RADIO
The CFL season is upon us RotoBallers and I am thrilled that it is back even if it is for a shortened 14-game season.
The Canadian Football League is a fun and exciting sport to both watch and play from a DFS standpoint. There are plenty of different ways that you could go about roster construction and come out a winning player and that is the joy in playing this every week. I have been playing CFL DFS for several years and look forward to helping you cash every single week!
Make sure to check the depth charts the day before every game is played as it gives you an idea who is active, who is out, and who will be the first in line for snaps. You can also read more DFS advice and lineup picks for other sports too.
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CFL Week 1 Odds
They will be updated throughout the week
- Hamilton (-3.5) vs. Winnipeg - 51U
- BC vs. Saskatchewan
- Toronto vs. Calgary
- Ottawa vs. Edmonton
CFL DFS Quarterbacks
Trevor Harris ($9,400) - One of the best all-around options at the QB spot in week 1 is Trevor Harris. Back in 2019, Harris was one of the more consistent quarterbacks as he led his Edmonton squad to the Division Finals and finished second in the league with the second-most passing yards in the league. Harris is a typical pocket-passing quarterback and reunites with his former offensive coordinator and now head coach, Jamie Elizondo, which should only help Harris and his production. Harris has a strong group of receivers to work with and faces a Redblacks defense that allowed 314 passing yards per game in 2019 and hasn't added much to the defensive side of things to make them a strong defensive unit.
Cody Fajardo ($10,400) - Fajardo came on strong in 2019 and he looks to be the leader for this Saskatchewan offense. Fajardo carries one of the higher ceilings on the slate as he can get it done both through the air and on the ground as he threw 18 touchdowns while also rushing for 10 touchdowns which ranked fourth in the league overall in 2019. Fajardo gets a big boost by having Jason Maas as his offensive coordinator and Maas has worked with top quarterbacks in the league like Mike Rielly, Trevor Harris, and CFL great Henry Burris. The matchup against BC is an interesting one as The Lions were solid against the pass in 2019 but with Fajardo having a great offensive mind like Jason Maas in his corner and a good chunk of his offensive weapons returning, he should be able to take his game to the next level and continue to be a rising star in this league.
CFL DFS Running Backs
James Wilder Jr. ($8,200) - James Wilder Jr. has been an effective running back in the CFL and he has the potential to really shine in this Elks offense for the 2021 season. Wilder Jr. has done well in the CFL game as he is a powerful runner but also has the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield which is always a sought-after trait in this league. The Elks have a very strong passing attack which might actually open things up for Wilder on the ground game and he has been very consistent in his three years in the league as he has accrued 875+ combined rushing and receiving yards each year and is averaging almost five touchdowns per season. Wilder's best season came in his 2017 season where he rushed for 872 yards while also hauling in 533 receiving yards but that coincidentally was the best team he has played on so his production took a hit in both 2018 and in 2019. With a loaded Elks offense, he could return to his 2017 form and be a big-time playmaker in this Jamie Elizondo offense.
Brady Oliveira ($5,300) - It looks like Andrew Harris could be missing week 1 of the CFL season which means some value opens up for this slate. Brady Oliveira is projected to be next in line to get the first crack at carrying the rock against Hamilton on opening night as he has been receiving plenty of run with the first team leading up to their opening game against Hamilton. The Winnipeg offense is extremely balanced and is one of the better running teams in the league so if Oliveira draws the start for Winnipeg on opening night, he will be a heavily owned option. He is cash game viable but with the potential chance of this being a split backfield for the time being with Johnny Augustine, it might be best to lessen your exposure to him in tournaments.
Tim Flanders ($2,500) - If you're willing to take the risk and pass on the Winnipeg running back situation, Flanders could be the extreme value play of the week and we should have a good idea on Friday morning once Ottawa releases their depth chart. Flanders has had some prior experience carrying the rock as he was a backup running back for Andrew Harris and the Winnipeg Blue-Bombers from 2016-2018 and his Head Coach in Ottawa, Paul LaPolice, was his Offensive Coordinator in Winnipeg in that three-year span so the familiarity with the new offensive system could lead to him getting a good chunk of the snaps and carries on Saturday night.
CFL DFS Wide Receivers
Brandon Banks ($10,400) - The most explosive receiver on the slate is Brandon Banks and he is the CFL's version of Tyreek Hill as he has crazy elusiveness and game-changing speed that can take any pass to the house. He was the most targeted receiver in 2019 as he saw 158 total targets and he also led the league in receiving yards, receiving touchdowns, and targets per game. The matchup against Winnipeg is a tough one as they have had one of the better defenses in the CFL for several years but with fellow Ti-Cats receiver, Bralon Addison, already labeled as being out for Thursday's game, it only leads me to believe that Masoli might lean on Banks a little bit more come Thursday night.
Davaris Daniels ($7,700) - Daniels has been an explosive receiver in multiple offenses throughout the years and he will be a part of a potentially dangerous Toronto passing attack in 2021. He has posted 700+ receiving yards in each of his first four seasons in the league (2016-2019) and has eclipsed 50+ catches in three out of four of those seasons. He falls into that mid-tier price range that can be tricky but he does carry one of the better upsides for the price point he is at. The Argonauts receiving room is pretty crowded with some bigger names like former Stamps receivers Eric Rogers and Juwan Brescacin so Daniels could draw some one-on-one coverage and be a viable tournament option that comes in lower-owned.
Kamar Jorden ($5,300) - The pricing on Joden is one that we just can't ignore. While it has been three years since Jorden last played a game, his upside and rapport with Bo Levi Mitchell is just too good to not take a stab at on Week 1. When Jorden was healthy back in 2018, he led all Calgary receivers with 55 catches and 94 receiving yards while finishing second on the team with six passing touchdowns and over 11 passing plays that resulted in 30 receiving yards or more. Jorden was poised to have a big year in 2019 when the injury bug struck as he tore three ligaments in his knee but with a large amount of time off over the past two years, he looks healthy and ready to go. If the long lay-off and coming off of a serious knee injury scares you, another Stamps receiver to look at is Hergy Mayala who is priced at $5,900. Mayala was a high draft pick that flashed a lot of upside towards the end of the 2019 season as he hauled in five receiving touchdowns in his final five games of the regular season and amassed 70+ receiving yards in four out of five of those games and he should be a major part of the Stamps future on offense.
CFL DFS D/ST
Edmonton ($3,600) - The Elks defense will be the top defense to target on this slate in their matchup against Ottawa. Ottawa comes into this 2021 season with really big question marks on both sides of the ball and with a veteran receiver in Brad Sinopoli opting to retire, the Ottawa offense could take another step in the wrong direction. Edmonton was tied for the most sacks in 2019 with 56 total sacks and Ottawa allowed 48 total sacks in all of 2019 which was the third most allowed in 2019 so if they didn't fix their O-line issues, this Ottawa offense could struggle.
Player Pool
With additional picks to consider in order of preference:
- QB- Harris, Fajardo, Bethel-Thompson/ Arbuckle
- RB- Powell, Wilder Jr., Flanders, Butler, Oliveira, Carey
- High Priced WR- Banks, Evans, Ellingson, Walker, Rogers, Burnam
- Mid-Tier WR- Daniels, Brescacin, Harris, Moore, Whitehead
- Value WR- Jorden, Mayalga, Lawler Jr., Ambles, Demski, Stewart, Nelson
- D/ST- Edmonton, Toronto, Winnipeg
*Late additions will be marked in red
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