This article is part of our DraftKings CFL DFS Picks series.
Quarterback
Mike Reilly, EDM vs. TOR ($11,500): There's only three games on the docket in Week 5, so there's no need to overthink things. That puts Reilly square at the top of the six-quarterback heap this week, and his efforts in Week 4 against this same Toronto squad help make that case. Reilly compiled 370 passing yards and a touchdown against Toronto in the loss, leading to 21.9 fantasy points. That was actually his lowest fantasy-point tally of the season, a testament to how prolific his efforts have been thus far. Toronto comes in allowing the most passing yards per game (310.7), highest completion percentage (76.9), highest average yards per pass (10.2) and highest passing efficiency (122.6), making them just as tantalizing a target as last week.
Matt Nichols, WPG at BC ($8,700): Nichols made his season debut in Week 4 after recovering from a knee injury and put up a serviceable 162 passing yards and a touchdown in a comfortable win over the same Lions squad he will face in Week 5. The veteran would have likely compiled much bigger numbers had the Blue Bombers needed to keep their foot on the gas, which bears keeping in mind when sizing up his prospects for Week 5. The rematch unfolds in BC -- which could lead to a much more competitive contest – and the Lions come in allowing 271.3 passing yards per game while allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete 66.7 percent of their passes. They're also yielding the third highest average yards per pass (8.2), quarterback rating (85.7) and passing efficiency rating (96.1), furthering Nichols' case.
James Franklin, TOR at EDM ($8,000): Franklin made quite the splash in Week 4 against the Eskimos in his first start in place of Ricky Ray (neck), finishing with 22.78 fantasy points on the strength of 217 passing yards and two total touchdowns. The Argonauts will likely open the playbook a bit more for him this week given his solid effort, putting him in play once again against an Edmonton squad that's allowing the second highest average yards per pass (8.7) through the first four weeks. The Esks have also yielded the second most passing touchdowns (seven), and their vulnerability on the ground (most rushing touchdowns, highest rushing yards per game allowed) makes them even more of a target for a mobile threat like Franklin.
Running Back
Andrew Harris, WPG at BC ($8,100): Harris knifed through the Lions defense for a season-high 26.1 fantasy points in Week 4, a total comprised of 131 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown. He has averaged 20.95 fantasy points in two previous road tilts this season, and BC should be ripe for the picking once again. The Lions are allowing the second most rushing yards per game (140.3), along with 5.8 rushing yards per carry and the second-most rushing touchdowns (five). As mentioned earlier in Nichols' entry, they're also exhibiting a certain vulnerability to the pass, certainly a factor when considering a back as involved in the air attack as Harris typically is.
James Wilder, Jr., TOR at EDM ($7,700): Wilder was integral to the surprising upset of the Eskimos last week, posting a season-high 26.7 fantasy points on the strength of a 120-yard, one-touchdown rushing effort. The same factors that made him such an appealing play last week naturally hold true again in the Week 5 rematch, as Edmonton comes in allowing the most rushing yards (149.5), most rushing touchdowns (six) and most rushing first downs (41). As those numbers imply, the Eskimos haven't shown the ability to slow any workhorse back this season, and Wilder's dual-threat abilities also make him an enticing target against an Eskimos pass defense that's proven penetrable at times as well.
Jeremiah Johnson, BC vs. WPG ($6,900): Johnson was one of the few bright spots for the Lions in the Week 4 blowout defeat to the Bombers, racking up 80 yards and a touchdown on just 13 carries. His numbers would have undoubtedly been even bigger had it not been for game script, making him an appealing play once again in Week 5. Winnipeg has already yielded 31 rushing first downs, and their problems slowing Johnson down stem back beyond this current season. Dating back to the 2016 playoffs, the Blue Bombers have allowed Johnson to gain 230 yards on 44 carries across four meetings since that span, an average of 5.2 yards per tote.
Wide Receiver/Slotback
D'haquille Wiliams, EDM vs. TOR ($9,000): Although teammate Derel Walker ($9,100) naturally remains a very viable threat, Williams has undeniably made considerable strides in the early going of the 2018 campaign. His improved chemistry with quarterback Mike Reilly is evidenced by his three consecutive 100-yard efforts. Just as notable is the fact that Williams has now upped his reception totals over those of the previous game in each of the last two weeks, topping out at eight grabs against this same Toronto secondary in Week 4. With a 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame that's built for red-zone work and tough catches all over the field, he shapes up as a top option against an Argonauts defense whose vulnerability against the pass was detailed in Reilly's entry.
Darvin Adams, WPG at BC ($7,300): Adams has been somewhat of a fantasy dud thus far this season, but it's likely that a good part of that stems from not having Matt Nichols under center for the first three contests. While rookie Chris Streveler was more than adequate in Nichols' stead, there's no substituting a receiver's established rapport with a quarterback. Unsurprisingly, Adams posted a season-high 15.6 fantasy points on the strength of a three-catch, 66-yard, one-touchdown effort in Week 4 with Nichols back at the helm, and that might just be the tip of the iceberg. As mentioned in Nichols' entry, the Lions are ranked in the latter half of the CFL in several pass defense categories, and Adams has the ability to score from anywhere on the field.
Kenny Stafford, EDM vs. TOR ($6,700): At this point, Stafford has put any talk that his early-season success might have been a fluke to rest, having racked up 19 receptions for 294 yards and a touchdown over the first four games. That includes season-best tallies of seven grabs and 98 receiving yards in Week 4 against this same Toronto secondary, leading to his third double-digit fantasy-point haul of the season. With a price tag that's only risen $400 over Week 4 and another matchup against the most vulnerable pass defense in the CFL on paper, he checks in as a top mid-tier play at receiver in Week 5.
Llevi Noel, TOR at EDM ($3,800): Noel drew the surprise start in Week 4 and parlayed the opportunity into a two-reception, 81-yard performance that paced the Argonauts on the day. He flashed some of his downfield chops with a tough 50-yard grab down the left sideline early in the game, and he could see another opportunity to run with the starters in the Week 5 rematch. If so, that makes him the bargain of the week on the short slate, as sub-$4K starting receivers aren't exactly a dime a dozen. If he sees the snaps, Noel should have ample opportunity to once again make some plays downfield against an Eskimos secondary that's yielding the second-highest average yards per pass (8.7).
Team Defense
Calgary Stampeders at Ottawa Redblacks ($4,700): The Blue Bombers might be the chalky choice at defense this week given the Lions' general ineptitude on offense, but the Stamps also make for an appealing play at $400 cheaper. Calgary racked up 15.0 fantasy points in their one previous road game this season, and they got to Trevor Harris for three sacks and an interception in a Week 3 matchup. Additionally, despite having played only three games, Calgary is also tops in the CFL across virtually every major defensive category, including turnovers caused (nine), points off turnovers (39), average yards per pass allowed (6.5), average yards per play allowed (5.4) and opposing quarterback rating allowed (36.2). While the Redblacks may get their fair share of yards, the Stampeders' ability to bring consistent pressure should result in multiple opportunities for mistakes and turnovers. Moreover, on the special-teams front, it's worth noting that the Stamps lead the CFL with a 17.9 average on punt returns and already boast both a blocked kick and kickoff return touchdown over their first three games.
