Week 8 of the CFL season has arrived. With injuries taking their toll around the league, there will be some notable storylines to keep an eye on this week. Despite initial reports that he could miss more than a month, Ricky Ray will be under center for the Toronto Argonauts when they visit the Montreal Alouettes this week. What can we expect from the veteran quarterback if he plays? Meanwhile, Edmonton Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly has been an excellent fantasy option over the past three weeks but he will be without two of his top weapons when he visits the nation’s capital this week. Here is our DFS breakdown for Week 8 of the CFL season.
Quarterbacks
Mike Reilly @ Ottawa, $14,000
Reilly has thrown for over 300 yards while recording multiple touchdown passes in each of his last three contests. Now he gets the opportunity to add to his numbers against a defense that has struggled against the pass this season. However, Reilly will be without two of his top weapons in Brandon Zylstra and Adarius Bowman so he might not be a lock to live up to his considerable price tag this week.
Matt Nichols @ Hamilton, $10,500
Hamilton’s defense has been the worst in the CFL against quarterbacks so far this season. However, the Tiger-Cats should be motivated to get their first win of the season in front of their home fans this week so it won’t be a surprise if they deliver a strong performance. Nichols should still put up decent numbers but he might not tear up the Hamilton defense the way some experts are predicting this week.
Travis Lulay @ Saskatchewan, $9,700
Lulay threw for 338 yards and a touchdown while leading B.C. to a 30-15 win over Saskatchewan last week. However, Jonathon Jennings could be back this week and that makes for an interesting decision for head coach Wally Buono. If Lulay does get the start, he should put up solid fantasy numbers this week.
Kevin Glenn vs. B.C., $9,300
Glenn couldn’t look any worse against the Lions this week than he did in last week’s loss when he threw for just 186 yards and two interceptions. A return home combined with a full week of preparation for an opponent the Roughriders just faced last week should help. However, there are no guarantees when it comes to Glenn and this Saskatchewan offense.
Darian Durant vs. Toronto, $9,700
Durant’s numbers through the first seven weeks of the season aren’t exactly flattering. He has thrown five interceptions in his last three games and has reached 20 fantasy points only twice this season. Montreal is coming off a bye week, but it might not help all that much against a tough Toronto defense.
Running Backs
Jeremiah Johnson @ Saskatchewan, $7,700
Johnson averaged 7.4 yards per carry while rushing for 74 yards against the Roughriders last week before he sat out the latter part of the game once it was out of hand. Johnson should get right back to work this week and if Saskatchewan can keep the game interesting he might get enough work to produce an even better fantasy point total than he did last week.
Andrew Harris @ Hamilton, $7,800
Harris is the top-ranked running back on the board in some places but he settles for the No. 2 spot on our rankings. Hamilton’s defense has conceded the second-most points to running backs so far this season so Harris should be a strong fantasy option.
LaDarius Perkins @ Ottawa, $3,000
Perkins looked decent in his first start for Edmonton. The Eskimos wide receiver core is banged up, so they could lean even more on their rushing attack this week. At such a low price, Perkins is one of the best values on the board this week.
Mossis Madu Jr. vs. Edmonton, $5,000
It’s hard to predict what to expect of Madu this week with William Powell figuring in to the mix at running back for Ottawa. Madu could put up decent fantasy numbers if he gets the bulk of the carries. However, there is no guarantee that he doesn’t lose a considerable number of touches to Powell.
Wide Receivers
Greg Ellingson vs. Edmonton, $8,900
With Zylstra and Bowman out, Ellingson is the highest-priced wide receiver option in DraftKings contests this week. Edmonton’s defense has been the second-best in the CFL versus wide receivers this season. However, Ellingson has double-digit fantasy point totals in five of seven games this season and has recorded a touchdown in three straight games. He should be a decent pick again this week.
Bryan Burnham @ Saskatchewan, $7,600
Burnham continued to impress last week with five catches for 131 yards and a touchdown against Saskatchewan. He will get another opportunity to put up big numbers against the Roughriders defense this week so look for him to produce another strong outing.
S.J. Green @ Montreal, $8,800
Green will be motivated to put up big numbers against his former team this week but they might not come easy. Ray is dealing with a shoulder injury and there is no telling how limited he will be if he does get the start. Green could still have a decent game but it’s a case of buyer beware as he goes up against the third best defense in the league against the wide receiver position so far this season.
Chris Williams @ Saskatchewan, $8,500
Williams had five catches for 75 yards against the Roughriders in Week 7. The speedster has the potential to put up even better numbers this week as he will continue to grow more comfortable in the B.C. offense with every start he makes.
B.J. Cunningham vs. Toronto, $7,200
Cunningham has recorded three-straight double-digit fantasy-point performances so he has proven himself as a reliable option. Toronto will provide a tough matchup but Cunningham could still produce a double-digit fantasy point total at home coming off a bye week.
Defense/Special Teams
Winnipeg @ Hamilton, $5,100
The Blue Bombers defense gets the top ranking this week with the expectation that the Hamilton offense is more likely than not to continue to struggle. However, Winnipeg currently ranks fifth in the CFL against quarterbacks in fantasy points and if Zach Collaros and company execute their game plan it could be a tough challenge.
Montreal vs. Toronto, $4,600
Montreal’s defense has been excellent against the pass so far this season and they could benefit this week if Ray is limited. A bye week should also have helped them in their preparation to face the Argonauts offense.
BC vs. Saskatchewan, $5,100
The Roughriders receivers have done a good job for the most part this season. However, they looked terrible last week against the Lions defense so there are obvious question marks about their potential this week. B.C. held Saskatchewan off the board until late in the fourth quarter last week. This time they will try to completely shut them down in what on paper projects to be one of the better matchups for a CFL defense this week.
Toronto @ Montreal, $4,800
The Argonauts might need their defense to keep them in a tough matchup on the road against Montreal. Durant has been an interception machine of late so the Toronto defense could deliver another solid fantasy score this week.
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