Start vs. Sit: 2 must-plays and who to avoid on Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend

We are in the final stretch of the 2026 regular season, and Week 19 is crunch time for CFL Fantasy presented by theScore Bet leagues heading into the playoffs, with CFL Weekly Fantasy players bidding to finish atop the heap.

Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend is about being grateful.

We are full of Thanksgiving joy, so let’s show it with the Week 19 edition of Start vs. Sit.

CFL FANTASY PRESENTED BY THESCORE BET

START

KIAN SCHAFFER-BAKER | RECEIVER | SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

That Kian Schaffer-Baker is on the outer edge of 1,000 receiving yards is more impressive considering he’s missed four games. When he’s healthy, KSB is one of the league’s elite pass-catchers, as shown by his nine-catch, 120-yard Week 18 performance, which included his fifth major of the season.

Schaffer-Baker has four 100-yard games and will bid for a fifth outing over the century mark when the Riders visit the Alouettes on Thanksgiving Day. In a must-win contest for the defending Grey Cup champs, count on Trevor Harris looking in KSB’s direction early and often.

SIT

DEONTA MCMAHON | RUNNING BACK | CALGARY STAMPEDERS

A 100-yard game in Week 16 and a rushing major in Week 17 offered hope that Deonta McMahon would seize the role of lead back in the wake of Dedrick Mills heading to the six-game injured list. However, an 11-carry, 24-yard effort in the Week 18 win over Saskatchewan leads fantasy users to ponder if McMahon’s previous success was due to playing against Ottawa.

Ludovick Choquette averaged six yards per carry in his five attempts in Week 18 and could see more action Saturday at Winnipeg. Choquette’s presence makes starting McMahon less than a sure bet, even if he remains atop the depth chart.

CFL WEEKLY FANTASY

START

STEVIE SCOTT III | RUNNING BACK | MONTREAL ALOUETTES

Alouettes receivers Tyson Philpot and Tyler Snead have dominated the fantasy scene, but it could be Stevie Scott III who carries fantasy users across the goal line.

Scott III has scored at least 12.4 Fantasy Points in each of his last three games and scored his first major of the ‘26 campaign in the Week 18 win over Winnipeg. He’s averaging 5.7 yards per carry and, at $9,900, is enough of a bargain play against a rugged Saskatchewan run defence.

SIT

MCLEOD BETHEL-THOMPSON | QUARTERBACK | OTTAWA REDBLACKS

After scoring a combined 55.3 Fantasy Points in consecutive games against Calgary, McLeod Bethel-Thompson cooled off against Hamilton in Week 18, managing just 208 yards without a touchdown pass. Only one of his 17 completions went for more than 21 yards as Bethel-Thompson finished with just 9.1 FP.

The REDBLACKS have just 14 completions of 30+ yards. Don’t expect the number to significantly increase against a BC pass defence that has allowed only 26 passes of 30+. Bethel-Thompson is only $9,000, but the value isn’t there this week.