CFL DFS Picks and Cheat Sheet for Week 17 on DraftKings
The stretch run of an exciting 2025 season continues with a four-game Week 16 slate that kicks off with an Alouettes-Argonauts clash on Friday night and concludes with a Elks-Tiger-Cats battle on Saturday night.
As customary, we'll break down multiple options for each roster spot and also offer a trio of core plays to consider making the centerpiece of your lineups.
Quarterback Plays for CFL Week 17
Nathan Rourke, B.C. vs. TOR ($12,000): Rourke came through yet again as the highest-salaried player on the slate in Week 16, exploding for a season-high 46.6 DK points against the Stampeders while passing for over 300 yards for the fifth time in the last six games and recording five total TDs (two passing, three rushing). The performance marked Rourke's third of more than 35 DK points in the last five games alone, and it pushed his season average to an elite 26.9 per contest.
Rourke already posted 26.8 DK points against Toronto back in Week 12 via a 326-yard, two-touchdown effort. The mobile signal-caller added 47 rushing yards in that game, and he's potentially in an even better spot this week against an Argos defense that's now yielding 274.6 passing yards per contest, a 72.0 percent completion rate and the second-most TD passes (25) in the league this season. Toronto has also conceded the second-highest passer efficiency rating (107.3) and the game carries the slate's second-highest projected total (57.5 points), making Rourke all the more appealing.
Nick Arbuckle, TOR at B.C. ($11,000): Arbuckle is off the injury report after a one-game absence due to a calf issue, as he looks to extend what has been the best season of his career by far. The veteran has made the Argos' starting quarterback his own by throwing for 3,803 yards and posting a 24:12 TD:INT, and he's averaging a rewarding 22.6 DK points per contest. Arbuckle has racked up robust passing volume in nearly every game due to his team's suspect defense, and that could certainly play out again considering Rourke and his weapons are on the other side.
As just mentioned this matchup has astronomical offensive expectations. While Toronto is a 6.5-point underdog, Arbuckle has helped his team exceed expectations before, as he proved on an individual level when he totaled 39 DK points via a 430-yard, three-TD tally against B.C. in Week 12. The Lions are also surrendering the third-highest completion rate (70.9) and are tied with the Argos for the second-most TD passes allowed (25), further strengthening Arbuckle's case.
Bo Levi Mitchell, HAM at WPG ($10,500): Mitchell is just below Arbuckle with 22.5 DK points per contest for the season, and the prolific veteran got back on track in Week 16 with a 311-yard, two-touchdown tally against the Elks in a harder-than-expected 29-27 win. Mitchell recorded 22.4 DK points thanks to those numbers, his eighth tally of over 20 DK points in 2025. Both his 4,194 passing yards and 28 touchdown passes are league highs, and he should be busy again in what could be a wire-to-wire battle against the returning Zach Collaros and his Blue Bombers.
Mitchell posted 230 yards and two touchdowns against the Bombers back in Week 15, which netted 18 DK points. As detailed earlier, that was actually one of his lower-percentile outputs this season, and Winnipeg comes into Saturday's clash giving up 283.3 passing yards per game, 21 touchdown passes and the second-most completions of 30+ yards (26).
ALSO CONSIDER: Trevor Harris, SSK at EDM ($8,800)
Running Back Plays for CFL Week 17
James Butler, B.C. vs. TOR ($9,800): Butler is back in the saddle this week after sitting out Week 16 due to a thigh injury. The veteran back saw backup Zander Horvath put together a stellar effort in his stead against the Stampeders, but Butler should reclaim his clear-cut lead-back role Friday night against an Argos team that's been among the league's most generous against the run and versus which he hung 20.3 DK points on in Week 12.
Toronto is giving up 102.1 rushing yards per game – the league's fourth-highest figure – and doing so while conceding 5.0 yards per carry. The Argonauts have been better against opposing ground attacks recently, but Butler is an explosive runner that has 23 runs of 10+ yards and is averaging a league-high 76.1 rushing yards per contest, not to mention he has a steady role as a receiver that has seen him post a 31-275-1 receiving line.
A.J. Ouellette, SSK at EDM ($8,700): There are multiple intriguing high-salary RB options in Week 17, and Ouellette is certainly one of the most appealing thanks to his steady volume and dual role. The big-bodied back is enjoying another fine season, clocking 14.5 DK points per contest with 942 rushing yards, 197 receiving yards and seven total TDs (six rushing, one receiving). Ouellette has scored in three consecutive contests as well, and he's a virtual lock for double-digit rush attempts every week.
Ouellette posted 10.3 DK points against Edmonton in his one prior encounter with the Elks this season, posting 73 total yards in that game. He's delivered over 15 DK points on seven occasions overall this season, and in a game the Riders are favorites of just over a field goal while also being projected for four touchdowns, Ouellete retains plenty of appeal despite the Elks having some solid numbers against the run.
