No, you are not reading the CFL schedule incorrectly. Week 10 in the CFL begins on Wednesday night and ends with a double header on Monday night. That equates to five fantastic matchups with tons of fantasy points to be had. To that end, DraftKings is splitting the slate into a Wednesday showdown and a four game main slate. On the other hand, the CFL fantasy platform is recording the results of all five games for their contests. You’ll notice that prices for Toronto and Ottawa players are inflated to reflect this. It will be impossible to fit very many of them in your lineups. That said, you need to try to have some exposure so this article will help you identify the best plays.
The following players are suggestions for each position (except defence), that span across every slate. Feel free to mix and match to find a final roster that is best for you. Also this week, many of the players that work on the CFL’s official fantasy game also work for your DraftKings lineups. So because of that, player prices will be listed by their CFL value first, and their DK price next. Note that Top Shelf Options do not necessary indicate the highest priced player. Instead, it is a play based on the ability to finish the week with the best point total based on matchup. Hopefully, you have fun this season watching the CFL and of course, playing fantasy football along with it.
Quarterback
Top Shelf Option: McLeod Bethel-Thompson – Toronto Argonauts (CFL: $14,000; DK: $8,400)
It’s McLeod Bethel-Thompson time again in The Six. For the second week in row MBT will take the starting snaps for the Argos in relief of the injured Nick Arbuckle. Last week was his first start since Week 2. Bethel-Thompson went 13 of 19 for 210 yards and 2 touchdowns in the Boatmen’s win against the Alouettes. Despite the early controversy between the two pivots, it was known that Arbuckle would be the Argonauts starting quarterback. That said, Bethel-Thompson is more than an adequate insurance blanket with proven starting quarterback pedigree. In his five total 2021 appearances, he’s completed 57 of his 88 passes for 745 yards and 5 touchdowns. More importantly, he has thrown no interceptions. Clearly, MBT has the tools to keep the boats afloat again another week.
He and the Argos could not ask for a better opportunity this week as they take on the Redblacks. Ottawa finds themselves at the bottom of every statistical defensive category. This includes average passing yards per game, and total passing touchdowns. Last week, despite winning their game against the Elks, they allowed backup quarterback Taylor Cornelius to throw for 334 yards and 3 touchdowns. The Redblacks did intercept Cornelius twice. That said, they will have a hard time replicating that same success against a league veteran like Bethel-Thompson. In MBT’s five career outings against Ottawa, he has thrown for 1,397 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions. He’s the most expensive player on the CFL slate because of the point base he’ll have heading into this second matchup on Monday night.
House Options: Zach Collaros (CFL: $8,621; DK: $8,300), Caleb Evans (CFL: $7,500; DK: $6,500)
Running Back
Top Shelf Option: William Powell – Saskatchewan Roughriders (CFL: $7,979; DK: $9,400)
For the first time all season, it seemed William Powell returned to form last week. Yes, he has enjoyed decent fantasy production before that game. It’s just that he turned it up a notch last week against the Calgary Stampeders. He carried the ball 11 times for 66 yards and a touchdown while adding 5 catches for 40 yards to go along with it. That total represented Powell’s highest fantasy output of the season. It was also his fifth double digit fantasy day. His usage remains constant which makes him a viable option each and every week. So far, he’s only had a single outing in which he has failed to touch the ball less than ten times. Very little has slowed Powell down this season and that doesn’t look like it will change any time soon.
This week, Powell and the Green Riders will once again square off against the Stamps. Although this time, Saskatchewan will be home in front of their own frenzied fans. So far, on the turf at Mosaic Stadium this season, Powell is averaging just under 12 fantasy points per game. That said, he is coming into this rematch on the heels of his best fantasy day of the year. He’ll carry that momentum home in front of friendly faces this Saturday evening. The Riders have proven that they will give their star running back his due, even in a losing effort. That does not figure to change this week as Saskatchewan will look to avenge their loss to Calgary last week.
House Options: Andrew Harris (CFL: $9,850, DK: $8,800), James Wilder Jr. (CFL: $9,376; DK: $9,100)
Wide Receiver
Jake Wieneke – Montreal Alouettes (CFL: $9,421; DK: $7,300)
Just about every week, we hear announcers refer to Jake Wieneke as “TD Jake.” It’s fitting considering his six touchdowns through seven games leads all pass catchers in the league. Last week, Vernon Adams connected with TD Jake four times. All told, Wieneke amassed 71 yards and another touchdown. So far, the early season standout has only had one game below double digit fantasy points. What’s more, he’s had three games with more than 26 fantasy points so far this season. He’s proven to be more boom than bust and very much matchup proof. He’s playing with a red hot quarterback right now. Wieneke plays a major factor in that as he continues to put the big play in “Big Play VA.”
This week, the league’s receiving touchdown leader will face the team he torched earlier this season. Back in Week 5, Wieneke exploded on the Redblacks in his biggest fantasy output of the season. He caught 7 passes for 118 yards and 2 touchdowns. It all added up to a 34 point day. Should he get anywhere near that again this week, he’ll be more than worth the price of admission. Even if he gets half of that, he’s still a more than solid fantasy option this week.
House Options: Bralon Addison (CFL: $10,903; DK: $8,900), Steven Dunbar (CFL: $3,727; DK $3,000)
