DraftKings CFL: Week 8 Value Plays

The CFL and DraftKings are back with a four-game slate in Week 8, one that will see the Hamilton Tiger-Cats begin life without star quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. There are also a number of other notable absences this week, opening some potential value at different positions.

With plenty to break down, let's delve into multiple options at each position across the salary spectrum for your Week 8 cash games and GPPs:

DraftKings CFL Plays- Week 8

Quarterback

Vernon Adams Jr. MTL vs. OTT ($10,000): Adams has been a success in the starting quarterback role, and even with Antonio Pipkin ready to return from his ankle injury Friday, it's still Adams with the reins of the offense. However, there will certainly be at least a bit of extra pressure on him with Pipkin now available off the bench, which points me in the direction of Adams even more in Week 8. The mobile signal-caller has now eclipsed 20 fantasy points in three straight games, with his best performance during that stretch having come against this same Redblacks squad in Week 5 when he compiled 40.18 fantasy points. Ottawa comes in allowing the third-most net offensive yards per game (429.7), third-most passing touchdowns (nine), second-most passing yards per game (323.0) and highest completion percentage (75.5), making its secondary a highly appealing target. Adams' ability to supplement his production on the ground (at least 40 rush yards in four straight games) further cements his candidacy despite the five-figure price.

Matt Nichols, WPG at TOR ($9,300): Nichols is this week's lucky quarterback that gets to face the lowly Argonauts defense, and he certainly has the talent to capitalize. Nichols did endure a tough three-interception performance against the Tiger-Cats in Week 7, but Toronto's defense is nowhere near the same caliber and already facilitated a three-touchdown effort by Nichols back in Week 5. The Argos are allowing the most points per game (35.7), second-most net offensive yards per game (435.7), second-most passing touchdowns (12), second-highest average yards per attempt (9.5) and most completions of 30 yards or more (12), leaving Nichols no shortage of favorable metrics to exploit. Nichols has also thrown for at least 260 yards in three of his past four games, a nice uptick over past seasons in that category and another point in his favor in Week 8.

Cody Fajardo, SSK vs. HAM ($8,900): Fajardo continues to make the cut for me as the preferred value option at quarterback. The Roughriders think so much of the surging gunslinger that they traded former starter Zach Collaros (head) to the Argonauts on Wednesday. Fajardo was a bit underwhelming on the passing yardage front in Week 7 (169 yards) against the Lions, but that was largely due to the easy win the Riders managed. He still completed a season-high 80.8 percent of his throws and now gets a rematch with a Tiger-Cats defense that he began his starting stint against in emergency duty back in the opener. Fajardo furnished a solid 12.04 fantasy points in that contest despite not playing a full game. Meanwhile, the Tiger-Cats are allowing 266.8 passing yards per game (fourth highest in the CFL) and have faced the second-most pass attempts (220) in the league. Notably, they're also surrendering the third-most rushing yards per game (111.0), highest average yards per rush (5.8) and second-most rushing touchdowns (eight). Those numbers are relevant when considering Fajardo, as he, much like Adams, supplements his production with strong work on the ground. Fajardo gained 34 rush yards on seven carries against Hamilton in that aforementioned Week 1 encounter, and he comes into Week 8 having gained 99 yards and a touchdown on 15 rushes over his last two contests.

Running Back

Andrew Harris, WPG at TOR ($10,300): Harris is priced heftily as usual, but he's the most proven dual threat in the upper echelon of the running back position by far and also couldn't ask for a better matchup. Harris enjoyed another efficient day against the Tiger-Cats in Week 7, gaining 117 total yards on 16 touches. He now gets another crack at an Argonauts defense that he touched up for 116 rushing yards and 8.3 yards per carry in Week 5. Toronto is allowing the most rushing yards per game (139.7), second-highest yards per carry (5.7), and the second-most rushes of 20 yards or more (five). Coupled with their many weaknesses against the pass already covered in Nichols' entry – and considering the fact Harris has at least five receptions in four straight games – he's worth a five-figure cost in a contest that may well feature heavy volume for the ground attack.

John Crockett, OTT at MTL ($4,900): Crockett has seemingly taken a firm grasp of the lead-back role in Ottawa with his performance over his first three games, making his sub-$5K price all the more surprising. The North Dakota State product has opened his CFL career with 234 rush yards at 5.7 yards per carry over that trio of contests, adding three receptions along the way. Crockett's first eight touches actually came against the Alouettes in Week 5, when he gained an impressive 62 yards on eight rushes. Montreal comes in allowing the third-highest average yards per rush (5.4), along with 102.0 rush yards per game overall. Crocket has logged double-digit carries in each of his last two contests, and given the results he's produced with that type of workload, he could certainly provide a handsome return on his bargain price.

