This article is part of our DraftKings CFL DFS Picks series.
We're up to the penultimate week of the regular season, but there are still postseason scenarios being sorted out -- the Stampeders and Roughriders are both playing for a home playoff game in Week 20. There is also another potential explosive fantasy clash between the Argonauts and Redblacks, both which have already seen several players thrive in the matchup earlier in the season. And, there are new additions to the quarterback pool this week as well, with two signal-callers making a return from injury. Without further ado, let's dive right into some of the best options at each position on the slate:
DraftKings CFL Plays - Week 20
Quarterback
Bo Levi Mitchell, CGY at WPG ($9,600): Mitchell gets another crack at a Blue Bombers defense that he lit up for 33.48 fantasy points in Week 19. Winnipeg continues to be one of the most vulnerable defenses in the CFL against the pass, putting Mitchell back in play at the same price he sported in Week 19. The Bombers are now allowing 300.7 passing yards per game, the most completions of 30 or more yards (30) and the second-most passing touchdowns (23), all partly a byproduct of facing the most pass attempts (618) in the CFL. Teams have thrown that much against Winnipeg because their run defense has been positively elite, and given the success the Stampeders enjoyed last week with the pass, Calgary should be of the same mindset again in Week 20 while trying to lock up the aforementioned home playoff date.
Dane Evans, HAM at MTL ($9,200): Trevor Harris ($8,600) returns to the lineup for the Eskimos this week as well and is therefore worth considering if you need to save a few hundred off Evans. However, speaking of quarterbacks whose price refuses to budge, Evans has actually seen a $100 price drop despite having racked up 452 yards and 24.08 fantasy points in Week 19 against the Redblacks. The Tulsa product has exceeded 300 yards in five of his last six games, with a pair of 400-yard efforts as part of that sample. The Alouettes have allowed the third-most passing yards per game (312.2), most completions (410) and second-highest completion percentage (73.0), making them a tantalizing target for a quarterback of Evans' caliber.
Zach Collaros, WPG vs. CGY ($6,500): Collaros is our tournament value play of the week at quarterback, as he'll draw the start with Chris Streveler (ankle) on the one-game injured list. Collaros hasn't played since the first drive of the season while still with the Roughriders, when he suffered a concussion. There's always some risk with a quarterback making his first start in a new offense, but Collaros is a veteran with solid upside, and the uncertainty regarding his situation is factored into his bargain basement price. The Stamps have also been vulnerable in the short and intermediate passing windows, allowing 402 completions and a 71.8 completion percentage, including a CFL-high 84.0 completion rate on targets of up to nine yards. Collaros doesn't have to do a whole lot to justify his price, making him worthy of a roll of the dice if you're trying to spend up elsewhere.
Running Back
Shaquille Cooper, EDM vs. SSK ($6,100): Cooper could well be in line for another start in Week 20 with C.J. Gable still struggling with his knee injury. Gable is officially questionable for Saturday night's contest, and he could well be limited even if he does play. Cooper has been excellent when given the chance this season, averaging 25.1 fantasy points in his pair of starts. Cooper is an excellent receiver out of the backfield as well (8-59 line through the air in two starts) and would be facing a Roughriders defense that's been mostly solid against the run, but that's allowed the third-highest red-zone success rate (61.0 percent) in the CFL, along with 5.1 yards per rush.
Tyrell Sutton, HAM at MTL ($6,000): Sutton sports the same $6K price he had in Week 19, when he totaled a solid 18.9 fantasy points at the expense of the Redblacks. The veteran is involved in the passing game as well, most recently evidenced by his 4-64 line against Ottawa. He should have an extra dose of motivation against his old Alouettes teammates, which have allowed 109.8 rushing yards per contest and the highest average yards per rush (5.6) in the league. Montreal has also surrendered 16 rushing touchdowns, which, when combined with the 79.0 completion percentage they've yielded on targets of up to nine yards in depth, leave Sutton set up for potential success through the air as well.
