This article is part of our DraftKings CFL DFS Picks series.
Week 5 is already upon us, and it starts Friday night with an Alouettes-Redblacks tilt before kicking into high gear with three additional contests Sunday and Monday. The Roughriders and Elks are back in action this week as well after COVID-19 caused Edmonton's Week 4 game to be postponed, and we also have a particularly interesting 2019 playoff rematch between Saskatchewan and the defending champion Blue Bombers on tap.
DraftKings CFL Plays- Week 5
Quarterback
Cody Fajardo, SSK vs. WPG ($10,400): Fajardo is the highest-salaried player on the slate, but he's earned the distinction with stellar play over his first three games. The dual-threat signal-caller is averaging an outstanding 24.9 DK points over that span, completing an elite 78.9 percent of his throws while averaging 6.6 yards per rush. His matchup against the Bombers defense would have seemed difficult coming into the season, but Winnipeg checks in allowing the third-most passing yards (257.8) and rushing yards (102.0) per game, along with the third-most first downs (80) and most completions (98). Fajardo and the Riders also come in off a bye week, which should make them particularly explosive this early in the season.
Trevor Harris, EDM at CGY ($9,900): Harris hasn't yet exploded for a true breakout fantasy-point tally, and I'd ideally like his salary to be at least $1K lower. However, he's been steady with an average of 15 DK points per contest, and although he has an ugly 2:4 TD:INT, he's also completed an impressive 75.0 percent of his passes. Harris doesn't bring as much rushing upside to the table as some other CFL signal-callers, but he's always capable of a quarterback sneak at the goal line and is also coming off what was essentially a bye week (due to the COVID suspension of Edmonton's Week 4 contest) during which he should have had a chance to build additional rapport with prize offseason addition Derel Walker. The Stampeders should make good targets as well, considering they've allowed the second-most passing yards per game (300.0) and second-highest average yards per pass (8.8) while also yielding the highest passer efficiency rating (98.8).
Jake Maier, CGY vs. EDM ($9,000): Meier isn't playing anything like a wide-eyed rookie despite having just two CFL starts under his belt, as he's averaged 17.3 DK points in that pair of contests. Maier has displayed very good rapport with his talented array of pass catchers, and Monday, he tangles with an Elks team that's actually been the league's stingiest against the pass in several categories. Nevertheless, Maier has essentially been unflappable to this point, making him an intriguing tournament play on his home field. (UPDATE: Stampeders starter Bo Levi Mitchell was removed from the injured list Wednesday but has not yet been announced as the starter for Monday's game. If that were to unfold, I would pivot to Vernon Adams of the Alouettes, listed below).
ALSO CONSIDER: Vernon Adams, MTL at OTT ($10,200)
Running Back
James Wilder, EDM at CGY ($9,200): The Elks-Stampeders contest has a prominent presence in this week's article, with Wilder yet another player from that game that catches my eye. Despite the significant expense required to roster him, Wilder is worthwhile when considering his steady and robust dual role out of the backfield. The veteran already has 65 total touches on offense through just three games and has comfortably eclipsed 20 DK points on two occasions. The Stamps have faced the most rush attempts (78) in the CFL thus far and are surrendering a healthy 5.1 yards per carry, along with 100.0 rushing yards per contest. Calgary has also yielded the third-most completions (88), propping up Wilder's prospects as a receiver as well.
Andrew Harris, WPG at SSK ($8,800): Harris looked good in his Week 4 season debut after overcoming a calf injury, furnishing 16.6 DK points while averaging 4.8 yards per carry on 17 rush attempts. The elite pass catcher was quiet on that front with only two receptions, but he should certainly see his role in the air attack progressively expand. Sunday evening's matchup versus the Roughriders' top-ranked rush defense isn't a cakewalk by any stretch, but much like Wilder, Harris' locked-in lead-back role and ability to supplement his fantasy production through the air make him a consideration.
Ka'Deem Carey, CGY vs. EDM ($7,600): Carey has been sort of a poor man's Wilder or Harris in the early going this season, with the one-time Chicago Bear showing plenty through both the ground and air. Carey is averaging 14.9 DK points per contest and has recorded 11 receptions over four games alongside an impressive average of 4.9 yards per carry. Carey averaged a season-best 8.3 yards per rush in Week 4, and he should be locked in for 10-to-15 touches at minimum against an Elks team that's allowed 88.7 rushing yards per game at 4.6 yards per attempt.
ALSO CONSIDER: William Powell, SSK vs. WPG ($8,700)
Wide Receiver/Slotback
Derel Walker, EDM at CGY ($9,000): As mentioned earlier, Walker and his Elks teammates are coming off a surprise off week, and he'll be poised for a big return to action against a Stampeders defense that's been vulnerable against the pass as described in both Harris' and Wilder's entries. Walker has actually seen his DK-point tallies decline in each of his last two games after opening the season with 17.8 against the Redblacks, but the extra time off to build rapport with Harris could certainly pay off in Week 5 due to the favorable matchup. Additionally, with the speedster having failed to justify his lofty salaries his last two games in particular, he may well be less rostered than usual and therefore make for an especially appealing tournament option.
Kyran Moore, SSK vs. WPG ($7,000): Moore should once again helm the pass-catching corps for the Roughriders in the continuing absence of Shaq Evans (leg), who'll be on the injured list for several more weeks. Moore saw a hefty 11 targets in his first full game without Evans back in Week 3, and although he turned nine of them into catches, he netted just 48 yards. Nevertheless, there's no doubting Moore's downfield explosiveness, and he's managed to exceed 16 DK points in each of his first three contests. Considering the Blue Bombers are tied with the Lions for most completions allowed (98) through four weeks, Moore could deliver an excellent return on his mid-level salary.
B.J. Cunningham, MTL at OTT ($6,600): Cunningham has picked up right where he left off in his chemistry with quarterback Vernon Adams in 2019, as he's posted 14 receptions for 196 yards and a touchdown over his first three games, already logging 23 targets along the way. Cunningham should play a significant role once again versus the Redblacks, which have yielded the most passing yards per game (318.3) thus far, along with a CFL-high 77.5 percent completion rate and the third-highest average yards per pass (8.6).
Josh Huff, CGY vs. EDM ($5,800): Huff has a tough assignment on paper against the Elks secondary, but the speedster's body of work thus far this season combined with his value salary put him in play. Huff's most recent success came against the Blue Bombers in Week 4, when his 6-92 line led to 14.2 DK points. Huff also had eviscerated the Alouettes a week prior for a 5-128 line that netted 20.8 DK points, and the fact he has at least seven targets in three of his first four contests further enhances his standing as a viable cost-savings alternative.
ALSO CONSIDER: Brandon Banks, HAM vs. TOR ($10,900); Kenny Lawler, WPG at SSK ($5,900)
Team Defense
Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks ($4,800): The Redblacks are ranked last in several offensive categories through four weeks, including average points per game (12.7), net offensive yards per game (188.7), 2nd down conversion rate (36.5 percent) and average yards per play (3.9). Ottawa has also allowed a co-CFL-high 13 sacks, while the Alouettes, which are only the fourth-highest-priced defense on the slate, are averaging an impressive 9.3 DK points per contest and 11.0 over their first two road tilts. Montreal should also be in prime position to take advantage of Ottawa's aforementioned issues protecting quarterback Matt Nichols, as the Als boast the second-most sacks in the CFL (11) despite having played just three games, and they're also second in the league with 24 points off turnovers.
