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What a crazy week this has been. I was planning on writing an article for the 4 game slate but there were so many question marks for quite a few good players. It just wasn't working out, so I am covering the two game slate on Saturday and I really like the matchups here. I really like two game slates. I think it's because there is an advantage to people who do their research from week to week, as their is less room for errors. Calgary are 9.5 point favourites as the host Winnipeg with a total of 53.5. Calgary rules the West Division, but Winnipeg has won 7 games in a row. It should be a very exciting game actually, and I'm looking forward to it. Then we have the Tiger-Cats of Hamilton travelling to Saskatchewan to face the Riders who actually won their 2nd game last week. The Ti-Cats are favoured by 4.5 points with a total of 51.5. This should go down to the wire as Saskatchewan has been playing better lately and Hamilton will be super hungry for a road win. Let's get to the picks.
Quarterback
Bo-Levi Mitchell Calgary Stampeders 10,700
Even if I was playing the full slate I would be going with Calgary's stud pivot this week. Mr. Consistent the CFL world calls him, and that sounds like cash game safety written all over it. Bo-Levi has averaged 328 passing yards per game, which is in the upper tier for CFL QB's. He has also passed for 22 TD's vs only 6 interceptions, and has an average of 23.9 dk points per game. All of that sounds great to me. He should be lower owned this week because Winnipeg has won 7 games in a row and they are a good football team, but let's dig a little deeper into their stats to notice something interesting. The Bombers are 2nd best in the league by giving up only 22.3 points per game, and they force an incredible average of 3.0 turnovers per game which is #1 by a long ways. What is he thinking you may ask?? Here it comes. Winnipeg has by far the worst pass defence in the league as they give up an average of 325 yards per game, and they are also worst in the league in total yards allowed with an average of 417 yards per game. There we have it folks. We now see why Mitchell is a great choice this week and is in play in all formats.
Also Considered: Zach Collaros 11,500 (I think he will be higher owned than he should be, because he is playing Saskatchewan. This makes Bo-Levi an even better play for me.)
Wide Receiver
Weston Dressler Winnipeg Blue Bombers 8200
It doesn't matter how many of his fellow receivers are healthy. He is going to see a lot of targets every game no matter what. He is matchup proof, and at this price he is a must start. Oh and he has a potato chip named after him. He isn't as expensive as he should be because his dk price has been much lower because of his injury woes all season. But he is by far the most consistent WR in Winnipeg when he's healthy. He has just been upgraded to probable as he has been practicing all week and he is good to go. In 8 games played this season Dressler has caught 54 of 76 passes thrown his way for 659 yards and 1 TD, for an average of 82.4 yards per game. He hogs targets for the Blue and Gold as he should. In two of those games, he was injured early and did not return which makes his average of 17 dk points per game even more impressive. He has the upside and high floor that I like for all formats this week.
Terrence Toliver Hamilton Tiger-Cats 8900
What an opportunity for this guy this week. The Ti-Cats top two wideouts are injured this week, so Toliver doesn't have to share targets any more. He is the man Hamilton needs, if they are going to beat Saskatechwan this week and avoid embarrassment. Don't tell Toliver he has been called the #3 WR in Hamilton this year. His numbers have been awesome this season especially since Collaros has been healthy. In the 9 games he's played in he has caught 42 of 59 passes for a reception % 71.2 and a total of 747 yards and 7 TD's. Saskatchewan is at or near the bottom in every defensive category and Toliver needs to heavily considered for the 2 game dk slate. If you want to stack Hamilton and I wouldn't blame you, then Fantuz for 5700, and Banks for 6400 are both decent options as well, because of the depleted receiving core in Canada's steel city.
Davaris Daniels 6300
Anthony Parker Calgary Stampeders 4700
Calgary is a frustrating team from a DFS standpoint because they enjoy spreading the ball around from week to week. But with the news of their #2 WR Bakari Grant being on the 6 game injury list, it makes it a tad bit easier to pick from this week. Daniels is a rookie but he sure isn't playing like one. He has played 4 games for the Stamps, and this is the 3rd week in row that he has appeared in my column. I said two weeks ago that the Stamps are going to feature him more often, and he went and scored 14.3 dk points which was decent. The week before that, 34.3 dk points. This week with Grant being injured the sky is the limit with a high floor. Play him everywhere. As for Parker, he's been up and down like a roller coaster, but he should excel with the opportunity he has this week. He does have 44 catches for 584 and 3 TD's in 12 games but he was held without a single catch during one of those games. At this salary he is in play everywhere, but you should be able to fit Daniels into your cash game lineups and use Parker in your tourney lineups. Either way make sure you have at least one of these guys paired with Bo-Levi in every lineup.
Armanti Edwards Saskatchewan Rough-Riders 3500
This is a very easy pick at this incredibly low salary this week. Let's take advantage of it while he is dirt cheap. The Riders are down and out so they are giving this guy a huge opportunity to earn a spot next season. The Riders' two wideouts were injured last week and Edwards hauled in 6 passes for 60 yards, and also rushed for a TD. 18.5 dk points at minimum salary ain't all that bad is it? Well this week it is the exact same except that we know what his role will be. This is awesome considering we can fit a lot of high priced players around him. Hamilton's D is good but Saskatchewan will be throwing the ball a ton. This is a no brainer folks.
Running Back
Jerome Messam Calgary Stampeders 8400
This guy is a beast. He leads the CFL in rushing yards with 739 and TD's with 8. He has been listed here almost every week because he is as consistent as it comes, and he always has monster upside because of his added role in the passing game. He is coming off of two average games, but one was because of game script, and the other one was the fact that Calgary was so far ahead, that Messam didn't play much. He still scored at least a dozen points in those 2 games. The Blue and Gold are average when it comes to rushing yards allowed, but it doesn't matter anyways. What makes it sweeter this week is the fact that the Stamps are favoured by 9.5 points, and Calgary wants to show Winnipeg that they still rule the west. If they get ahead early then start getting excited. When Messam gets going then he just runs people over. Jerome reminds me of the CFL version of Frank Gore when he was in his prime. This guy needs to be played week in and week out in all formats regardless of his opponent, especially this week with value at WR on Saturday.
Tim Flanders Winnipeg Blue Bombers 5400
I do not like using running backs that are involved in games where their team is a huge underdog, but last week he tore through the Argos's D in his first game of the year. #1 RB Harris was hurt and Flanders exploded for 102 yards and a TD, to go along with 4 catches for 34 yards. 26.6 dk points was his final tally but he wasn't available on Draftkings last week. I'm warning you now though, Calgary is a much better team than Toronto, and they will probably do their best to shut him down early. Also Winnipeg has a depleted receiving core due to injuries, so Dressler is really the Bombers' only threat through the air this week. He looks like he has potential though and he could very well punish the Stamps this week. Messam seems to fit nicely into my cash game lineups, but I will be playing the man with red dreads in a few tourney lineups and possibly as a flex spot in cash games.
D/ST
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 5600
We have to spend up here this week, but it won't be a problem with the value we have at other positions. Saskatchewan won last week but don't read too much into that. On the season the Ti-Cats have 12 interceptions, 12 defensive fumble recoveries, 39 sacks, 3 safeties, and 5 D/St TD's. They average 11 dk points per game and they scored 15 last week vs Montreal, so lock them in. Done deal!!
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