Now that the NFL season is on the verge of a return, the CFL schedule will get much simpler for the rest of the season. Last week there were a pair of games on Labor Day Monday, and even a rare regular-season Sunday of Canadian Football. We now return to some normalcy as CFL games will mostly be played on Friday and Saturday from now on. That makes for more traditional contests for daily fantasy sports. Here in Week 14, the CFL DraftKings main slate will consist of one Friday game, as well as a Saturday triple-header. With a variety of DFS contests available, be sure to get the best values on players.
Quarterback
Cody Fajardo (SSK) $10,100 @ WPG
There are three quarterbacks in the $10K range this week. However, Cody Fajardo is the only one of the three who acts as his team’s short-yardage/goal-line QB. While other teams typically employ another QB to replace the starter on short-yard situations, Saskatchewan is willing to keep Fajardo in for those opportunities. This gives him an edge in the rushing TD department over most of the starters on the slate.
There are also several Roughriders receivers returning from injury. We will focus on one particular player later on, but there are several key options available for Fajardo in the passing game. There were a couple of games, where Saskatchewan was down to only one of their ideal starting WR group. Now with a few key pieces back as part of the aerial attack, there are several solid stacking options. However, because of his ability to accrue rushing production, Fajardo is also the type of QB that can be played without teammates even in GPP or tournament contests.
Jake Maier (CGY) $8,600 @ EDM
It was a shaky first half, to say the least. During the first two-quarters of the recent Labor Day matchup, Jake Maier looked as bad as ever in any of his 5 CFL starts. Every previous start he stepped in and succeeded. It was unusual to see Maier miss on many throws during Week 13. However, he rebounded nicely for a 19.12 fantasy-point performance, most of which was produced in the second half. If he can replicate his late-game efficiency over the course of a full 60 minutes, Maier should be a value for DFS purposes.
As was the case last week when I suggested Maier, I am attempting to target the Edmonton defense. After all, the Elks have surrendered the most scoring in the league with 32.25 points allowed per game. On a play-by-play basis, that are just as bad. This season, Edmonton has given up the 2nd most yards per pass (12.41) and the most yards per play (7.23) to opposing offenses. Once again, I want to target Maier as a value QB.
Running Back
AJ Ouellette (TOR) $5,600 @ OTT
This is yet another week where I recommend paying down at RB. Partially to access the $10K range at QB, but also to attack the $8K range with several WR options. The ability to get a top QB and 3 pass-catchers worth at least $8,000 all hinges on hitting at a value RB. A.J. Ouellette has a great matchup against the Ottawa defense, one of only three teams allowing over 100 rushing yards per game, and 5 yards per rush. But even if Ouellette does not smash on the ground, he has still shown to be a reliable option because of his passing-down work. Since taking over the starting RB spot, Ouellette has been given true workhorse status. In two of his past three games, he has at least 5 receptions. This is as much as I am willing to pay up at RB this week.
Kevin Brown (EDM) $2,500 vs CGY
I would recommend selecting Kevin Brown, if you want to truly punt the position. As the depth charts are revealed, Kevin Brown may not even end up being the starter in Week 14. But in the Labor Day classic, he demonstrated good burst on inside runs for Edmonton. Even more importantly, he immediately contributed to the passing game with 6 receptions in his CFL debut. With their star receiver on injured reserve, the Elks will need capable pass-catchers all over the field, including the running backs. If Brown can get more than the 5 carries he saw last week, he should be a productive player at a good value.
Wide Receiver
Eugene Lewis (MTL) $11,200 vs BC
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Looking at an $11K price tag may not always equate to value in DFS. However, when you have a player like Eugene Lewis, you have someone who can actually pay off that cost most weeks. Lewis currently leads the CFL in targets (100) as well as receiving yards (912), and is also listed 2nd in the league with 60 catches. Admitting, the matchup on paper does not look great. The BC Lions have surrendered the 2nd fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. However, after losing their phenomenal signal-caller to injury, I question whether the defense will be as effective without their leader, even if he does play on offense.
More than than matchup, in order to pay up for Lewis and still have a solid lineup, you have to pick specific weeks and lineups to play him. Namely following the pay down approach at RB, and potentially getting the value options at QB. I have referenced the strategy in the RB section, but I really want to target as many as three wide receivers in the $8K range. However, there are still ways to build a good lineup with two $8K receivers and Lewis as anchors.
