This article is part of our DraftKings CFL DFS Picks series.
We've reached the final week of the semi-shortened CFL 2021 regular season, and the one playoff-related factor left to be determined is whether the Alouettes or Ti-Cats will host the other in the Eastern Semi-Final game. Both teams should therefore be playing their regulars, but there figures to be less certainty elsewhere on the slate. It should make for an interesting final regular-season ledger of DFS action, one we'll attempt to offer some clarity on.
DraftKings CFL Plays- Week 16
Quarterback
Jeremiah Masoli, HAM vs. SSK ($11,600): Masoli produced 19.7 DK points in Week 15 against the Argonauts despite throwing two interceptions without a touchdown, as he compiled 363 total yards. The veteran signal-caller should be in for a normal workload in Saturday afternoon's finale if the Alouettes defeat the Redblacks on Friday night as is likely; in that scenario, the Tiger-Cats must win in order to host Montreal in the Eastern Semi-Final. The Roughriders make for very good targets as well, as Saskatchewan has allowed 267.8 passing yards per game, a 67.2 percent completion rate and the second-highest average yards per attempt (8.7).
Bo Levi Mitchell, CGY vs. WPG ($9,900): Mitchell has completed over 75.0 percent of his attempts in each of the last two games, and he's coming off a three-touchdown effort against the Lions that netted 22.6 DK points. Mitchell had also scored 14.3 to 16.4 DK points in four of the five contests prior and will face a Blue Bombers team that's been excellent against the pass all season but has nothing to play for in the finale and could therefore rest some defensive starters.
Trevor Harris, MTL vs. OTT ($8,600): The Alouettes play the first game of the slate on Friday evening, and they'll be in must-win mode in order to have a chance at hosting the Eastern Semi-Final game against the Tiger-Cats. Harris is coming off his best game in Montreal yet, having produced 17.8 DK points against Winnipeg as part of a three-touchdown effort in Week 15. The veteran signal-caller has 12.0 and 13.6 DK points in his two other contests with the Als thus far, and he should have a good shot at his best return yet versus a Redblacks squad allowing the second-most passing yards per game (273.3), second-most completions (292) and a CFL-high 72.6 percent completion rate.
ALSO CONSIDER: Nathan Rourke, BC vs. EDM ($6,900)
Running Back
William Stanback, MTL vs. OTT ($11,000): As just mentioned in Harris' entry, the Alouettes will be treating this Week 16 contest as a normal game, and with Ottawa's defense essentially as bad against the run as it is against the pass, Stanback should be in for a normal workload. The star back just missed out on a double-digit DK-point tally in Week 15 with 9.9 against the Blue Bombers, but he's still averaging 15.9 per contest for the season. Meanwhile, the Redblacks check in allowing a CFL-high 117.8 rushing yards per game at 5.1 yards per carry, and they already surrendered 14.2 DK points to Stanback in Week 5.
Ka'Deem Carey, CGY vs. WPG ($10,600): (*Friday, 11/19 Update: Carey has been announced as out for the season finale, bringing Roc Thomas ($3,800) in play as a viable, cost-savings pivot) Carey has scored 13.7 to 24.6 DK points in his last three games, and he's averaging 13.8 DK points per contest overall for the season. The multi-talented back has recorded no fewer than 62 rushing yards and as many as 109 in the last six contests, and he already notched 19.2 DK points in Week 4 against this same Blue Bombers squad by averaging 7.7 yards on his 12 touches in that contest. Winnipeg has also surrendered 5.1 yards per carry, furthering Carey's prospects.
James Butler, BC vs. EDM ($8,300): Butler delivered an outstanding return on his $6.2k salary in Week 15 against the Stampeders, posting 24.1 DK points on the strength of 125 total yards. Butler has double-digit carries in three straight games and has recorded a whopping 13 receptions in his last two games alone, giving him an excellent floor. The opposing Elks could very well help facilitate another fruitful night, considering they've allowed the second-most rushing yards per game (113.5) and the second-highest average yards per carry (5.4), along with eight rushing touchdowns.
