This article is part of our DraftKings CFL DFS Picks series.
Quarterback
Jeremiah Masoli, HAM vs. TOR ($11,300): Trevor Harris ($11,600) is certainly tempting against the Alouettes at just $300 above Masoli, but I feel that it will be the latter who's more likely to be involved in a back-and-forth affair that will keep him throwing throughout all four quarters. Masoli also brings the added upside of rushing yardage, and he comes into the Week 12 matchup fresh off a season-high 419-yard performance against the Eskimos in Week 11. The Argonauts have allowed the third most passing touchdowns (14), second most passing first downs (118), second most passing yards per game (299.0), second highest completion percentage (70.6) and highest average yards per pass (9.4), making them excellent targets. What's more, they're tied with Montreal for the second most completions over 30 yards allowed (20), while Masoli has generated 15 such connections this season.
Bo Levi Mitchell, CGY vs. EDM ($10,800): Mitchell delivered handsomely in Week 11 with a 452-yard effort versus the Blue Bombers, netting a season-high 34.08 fantasy points in the process. He'll draw another appealing matchup in Week 12, considering the Eskimos were just lit up in their own right for 419 yards by Jeremiah Masoli last week and come in allowing the third-highest average yards per pass (8.5) and most completions of over 30 yards (21). Meanwhile, Mitchell owns the second-highest quarterback rating in the CFL on pass attempts over 20 yards (139.3), along with an 11:2 TD:INT in such instances. In what could certainly turn into an offensive-minded tussle, Mitchell is a very attractive alternative to Masoli if you need to save a few hundred.
Zach Collaros, SSK vs. WPG ($7,900): Collaros is likely to be a tad under-owned in Week 12 with the surging Antonio Pipkin ($8,000) sitting just $100 above him, but I like the veteran's prospects against a Blue Bombers squad that was just torched by Bo Levi Mitchell for 452 yards in Week 11. Collaros has been solid but not spectacular in three games since returning from a concussion, but he certainly comes cheap enough and faces a Winnipeg defense that allowed the third-most passing first downs (115), third-highest passing yards per game (286.2), second-highest number of pass attempts (364), second-most completions (243) and third-highest completion percentage (66.8). With a modest price and the advantage of being at home against a secondary that's likely to be lacking in some confidence after last week's debacle, I see Collaros as a potentially rewarding value play, especially for GPPs.
Running Back
James Wilder, Jr., TOR at HAM ($8,400): Andrew Harris ($8,700) is nicked up and facing a tough Roughriders defense, making Wilder the top running back option if you're paying up at the position in Week 12. The powerful second-year back did have an underwhelming game relative to matchup in Week 11, amassing a modest 12.0 fantasy points against the Alouettes. However, he added another six receptions to his 2018 tally, giving him four catches or more in six straight contests. His receiving skills have served as an excellent complement to his typically effective work on the ground, and it also helps make him one of the safer plays for cash games each week. Meanwhile, he could hardly draw a more appealing run defense to go up against in Week 12, as the Ti-Cats check in allowing the most rushing yards per game (126.6) and highest average yards per rush (6.3), while also yielding the second-most rushes of over 20 yards (8).
William Powell, OTT vs. MTL ($7,900): Speaking of attractive matchups, Powell certainly has one in his Week 12 crosshairs in the form of the Alouettes, which have allowed the most rushes of over 20 yards (10), along with the second-most rush yards per game (120.5), most rushing attempts (246) and most rushing first downs (86) this season. Meanwhile, Powell is coming off two spectacular games -- against this same Alouettes squad and the Blue Bombers -- contests in which he scored 23.5 and 32.2 fantasy points, respectively. He offers a pass-catching dimension with which to exploit the vulnerable Montreal pass defense as well, having tallied between three and seven receptions in three of his last five games.
Don Jackson, CGY vs. EDM ($6,300): Jackson corroborated the fitness of his balky hamstring in Week 11 versus the Blue Bombers, rushing nine times for a solid 46 yards before the game slanted much more toward the passing attack. Jackson could well be back to double-digit carries in Week 12, especially with the Stampeders potentially trying to slow the game down at times to keep the ball away from Mike Reilly. That would put Jackson in a good position to rack up some production against an Eskimos team that's allowed 110.6 rushing yards per contest, the second-most rush attempts (203) and the second-highest average yards per rush (5.4), while also drawing even with the Alouettes for most rushing touchdowns allowed (14).