ALSO CONSIDER: Greg Bell, HAM at WPG ($9,200); Brady Oliveira, WPG vs. HAM ($8,500)
Wide Receiver/Slotback Plays for CFL Week 17
Keon Hatcher, B.C. at TOR ($10,500): Hatcher came through handsomely for us as the top receiver/slotback recommendation in Week 16, posting 25.7 DK points on the strength of an 8-147-0 receiving line on eight targets. The veteran wideout is now averaging 18.5 DK points per game for the season, and he's eclipsed 20 DK points in three of the last four games alone. He now steps into the same highly favorable matchup as his quarterback, and Hatcher still has the speed to exploit Toronto's weakness against deep passing.
As already explored in Rourke's entry, the Argonauts' collection of defensive metrics against the pass portend plenty of potential success for B.C.'s air attack. Considering he's one of the talented signal-caller's most trusted options when dropping back and the fact the Argos have also yielded a co-league-high 27 completions of 30+ yards, Hatcher, who has nine such catches and has brought in eight of 11 targets of 20+ yards in depth, is worthy of consideration again.
Jake Herslow, TOR at B.C. ($9,500): Herslow is another Week 16 holdover, as even while working with backup QB Jarret Doege, he still managed to extend his TD-catch streak to five games as part of a six-catch, 51-yard effort against the Alouettes. Herslow now has Arbuckle back under center for this game, which projects as a potential offensive explosion between two highly potent squads and should see the young wideout heavily involved.
The Lions' various vulnerabilities against the pass, including the fact they've given up touchdowns through the air at a very elevated rate, make Herslow extremely attractive again at a salary that remains below five figures. Additionally, B.C. is tied with Toronto for most completions of 30+ yards (27) surrendered, which makes Herslow even more of a top play if you're stacking this game.
KeeSean Johnson, SSK at EDM ($9,200): Johnson has effectively leveraged his NFL experience during his CFL tenure, and this season, he's putting his best play on film yet. The veteran has clicked constantly with quarterback Trevor Harris, leading to a robust 70-969-4 receiving line across 13 games, as well as an average of 15.4 DK points per contest. Johnson has displayed a nice floor with at least four receptions and five targets in every game, and he's facing an Elks team he already posted 22.8 DK points against in Week 8.
The Achilles heel of the Elks defense has been the pass, as Edmonton is conceding a league-high 297.1 passing yards per game. The Elks have also allowed a league-high 352 completions, 72.4 percent completion rate and 26 touchdown passes, so there's no shortage of paths to a successful fantasy performance for Johnson, who's also boasting a solid 70.7 percent catch rate that makes him one of the CFL's more efficient targets.
Nic Demski, WPG vs. HAM ($9,000): Demski is the fourth high-end pass catcher we're recommending this week, as the capable slotback should be in prime position to deliver a strong return on investment with Zach Collaros back at quarterback for Winnipeg. Demski saw a downturn with Chris Streveler under center the last two games, but he'd posted 12.9 to 21.9 DK points in the four contests prior and has five games with more than 21 DK points overall this season.
The Bombers figure to remain aggressive with Mitchell and his many weapons on the other side, and prior to his two aforementioned games with Streveler at the controls, Demski had recorded between 80 and 128 receiving yards in the prior three contests. The Ti-Cats have allowed 278.6 passing yards per contest and the third-most yards after catch (1,587), and the savvy Demski is especially capable of capitalizing on the latter weakness.
ALSO CONSIDER: Tyler Snead, MTL vs. CGY ($9,100); Makai Polk, TOR at B.C. ($8,000)
Team Defense Plays for Week 17
Saskatchewan Roughriders ($3,700) at Edmonton Elks:
The Roughriders defense has had some ups and downs this season, but Saskatchewan's unit is in position for one of its higher-percentile performances in Week 17 despite the road setting. The Riders check in with a slate-high average of 9.2 DK points per contest, yet they are the third-lowest-salaried defense this week.
Saskatchewan has racked up a co-league-high 34 sacks, a league-best 18 interceptions, five fumble recoveries and two defensive TDs. The Riders have also actually been at their best on the road, where they average a robust 9.7 DK points per contest, compared to 8.7 per home game. In their one prior meeting with the Elks in Week 8, they also recorded 10 DK points on the strength of a whopping 8.0 sacks while allowing a modest 18 points.
Edmonton has been steady under Cody Fajardo's leadership at quarterback and also boasts one of the league's most explosive backs in Justin Rankin. Nevertheless, the Elks are averaging the second-fewest offensive points per game (22.5), have scored the third-fewest offensive touchdowns (31), have recorded the second-fewest first downs (260) and are averaging the second-fewest yards per play (6.2).
CFL DFS Cheat Sheet for Week 17
Nathan Rourke, QB
Brady Oliveira, RB
KeeSean Johnson, WR
Total salary expenditure: $29.7K
This is perhaps the most expensive trio we've recommended this season, but the floor and the upside here warrants the hefty investment. There's not much more than can be said about the prolific Rourke, who can put any slate he's on out of reach. Oliveira always carries a virtual guarantee of hefty volume as one of the league's best dual-threat backs, while Johnson also sees plenty of volume and has unquestioned chemistry with Harris.
