CFL DFS Picks and Cheat Sheet for Week 21 on DraftKings
We've reached the final week of an exciting CFL regular season, and there are still postseason ramifications at play during this weekend's four-game slate. The Tiger-Cats are trying to clinch the East Division and accompanying first-round playoff bye, while the Alouettes remain in the wings ready to pounce if Hamilton falters. The West Division also needs to be finalized outside of the No.1-seeded Roughriders, as B.C., Calgary and Winnipeg all continue to vie for final positioning.
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 21
Nathan Rourke, B.C. at SSK ($10,800): Rourke continued to thrive in Week 20 by throwing for 338 yards and adding 82 more on the ground and collecting two total TDs against the Elks on his way to 33.7 DK points. He's now just 78 yards away from reaching the 5,000-yard mark for the first time in his career, and he could be primed to eclipse that mark comfortably against a Rougrhiders team that already has its sights set on the postseason.
Rourke posted 28.8 DK points against the Roughriders back in Week 7, and Saskatchewan is allowing 280.8 passing yards per game while also having conceded 27 TD passes and completions of 30+ yards apiece. Given Rourke's dual dimension and the Lions' motivation level, he once again warrants the highest salary on the slate.
Tyrie Adams, OTT at HAM ($10,000): Adams is best left for tournaments, but as the Western Carolina product demonstrated during his Week 20 start, he has some upside to offer. Adams threw for 286 yards and three touchdowns against the Alouettes, and although that also came with three interceptions, he also added 26 rushing yards and could be even smoother through the air with another week of practice.
Adams provided 23 DK points in that performance versus Montreal, and he's now facing a Tiger-Cats defense that's given up the second-most passing yards per game (286.5). Hamilton has also surrendered a 69.6% completion rate, and although the Ti-Cats have generally been good about keeping plays in front of them, Adams may be turned loose with the playbook considering Ottawa has nothing but pride to play for in finale.
Vernon Adams Jr., CGY at EDM ($9,400): As mentioned earlier, the Stampeders are among the teams with some postseason implications attached to their Week 21 game. That should ensure Adams, whose salary is very reasonable, puts in a normal allotment of time in a game against an Elks team that just got eliminated from the postseason but has played with plenty of pride and a competitive spirit all season.
Adams tallied 22.1 DK points in Week 20 against the Argonauts, his third game with more than 22 DK points in the last four contests overall. The mobile veteran is fittingly averaging 22.2 DK points per contest for the season, and although he's had quiet games against Edmonton in the first two meetings between the teams, the Elks are still allowing a league-high 297.1 passing yards per game, as well as a league-high 428 completions and a 71.6 percent completion rate, just a sampling of the pass-defense metrics that keep Adams as a very appealing option at his salary.
ALSO CONSIDER: Bo Levi Mitchell, HAM vs. OTT ($10,600)
Running Back Plays for CFL Week 21
Brady Oliveira, WPG vs. MTL ($9,400): Oliveira has flashed an impressive ceiling again this season, and he checks into Winnipeg's meaningful regular-season finale averaging 18.6 DK points. The dual-threat veteran has four tallies of over 22 DK points this season, and he's posted at least 13 on 12 occasions overall.
Oliveira actually had his best game of the season against these same Alouettes, who he lit up for 39 DK points back in Week 12. Montreal has allowed a generous 5.3 yards per carry, so Oliveira could certainly be teed up for another high-volume game – he logged 25 touches in his previous matchup with the Alouettes – and deliver a strong return on his reasonable salary.
Dedrick Mills, CGY at EDM ($9,000): Mills once again delivered handsomely in Week 20, posting 21.4 DK points against the Roughriders. That was Mills' sixth performance of at least 15 DK points this season, and the explosive Nebraska product remains in play for the finale despite the Elks having been fairly solid against the run this season.
Edmonton has surrendered a middle-of-the-pack 101.4 rushing yards per game and has done so at 5.1 yards per carry. Therefore, the matchup isn't prohibitive per se, and Mills is also able to supplement his production nicely through the air, as evidenced by his 32-289-0 receiving line across 17 games this season.
ALSO CONSIDER: Justin Rankin, EDM vs. CGY ($9,600)
Wide Receiver/Slotback Plays for CFL Week 21
Keon Hatcher, B.C. at SSK ($10,700): Despite the five-figure salary, there's certainly no reason to move off Hatcher if you're paying up at receiver in Week 21. The prolific veteran is looking to cap off his career-best regular season in style and checks in having hit 20.7 DK points or more in four of the last five games.
Hatcher is in position to benefit from the vulnerabilities of the Riders' defense against the pass cited in Rourke's entry, especially since he's likely to face some backup players.
Tyson Philpot, MTL at WPG ($9,500): Philpot is the first of two pass catchers from the Alouettes-Blue Bombers tilt that we'll recommend this week.
The talented veteran is averaging a relatively modest 11.5 DK points per contest, but he has double-digit DK-point totals in all but two of his 11 games is facing a Winnipeg defense that's conceded the third-most completions of 30+ yards (28).
Ontaria Wilson, WPG vs. MTL ($7,200): Wilson continued his abbreviated but encouraging season in Week 20, posting 13.6 DK points while scoring for a second consecutive week. Despite playing in just six games this season, Wilson has a productive 21-382-3 receiving line over that span while averaging an excellent 18.2 yards per reception.
Montreal has also surrendered the third-most yards after the catch (1,930), which the speedy Wilson could certainly exploit.
ALSO CONSIDER: Erik Brooks, CGY at EDM($7,800)
Team Defense Plays for CFL Week 21
Hamilton Tiger-Cats ($4,500) vs. Ottawa Redblacks:
While we certainly extolled the praises of Tyrie Adams earlier, the young signal-caller could certainly be prone to some turnovers in his second start and Ottawa as a whole may have somewhat less than full motivation considering it's out of playoff contention.
The Ti-Cats are at home and have been a good defense overall this season as well, recording 35 sacks, three defensive TDs, 21 interceptions and 10 fumble recoveries. Ottawa has been hot and cold on offense depending on who's been under center, and the Redblacks come into the finale having posted a league-low 6.04 yards per play and averaging a league-low 22.5 offensive points per contest as well.
Ottawa also has an abysmal -12 turnover ratio and has allowed the third-most sacks (43), furthering the case for the Ti-Cats' defense.
CFL DFS Cheat Sheet for Week 21
Nathan Rourke, QB
Brady Oliveira, RB
Ontaria Wilson, WR
Total salary expenditure: $27.4k
While this isn't the most cost-effective trio, we're navigating the final week of the regular season, which can always be a bit unpredictable. With these three players, we're sticking with a talented group on teams that both have something to play for. Rourke's ceiling has been outstanding and should be able to once again deliver 20-25 DK points at minimum. Oliveira has excellent upside at the running back position in his own right and is facing the team he authored his best game of the season against, while Wilson has been very efficient with his opportunities since his delayed season debut and has clear chemistry with Zach Collaros.
