Four games, four legit shootouts on paper, and a DFS board that's basically begging you to pay up at running back.
The Alouettes at 9-2 host BC looking to keep pace with Edmonton atop the standings, Winnipeg and Saskatchewan clash in a West tilt that could shake up the playoff seeding, and Toronto heads into Hamilton needing a win just to stay above .500. Calgary-Edmonton rounds out the slate with two backfields that have been carving up defenses all year. Lots of volume, lots of touchdowns up for grabs — let's build some lineups.
Must-Start Players
These four are locks regardless of price. Pay up, don't overthink it.
- Zander Horvath (RB, BC Lions) — $10,600: Thirteen rushing touchdowns and three more through the air says everything you need to know. He's touched the ball in every conceivable way for BC this year and he's the highest-owned running back on the slate for a reason. Against a Montreal defense that's been stingy but not immune to workhorse backs, Horvath is the safest floor-ceiling combo on the board.
- Tyson Philpot (WR, Montreal Alouettes) — $10,700: Ninety catches, 1,316 yards, 10 touchdowns. Philpot has been Davis Alexander's blanket security all season and there's no reason that changes against a BC secondary that's had its moments getting torched deep. He's the priciest receiver on the board and he's earned every dollar.
- Brady Oliveira (RB, Winnipeg Blue Bombers) — $9,600: 959 rushing yards and 31 catches out of the backfield. Oliveira is the engine of that Winnipeg offense and he gets a Saskatchewan defense that's been leaky against the run in recent weeks. Feed him 20-plus touches and he pays off the salary by himself.
- Justin Rankin (RB, Edmonton Elks) — $8,800: Rankin's the rare back who's a threat both ways — 790 rushing yards and 527 receiving yards with nine total touchdowns. Against Calgary's front seven, expect Edmonton to lean on him early and often to control the clock.
Top Value Plays
Here's where you find the edge — production that isn't priced like the stars but plays like them.
- Kian Schaffer-Baker (WR, Saskatchewan Roughriders) — $9,100: 45 catches for 704 yards and four scores in just seven games. That's a per-game rate that rivals anyone on this board, and he's priced like a WR2 instead of the alpha target he's become in Regina.
- Austin Mack (WR, Edmonton Elks) — $9,400: Seven touchdowns on 57 catches, and he's been Cody Fajardo's guy in the red zone all season. Calgary's secondary has had trouble closing on jump balls, and Mack lives on contested catches.
- Travis Theis (RB, Montreal Alouettes) — $8,000: 819 rushing yards and seven touchdowns for two grand less than Horvath. Theis has quietly been one of the most efficient backs in the league and BC's run defense hasn't been a strength this year.
- Dejon Brissett (WR, Calgary Stampeders) — $6,400: Five touchdowns on just 27 catches in eight games. That's a touchdown rate you can't ignore at this price, and he's a real red-zone threat in an offense that should be throwing plenty against Edmonton.
- James Butler (RB, BC Lions) — $7,500: The complementary piece to Horvath, but with 22 catches and four scores of his own, Butler is a legitimate flex option if you want BC's backfield exposure without paying full price twice.
Sleeper Picks
Cheap plays with real upside if the touchdown bounces their way.
- Maximilian Mang (TE, Hamilton Tiger-Cats) — $2,500: Three touchdowns on just 12 catches. At the minimum salary, that's absurd touchdown efficiency, and Hamilton's offense has been finding him near the goal line all year.
- Kaion Julien-Grant (WR, Edmonton Elks) — $4,700: Three scores on 27 catches and he's the change-of-pace weapon behind Mack in that Edmonton passing attack. Cheap enough to pair with the stars up top.
- Tevin Jones (WR, Calgary Stampeders) — $4,500: Four touchdowns in 10 games at the bottom of the salary tier. If Calgary needs to throw from behind against Edmonton, Jones is a live red-zone body.
Players to Avoid
- Trevor Harris (QB, Saskatchewan Roughriders) — $9,800: Eleven interceptions on the year and Winnipeg's defense has been getting after quarterbacks all season. That's too much risk at nearly ten grand.
- Josh Love (QB, Calgary Stampeders) — $8,900: Two picks in two games and he's still fighting for the starting job. Too much variance and too little proof for this price tag.
- Chase Brice (QB, BC Lions) — $6,500: Four interceptions in just three games. If Kaidon Salter is healthy and getting the start, Brice is dead salary on this slate.
Budget Lineup of the Week
The strategy here is simple — pay for the two cheapest workhorse backs in Rankin and Butler, grab Schaffer-Baker's volume at WR, and stash the free touchdown equity at tight end with Mang. That leaves plenty in the tank for a dual-threat quarterback who can hit on the ground even on an off night through the air.
| Position | Player | Team | Salary | Why |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QB | Kaidon Salter | BC Lions | $9,200 | 185 rushing yards already this season gives him a rushing floor even if the passing game stalls |
| RB1 | Justin Rankin | Edmonton Elks | $8,800 | Dual-threat volume king, cheaper than Horvath and Oliveira but nearly as productive |
| RB2 | James Butler | BC Lions | $7,500 | Complementary role with real receiving upside behind Horvath |
| WR1 | Kian Schaffer-Baker | Saskatchewan Roughriders | $9,100 | Best per-game production rate of any receiver on the board |
| WR2 | Dejon Brissett | Calgary Stampeders | $6,400 | Five touchdowns on limited targets, elite red-zone efficiency |
| TE | Maximilian Mang | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | $2,500 | Minimum salary tight end with three scores already this season |
| FLEX | Erik Brooks | Calgary Stampeders | $5,900 | 47 catches and three scores, quietly reliable target in a pass-heavy Calgary offense |
Total Salary: $49,400 / $50,000
Final Thoughts
This is a week to pay up at running back and find your savings at receiver and tight end — the touchdown equity on this slate is scattered all over the cheap tier. If you want a contrarian stack, look at the Calgary passing game against Edmonton; both offenses are live, and Brissett-Jones as a double-up gives you correlated touchdown exposure for under $11,000 combined. Horvath remains the chalk everyone should be building around, but don't be afraid to fade Trevor Harris this week — the matchup and the interception numbers just don't line up.