Playoff football begins in less than a month, which mean fantasy is almost over. The pressure is on for teams to clinch a spot and or home field advantage. When it comes to fantasy, it’s all about picking the right guys to make a last push for the top stop. The added pressure of only three weeks left could cloud the judgment of going with one’s gut. This week’s article gives a friendly remainder of players who should attract attention when setting your CFL fantasy week 18 line up.
CFL Fantasy Week 18: A Friendly Remainder
Jeremiah Masoli, Tiger-Cats Quarterback ($9,315)
It was heart breaking on how the Ticats were eliminated from the playoffs, especially with the way Masoli performed against the Stampeders defense. He threw for 326 yards and found the end zone once with his legs.
He looks more comfortable with every passing week. He’s thrown for over 300 yards in three of five games, and went three weeks straight of tossing two touchdowns prior to last week. The 29-year-old is proving to everyone that he’s a legit starting quarterback in Canada. This week he faces not just an Alouettes defense that’s struggled, but a whole organization. Last week’s devastating lost should motivate them to end a season on a high note. They also want to prove that the Tiger-Cats organization should bring majority of the core back, because of their second half record under head coach June Jones.
A huge beacon of the turn around was and remains, Masoli. He’s put up numbers with the best of them and still the fourth cheapest starting pivot heading into Week 18. Don’t forget, he can beat a team with his arm and legs. The true double whammy in steel town.
James Wilder Jr, Argonauts Running Back ($5,801)
Put the world on notice after a two-game stretch of dominant play, putting up over 28 fantasy points. Like the saying goes the third time is the charm, but in his case it didn’t quite work out. He was held to a total of 81 yards on 16 touches, thank to Tiger-Cats linebacker Larry Dean shadowing him.
It was still a solid game, but not the explosive one that many though would happen week-to-week. Thinking the Florida State product is going to put up massive number in fantasy everything is just unrealistic. The one thing you can count on is Wilder getting consistent touches now. Head coach Marc Trestman is starting to balance is off calling over 10 run plays for the 25-year-old. He’s also catch over 16 passes in those games.
Utilizing Wilder Jr. in the game plan, keeps the opposing defense honest, helps Ricky Ray take fewer hits and challenges the Blue Bombers to contain the Argos offence this week. He was healthy enough to play last week against the Edmonton Eskimos, but Trestman decided to keep him out. It wasn’t hard to spot the impact Wilder brings without him in the lineup. Toronto went back to being a pass heavy team unable to run the ball and it cost them.
The Blue Bombers defense given up the second most 20-plus yard rushing plays in the league. If you’ve been living under a rock, Wilder has broken out for a couple big runs in recent weeks.
Kamar Jorden, Stampeders Wide Receiver ($6,305)
With Greg Ellingson, S.J. Green and Brandon Zylstra leading the way for receivers, many have forgotten about how dominant Kamar Jorden was before an injury in Week 6. That lower body injury kept the 28-year-old on the sideline until last Friday. In his return against the Tiger-Cats, the same team that he suffered the injury too, Jorden put up five catches for 58 yards and an impressive touchdown grab.
That grab reminded everyone of the play-making ability he contains. The Bowling Green product sat fourth in receptions, third in receiving yards and first in receiving touchdowns before his injury. Jorden is the real deal and is only going to get better with every passing week. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell finally gets his number one target back for the home stretch of the season.
He’s a discount in comparison to other number one receivers and is well worth the purchase.
Clarence Denmark, Blue Bombers Wide Receiver ($4,704)
The Blue Bombers lost Darvin Adams, one of the CFL’s best receivers for several weeks due to a shoulder injury. It creates the classic cliché that teams say, ‘next man up’ mentality. The next best option that’s proven to be a number target in the past is Denmark.
Last year, when Winnipeg brought back the 32-year-old back, he put up 705 yards and eight touchdowns in just 10 contests. At one point he found the end zone five straight games. During that time he showed off his great route running ability and top end speed. It hasn’t been the same story in 2017, but he’s shown glimpses of it.
Denmark still ranks fifth in touchdown reception with five. Even though he hasn’t been a key component, behind Harris and Adams, when Nichols looks his way the Arkansas-Monticello product doesn’t let his pivot down. He’s efficient, grabbing 54 of 78 throws for 580 yards. Adam’s injury will force Nichols to look the veteran’s way more often and the creative offensive coordinator Paul LaPolice will find ways to feature the receiver in his schemes.
Denmark is a good player to put in your fantasy lineup that has a knack for ending drives. He’s also a bargain.
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