Daily Fantasy CFL DraftKings Picks for Week 9 - 8/19/16

Jones-ing for the NFL? CFL has you covered. CFL picks will be a mixture of top end plays and value plays to help fill your cash-game and GPP lineups on DraftKings. If you need a quick primer on Canadian Football League DFS check out our introduction to the sport.

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Quarterback

Jonathan Jennings B.C. Lions 9,500

It all starts way out west at the QB position this week with this young superstar in the making. If you want a very high floor to go along with an incredibly high ceiling, (which if you like making money then I would hope you do), then JJ is your man. First of all the Lions face off at home against the Calgary Stampeders this week. Vegas believes that this could turn into a high scoring affair, and I couldn't agree more as the Lions are a small favourite at 2.5 points with the total currently sitting at 55.5. Jennings has already thrown for 2048 yards through only 7 games, which works out to an average of 293 yards per game. Adding to the fact that he averages 23.8 dk points per game, and Calgary being 3rd worst in the league by giving up an average of 302 yards per game makes this about as safe of a pick as you can find anywhere this week. He is also the best rushing QB in the game as he has ran for 164 yards and 3 TD's so far this season, and he is surrounded with a ton of talented receivers. In their first meeting this year the Lions signal caller torched the Stampeders by throwing for 374 yards, 3TD's, and running for 44 yards and another TD to add up to 37.4 dk points. There is room for even more upside in this matchup this week because he has been on fire. He is by far my top choice in every format this week. Lock him in and move on.

Zach Collaros Hamilton Tiger-Cats 10,100

Finally the Ti-Cats have their franchise QB healthy and firing on all cylinders as was evident last week. In his first game back Collaros threw for 331 yards and 2 TD's for a total of 27.5 points vs the Lions. I thought we may see some rust in his first game back, but that only lasted for the first couple of drives and then it was smooth sailing from there. This week the lowly Rough-Riders head to Hamilton and this next point is why Collaros is not my favourite QB this week. The Riders are awful in every aspect of the game. The Cats are favoured by 10.5 points and it could get carried away very quickly, and if it does indeed get ugly, then Collaros will probably head to the sidelines early in the 4th quarter. He is a good tourney play though in case the Riders do keep the game fairly close and Collaros is led into throwing the ball often. Even if the game is a blowout he could do enough damage to post a good stat line anyways , so I will play him in cash games for the 2 game slate on Saturday, but for the main 4 game slate, it's Jennings all the way.

Running Backs

Jerome Messam Calgary Stampeders 7900

This price is almost getting too high because like I have stated before, the running back position is borderline awful in the CFL, but when you get these kind of numbers at this position it is very hard to fade this guy. Remember that this is the CFL so the rushing numbers aren't going to be as high as the NFL. The only other guy at this level is Winnipeg's #1 RB Andrew Harris who's on a bye this week.  Messam has already rushed for 431 yards with 3 TD's in 7 games, to go along with 23 receptions for 228 yards and another TD.  This is a no brainer for me in cash games. He will most likely be highly owned this week, so you may want to look elsewhere in tournaments which I will discuss very soon.

C.J. Gable Hamilton Tiger-Cats 4700

That wasn't very long to wait was it? Here is my favourite tourney play at RB this week and this is going to be short and sweet. Saskatchewan is terrible. Hamilton is a massive favourite and Gable is their #1 RB. Here's a prediction. Hamilton gets ahead and they feed the ball to their #1 running back and he runs wild and free for most of the 2nd half. Wow that was difficult. He doesn't usually run the ball too much but Hamilton hasn't blown a team out yet. Welcome Saskatchewan!! Last week Gable caught 5 of Collaros' passes for  68 yards which just adds icing to the cake. Moving on.

Stefan Logan Montreal Allouettes 3900

Roy Finch Calgary Stampeders 3600

I am Canadian. I know it is hard to believe because I am writing about the Canadian Football League. French is our 2nd language. In Quebec and some other parts of this gigantic country, it is their main language. I could not move on until I looked this up. I do not know French and I was wondering what the heck an Allouette was. Are you ready for this? It is a Lark. A tiny bird. But this bird can sing a mean song. Now my life can continue. Where was I? Oh yes I remember. Running backs. Okay these two guys return punts, kicks, and missed field goal attempts so they are almost guaranteed to score points every week. Both guys have only ran the ball a few times for their respective teams, but Finch has a total of 1001 return yards for an average of 7.3 dk points per game, and Logan has a total of 906 return yards per game for the same average. These are cheap flex plays to fill out your lineups and both of them are due to score a return touchdown any time they touch the ball.           

