DraftKings CFL: Week 13 Value Plays

The spotlight is naturally on the NFL this weekend, but the CFL and DraftKings offer up an excellent appetizer in the form of a four-game Week 13 slate that kicks off Friday night with a Lions-Alouettes matchup. A potential scoreboard buster between the Argonauts and Redblacks may offer the most fantasy upside of the weekend, and the slate is capped off by an intriguing Stampeders-Eskimos rematch from Week 12.

With plenty to break down, let's delve into multiple options at each position across the salary spectrum for your Week 13 cash games and GPPs.:

DraftKings CFL Plays- Week 13

Quarterback

Vernon Adams Jr., MTL vs BC ($10,600): Adams should be ready to roll after a bye week and will face a Lions team that's been susceptible to the pass. The mobile asset has thrown for over 300 yards in each of his last two games as well, and he's also amassed an impressive five rushing scores over that span. The Lions have been fairly solid against the pass in terms of yardage allowed, now allowing the third fewest per game (248.2). However, BC is still surrendering a robust 71.2 percent completion rate, along with 8.3 yards per attempt, the second-most touchdown passes (18) and the second-highest passer efficiency rating (105.0). What's more, the Lions are yielding 107.2 rush yards per contest and have allowed 12 touchdowns on the ground, also relevant when considering Adams' versatile skill set.

McLeod Bethel-Thompson, TOR at OTT ($9,500): The Eskimos' Trevor Harris ($9,800) is also intriguing because of the price drop he's seen, but he'll cost you an extra few hundred. Meanwhile, Bethel-Thompson has seized the starting quarterback job and isn't letting go any time soon. The veteran has thrown for multiple touchdowns in for consecutive games while staying interception-free and has eclipsed the 300-yard mark in six of the last eight contests. He's also highly likely to be involved in high-scoring aerial battles due to the deficiency of his own defense and will face a Redblacks unit allowing 298.3 passing yards per game, 8.4 yards per attempt and 13 completions of 30 or more yards. What's more, Ottawa is surrendering a 60.0 percent success rate in the red zone, the third-highest percentage in the CFL.

Jonathon Jennings, OTT vs. TOR ($7,600): Jennings is the furthest thing from a trustworthy cash game play these days, but he makes for a fascinating tournament value play. The young veteran earned the right to start the Week 13 contest against the vulnerable Argonauts defense thanks to his strong work in relief of Dominique Davis in Week 11 against the Roughriders. Jennings threw for 208 yards and a touchdown in that game and now draws a matchup versus an Argonauts defense that been the most vulnerable to the pass in the league. Toronto has allowed the second-most passing yards per game (323.9), along with the second-highest completion rate (72.6 percent), highest average yards per attempt (9.8) and highest passer efficiency rating (113.3). Then, while Jennings has historically had trouble staying away from turnovers, it's worth noting Toronto checks in with the second-fewest interceptions (eight), making it one of the most ideal matchups for Jennings overall.

Running Back

James Wilder, Jr., TOR at OTT ($7,300): Wilder was a healthy scratch for multiple games while a trade was explored, but he now seems to be heading back to his normal role. He did see only seven carries in last week's loss to the Tiger-Cats, but that was largely a function of game script. Meanwhile, Wilder jumped right back into the swing of things as a pass catcher, bringing in five of six targets. If the flow of the contest cooperates this week, Wilder should be back to a normal starter's workload on the ground while remaining highly relevant as a pass catcher. Ottawa's deficiencies against the pass were covered earlier in Bethel-Thompson's entry, and the Redblacks have also surrendered the second-most rushing yards per game (121.6) and most rushing touchdowns (17). With a price that's reasonable and no Andrew Harris (suspension) to pay up for again this week, Wilder makes for a particularly interesting play.

Jeremiah Johnson, MTL vs. BC ($6,600): Johnson's backfield mate William Stanback is presumably healthy, but Johnson looks like the more effective back for the moment. The veteran doubled up Stanback's six rushing touches back in Week 11 against the Argonauts and now draws a solid matchup against his former Lions teammates. As mentioned in Adams' entry, BC comes in allowing 107.2 rushing yards per game and has surrendered 12 rushing scores, and Johnson has managed back-to-back double-digit fantasy-point tallies on a modest 13 and 12 rushing touches, respectively. Even in a projected timeshare with Stanback, Johnson has a solid chance of paying off his modest price if he sees double-digit carries.

