CFL DFS Picks and Cheat Sheet for Week 18 on DraftKings
Only two playoff berths are secured heading into the CFL's Week 18 three-game slate, making all three contests meaningful. That's welcome news for DFS players, as we can be relatively assured of normal snap allotments for key players across all six teams.
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 18
Nathan Rourke, B.C. vs. CGY ($11,500): Rourke had an uncharacteristically poor game in terms of ball security against the Argos in Week 17, throwing for a season-high three interceptions. However, given his elite rushing ability, Rourke still found his way to 25.5 DK points thanks in part to his two TDs on the ground, and he been under 25 just twice all season. The MOP candidate now faces the same Stamps squad he lit up for 46.5 DK points just two games ago, putting him in position to generate another high-percentile performance that can justify his significant salary.
The Stampeders are allowing 275.8 passing yards per game, and they've also surrendered the third-most completions (346) while conceding a 70.5 percent completion rate. Calgary has done a good job limiting big plays through the air and yards after catch, but Rourke has already amply proven capable of dominating in this matchup as noted earlier, and he's essentially proven to be matchup-proof thanks to his dual-threat capability.
Nick Arbuckle, TOR vs. HAM ($10,400): Arbuckle made his return from a one-game absence in that game against the Lions in Week 17, and he delivered 281 passing yards with a touchdown and an interception. The veteran only got to 13.3 DK points in that performance, but he's still averaging 21.9 DK points per contest for the season. After another week to get healthier and knock off more rust, he's now facing a Ti-Cats squad he's posted 24.6 and 29.8 DK points against in two previous meetings this season.
Hamilton is now surrendering 286.0 passing yards per game after getting lit up by the Blue Bombers' Zach Collaros in Week 17, and the Ti-Cats are also surrendering a 69.8 percent completion rate. They've also given up 21 completions of 30+ yards and the fourth-most yards after the catch (1,687), and Arbuckle has eight 300-yard games and has the second-most completions of 30+ yards (27) behind Rourke.
Dru Brown, OTT vs. SSK ($9,700): Brown had an even more memorable return to action in Week 16, as the prolific passer posted 25.6 DK points against the Blue Bombers on the strength of a 406-yard, two-touchdown performance. That was actually just his third-highest DK-point tally of the season – underscoring Brown's significant ceiling relative to his salary – just behind the 27.5 he posted against this same Roughriders squad back in Week 1, when he threw for 413 yards and a pair of scoring tosses.
Saskatchewan has allowed the second-most passing yards per game (292.5), along with the third-most passing touchdowns (24). The Riders are also tied for the third-most completions of 30+ yards allowed (26), and Brown is completing an impressive 72.8 percent of his passes and has nine completions of 30+ yards. With the Redblacks 5.5-point underdogs, Brown should be busy trying to catch up, particularly in the second half, setting him up for another strong passing night that will represent a solid return at his salary.
ALSO CONSIDER: Bo Levi Mitchell, HAM at TOR ($10,000)
Running Back Plays for CFL Week 18
Greg Bell, HAM at TOR ($9,200): Bell managed to continue offering strong fantasy production in Week 17 despite his team's paltry three-point showing against the Blue Bombers, with the versatile San Diego State product producing 15.4 DK points via 88 rushing yards and a 4-26-0 receiving line. Bell has been on an impressive multi-game run, having posted 20.2 to 34.8 DK points in the three games prior.
That makes him a particularly appealing play in Week 18, considering the Argonauts have been vulnerable against the run throughout the season and Bell always carries a safe floor thanks to his significant pass-catching role. Toronto is surrendering the third-most rushing yards per game (103.9) and doing so at 5.1 yards per carry, making them a very viable target for a back of Bell's talent.
James Butler, B.C. vs. CGY ($8,800): Butler was back in action Week 17 after missing the prior contest due to a thigh injury, and he needed only seven carries to total 72 rushing yards. The Lions went to a pass-centric attack so Butler's opportunities were limited, but he should have a chance to bounce back to a usual workload against a Stampeders team that has turned into the most generous against the run in the CFL over the latter portion of the season.
Calgary is now surrendering a CFL-high 112.6 rushing yards per game and a co-league-high 5.6 yards per carry. Before his seven-carry tally in Week 17, Butler had logged double-digit totes in six consecutive games and should have a chance to get back to that type of volume with the Lions listed as 3.5-point home favorites and with an implied team total of 29.5 points.
