This article is part of our DraftKings CFL DFS Picks series.
The CFL is back in Week 17 with another four-game slate that once again features multiple postseason-related scenarios. The Alouettes can clinch a home playoff game with a win over the Stampeders, while the Argonauts need to topple the Lions to remain alive for a possible postseason berth. There's also a chance for the Eskimos to punch a playoff ticket, while the Tiger-Cats have a chance, albeit remote, to clinch first place in the Eastern Division. With plenty of intrigue in the increasingly brisk north-of-the-border air once again, let's break down multiple options at each position for your cash games and GPPs:
DraftKings CFL Plays- Week 17
Quarterback
Vernon Adams Jr., MTL vs. CGY ($10,800): Adams should be refreshed after a one-week involuntary vacation due to suspension in Week 16. He'll draw a matchup that has been surprisingly conducive to fantasy production for quarterbacks this season, as the Stampeders have been more vulnerable in the secondary than years past and already surrendered one big game to Adams this season. The Als' signal-caller racked up a career-high 45.08 fantasy points against Calgary in Week 10 on the strength of a 407-yard passing effort that also included four total touchdowns. And although the Stamps have done a very good job limiting big downfield plays for the most part, they're still surrendering plenty in the shorter windows, as evidenced by the fact they've yielded the most completions (345) in the league and are tied for the second-highest completion percentage (73.4) allowed as well. Throw in Adams' considerable rushing upside (332 rushing yards, 11 rushing TDs) and you have a well-rested quarterback worth paying up for in a game Montreal needs to secure a home playoff date.
Mike Reilly, BC vs. TOR ($9,300): Reilly has seemingly started to hit his stride as the season winds down, but he remains reasonably priced, especially for his matchup. The Argonauts have been a target for quarterbacks all season and come into the Week 17 matchup allowing the most passing yards per game (325.8), highest completion percentage (73.7), highest average yards per attempt (9.3), most passing touchdowns (25) and highest passer efficiency rating (110.4). Reilly has produced back-to-back 300-yard games and already put together a solid 272-yard effort against the Argos back in Week 4. Furthermore, although he hasn't run as much this season as he did during his Eskimos days, Reilly does have six games with more than 20 rushing yards and has notched five scores on the ground this season, while Toronto is also allowing the most rushing yards per game (121.7).
Bo Levi Mitchell, CGY at MTL ($9,200): The Alouettes-Stampeders matchup should be a closely contested battle, making both quarterbacks in the game intriguing fantasy candidates. Mitchell comes at a significant discount over his Montreal counterpart Adams, making him the top value option at the position this week when taking his favorable matchup and likely game environment into account. The Alouettes have allowed the second-most passing yards (308.8) per contest and are tied with Mitchell's own Stampeders squad for second-highest completion percentage surrendered (73.4). Moreover, Montreal also yields the second-highest average yards per attempt (9.0) and the second-highest passer efficiency rating (103.0), making quite the case for Mitchell at his price. Finally, although Mitchell has had some uncharacteristic issues with interceptions since his return from injury (five picks in last three games), he's eclipsed 340 passing yards in consecutive contests and has put up at least 40 attempts in three straight.
Running Back
William Stanback, MTL vs CGY ($8,300): Stanback provided a tangible reminder of his upside in Week 16, when he turned in a signature, 14-carry, 147-yard performance in a narrow loss to the Lions. The Virginia Union product's elite speed always makes him an enticing GPP play in particular, even in a tough matchup like Week 17's. Calgary admittedly doesn't make for a great target, considering it's allowed a stingy 87.8 rushing yards per game, along with a league-low 4.5 yards per carry. However, Stanback has averaged an impressive 18.14 fantasy points across five home games and is the classic case of putting some stock in elite talent over matchup in tournaments. The fact he has a role in the passing game doesn't hurt, either – Stanback has at least two catches in seven straight games, including three or more in three of those contests. That's particularly relevant considering the Stamps check in surrendering the highest completion percentage (85.5) on targets of up to nine yards downfield, the window where most of Stanback's looks would come.
John White, BC vs. TOR ($8,200): White is another BC Lion poised to profit from his matchup against the Argonauts' generous defense. As bad as Toronto has been defending the pass, they've been equally porous against the run. Already cited in Reilly's entry are the Argonauts' league-high amount of rushing yards per game allowed, and it's also worth noting Toronto has yielded the highest average yards per carry (5.6) and the second-most rushes of 20 yards or greater (11). Then, White, like Stanback, also has a solid complementary role as a receiver out of the backfield. The veteran owns a 39-272-1 line this season and has seen multiple targets in four of the last five contests, with a single-game high-water mark of nine looks this season. Therefore, he's also in line to provide a strong return on his price by capitalizing on the Argos' considerable deficiencies versus the pass, which includes a CFL-high 14 touchdown passes and 117.1 passer efficiency rating allowed in the short passing window (up to nine yards downfield) that is White's receiving domain.