ALSO CONSIDER: Walter Fletcher, EDM at BC ($6,400)
Wide Receiver/Slotback
Jake Wieneke, MTL vs. OTT ($9,500): Eugene Lewis will miss the regular-season finale due to a hip injury, which will raise Weineke's already robust profile in the offense. The 27-year-old is enjoying a breakout season that includes a 51-819-9 on 83 targets, and he'll check into Friday night's key contest having scored 14.6 to 27.4 DK points in five of the last seven games. Weineke has dominated Ottawa in this season's three prior meetings as well, scoring 14.6 to 34.1 DK points in those games while recording a pair of 100-yard efforts and four touchdowns. In addition to the Redblacks' weaknesses against the pass already detailed in Harris' entry, it's also worth noting Ottawa has allowed the third-most completions of over 30 yards (21) and the most TDs through the air (21) as well.
Dominique Rhymes, BC vs. EDM ($7,800): Rhymes broke out for 20.1 DK points against the Stampeders in Week 15 on the strength of a 6-111 line and has two six-catch efforts in the last three contests overall. While Rhymes will be catching passes from Nathan Rourke and not Mike Reilly (elbow) in the regular-season finale, the rookie signal-caller has acquitted himself reasonably well during his opportunities this season by averaging a robust 13.6 yards on his 29 completions. Rhymes has only seen action in seven games this season, but he was a 1,000-yard receiver in 2019 with Ottawa and faces an Elks squad that's allowed 8.1 yards per attempt and 18 passing touchdowns.
Tim White, HAM vs. SSK ($6,600): White has enjoyed an encouragingly steady role most of the season and comes into the regular-season finale having logged between five and nine targets in nine of the last 10 contests. White has 19.0 and 21.8 DK points in two of his last three contests as well and just recorded his first 100-yard tally in the CFL in Week 15 against the Argos, and the Roughriders, in addition to the weaknesses against the pass already enumerated in Masoli's entry, have also given up a CFL-high 23 completions of 30 yards or more and the second-most passing touchdowns in the league (20).
Malik Henry, CGY vs. WPG ($4,300): (*Friday, 11/19 Update: Henry was placed on the injured list Friday, bringing Reggie White ($3,800), who's already listed below, as a viable pivot that offers even more savings) Henry flashed with expanded opportunity in Week 15, posting 17.9 DK points on the strength of a receiving touchdown and 162 return yards. It marked the third double-digit DK-point tally of the season for the speedy West Georgia product, who should be in for another all-purpose role in the season finale. Given Henry's extremely affordable salary, he could once again overdeliver on his very reasonable salary against a Winnipeg team that could be playing plenty of backups in the secondary as the game unfolds.
ALSO CONSIDER: Kenny Lawler, WPG vs. CGY ($9,900); Reggie White, MTL vs. OTT ($3,800)
Team Defense
Montreal Alouettes ($6,400) vs. Ottawa Redblacks: Our final chance to target the Redblacks offense is here, and despite the Alouettes' defense costing a pretty penny, the upside makes the hefty investment worthwhile. Develin Hodges is likely to draw another start for Ottawa, and the former Pittsburgh Steeler looked completely lost in his second taste of CFL action while completing just eight of 22 passes for 90 yards in Week 14 against Toronto. The Als check in averaging a solid 10.6 DK points per contest, and they've compiled 11, 14 and 23 DK points in three prior meetings with the Redblacks this season. Montreal also has recorded a CFL-high 45 sacks – the Redblacks have yielded a CFL-high 49 – and while Ottawa has thrown a CFL-high 17 interceptions as part of committing the most turnovers in the league (37), the Als have picked off a league-best 17 passes. Essentially, there's no shortage of supporting evidence for another fruitful fantasy night for Montreal, especially when factoring in the difference in incentive for the two squads.