Wide Receivers

This is the most important position in the CFL and the one that will most likely decide your fate every week in DFS. I want to go over a few important details before we continue on with our Week 9 picks. First of all the slotback position is where a lot of the best WR's are found in the CFL. When looking at depth charts in the CFL you will find that most guys at the wide receiver position are just decoys to keep the defence honest. A CFL field is wider than an NFL field. The slotbacks line up beside the QB and the Wide Receivers usually line up near the sidelines. The next thing I want to discuss is the lack of advanced stats that the CFL has to offer versus the NFL. I feel that the most important stat for the wide receiver position is reception percentage. I recently found the target category at cflstats.ca which is updated shortly after every game is completed. I have set up a spreadsheet that I will be using every week that takes completions divided by targets to find a total percentage. This is important because a target is simply a pass thrown in the receiver's direction. It could mean a bad throw, a good defensive play, a drop, or when successful a completed pass. Now let's get started with our WR picks.

Adarius Bowman Edmonton Eskimos 10,800   

Oh my do I like Bowman this week. He is the most expensive WR but for many good reasons and you will soon find out why. I consider him matchup proof already at this point in the season. Through 7 games he has hauled in 56 passes out of 78 targets for 789 yards, 4 TD's and a reception % of 71.8. He is averaging 112.7 yards per game and 24.8 dk points per game. The Eskimos own the league's 2nd best passing offence with 343 yards per gam and with fellow stud WR Derel Walker opposite of him, it's almost impossible to double team this guy. Edmonton travels to Toronto this week who is simply lost without their superstar QB Ricky Ray. They were recently torched  by Winnipeg and their average offence and things won't get any easier this week. Bowman is my #1 option at WR in all formats. Get this guy in your lineups right now.

Luke Tasker Hamilton Tiger Cats 8,400

And here is my 2nd best option at WR this week. Hamilton finally had their #1 QB return from injury vs BC last week, and Tasker quickly became Collaros' favourite target. The tandem hooked up 8 times for 86 yards and a touchdown which was good for 24.6 dk points for Tasker. Like I said earlier, the Rough-Riders are not a good football team. The Riders have given up an average of 309 passing yards per week which is 3rd worst in the league, and Hamiton's offence is explosive and very difficult to contain especially with Collaros at the helm. Tasker has caught 46 of 56 targets for 516 yards and a ridiculously good 82.1 reception %. Even if this game turns into a blowout, I expect Luke to exceed his value for cash games, and if Saskatchewan can keep the game close, then he is a good tournament play as well.

Kendial Lawrence Saskatchewan Rough-Riders 4300

This guy is the Riders' primary kick returner with a total of 757 return yards through 7 games and because of injuries he has recently became the team's #1 running back. In two games he has rushed for 90 yards on 15 carries and has average 10 dk points in those games. At this price he is one of my favourite flex plays in all formats and he is still listed on draftkings as a WR

Shawn Gore B.C. Lions 6100

With The Lions, Stampeders game currently projecting a total of 55.5 points according to Vegas odds, we need a decent amount of exposure to this game. Even though his fellow WR's Arceneaux and Burnham are sharing targets with him, and are also good picks this week, Gore is my favourite cash game play paired with his QB Jennings. Through 7 games Gore has 37 receptions out of 47 targets for a completion % of 78.7, totalling 516 yards and 2 Td's. He averages 15.1 dk points per game and is about as consistent as it gets at the WR position.

Marquay McDaniel Calgary Stampeders 8800

Here is yet another piece of the potential Lions, Stampeders scoring fest in B.C. this week. The Stamps #1 receiver is hogging targets in Calgary and will most likely be an important part of Calgary's passing game this week. Marquay has caught 40 out of 57 targets for a reception % of 70.2, totalling 526 yards and 3 TD's. He is averaging 17.1 dk points per game. He is a little pricey considering his production compared to other WR's at lower salaries, but the Lions got burned by the Ti-Cats receiving corps last game, and he could have a monster game this week. If you can fit him into your lineups you should be feeling pretty good with your decision.

D/ST

Edmonton Eskimos 4900

It finally looks like the Grey Cup Championship hangover is finished for this defence as they have had two strong performances in a row. The main reason why they are my favourite pick at D/ST this week is because Toronto's backup QB Logan Kilgore is still the starter after it was announced that Ricky Ray will be held out for a few more weeks due to injury. Kilgore threw 5 interceptions last week vs the Blue Bombers and 2 were ran back for TD's. Ouch. That hurts. I'm starting this squad with confidence this week.

Ottawa Rough-Riders 5000

Don't ask what a rough rider is. It could mean many things. All I know is that this week could mean a rough ride for Montreal and their pathetic offence and old man Kevin Glenn at QB. Yes he let me and a lot of people down the last two weeks. I'm not holding a grudge at all. Anyways, the Alouettes have allowed a league leading 22 sacks on the year and their offense has scored a pathetic league worst 18.6 points per game. Ottawa's D hasn't been great but they are currently favoured by 10 points with a total of 49.5. I will also be using this defence in a lot of lineups this week.