Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca
Fun With Fantasy Numbers looks back at a Week 7 that saw familiar faces doing what they do best, while a Blue Bomber not named Andrew Harris became a trendsetter who delivered in a big way for his users.
Nic at Night: At $4,971, Winnipeg receiver Nic Demski was a bargain whose rate on return gave his 4,191 users a heck of a windfall after he put up 28.3 Fantasy points in Friday’s 40-14 win over Toronto. Demski caught a touchdown pass from Matt Nichols and rushed for a score, making him the third-highest scorer in Week 7.
Fantasy Analysis: Ranked 12th in usage, Demski’s upward trend gets stalled by the Bombers’ Week 8 bye. Even with the possible return of Timothy Flanders in Week 9 against Hamilton, Demski will continue to have strong Fantasy value at a moderate price.
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Sure, he’s the most expensive player in CFL Fantasy, but it’s performances like the one he had in Week 7 versus the Als that backs up that Fantasy cost. (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)
Oh, Those Eskimos: Yes, it’s hard to plug more of a third of your Fantasy team’s salary on Mike Reilly, but when he continues to be dominant, that $14,000 doesn’t sound so bad. Reilly returned from the Week 6 bye to put up a Week 7 best 41.2 Fantasy points in Edmonton’s win over Montreal on Thursday, throwing for 415 yards and four touchdowns while adding a fifth on the ground. Receiver D’haquille Williams wasn’t far behind, as his fourth straight 100-yard game helped him finish with 27.6 FP, the week’s fourth-best total, placing him behind Reilly, Hamilton receiver Jalen Saunders (29.4 FP) and Demski.
Fantasy Analysis: The league’s most lethal pitch-catch combo will be at home against the Roughriders on Thursday night. To the shock of almost no one, Reilly and Williams will be atop their respective positions. Last week may have been the final week Williams could have been considered something of a bargain, as his Week 8 price will make it difficult to pair him up with Reilly.
Stamped Out: Calgary running back Don Jackson was the fourth-most used player in Week 7 but his 8,026 users were left in the dark as he was a late scratch for Saturday’s win over Saskatchewan. Ouch.
Fantasy Analysis: Keep an eye on Jackson’s availability during the week. If he can’t go for Saturday’s home game against the Lions, Romar Morris could be a potential Fantasy sleeper as a partner with Terry Williams, whose return skills will make him a high-end RB2.
Junior Steps Up: Montreal quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. put up 19.9 Fantasy points in his first start of the season, throwing for 217 yards along with rushing for 72 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Edmonton. Adams’ receivers had a host of drops, which kept his numbers from going higher. Ranked 64th in usage (239), Adams was a pleasant surprise that also kept new pivot Johnny Manziel on the bench the entire night.
Fantasy Analysis: Expect Adams to get a slight push in usage this week, but not enough to merit serious consideration for Friday’s game against Hamilton. Manziel will get on the field at some point, but if the Alouettes receivers can hold on to the ball, Adams might have his more popular teammate hold the clipboard a little longer.
Buyers’ Remorse?: Winnipeg’s Harris was the most used player in Week 7, as 10,118 users put the Bombers running back on their roster despite his glossy $10,191 sticker price. While his 12.8 Fantasy points weren’t shabby, the fact he managed just 78 yards from scrimmage without scoring a major left many with a bittersweet feeling.
Fantasy Analysis: He was going to have to slow down eventually, folks. Fortunately, the Week 8 bye will recharge Harris’ batteries and return him atop the running back rankings for the Week 9 contest against Hamilton on August 10.
End Zone BLACKout in Ottawa: Seven field goals from rookie kicker Lewis Ward accounted for all of Ottawa’s scoring in their 21-15 win over Hamilton on Saturday, leaving a lot of Fantasy users shaking their heads in bewilderment. Quarterback Trevor Harris had only 10.8 Fantasy points, while receivers Greg Ellingson (6.4 FP) and Diontae Spencer (9.3 FP) continued their prolonged woes.
Fantasy Analysis: Right now, Brad Sinopoli is the only sure thing in Ottawa, as he finished 11th with 17.2 Fantasy points. Sinopoli was eighth in usage and has surpassed Ellingson and Spencer as the REDBLACKS’ WR1 for Thursday’s game at the Argonauts.
Lewis Ward’s 21 points off of a perfect seven field goal afternoon in Hamilton is all the REDBLACKS needed to pull out the victory. (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)
Wilder Side of Life: James Wilder Jr. had the week’s fifth-highest output with 23.2 FP in the Argos’ loss at the Bombers. The offensive struggles in Toronto are such that rookie receiver Rodney Smith was the most productive of the team’s receivers with 10.2 points.
Fantasy Analysis: Quarterback James Franklin lost his starting job on Sunday in favour of McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who will start against Ottawa on Thursday. For now, anyone not named Wilder should be avoided on the Toronto roster until coach Marc Trestman can figure out what’s gone wrong with the defending Grey Cup champs.
A Bridge Too Far: Saskatchewan quarterback Brandon Bridge had just 6.2 Fantasy points in Saturday’s loss to Calgary, ranking him 46th overall in Week 7. Surprisingly, Bridge had 1,340 users who thought he could make hay against the league’s toughest defence.
Fantasy Analysis: The clock could be ticking on Bridge, who has just one passing major this season. He’s’ a very, very risky start at Edmonton on Thursday, and with Zach Collaros slated to return in Week 10, this could be Bridge’s final start.
So, That’s What the End Zone Looks Like!: Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli’s touchdown pass to Saunders late in the loss to Ottawa snapped a streak in which Masoli had gone 44 straight drives without a scoring toss.
Fantasy Analysis: Saturday also marked the fourth straight game Masoli, who had 17.2 Fantasy points, failed to score more than 20 FP. That streak has a great chance to end when the Ticats visit the Alouettes on Friday night.
