With a third of the league taking a Week 5 respite, the running back position remains strong with the top seven ground gainers in action.
TSN CFL Fantasy players will have to pay for top-end production at running back, especially with Toronto’s James Wilder Jr. back on track after rushing for 121 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s 20-17 win over Edmonton. He’ll get another opportunity to run through the Eskimos defence on Friday night with a steep price tag of $8,002. Wilder will look for his third straight game of at least 25 Fantasy Points at the expense of the Edmonton D.
Ottawa’s William Powell will cost even more. Powell ($8,741) put up his second straight 100-yard game in Friday’s 28-18 over Montreal and will remain a strong play against Calgary. Powell rushed for 123 yards on 18 carries in a Week 3 loss to the Stampeders and comes into Thursday night’s contest having rushed for at least 90 yards in seven of his last eight games dating back to last season.
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William Powell put up his second-straight 100-yard rushing performance against the Als in Ottawa’s Week 5 victory. (The Canadian Press)
Steady as usual, Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris ($7,855) thrived in the return of Matt Nichols at quarterback, rushing for 109 yards and a score in Saturday’s 41-19 win over BC. He’s also scored in each of the last three games, and with Nichols back in the fold, watch for Harris to become more dangerous in the Blue Bombers passing attack.
Don Jackson remains a bargain at $5,000 as he and the Stampeders return off their first open week against a REDBLACKS defence that he racked up 84 yards and a major against in Week 3, while Edmonton’s C.J. Gable ($6,483) looks to get back on track after managing just 39 yards in the loss at Toronto. Jeremiah Johnson ($6,705) rushed for 80 yards and a score on Saturday and could put up more yardage if the Lions can avert falling into early holes that force BC to emphasize going vertical to catch up.
Quarterback offers a variety of intrigue not named Mike Reilly ($14,000). Nichols ($7,563) ranks behind Reilly on the belief he will more productive after shaking the rust off in his 2018 debut in Week 4. He’ll get a second chance against a BC defence that’s allowing 399 yards per game. Trevor Harris has the potential for a big outing against Calgary, but the Stamps held Harris ($9,464) to 135 yards and an interception in the Week 3 victory over the REDBLACKS. Those willing to take a risk at pivot can look at Toronto’s James Franklin ($6,835), who has accounted for five of the Argonauts’ six touchdowns thus far. Averaging just 15.3 points per game thus far, the Toronto offence is due for a breakout and if it happens at Edmonton on Friday night, Franklin will have a big hand in it.
Those who really love it risky can look at Winnipeg’s Chris Streveler ($8,141) who scored two touchdowns in the short yardage role during the win against BC. The league’s fifth-leading rusher at 216 yards, Streveler is tied for third with nine rushes of at least 10 yards and is among six players who have at two carries of better than 20 yards.
Receiver has a huge Eskimos-centric dominance to it, and with good reason. D’haquille Williams has three straight 100-yard games and bids for another against the Argonauts. His salary is now at $6,186, as he is no longer the bargain he was the first three weeks of the season. Derel Walker ($7,209) is ranked behind him, while Kenny Stafford ($4,634) places right behind Ottawa’s Greg Ellingson ($7,800). With Toronto as the only team allowing better than 300 yards per game (310.7), plugging in at least one Edmonton pass catcher should pay off this week.
Argonauts receivers S.J. Green ($5,750) and Armanti Edwards ($3,863) are banking on a revival of a Toronto passing game that is ranked eighth in yards per game (199). Fantasy players could take the stab at either one in hopes Franklin gets it back on track. A host of $2,500 guys are at the back of the rankings, with Winnipeg’s Drew Wolitarsky, Calgary’s Reggie Begelton and BC’s Shaquille Johnson offering the highest potential to pay off.
Defensively, Winnipeg ($5,194) gets a rematch against BC quarterback Jonathon Jennings ($7,226), who threw three interceptions on Saturday, including a pick-6 from linebacker Adam Bighill. Calgary remains a strong play at $4,934, but Edmonton is the best bargain at $3,200, especially if they keep Toronto’s offence from catching fire.