Chris Rainey, TOR at BC ($5,800): Rainey makes for a potentially rewarding fantasy-point-per-dollar bargain on the other side of the Argonauts-Lions battle. The veteran all-purpose maven turned in a vintage effort when given the opportunity in Week 16, as he posted 102 total yards from scrimmage and added another 66 yards on returns, all on a relatively modest 18 touches. Given the need for offense the Argos have when the more conservative James Franklin is at the controls, Rainey could be in for another solid workload in Week 17. The Lions have been more susceptible on the ground, yielding the third-most rushing yards per game (112.6) and third-most rushing touchdowns (16). And while BC has allowed the third-fewest passing yards per contest (236.6), it's tied with the Redblacks for second-most passing touchdowns allowed (20), giving Rainey a possible pathway to success through the air as well. Finally, consider the Lions are allowing the second-highest punt-return average (12.7) and are tied with the Stamps for second-most kick-return touchdowns allowed (four), helping buttress Rainey's case even further.
Wide Receiver/Slotback
Bryan Burnham, BC vs. TOR ($9,700): As already implied on multiple occasions, it pays to have plenty of exposure to the Lions offense this week against the Argonauts. Burnham checks in at the high end of the spectrum in terms of BC's pass catchers but could be well worth it, considering Toronto's vast deficiencies defending the air attack that were already outlined in Reilly's entry. Burnham has been a big part of Reilly's aforementioned resurgence, as he's found the end zone in four of the last five games and sports a floor of seven receptions and 77 yards over his last four contests. Burnham has also put together a pair of 100-yard efforts and a 95-yard tally in the three other games during that span, and Burnham's route tree and receiver profile overall could hardly be a better fit for Toronto's propensity for allowing big plays downfield (CFL-high 23 catches of 30 or more yards allowed). The veteran is tied with Toronto's Derel Walker for most catches of 30 or more yards (10), and he owns a rock-solid 40.0 percent catch rate on targets of 20 yards or more in depth.
Eric Rogers, CGY at MTL ($8,800): Rogers' teammate Reggie Begelton ($10,000) is also interesting in his return from a groin injury, but Rogers saves you $1,200 and carries plenty of big-play upside in his own right. The speedster is just two touchdowns away from his career-high total of 10, and he'll come into Week 17 with back-to-back 100-yard games and a whopping 28 targets in those contests overall. The Alouettes have been vulnerable to the pass this season as already illustrated in Adams' entry, and as part of that, they've allowed 20 completions of 30 or more yards. In turn, Rogers shares the league lead in receiving touchdowns and could be ideally fit to profit from the second-highest completion percentage (65.1) the Als allow in the middle passing window (10-to-19 yards in depth) – their vulnerability in that range dovetails perfectly with the 12.3 yards per grab Rogers is averaging this season.
DaVaris Daniels, EDM at HAM ($7,200): Daniels has been a favorite target of whichever quarterback has been under center for the Eskimos. The speedster has seen between seven and 13 targets in six of his last seven games, including a combined 17 in Logan Kilgore's two full games as a starter. The Tiger-Cats have generally been tough versus the pass, but Daniels did record a touchdown against them in Week 15 and is seeing the type of volume that typically gives him a solid floor irrespective of matchup. Finally, it's also worth noting the highest passer efficiency rating – 84.4 -- Hamilton has allowed with respect to the three passing windows has come in the intermediate range (targets of 10-to-19 yards in depth), while Daniels' YPC sits right in the middle of that spread at 14.3.
Duron Carter, BC vs. TOR ($6,200): For those looking to get that coveted access to the Lions' passing game at a discount, Carter is worthy of consideration in a matchup against one of his several former teams. Carter managed to bounce back in Week 16 after a couple of down games, securing all seven targets for 53 yards versus the Alouettes. He'll be positioned to take advantage of the well-documented weaknesses the Argonauts have defending the air attack, which includes the aforementioned vulnerability in the short passing window. Coincidentally, Carter does most of his work near the line of scrimmage, as he's averaging 8.6 yards per grab this season.
Team Defense
BC Lions vs. Toronto Argonauts, ($4,400): The Lions' defense has shown notable improvement as the season has gone on, and they'll have plenty of incentive Saturday night with BC fighting for a playoff spot. They're also facing a Toronto offense that seems to be on the downswing with the recent switch from McLeod Bethel-Thompson to James Franklin under center. BC's defense has averaged 8.17 fantasy points across six home games (compared to 3.75 in eight road contests) and is allowing a miserly 197.3 passing yards per contest there as well. Then, Toronto comes in surrendering the second-most sacks (44) and has been guilty of the second-most two-and-outs (84), turnovers committed (41) and points allowed off turnovers (107). Granted, the Lions have been just about league average in those categories on the defensive side of the ball, but they already corroborated their ability to rise to the occasion against the Argos once this year by recording an interception, a fumble recovery and three sacks while yielding just 17 points and 323 total yards to Toronto back in Week 4. Given the combination of matchup and recent track record (two double-digit fantasy-point tallies in last three games), I give BC' defense the nod this week.