Cameron Marshall, SSK vs. WPG ($3,500): The Alouettes will have slew of very inexpensive running backs getting touches in Week 12, but with no clear-cut lead option or track record on the part of any of them, I see it as a risky spot despite the savings. Meanwhile, Marshall quietly rejoined the Roughriders last week and carried four times for 10 yards as Tre Mason's backup, but he could certainly see a bigger role this week, especially if Marcus Thigpen (undisclosed) also remains out of action. Marshall brings plenty of lead-back experience and started nine games for the Riders last season, averaging an impressive 5.4 yards per carry while adding 30 receptions over 10 games. He's got the stature for a heavier workload at 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, certainly more than the slighter Mason, who's ideally suited to play the role of complementary, change-of-pace back. Speaking of Mason, while he holds a certain level of appeal as well, the fact he checks in at a $5,800 price tag and the possibility of a reduced role makes Marshall more appealing, especially versus a Blue Bombers squad that's allowed 5.1 yards per rush and that's tied with the Eskimos for most rushing touchdowns allowed (14).
Wide Receiver/Slotback
Brandon Banks, HAM vs. TOR ($9,200): There will likely be quite a few flocking to the Stamps' Kamar Jorden ($10,200) after his record-setting Week 11 performance, but his price is a bit too rich for a player that had only topped 100 yards one other time this season prior to last week. Meanwhile, Banks offers some nice savings over appealing but more expensive options like Brad Sinopoli ($9,700), D'haquille Williams ($9,600) and Diontae Spencer ($9,400), and his price has actually seen a $600 drop from last week after he tallied a modest 6.95 fantasy points versus the Eskimos. Banks naturally has the talent to bounce back, with his string of scoring more than 20 fantasy points in six of the prior seven games serving as evidence of such. He also continues to have some involvement in the return game on occasion, adding to his upside. The Argonauts' various deficiencies in pass defense were detailed earlier in Masoli's entry as well, while Banks' big-play potential is summed up by his seven receptions of more than 30 yards and six 100-yard games thus far.
Greg Ellingson, OTT vs. MTL ($8,800): Ellingson offers some exposure to the Redblacks passing attack without necessarily breaking your bank, as he checks in $600 cheaper than teammate Diontae Spencer. After an atypically slow start to his season, Ellingson has bounced back in impressive fashion over the last two games, posting 25.0 and 23.0 fantasy points over that pair of contests. He's racked up 19 catches over that span, more than his previous five games combined. Seemingly back to serving as an integral component of the Ottawa air attack, he holds high appeal against a Montreal squad that's allowed the most passing touchdowns (23), most passing first downs (153), most passing yards per game (335.3), most completions (264), second-highest average yards per pass (9.1) and second-most completions of more than 30 yards (20).
Jordan Williams-Lambert, SSK vs. WPG ($5,400): Williams-Lambert's overall production may have been down in Week 11 (four receptions, 13 yards), but he still found a way to prop up his final line by getting into the end zone. He's also just one game removed from a 10-catch, 152-yard effort versus the Stampeders, a performance that offered a glimpse at his upside. With his price actually having come down $500 and facing a Blue Bombers secondary whose vulnerabilities to the pass were detailed earlier in Zach Collaros' entry, Williams-Lambert is an excellent call again if you're looking for a mid-tier option, especially given his solid 78.3 percent catch rate.
Dominique Rhymes, OTT vs. MTL ($4,600): Rhymes' price continues to lag behind his production, making him a highly viable option in Week 12 if you're paying down. Rhymes has 12 receptions for 158 yards and a touchdown over the last two games, and he's listed as a starter once again against the very permeable Alouettes secondary in Week 12. Given the Alouettes' wide array of poor pass defense metrics that were just highlighted in Greg Ellingson's entry, Rhymes is even more appealing than a starting receiver priced at $4,600 already would be.
Team Defense
Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers ($4,700): For the third week in a row, the CFL's best fantasy defense remains underpriced, making them my go-to option once again. The Week 12 matchup lines up well for them as well, as the Bombers' Matt Nichols has an unsightly 3:5 TD:INT in three road games and has thrown seven interceptions overall on the year. The Riders check in with the third-most forced turnovers (23) and points off turnovers (77), and they've also allowed the second-fewest net offensive yards per contest (310.6) and yards per play (5.8). Additionally, Saskatchewan tops the CFL in sacks (23) and two-and-outs forced (62) and average an impressive 15.2 fantasy points at home, setting up a potentially long night for the Blue Bombers offense overall.