Here are this week’s rankings:
Quarterback
| Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Player | Value | Opponent |
| 1 (1) | Mike Reilly, EDM | $14,000 | TOR |
| 2 (6) | Matt Nichols, WPG | $7,563 | BC |
| 3 (2) | Trevor Harris, OTT | $9,464 | CGY |
| 4 (4) | Bo Levi Mitchell, CGY | $8,239 | OTT |
| 5 (8) | James Franklin, TOR | $6,835 | EDM |
| 6 (7) | Jonathon Jennings, BC | $7,226 | WPG |
| 7 (5) | Chris Streveler, WPG | $8,141 | BC |
| 8 (11) | Cody Fajardo, BC | $5,309 | WPG |
Running Back
| Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Player | Value | Opponent |
| 1 (2) | James Wilder Jr., TOR | $8,002 | EDM |
| 2 (1) | William Powell, OTT | $8,741 | CGY |
| 3 (3) | Andrew Harris, WPG | $7,855 | BC |
| 4 (6) | C.J. Gable, EDM | $6,483 | TOR |
| 5 (8) | Don Jackson, CGY | $5,000 | OTT |
| 6 (4) | Chris Rainey, BC | $7,040 | WPG |
| 7 (5) | Jeremiah Johnson, BC | $6,705 | WPG |
| 8 (10) | Terry Williams, CGY | $4,842 | OTT |
| 9 (14) | Martese Jackson, TOR | $3,355 | EDM |
| 10 (16) | Declan Cross, TOR | $3,173 | EDM |
| 11 (T-17) | Jordan Robinson, EDM | $2,500 | TOR |
| 12 (12) | Kienan LaFrance, WPG | $4,246 | BC |
Receiver
| Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Player | Value | Opponent |
| 1 (5) | D’haquille Williams, EDM | $6,186 | TOR |
| 2 (4) | Derel Walker, EDM | $7,209 | TOR |
| 3 (1) | Greg Ellingson, OTT | $7,800 | MTL |
| 4 (12) | Kenny Stafford, EDM | $4,634 | TOR |
| 5 (3) | Eric Rogers, CGY | $7,332 | OTT |
| 6 (8) | Darvin Adams, WPG | $5,532 | BC |
| 7 (2) | Diontae Spencer, OTT | $7,531 | CGY |
| 8 (6) | Kamar Jorden, CGY | $6,026 | OTT |
| 9 (13) | Weston Dressler, WPG | $4,617 | BC |
| 10 (7) | S.J. Green, TOR | $5,750 | EDM |
| 11 (9) | Bryan Burnham, BC | $5,461 | WPG |
| 12 (10) | Brad Sinopoli, OTT | $5,145 | CGY |
| 13 (11) | DaVaris Daniels, CGY | $4,703 | OTT |
| 14 (15) | Emmanuel Arceneaux, BC | $4,086 | WPG |
| 15 (17) | Armanti Edwards, TOR | $3,863 | EDM |
| 16 (19) | Adarius Bowman, WPG | $3,674 | BC |
| 17 (14) | Marken Michel, CGY | $4,458 | OTT |
| 18 (T-24) | Drew Wolitarsky, WPG | $2,500 | BC |
| 19 (23) | Bryant Mitchell, EDM | $3,867 | TOR |
| 20 (23) | Nic Demski, WPG | $2,698 | BC |
| 21 (T-24) | Reginald Begelton, CGY | $2,500 | OTT |
| 22 (T-24) | Shaquille Johnson, BC | $2,500 | WPG |
| 23 (T-24) | Noel Thomas II, OTT | $2,500 | CGY |
| 24 (T-24) | Cory Watson, BC | $2,500 | WPG |
| 25 (T-24) | Nathaniel Behar, EDM | $2,500 | TOR |
Defence
| Matchup Rank (Position Rank) | Team | Value | Opponent |
| 1 (1) | Winnipeg | $5,194 | BC |
| 2 (2) | Calgary | $4,934 | OTT |
| 3 (T-4) | Edmonton | $3,200 | TOR |
| 4 (T-4) | Toronto | $3,200 | EDM |
| 5 (T-4) | BC | $3,200 | EDM |
| 6 (3) | Ottawa | $3,218 | CGY |
