The CFL has returned!!! After the COVID canceled 2020 season, the Canadian Football League is back for the 2021 season. Along with gridiron football being played north of the border, the CFL returning also brings additional opportunities to play Daily Fantasy Sports. Without any delay, let’s get right into the best player values for DFS CFL Draft Kings Week 1.
Quarterback
Trevor Harris (EDM) $9,400 vs OTT
The Edmonton quarterback is priced as the 4th highest at his position in week 1. Yet, Trevor Harris has just as much a chance as any to finish as the top quarterback this week. It is also very reasonable to stack Harris with multiple options. In particular, I would play Harris in the same lineup as either Greg Ellingson or Derel Walker. Both wide receivers are in the $8,000 range. An Edmonton QB-WR stack would cost less than 40% of a DraftKings main slate budget.
Zach Collaros (WPG) $7,700 vs HAM
If you are looking to pay down at quarterback, Zach Collaros makes the most sense. What we saw fantasy-wise from him during the previous two CFL seasons was a low-floor high-ceiling quarterback. He doesn’t provide much rushing upside, but can certainly score touchdowns if his team is having trouble running the football. It is that exact scenario I am looking towards during week 1. Star running back Andrew Harris has been ruled out of the home opener. Therefore, the Blue Bombers may need to pass a lot more than their typical game script. I am very selective about what weeks I play Collaros, and this appears to be one of them.
Running Back
Ka’Deem Cary (CGY) $7,100 vs TOR
By all accounts, Ka’Deem Carey will be the lead-back for the Stampeders to start the season. This is generally one of the most consistent offenses in the league, so Carey does possess tremendous scoring upside. Calgary’s success has been led by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell who is listed as probable for this game. If Mitchell plays but is limited, that could mean even more attempts than expected for Carey.
Chris Rainey (BC) $5,800 @ SSK
On DraftKings, Shaq Cooper is the highest-priced running back for the B.C. Lions. However, Cooper has never seen more than 65 carries in a CFL season. The Lions also employed more of a running back committee in 2019. If the Lions do rotate the backs, I prefer the cheaper Chris Rainey and his pass-catching upside.
Wide Receiver
Greg Ellingson (EDM) $8,400 vs OTT
Since it has been over 20 months since most of the CFL players have played football, look for old connections to hold true. Greg Ellingson and Trevor Harris are entering their fifth season as teammates. During each of the previous four years, Ellingson has been targeted over 100 times and produced over 1,000 yards. In an attempt to kick start the season on the right note, I expect Harris will look Ellingson’s way often during week 1. Going with the Edmonton QB-WR combo is my favorite stack this week.
Jaelon Acklin (HAM) $6,400 @ WPG
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New season, but it’s the same old story with injuries. Tiger-Cats receiver Bralon Addison has been ruled out of the week 1 contest. In his absence look for other Hamilton receivers to step up. My money is on Jaelon Acklin. In Addison’s only missed game during the 2019 season, Acklin caught 8 of 10 targets for 120 yards and 1 TD. Look for him to capitalize again during the 2021 season-opener.
Kenny Lawler/Nick Demski (WPG) $5,900 / $5,800 vs HAM
As mentioned earlier, Winnipeg will be without their top running back for week 1. Another Blue Bomber absence is wide receiver Darvin Adams. Who will be Zach Collaros’s top target? There are several options in a similar price range but I am looking at two players in particular. Kenny Lawler had a productive rookie season in 2019 with 43 receptions for 637 yards. Can he build on that success? He will certainly get the opportunity during week 1. Lawler represents a high-ceiling option, but in 50/50 or cash games, I would target Nick Demski. The slot back will likely lead Winnipeg in catches in week 1, but less of a high upside play than Lawler.
Defense
Calgary Stampeders $4,800 vs TOR
Entering the 2021 season the Toronto Argonauts have arguably the biggest question mark at quarterback. Nick Arbuckle is the expected starter this year, but he has never held down that role before. Even more cloudy is his status for Week 1 as Arbuckle is dealing with a hamstring injury. The backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson actually started a large portion of Toronto’s games in 2019. But he is still on the lower end of starting-caliber quarterbacks. Since the Calgary Stampeders are not the most expensive defense this week, that makes them a value in my eyes.
Edmonton Elks $3,600 vs OTT
If you want to pay down at defense, I suggest targeting either unit in the Ottawa-Edmonton game. However, since I have already written about how much I expect from the Elks passing game this week, I will not choose the defense facing them. The RedBlacks do get an upgrade at quarterback the season in the form of Matt Nichols, but that is not enough to scare me as they lost their top two receiving options from the previous season.
Thank you for reading DFS CFL Draft Kings Week 1. Be sure to check out all of the great DFS content available at Going for 2.
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