Davaris Daniels (TOR) $8,400 @ OTT
We are hitting the range where I want to target multiple wide receivers. And since there are multiple receivers deserving of targets on a team like Toronto it can be difficult to decipher who to select in DFS. Currently, there are four Argonauts pass-catchers with at least 55 targets on the season. Of those four, three of them have between 41 and 49 receptions. That eliminates a high-priced Toronto WR coming off of a season-best performance, which would be difficult to replicate. Of the three Argonauts receivers with at least 40 catches, one has a sub-10 yards per reception. Not the best target for DFS.
That leaves two Toronto pass-catchers with over 41 receptions and over 540 receiving yards. Both have multiple touchdowns on the season, but one is in the $9K range. Going through all of the criteria, DaVaris Daniels is the Argonauts WR that I want to target in DFS lineups this week. He is especially useful in 50/50 games because of his consistency. Last week’s 8.2 fantasy point performance broke a 6-game streak of double-digit scoring for Daniels. However, I would give him some GPP consideration because of the matchup. The Ottawa defense has allowed 13.11 yards per pass, the most in the CFL so far this season. So if there were a game where Daniels produced on his big-play potential, and cracked the 20-point plateau, it is likely in Week 14.
Nic Demski (WPG) $8,200 vs SSK
Finally, for the first time in 2022, Nic Demski found the end zone against a team that wasn’t Calgary. Purley coincidental, but up to last week, all of Demski’s touchdowns this season came against the Stampeders. Not that the strange streak is over, we can focus on Demski as more than just a PPR name for cash games. Instead, Demski has demonstrated excellent yards-after-the-catch ability and more of a ceiling worthy of GPP consideration. And considering that he is facing Saskatchewan in a rematch, I would say he has decent odds to find the end zone once again.
Shaq Evans (SSK) $8,100 @ WPG
As I mentioned in the QB section, there are several Saskatchewan pass-catchers coming back from injury. One of those is Shaq Evans, who came back to the lineup last week. And not just back, but back to business. In his first action since getting injured in Week 3, Evans caught 5 passes for 88 yards. Even though he did not lead the team in targets or catches, Evans was the only Roughriders receiver to go over 60 yards. But 7 targets in his first game back does signal that the team has confidence in both his health and ability. Going back pre-injury, the target distribution early in the season heavily favored Evans. He received 18 targets during the first two games of 2022, while none of his teammates had more than 9. Look for Evans to reestablish himself as Saskatchewan’s alpha.
Deep Dive
Dillon Mitchell (EDM) $2,700 vs CGY
As mentioned in the RB section, Edmonton’s top receiver is out with an injury. Entering Labor Day, someone was going to need to step up in the Edmonton receiving corps. In Week 13, that player was Dillon Mitchell as he lead the team in targets (8), catches (6), and receiving yards (79). Even more encouraging news is the potential return of the Elks starting QB. Either way, it appears that the Edmonton passing game will flow through Mitchell for the time being. At only $2,700, this is the best time time buy-in before a potential price increase in the coming weeks.
Defense
Ottawa RedBlacks $4,400 vs TOR
In an effort to save money for the QB and WR positions, Ottawa defense is as high as I would like to pay for defense this week. There are two solid home matchups for defenses, and that starts with the RedBlacks. Not only is Ottawa tied for 4th is sacks (27 on the season so far) but the Toronto offensive line has also allowed the 4th most sacks in the league (31). In additional, the Argonaut offense has a rate of more than a turnover per game (1.11 tunrovers to be exact). So between sacks and potential takeaways, the Ottawa defense has the main elements I am searching for in DFS.
Montreal Alouettes $3,800 vs BC
One of my favorite plays for a DFS defense is to target the uncertainly at QB. After making a trade, it is not yet known who will be the BC Lions starting QB in Week 14. Considering that the Lions gave up a 1st-round pick, Vernon Adams will likely start as soon as he is ready. But that not only means getting up to speed with the playbook, but getting healthy as he is just recently came off of the Injured Reserve. Even when healthy Adams can be turnover prone. And if Adams does not start, then the Montreal defense gets the advantage of playing against a backup QB. Either way, I like the value on the Alouettes defense below the $4K price mark.
Thank you for reading CFL DFS Best Dollar Values DraftKings Week 14. Be sure to check out all of the great DFS content available on Going For 2.
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