Jeremiah Johnson, MTL vs. OTT ($4,600): Johnson is a GPP-only play because of an uncertain workload, but his salary is too good to pass up in my view. Backfield mate William Stanback ($8,700) has been very impressive throughout the season, but the fact his carries were cut to 13 in Johnson's first game of the season in Week 6 gives me concern at his salary. In turn, Johnson understandably looked refreshed in his season debut against the Eskimos while posting a 6-39 line on the ground that he complemented with an impressive 43-yard reception. The Redblacks make for an attractive target for Johnson, considering they're allowing the second-most rushing yards (119.5) and are tied with the Lions for most rushing touchdowns surrendered (nine). Johnson could potentially see his workload bump up by at least a couple of carries in Week 8, and with another week of rest under his belt due to Montreal's Week 7 bye, he, too, could pay off nicely at a discounted price.

Wide Receiver/Slotback

Bralon Addison, HAM at SSK ($8,400): Addison is an interesting spot in Week 8. On one hand, Brandon Banks will miss the contest with an undisclosed injury, arguably propelling Addison to lead-receiver status. On the other, it may not necessarily be the ideal week for that type of opportunity, considering Jeremiah Masoli is now on injured reserve with a torn ACL and Dane Evans will be under center in his stead. That makes Addison more of a GPP play, but one that certainly has the talent to rack up volume under such a scenario. Addison is averaging an impressive 17.0 fantasy points per game, and he logged between six and eight catches in Weeks 2-5 (three total games) while sharing targets with Banks. His opportunities against a Roughriders squad that's tied with several others for most completions allowed on targets with at least 20 yards of depth could be plentiful, especially if Evans latches on to him as a safety valve option in his first game as a starter.

R.J. Harris, OTT at MTL ($7,100): Harris is expected to return to action in Week 8 after missing the last two games, as he opened up the week practicing. Prior to his absence, he'd logged no fewer than five receptions in any of the Redblacks' first four games, and he'd scored a season-high 19.8 fantasy points against Montreal on the strength of a 6-89 line through the air and 118 return yards back in Week 5. The quarterback situation in Ottawa is a bit concerning, but Dominique Davis is likely to be back under center after being healthy enough to slot in as the third quarterback in Week 7. Meanwhile, the Alouettes are allowing the most passing yards per game (360.8), along with the third-highest average yards per attempt (9.2) and third-most completions of 30 yards or more (nine). Harris has a 60.0 percent catch rate on the five looks of that distance that have come his way, and he could be good for at least one downfield connection considering Montreal's weaknesses.

Lucky Whitehead, WPG at TOR ($6,600): Somewhat similar to Addison, Whitehead finds himself in a favorable spot in Week 8 as a result of injury to a player in front of him. Darvin Adams has hit the six-game injured list with an undisclosed issue, and Whitehead certainly has the skill set to fill in on the downfield routes that are usually Adams' specialty. The Argonauts' extensive weaknesses against the pass have already been detailed in Nichols' entry, and their susceptibility to the deep ball is what makes Whitehead especially appealing at his mid-tier price. As mentioned, Toronto's 12 completions of 30 or more yards allowed qualify as the most in the CFL, while Whitehead has the blazing speed to exploit that particular weakness. Then, it doesn't hurt that the Argos are yielding 11.6 yards per punt return, along with a CFL-high 31.8 yards per kickoff return and eight big plays on returns overall. Whitehead has had a hand in those numbers, as he tallied 134 return yards and a return touchdown against Toronto back in Week 5.

Chris Matthews, WPG at TOR ($5,000): I typically don't recommend two wideouts from the same team, but there are situations that warrant exceptions. A matchup against the Argonauts is certainly one, and Matthews' price and expected role is such that he warrants consideration. Matthews is actually Adams' direct replacement in the starting lineup at wide receiver and should be refreshed and rested after serving as a healthy scratch in the Blue Bombers' last two games. Matthews only has three receptions across the two games he's played this season, but he'll be set up for success against the Argonauts' porous pass defense. Moreover, it's worth noting the league-high 122.6 passer efficiency rating and seven passing touchdowns the Argos allow on targets of up to nine yards in depth play right into Matthews' possession-receiver profile.

Team Defense

Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats ($5,200): Naturally, the Blue Bombers defense is a highly appealing option against the Argonauts as well despite being the highest-priced unit at $5,500. However, the Roughriders have posted double-digit fantasy points in three of their last four games and draw an appealing matchup in their own right, considering the Tiger-Cats will have Dane Evans and not Jeremiah Masoli under center. Saskatchewan comes in with the second-most sacks (20) in the league, and even though they've been very poor at creating turnovers thus far, that could change in a hurry if the pass rush is able to get to the inexperienced Evans on multiple occasions, as has been norm for the Riders thus far. Saskatchewan has at least three QB takedowns in all but one game this season, and they'll also come into Week 8 with defensive touchdowns in back-to-back contests. Finally, it's worth considering the Riders' defense has also been appreciably better at Mosaic Stadium, averaging 10.0 fantasy points per home game.