The Canadian Press
Fun With Fantasy Numbers looks back at a wild, wild Week 13 that was highlighted by Saturday evening’s slugfest at Edmonton along with further proof Jeremiah Masoli is on a roll, the disappearance of Andrew Harris and a full-throated salute to the 10 most bold Fantasy users of the 2018 season (thus far).
If We Could Be Like Mike: Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly was 39th in player usage with just 1,022 TSN CFL Fantasy footballers investing $14,000 into him for Saturday’s rematch against the Stampeders. Oh, how Reilly rewarded his loyal Fantasy fan base. He put up the best point total of the season in a 48-point Fantasy classic in the 48-42 win over Calgary. Reilly passed for 397 yards and three touchdowns and added three more majors on the ground while running for 43 yards.
Fantasy Analysis: What slump? Reilly outsprinted the combined 41.1 FP he had combined over the previous two weeks and reminded the league why he’s now in position for a possible second-straight Most Outstanding Player award. Edmonton is off this week, but Ottawa will have air raid warning sirens ready when Reilly and the Eskimos visit the REDBLACKS on September 22.
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(Peter Powers, CFL.ca)
Filler Material: Calgary running back Romar Morris fared better than Reilly in usage, ranking 24th with 1,712 users, and he delivered them a performance that only Reilly topped. Morris, filling in for the injured Don Jackson, scored four touchdowns and generated 157 yards from scrimmage on just 12 touches in the Stamps’ loss to the Eskimos. He finished with 44.7 FP on the night, highlighted by a 75-yard scoring run.
Fantasy Analysis: It’s a memorable effort that will have many Fantasy users hop on the Morris bandwagon should Jackson also miss Saturday’s game at Hamilton. However, the Tiger-Cats are one of the most slow-paced defences in the league, which means they will keep Calgary from getting into a run-and-gun style. Morris will be a solid pick, but expectations must be tempered. A double-digit outing is possible, but no one should be adding Morris with hopes of a repeat of Saturday evening.
Roaring Tigers on the Prowl: Hamilton’s quartet of quarterback Masoli, receivers Brandon Banks and Luke Tasker and running back Alex Green were all among the 13 highest scorers in Week 13. Masoli’s 33.4 Fantasy Points, the third-highest FP of the week, led the way for the Tiger-Cats. Banks was a shade behind Masoli at 33.3, while Tasker finished ninth (24.4 FP) and Green 13th (19.4 FP)
Fantasy Analysis: The Tiger-Cats are the hottest team in the league, with Masoli throwing eight majors and a staggering 1,111 passing yards in the last three games, along with Banks putting up eight 100-yard games this season and Tasker putting up a combined 390 receiving yards and three touchdowns in his last three games. Green, meanwhile, has scored in five straight games. All those lofty numbers will face their biggest test on Saturday, when Hamilton’s explosive attack must contend with a Calgary defence that will be in a bad mood after giving up 48 points to Edmonton. Fantasy users will have some tough calls to make when it comes to adding Ticats to their teams.
In Fantasy Football, it’s a Good Day: The Stamps lost their second game this season, but Fantasy users of Bo Levi Mitchell took comfort in his career-high 491 yards and four touchdown passes. The three interceptions he tossed are the reason he didn’t score higher than 30.1 Fantasy points, giving him the sixth-best total of the week. Receivers Reggie Begelton and DaVaris Daniels each thrived in the slugfest, with Begelton finishing 11th with 22.3 FP and Daniels right behind him at 21.6 FP.
Fantasy Analysis: Begelton and Daniels will be the featured receivers of a Calgary passing game that is without Kamar Jorden for the rest of the season and Eric Rogers indefinitely. Both will be among the top receivers available for Week 14, with Daniels holding slightly more value. Don’t discount Marken Michel as an option but, again, Fantasy users must keep in mind that the Ticats’ defence will attempt to keep Mitchell and company from turning Saturday into another track meet. For reference, look at how the Ticats were able to give Edmonton’s Reilly two of his worst games this season.
Harris-ment: Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris ranked 11th in usage (3,789) but those banking on a repeat of his 155 rushing yards against Saskatchewan were left holding the bag of a 10-carry, 21-yard rushing effort at Saturday’s Banjo Bowl. Harris finished 51st in Fantasy points, totaling a season-low 4.4.
The offensive struggles in Winnipeg have trickled down to their workhorse in Andrew Harris, who had a season-low 4.4 Fantasy points in Week 13. (Johany Jutras, CFL.ca)
Fantasy Analysis: The Blue Bombers will need this week’s bye not only to get Harris back on track, but also to figure out if Chris Streveler or Matt Nichols will be the starting pivot for the Week 15 game against Montreal. Harris has rushed for fewer than 30 yards in three of his last six games and has gone three games without a touchdown.
Not That He’s Doing Much Better: Toronto running back James Wilder Jr had just 8.9 Fantasy points, tying him with Saskatchewan receiver Shaquelle Evans and Ottawa’s Trevor Harris for 34th in scoring. Wilder did have 76 yards rushing, but he had only one catch while also extending his touchdown drought to four straight games.
Fantasy Analysis: Like Harris, this week’s open date will be a welcomed sight for Wilder and the Argos, whose playoff chances dimmed with the loss to the Tiger-Cats.
The Trouble With Trevor: Ottawa’s Harris was 18th in usage, but he could fall further after last week’s effort that also saw him go without throwing a touchdown pass for the fourth time this season.
Fantasy Analysis: Harris’ troubles are also Greg Ellingson’s and Diontae Spencer’s, as the two receivers finished 28th (11.7) and 33rd (9.1) in Fantasy points in Week 13. What makes things frustrating for Fantasy users is that Week 14 is a three-game schedule, which means some will have to use Harris more out of necessity than desire when the REDBLACKS seek to find their offensive touch against a physical Roughriders defence.
Ricky Don’t Lose Those Targets: Perhaps the Lions have found their WR2 to complement Bryan Burnham. Ricky Collins caught 10 passes for 135 yards and a touchdown in Friday’s win over Ottawa, giving them a possible option in the wake of losing Emmanuel Arceneaux for the rest of the season.
Fantasy Analysis: Only 502 Fantasy users saw Collins as a possible option but that number will see a hike when the Lions meet the Alouettes on Friday night. His production could hinge on if quarterback Travis Lulay is out of the concussion protocol or if Jonathon Jennings will make his first start since July.
Ten People Can’t Be Wrong, Right? Winnipeg receiver Daniel Petermann finished with 16.7 Fantasy points in the Banjo Bowl loss to Saskatchewan, catching his first CFL major in the process. What makes Petermann’s Saturday unique is that just 10 Fantasy users had him in their lineup, tying him for 133rd overall among the 220 players that were in at least one lineup in Week 13.
Fantasy Analysis: Petermann will be on an open date this week, but let’s give those 10 souls a ton of credit. That was some fantastic foreshadowing.