Jeremiah Johnson, MTL vs. HAM ($5,800): I originally had William Stanback slotted in as the high-priced running back option of the week before he was declared out for this contest with an undisclosed injury, a development that will afford Johnson the start. The Tiger-Cats have allowed 5.3 yards per carry, 14 rushing touchdowns and 13 rushes of 20 or more yards, the latter number tying them for the most in the CFL. Johnson has performed well in spot starting duty this season and has four games with double-digit fantasy points overall. The veteran can also be an effective receiver out of the backfield when needed (7-78 line through the air over last two games), locking him in as a solid underpriced play.
Wide Receiver/Slotback
Brandon Banks, HAM at MTL ($10,300): Banks is the priciest receiver option on the Week 19 slate but worth it, considering he's scored 22.1 fantasy points or more in three straight games and has eclipsed 20 in five of his last six overall. The veteran is seeing plenty of volume and has averaged 25.0 fantasy points against the Alouettes in two prior games this season. As already detailed in Evans' entry, the Als have been vulnerable to the pass; moreover, in addition to the numbers already cited, it's worth noting Montreal has also given up 8.9 yards per attempt and 25 completions of 30 yards or more, both of which dovetail nicely for fantasy purposes with Banks' game-breaking speed and downfield prowess.
Reggie Begelton, CGY at WPG ($10,100): Very similar to Banks, Begelton has been the linchpin of the offense on his squad, scoring over 20 fantasy points in four out of the last six games. Begelton hasn't been below 15.6 fantasy points since way back in Week 9 and gets a second consecutive shot at a Bombers secondary he already lit up for 28.2 fantasy points in Week 19. Winnipeg's weaknesses against the pass were already illustrated earlier in Mitchell's entry via various metrics, and Begelton has seen no fewer than six targets in 12 consecutive games, essentially guaranteeing you a locked-in workload.
S.J. Green, TOR vs. OTT ($7,900): Green looks nothing like a 34-year-old receiver this season, as he's plowed through inconsistency at quarterback for Toronto to still put together an impressive 80-980-4 line through 16 games. The veteran just totaled 10 catches for 170 yards against the Redblacks in Week 18, a performance preceded by an 8-130 tally versus Ottawa in Week 13. The Redblacks haven't gotten any better versus the pass, as they'll check in allowing the most passing yards per game (317.4), a 71.1 percent completion rate, the second-highest average yards per attempt (9.0), the third-most completions of 30 or more yards (26) and second-highest passer efficiency rating (103.6). Therefore, there's plenty of paths to success for Green, who has seen a combined 26 targets over the last two contests alone.
Dominique Rhymes, OTT at TOR ($6,900): Rhymes has been one of the true bright spots in the Redblacks' lost season, as he's set new career highs in receptions (64), receiving yardage (1,020) and touchdowns (four). Rhymes posted 18.0 fantasy points against the Argonauts in his last game Week 18, and he also tallied 17.8 against Toronto in Week 13 on the strength of an 8-98 line. Toronto has been almost as bad as Ottawa versus the pass, allowing the second-most passing yards per game (315.9), second-most completions (403), highest average yards per attempt (9.2), most passing touchdowns (35) and second-most completions of 30 or more yards (27). Then, it's worth noting 30 of those 35 touchdowns allowed through the air have come on targets of either up to nine yards in depth (16) or targets of 20 or more yards downfield (14), both passing windows that Rhymes has succeeded in this season.
Team Defense
Edmonton Eskimos vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders ($4,500): There are plenty of higher-priced options in Week 20 at defense, including the Eskimos' formidable opponent. However, Edmonton's own solid unit is worth considering if you're paying down, especially with its ability to get to the quarterback consistently. The Esks have racked up multiple sacks in four consecutive contests and should have more continuity on offense with Trevor Harris back at quarterback, which in turn should keep the defense off the field for longer stretches. The Eskimos have also racked up the second-most sacks (50) and forced the most 2-and-outs in the CFL (94), while the 43.0 percent red-zone success rate they've allowed is the lowest in the league. While the Roughriders do have a solid offense and have something to play for here, it's rare to find a high-upside defense playing at home that's sporting the third-lowest price of the week at the position.
