Week 8 Fantasy Locks: Mason primed for a breakout?

TORONTO — With Jerome Messam’s departure, the Riders’ vaunted running back committee is down to two.

That spells opportunity for Tre Mason, who should see not only more frequent playing time but also the chance to assert himself as a starting running back and potential future star in the three-down game.

Pat Steinberg, Jeff Krever and Hannah Nordman weighed in with their locks and bargain picks this week on the CFL Fantasy Podcast, led by Mason, Bo Levi Mitchell and D’haquille Williams.

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For Krever, Thursday’s contest vs. Edmonton represents a possible coming out party for a player he views as an emerging star.

“With Jerome Messam out of there, the Riders are going to have to change their ratio,” he said. “Mason and Thigpen are splitting the carries and at $4,000 I think Mason has the talent to emerge as that workhorse running back, and he’s going to do it.”

While the Riders rank second in the CFL in rushing yards (122.2 yards per game), the Eskimos are vulnerable against the run, leaking 130 yards per game (second-worst in the CFL).

“He’s got a chance to take this opportunity and run away with it against an Edmonton defence that is a little bit suspect.”

You can listen to this week’s podcast in its entirety right here.

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While Krever is going value with his lock of the week, the other two thirds of the podcast crew are taking a more measured approach.

Steinberg, for one, is turning a blind eye to all the Johnny Manziel hype, instead going with Bo Levi Mitchell in what projects to be a solid matchup against the BC Lions.

“He is the best value quarterback in Week 8,” said Steinberg. “BC has been better defensively but is still a team you can get passing yards on.

“I know Calgary plays a very methodical, ball-control game, but it’s a ball-control game that puts up yards and scores points,” he added. “I think Bo Levi Mitchell is a solid bet to be over 20 points this week and at $8,171 he’s a solid bet.”

For the second straight week, Nordman is going with Eskimos star receiver and the CFL’s leader in receiving yards in Duke Williams — even with a massive price hike. At $8,359, Williams clears the next most expensive receiver by $500, but for Nordman, he’s worth it.

“He’s still money,” she said. “His floor seems to be 20 points. He can only go up from there in my mind. Duke Williams will be in my lineup.”

In addition to weekly locks, the podcast crew also submits weekly bargain picks. Both locks and bargain picks are summarized below.

Projections below powered by RotoExperts.

CFL Fantasy Podcast Week 8 Locks

CFL Fantasy Podcast Week 8 Money Picks