This article is part of our DraftKings CFL DFS Picks series.
It's an even more unpredictable week than usual in the always interesting CFL fantasy landscape, as multiple teams will sit starters in advance of the postseason. The information in this article is current as of Friday afternoon, with most teams already having revealed their personnel plans for their regular-season finales. Nevertheless, stay tuned to RotoWire's player news page for any late-breaking updates Friday evening and all day Saturday.
Quarterback
Mike Reilly, EDM vs. WPG ($11,100): It's already been confirmed that Reilly will play Saturday's game from start to finish, which should provide him plenty of opportunity to rack up some numbers against a Winnipeg defense that will likely rest some starters. Reilly is looking to cap off what has been a disappointing season from a team perspective in positive fashion, and to avenge his season-low 164 yards and two interceptions versus this same squad back in Week 16. Despite the trouble they gave Reilly in that contest, Winnipeg allowed 408 yards passing and three total touchdowns to Reilly back in Week 1, and they're also yielding a robust 64.8 completion percentage. Those numbers could get worse if they decide to roll out several backups.
Bo Levi Mitchell, CGY at BC ($10,500): The Stamps are one of the few teams in Week 21 with something to play for, as they'll secure a bye for next week's Semifinal round and the right to host the Western Final in two weeks with a win or tie Saturday. That should equate to Mitchell getting in a good bit of game action, and with the Lions' playoff positioning already locked in place, they could opt to roll out several backups on the defensive side of the ball. Mitchell is averaging 20.93 fantasy points and has thrown 18 touchdowns in eight road games this season, and he's averaged a solid 19.7 fantasy points in two previous meetings versus the Lions this season. With plenty on the line, he should be able to offer a solid return despite the elevated price tag.
Chris Streveler, WPG at EDM ($7,600): If you have a high tolerance for risk, you could certainly roll the dice on the likes of the Redblacks duo of Dominique Davis ($7,000) and Danny Collins ($6,000), or on the Tiger-Cats' Dane Evans ($6,000). All three players are slated to see action in Week 21, but Davis and Collins are slated to split the game in half and Evans has only thrown five passes in his career. In comparison, Streveler is a proven commodity, having started the first three games of the season while Matt Nichols recovered from a knee injury. The mobile rookie posted 17.34 to 37.64 fantasy points in those contests, along with a 6:2 TD:INT. Moreover, he added another pair of scores on the ground, along with an impressive 183 yards on 22 rushes. The Eskimos are out of the postseason picture, so Streveler could be facing a slightly unmotivated squad that's already allowing 272.4 passing yards per game, the second-highest average yards per pass (9.0), the second-most completions of over 30 yards (35), the second-highest average yards per rush (5.4) and that's tied with the Alouettes for most rushing touchdowns allowed (18).
Running Back
William Stanback, MTL at HAM ($7,200): Stanback should see his usual allotment of work versus a Tiger-Cats squad whose playoff positioning is already locked up. The dual-threat running back has been providing rock-solid production through both the ground and air since the trade of Tyrell Sutton to the Lions, rushing for between 60 and 118 yards and adding 52 receiving yards in Week 20 against the Argonauts. Stanback offers plenty of big-play upside and will get a crack at a Hamilton squad that's tied with the Eskimos for second-highest average yards per rush allowed (5.4), 15 rushing touchdowns and the most rushes of over 20 yards (15) in the CFL.
Chris Rainey, BC vs. CGY ($5,800): Tyrell Sutton is projected to take a seat Saturday, which would likely leave Rainey in an elevated role as long as he is past the ankle issue that knocked him out of last week's game versus the Roughriders. It appears he is, as he has reportedly received plenty of reps throughout the practice week. Even with the Stampeders coming in as a highly motivated bunch, Rainey offers plenty of upside and typically touches the ball as a running back, receiver and returner, giving him an excellent chance of paying off his affordable price with a bump in opportunity.
Mossis Madu, OTT vs. TOR ($5,200): The Redblacks will be resting all of their front-line skill position players, a group that certainly includes William Powell. That would leave Madu with lead-back duties for the second straight week after logging 11 rushes last week versus the Tiger-Cats in Powell's absence. The matchup should be a lot softer this week, as the Argos are out of playoff contention and already come in allowing the most rushing yards (127.4) and highest average yards per rush (5.8) in the CFL, along with 10 runs of more than 20 yards.