ALSO CONSIDER: A.J. Ouellette, SSK at OTT ($9,300); Dedrick Mills, CGY at B.C. ($7,500)
Wide Receiver/Slotback Plays for CFL Week 18
Jake Herslow, TOR vs. HAM ($9,900): Herslow has set up a long-term residence in this article thanks to his outstanding consistency and nose for the end zone. The talented wideout is now up to 18.2 DK points per contest after netting 23.4 in Week 17 against the Lions thanks to a 10-104-0 line on 11 targets.
Herslow saw a six-game touchdown streak snapped, but he's always a threat to get into the end zone and already did so twice against the Ti-Cats back in Week 13 on his way to 29.4 DK points. The vulnerabilities of Hamilton's defense against the pass were already detailed in Arbuckle's entry, while Herslow has an impressive 77.6 percent catch rate and has brought in six of the 12 targets of 20 yards or more in depth that have come his way.
Kenny Lawler, HAM at TOR ($9,700): Trying to zero in on which Tiger-Cats receiver will have a spike performance is a tricky week-to-week proposition, but it's always justifiable to go with Lawler thanks to his deep speed, rapport with Bo Levi Mitchell, and downfield role. In the case of Week 18, the fact the Argos have been the most vulnerable defense to big plays through the air and Lawler has tallies of 47.7 and 36.6 DK points versus Toronto this season makes him jump off the screen.
Toronto comes in having surrendered the second-most touchdown passes (26) and most completions of 30+ yards (29), making them a highly enticing target for a receiver of Lawler's caliber. The Argos have also yielded the second-highest completion rate (71.7 percent), and Lawler boasts league-high figures in receptions of 30+ yards (12), depth yards (2,185), targets of 20+ yards in depth (44) and catches on targets of that depth (21).
KeeSean Johnson, SSK at OTT ($9,500): Johnson came through as a Week 17 recommendation, finishing with 21.9 DK points via an 8-119-0 line against the Elks in a close loss. It was par for the course for the veteran receiver, who's become Trevor Harris' most reliable weekly target and who's eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for the season while putting up 15.9 DK points per contest.
The opposing Redblacks have been tough against the run, allowing a co-league-low 4.7 yards per carry. In turn, they've allowed 23 completions of 30+ yards, and Johnson has a solid 71.6 percent catch rate while logging at least five targets in each game, including four double-digit tallies overall on the season.
Bralon Addison, OTT vs. SSK ($8,500): The versatile Addison is always under consideration, particularly at his current salary, thanks to his role as a short-to-mid-range receiver and the fact he effectively moonlights as a running back on occasion. The veteran is averaging 12.1 DK points per contest, but he's gone over 20 DK points for the third and fourth time this season in the last pair of contests. That underscores the fact Addison is much more than just a cash-game, limited-upside play, and he could be heavily involved in a game where the Redblacks figure to have to remain aggressive.
The vulnerabilities of the Roughriders' defense against the pass were already covered in Brown's entry earlier, and Addison checks in with a stout 74.4 percent catch rate. He's also brought in eight of the 13 targets of 20+ yards in depth that he's seen this season, which helps confirm his ability to make some waves downfield versus a Riders defense that can be beat downfield.
ALSO CONSIDER: Justin Hardy, OTT vs. SSK ($9,200); Jalen Philpot, CGY at B.C. ($7,000)
Team Defense Plays for Week 18
Toronto Argonauts ($3,800) vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats:
The Argonauts' defense has been a true mixed bag this season, as Toronto has a 5-10 record and has allowed a league-high 465 points. At the same time, the Argos have partly been vulnerable due to their aggressive nature, which is reflected in their defensive unit's co-slate-high 8.9 DK points per game, as well as their 35 sacks, 17 interceptions, 12 forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries and five defensive TDs.
The Argos rank in the top three in all of those categories, and although they're now facing a Ti-Cats squad they've only averaged 4.5 DK points against in two previous meetings this season, Hamilton is coming off a season-worst offensive performance in Week 17 against the Blue Bombers, one in which the Ti-Cats managed just three points while averaging 5.6 yards per play and a modest 13 first downs.
The Argos are at home, and although Hamilton certainly has the talent to bounce back in a significant way, Toronto has proven capable of wreaking havoc with its ability to pressure the quarterback and take the ball away.
CFL DFS Cheat Sheet for Week 18
Nathan Rourke, QB
James Butler, RB
Jake Herslow, WR
Total salary expenditure: $30.2K
We invested heavily in our Week 17 trio of players, but the floor and upside we were paying up for came through. We're aiming for the same at an even higher price tag this week, beginning with the best fantasy player at any position in the league in Rourke. Butler makes for a good stacking partner with him given the matchup and his solid pass-catching role, while Herslow has been one of the CFL's most productive receivers in the last month-plus and can reward you with multiple TD grabs in any given game.
