The start of the 2017 CFL regular season is here. A lot has changed following a historic offseason in which a record number of players changed teams. There will undoubtedly be a learning period to begin the season as fantasy managers adjust to all of the new faces in new places. In an attempt to stay head of the curve, we took a closer look beyond all of the movement and identified a handful of players that could have much better values than expected in fantasy competitions. Here is a look at the best value picks for early season CFL fantasy leagues.
QB: Ricky Ray, Toronto Argonauts
Ray is currently the sixth-ranked quarterback in CFL fantasy leagues but it’s only a matter of time before he climbs that list. Ray continues to be one of the most accurate quarterbacks in the CFL and he should continue to put up impressive numbers as long as he stays healthy. The Argonauts brought in Marc Trestman as head coach this offseason and Trestman should help elevate the production of the Toronto offense in his first year as the bench boss there. Ray is currently listed at $9.4K but that price tag is bound to jump over the $10K mark if he plays to his potential over the first couple of weeks.
WR: Naaman Roosevelt, Saskatchewan Roughriders
An injury limited Roosevelt’s impact in Saskatchewan last season. However, based on his production before he went down he likely should cost more than the $5.5K price tag he is listed at right now. Roosevelt ranked among the top three fantasy receivers in the CFL before his injury and he should play a lead role in the Roughriders passing attack. The arrival of Kevin Glenn could help elevate Roosevelt’s performance. It’s likely only a matter of time before his CFL fantasy price tag is elevated as well.
WR: Duron Carter, Saskatchewan Roughriders
Carter should also be primed for a big season in Saskatchewan. Carter is a very talented wide receiver but the quarterback situation was an absolute mess in Montreal a year ago and it really hurt the passing game. Carter will benefit from the change and it will only be a matter of time before his price tag jumps from $4.4K in fantasy competitions.
WR: Brandon Zylstra, Edmonton Eskimos
The Eskimos have a void to fill at wide receiver following Derel Walker’s exit. Zylstra might be the best bet to fill that role. Adarius Bowman will still be the lead dog for Edmonton but Zylstra has established an impressive chemistry with quarterback Mike Reilly and could put up some big numbers as a result. Zylstra is available for just $4.1K right now but that number is sure to go up over the first couple of weeks of the season.
QB: Kevin Glenn, Saskatchewan Roughriders
With Roosevelt and Carter already on this list, it only makes sense that Glenn should be here as well. The veteran quarterback is primed for a strong debut in Saskatchewan where he will have the opportunity to prove he should be a lot more expensive than the $8K price tag he is listed at in weekly fantasy leagues. It helps his cause that Vince Young is out for a little while. That means there is less looking over his shoulder. The Riders offense is on the rise in the West division and Glenn’s production will be play a major role
WR: Kamar Jorden, Calgary Stampeders
The Stampeders have a couple of really good starting wideouts in Marquad McDaniel and DaVaris Daniels, but there is room for a third payer to offer some CFL fantasy value. Remember, the Stamps had one of the most explosive offenses in the league last year. Keep an eye on Kamar Jorden as someone who could fit into that third role and make some nose.
RB: Andrew Harris, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
It seems like Harris is a little bit overlooked in terms of CFL fantasy value to start the year. He’s been priced around $7000-$8000, which is cheap. We’re talking about a guy who is overlooked simply because he only had five touchdowns last year. Other than that, he had 100 yards of offense in most games. If he scores more, his price tag will shoot up.
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