306) failed to record a reception last week. With Luke Tasker ($5,369) starting to find his groove with pivot Jeremiah Masoli ($6,270) and Shamawd Chambers ($2,500) pulling in six passes in his Ticats debut last week, Saunders is looking like the odd man out, especially when adding Brandon Banks ($4,474) into the picture.
Winnipeg at Edmonton
Saturday | 9:30 p.m. ET
With Weston Dressler out of the lineup this week, Timothy Flanders might be your next best option (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
Start: You don’t need to be told to start Andrew Harris ($8,776), yet perhaps a nudge toward Timothy Flanders ($4,052) would grab your attention. Flanders started in the slot in last week’s win over Ottawa, catching five passes for 28 yards and a touchdown and rushing for 55 yards on seven carries. With Weston Dressler ($4,427) sidelined for the next couple of weeks, Flanders should see his targets increase as he becomes more involved in the Bombers’ passing attack. He will still be a rushing threat and could see his share of running space against an Eskimos rushing defence that is eighth with 101.7 rushing yards allowed per game. Edmonton could have its hands full if Matt Nichols ($13,038) can maximize the dual-threat firepower both Flanders and Harris present.
Sit: On the opposite end of Flanders and Harris lay Eskimos running back Travon Van ($6,012), who will likely lack for touches. Edmonton’s commitment to the pass – mostly out of necessity in their five-game losing streak – has covered over the struggles of the Eskimos’ running game, which averages a league-low 4.3 yards per carry and has managed all of four runs of over 20 yards this season. Two of the long runs have come from pivot Mike Reilly ($13,402) and receiver Bryant Mitchell ($4,317), making the state of the Edmonton ground attack gloomy. Van can help as a receiver and return specialist, but if he’s running the ball ineffectively, it’s a clear sign Reilly will further put his faith in his receiving corps.