John Crockett, OTT at TOR ($5,600): The Lions' Brandon Rutley also makes for an interesting consideration at this same price, as he'll handle starting running back duties for BC this week with John White (lower body) sidelined. However, Crockett gets one of the most tantalizing matchups for any offensive skill player in the form of the Argonauts, which have been about as bad versus the run as they have been against the pass. Toronto comes in allowing the most rushing yards per game (133.3) and second-highest average yards per carry (5.7), and they've also yielded the second-most rushing touchdowns (15). The only thing that could hold him back is an arm injury that forced him out of commission during last Saturday's game. Mossis Madu ($5,100) and Brendan Gillanders are also questionable for the contest, boosting the value for Crockett if he's active and one or more of his backups can't go.

Wide Receiver/Slotback

Derel Walker, TOR at OTT ($9,100): Walker's season hasn't quite been a success from a team perspective, but he's starting to generate the same caliber of individual numbers that have made him on of the CFL's most dangerous receivers the last few seasons. The latest evidence of such came in Week 12, when the speedster compiled an eye-popping 44.3 fantasy points on the strength of a 9-203-2 line versus the Tiger-Cats. Walker also has a 9-188 effort this season against the Blue Bombers and now gets his first crack at a Redblacks defense that had issues against the pass as highlighted in Bethel-Thompson's entry. Ottawa's issues defending the deep pass dovetail especially well with Walker's skill set, making him worthy of the investment in what could be another high-scoring affair. 

Lemar Durant, BC at MTL ($7,200): Speaking of forgettable seasons, Walker's old quarterback Mike Reilly is in the midst of one in BC, but he's found a new top target in fellow newcomer Durant. The veteran did slump to a 3-21 line in Week 11 against the Ti-Cats, but he'd logged a combined 11 catches for 197 yards and in the two games prior. It's been difficult to trust the Lions offense as a whole this season, but in a matchup against an Alouettes defense surrendering the most passing yards per game (329.8), second-highest yards per attempt (8.9) and second-most completions of over 30 yards (15), he's worth his mid-tier price.

Dominique Rhymes, OTT vs. TOR ($6,900): Rhymes scored 12.3 to 24.8 fantasy points in the last three games before the Redblacks' Week 12 bye. He now gets a matchup versus a team that could well facilitate more of the same, considering Toronto has been a sieve against the pass all season long as highlighted earlier in Jennings' entry. In addition to those numbers already cited, it's also worth noting Toronto is yielding the most completions of over 30 yards (20) and most touchdown passes (20). In turn, Rhymes has catches of 47, 67 and 73 yards across his last three contests, displaying an ability to get downfield that should serve him well against an Argos secondary prone to the big play.

Caleb Holley, OTT vs. TOR ($4,200): As was the case last week when I recommended a pair of Tiger-Cats receivers versus the Argonauts, I'm including a second Redblacks pass catcher in the same matchup. Holley is practically free in relative terms and does have the speed to take advantage of Toronto's well-documented propensity for allowing downfield completions. Moreover, despite his one-catch showing against the Riders in Week 11, Holley does have a pair of four-reception efforts and a trio of five-grab games this season, so it's not as if he's been a non-factor in the Redblacks offense. Given how little he has to do to justify his salary, he makes for a sneaky punt if you need the cap room elsewhere.  

Team Defense

Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders ($5,200): The Roughriders-Blue Bombers home-and-home series shifts to Winnipeg in Week 13, and this week, I'm flip-flopping my team defense recommendation accordingly. The Riders came through last week against Winnipeg by amassing 11.0 fantasy points, but the Bombers are in the better spot of the two this week. The Bombers are averaging 12.5 fantasy points per game overall, including an elite 16.2 per home contest. They've also notched double-digit fantasy points in four straight games, and in seven of the last eight contests. Winnipeg also got to Cody Fajardo five times in last week's game while recording two interceptions. Furthermore, the Bombers lead the CFL in turnovers forced (32) while checking in second in interceptions (16), fumble recoveries (10) and points off turnovers (56), making them one of the best cash or tournament plays of the week.