Top CFL Weekly Fantasy plays at every position for Week 20
Brandon C. Williams
Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
With CFL Fantasy presented by theScore Bet complete, the final two weeks of the regular season is focused on CFL Weekly Fantasy play.
Putting together a winning lineup offers more flexibility, but those seeking to close out strong will be wise to use the Week 20 rankings as a template to success.
QUARTERBACK
Nathan Rourke, BC
Davis Alexander, Montreal
Vernon Adams Jr., Calgary
Chad Kelly, Toronto
Cody Fajardo, Edmonton
Nathan Rourke has curbed the turnovers, with just one interception in the last four games while scoring at least 20 Fantasy Points in four of his last five. Only Chad Kelly and Tre Ford have a higher average pass depth than Davis Alexander’s 10 yards per attempt. He has yet to throw multiple interceptions in a game this season. Vernon Adams Jr. has been dependable in CFL Weekly Fantasy, scoring at least 19.3 FP in five of his past six starts. No one has more 20+ yard touchdown passes than Adams Jr.’s 18 majors.
Obviously, the yardage is there, yet Chad Kelly hasn’t had an interception-free game since Week 8, one of only two he’s delivered. Quietly, Cody Fajardo enters Week 20 just 332 yards from recording a 5K of his own. The majors have cooled, as he’s gone three straight games with just one TD accounted for.
Sleeper: Zach Collaros, Winnipeg
Can Zach Collaros turn the clock back another week? He’s tallied at least 20.1 FP in three of his last four starts with two TD tosses in each of them.
RUNNING BACK
Justin Rankin, Edmonton
Zander Horvath, BC
Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg
Deonta McMahon, Calgary
A.J. Ouellette, Saskatchewan
Now would be a good time for Justin Rankin to rediscover the end zone. He’s gone four straight games without a major and hasn’t topped 20 Fantasy Points since Week 11, but any given touch... Zander Horvath snapped out of his brief funk with two touchdowns and 20.9 FP. Even with James Butler capable of stealing touches, Horvath is a fantasy anchor for the final two weeks.
Brady Oliveira’s coming off two straight rough outings, but it’s hard to bet against the Blue Bomber ball carrier, who leads the CFL in scrimmage yards. Deonta McMahon has scored at least 15.6 FP in three of his four starts, and even against a rugged BC run defence, you know the Stampeders are going to find ways to keep him involved. There’s still rust A.J. Ouellette has to shake off. The Riders will give him every opportunity to get into postseason form in a must-win against the Alouettes.
Sleeper: Stevie Scott III, Montreal
Stevie Scott III had “only” 12 touches in their Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend win over Saskatchewan. With the weather cooling, the time has come for Scott III to warm up the Montreal ground game.
RECEIVER
Tyson Philpot, Montreal
Tyler Snead, Montreal
Kian Schaffer-Baker, Saskatchewan
Damonte Coxie, Toronto
Dorian Singer, Winnipeg
Austin Mack, Edmonton
Jalen Philpot, Calgary
Tyler Kahmann, Toronto
Keon Hatcher Sr., BC
Justin Hardy, Ottawa
Seriously, if Tyson Philpot isn’t named this year's George Reed Most Outstanding Player, then exactly what must a receiver do to earn the honour? Hitting 2,000 receiving yards (only 191 away) should all but lock up MOP for Philpot. Most seasons, Tyler Snead’s numbers would be the focal point of group chats (well, since we don’t congregate around the water cooler anymore). However, Snead’s teammate is having the type of season only seen in video games. Over his last two games, Kian Schaffer-Baker has 50.6 Fantasy Points, catching 13 passes for 196 yards and three majors. One can imagine what kind of numbers KSB would have produced had he stayed healthy all season. His overall numbers have tailed off recently, but Damonte Coxie shares the league lead with 17 catches of 20+ yards, while he also has 16.9 yards per catch. Dorian Singer is hitting all the right notes for a Blue Bombers offence that’s needed his big-play presence, averaging 19 yards per catch since being installed into the lineup last month.
One of three receivers with 17 receptions of at least 20 yards, Austin Mack has scored at least 13.2 FP in three straight games with two games of over 100 yards in the same span. Jalen Philpot caught 30 passes in the last four games, pulling in at least six receptions in each. He has seven straight games of double-digit fantasy numbers and is tied for third with eight touchdown catches. Sure-handed, Tyler Kahmann has caught nearly 76 per cent of his targets and is tied for second with 28 receptions on second down. Keon Hatcher Sr. comes into the penultimate week of the season with eight straight games of double-digit fantasy production and has found the end zone in three of his last four. Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend’s 6.4 FP from Justin Hardy should be forgiven. A rebound week is likely, as Bryson Barnes gets the start at pivot for the REDBLACKS, so count on Hardy to be targeted frequently.
Sleeper: Tevin Jones, Calgary
When the Stamps want to take the top off defences, they turn to Tevin Jones, who has two 100-yard games in his last four along with recording majors in three straight before being shut out on Mobil Thanksgiving Weekend.
DEFENCE
Montreal
Edmonton
Toronto
BC
Six defensive majors and 40 forced turnovers make the Alouettes an easy top choice. The Elks have forced a league-high 49 turnovers and are second only to the Argonauts with 35 sacks. Few teams have shown the knack for prying the ball loose than the Argos, who have 15 forced fumbles, third in the CFL. The Lions have had their defensive issues, yet they’re second in the league with 30 tackles for loss.