Kienan LaFrance, WPG at EDM ($3,500): Andrew Harris is chasing the rushing title, but the Bombers have already indicated he'll play very sparingly, if at all. That lines up beautifully for LaFrance at his rock-bottom price. The veteran back has been solid in limited opportunities this season, scoring a couple of touchdowns over his 33 carries. He's proven a serviceable receiver out of the backfield in seasons past as well, and he'll tangle with an Eskimos squad already eliminated from the playoffs and allowing the second-highest average yards per rush (5.4) and most rushing touchdowns allowed (18) alongside the Alouettes.
Wide Receiver/Slotback
Bryant Mitchell, EDM vs. WPG ($8,300): Mitchell has seemingly swiped the mantle of top receiver in the Eskimos' prolific air attack from D'haquille Williams ($8,600), who's still checking in as a more expensive option despite being outproduced by Mitchell in several games recently. Mitchell has posted between 69 and 190 receiving yards in his last seven games, leading to a trio of 20-point-plus fantasy-point tallies. His target share has been about as dependable as you'll find in the league over the last several weeks, and he'll be in a good position to put a strong finish to his breakout campaign versus a Bombers defense that could be resting some starters and that's already allowed the second-most completions (386) in the CFL when at full strength.
Armanti Edwards, TOR at OTT ($7,600): Edwards has been steadying his play as the season winds down, producing 14.3 to 29.2 fantasy points over his last three games. He also found the end zone in Week 8 against this same Redblacks squad and has shown solid rapport with quarterback James Franklin during the latter's second starting tenure of the season. With Edwards a manageable 103 yards away from his first 1,000-yard season, it's certainly conceivable the Argos could make a concerted effort to get him the ball against an Ottawa defense that could be resting multiple starters and that's already allowed 27 pass completions of over 30 yards, fourth most in the CFL.
Chris Matthews, CGY at BC ($5,800): Matthews made a big impact among the Stampeders' injury-ravaged receiving corps in Week 20, posting five receptions for 113 yards on his way to 18.3 fantasy points versus the Blue Bombers. He'd also found the end zone a game earlier against the Lions, and what's likely to once again be a sizable role in the passing game puts him back in play in Week 21. As mentioned earlier, Calgary needs a win for a first-round bye and home-field advantage for the Western Final in two weeks, and Matthews provides cost-effective exposure to the Stamps' air attack.
Mike Jones, HAM vs. MTL ($5,600): Luke Tasker is not on the depth chart for Saturday's game, and both Brandon Banks (collarbone) and Terrence Toliver (undisclosed) are finished for the season. That positions Jones as a big-play and likely high-volume option in the Hamilton passing attack against an Alouettes squad playing out the final game of another disappointing season. Montreal has been ranked at or near the bottom of multiple pass defense categories throughout the season as well, including most passing yards per game surrendered (304.4) and most completions (423). They've also yielded 27 passing plays of over 30 yards, while Jones has seven such receptions this season and is averaging an impressive 16.5 yards per grab.
Team Defense
Calgary Stampeders at BC Lions ($4,900): As has already been alluded to on several occasions, the Stampeders have plenty to play for Saturday, while the Lions have no way of improving their playoff seeding. That should lead to a fruitful game for a Calgary defense that's admittedly underperformed recently, uncharacteristically posting three straight games with single-digit fantasy-point tallies. One of those was against this same Lions squad in Week 18, but with Travis Lulay slated to play very few snaps if any in Week 21, the Stamps should get plenty of Jonathon Jennings, and potentially, Cody Fajardo. Despite their recent struggles, the Stamps are still within the top three in sacks (43), two-and-outs forced (96), turnover ratio (+10), turnovers forced (46), points off turnovers (133), interceptions (17) and fumble recoveries (16). Given their motivation levels and what's going to be an offense playing without several regulars, the Stamps defense should be able to generate a strong effort in their final tune-up for the playoffs.
