CFL DFS Picks and Cheat Sheet for Week 14 on DraftKings
We're back to a four-game slate this week, beginning with Friday night's Lions-Redblacks clash and featuring a Saturday tripleheader that includes a pair of Week 13 rematches.
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 14
Nathan Rourke, B.C. at OTT ($11,500): Rourke is always in play regardless of salary, considering his average of 25.2 DK points per contest. The mobile signal-caller is fully back into the rhythm of the CFL game and is running especially hot at the moment, scoring 26.7 to 36.4 DK points in the last three games while posting an 8:3 TD:INT and compiling 106 rushing yards.
The Redblacks have allowed 281.8 passing yards per game, as well as the third-most completions of 20+ yards on the season. Rourke has a stellar 18:7 TD:INT and has 20 completions of 30+ yards on his resume as well. He's averaging a healthy 10.0 yards per attempt as well, making this yet another matchup where Rourke is capable of producing a have-to-have-it score.
Vernon Adams Jr., CGY at EDM ($9,900): Adams disappointed in Week 12 with just 10.8 DK points in this same matchup, but Calgary wasn't pressed to throw very much and the veteran signal-caller has seen a $400 salary drop as well this week. Adams has proven capable of much better production this season, as he's exceeded 21 DK points on five occasions and is still averaging just under 260 passing yards per contest.
The Elks are still surrendering a league-high 298.7 passing yards per game and a league-high 75.1 percent completion rate as well. Edmonton has also yielded a league-best 118.7 passer efficiency rating, so if Adams is pressed into higher pass volume than in Week 13, he should have a very good chance of delivering a strong return on investment.
Zach Collaros, WPG vs. SSK ($9,700): Collaros performed well in this matchup in Week 13, recording 26.2 DK points on the strength of a 326-yard, three-touchdown tally. It was the three-time Grey Cup champ's second-highest DK-point total of the season, and his seventh double-digit DK-point effort of the campaign overall. Another high-scoring wire-to-wire affair like Week 13's 34-30 contest could be in the offing, which could lead to another busy night for Collaros and his pass catchers.
The Roughriders are now surrendering 291.5 passing yards per game after Collaros' performance last week, and they're doing so at a robust 68.7 percent completion rate. Saskatchewan has also surrendered 20 TD passes and 17 completions of 30+ yards, which, when combined with Collaros' body of work last week, makes the veteran signal-caller potentially the best value at QB this week.
ALSO CONSIDER: Trevor Harris, SSK at WPG ($9,400)
Running Back Plays for CFL Week 14
A.J. Ouellette, SSK at WPG ($9,300): Ouellette had no trouble with the Blue Bombers defense in Week 13, posting 16.1 DK points via an 89-yard, one-touchdown performance on the ground. The versatile back has now posted double-digit DK-point totals on nine occasions this season, and he's also logged double-digit carries in six consecutive contests.
The Bombers are now giving up 4.9 yards per carry after Ouellette's strong showing in Week 13, where he fitting averaged that same figure on his 18 carries. Ouellette also is a capable receiver out of the backfield and has a very safe floor in terms of workload, putting him firmly in play for a rematch that's carrying just a 1.5-point projected advantage for Winnipeg.
Dedrick Mills, CGY at EDM ($8,400): Mills eclipsed 100 yards on the ground for the second time in three games in this matchup in Week 13, pushing his season average to 15.2 DK points per contest. He's now scored 14.5 to 19.5 DK points in four of the last five games overall, and naturally, Edmonton's run defense remains very targetable just a week later.
The Elks are now giving up 96.4 rushing yards per game following Mills' ultra-efficient effort in Week 13, which saw him net 106 yards on just 17 carries. Edmonton is giving up a respectable 4.7 yards per carry overall, but Mills is averaging 5.2 yards per carry overall and has logged at least 13 carries in all but one game this season.
ALSO CONSIDER: Justin Rankin, EDM vs. CGY ($9,600)
Wide Receiver/Slotback Plays for CFL Week 14
Keon Hatcher, B.C. at OTT ($10,300): Hatcher put together one of his signature performances in Week 12 before the bye, recording 23.1 DK points on the strength of a 7-131 line against the Argonauts. That performance was preceded by an even more spectacular 41.6 DK-point tally against the Alouettes in Week 11, and that pair of performances his pushed his season average to 18.3 DK points per contest.
Hatcher has a league-leading 1,009 receiving yards with the help of seven catches of 30+ yards. Additionally, he's averaging a CFL-best 91.7 receiving yards per game, and he's impressively brought nine of the 16 targets of 20+ yards in depth he's seen thus far. Given his chemistry with Rourke, Hatcher is in play despite the five-figure salary.
Nic Demski, WPG vs. SSK ($9,600): Demski is always in play for tournaments despite his typical short-area role, as most recently evidenced by the fact he's exceeded 21 DK points in two of the past three games. He's accomplished the feat on five occasions overall, exceeding 25 DK points twice during that sample. He was at 21.9 in this same matchup in Week 13, which was also his second straight game with a TD.
The Riders' vulnerabilities against the pass were already covered for the most part in Collaros' entry, and in addition to the numbers cited there, it's also worth noting they've faced the second-most pass attempts (377) and Demski has an elite 75.4 percent catch rate, along with an impressive 9-for-17 conversion rate on targets of 20+ yards in depth.
Justin Hardy, OTT vs. B.C. ($8,700): Hardy is one of the most reliable veteran assets at wide receiver in the CFL, and he's averaging 13.8 DK points per game this season despite a slight downturn over the last two contests. Prior to that, he'd posted 22.2 and 32.6 DK points in Weeks 9 and 10 against the Stampeders and Argonauts, and he's already made six end-zone trips this season, a career-high figure.
While you'll see a case made for the Lions defense a bit further in this article, that naturally doesn't mean we won't see any DFS-worthy scores from Redblacks players. The Lions have been very good against the pass on a yards-per-game basis, but B.C. has still surrendered a co-league-high 25 completions of 30+ yards partly due to allowing the third-most yards after the catch (1,283).
Kiondre Smith, HAM at MTL ($8,600): Smith made up for a couple of down weeks in Week 13 against the Argos, compiling 27.1 DK points via a 7-171 line. That's one of multiple blowup games for the fourth-year pro, who's also posted 29.8 and 42.8 DK points in a pair of other contests within the last five games. All of those performances have also seen Smith eclipse the 100-yard mark, giving him more than enough upside at his salary.
The Alouettes have about average numbers against the pass in certain categories, but they've yielded the second-highest completion rate (71.0) and are also now ranked in the bottom half of the league in yards after catch surrendered (1,229). In turn, Smith is averaging an impressive 6.1 yards after the catch per reception, making him a fairly effective match for Montreal's weakness in that area.
ALSO CONSIDER: Tyler Snead, MTL vs. HAM ($9,100)
Team Defense Plays for Week 14
B.C. Lions ($3,900) at Ottawa Redblacks:
The Lions defense hasn't exactly been a popular option this season, as they're averaging a modest 3.2 DK points per contest. They've topped out at 6.0 DK points (two occasions), but they're coming off back-to-back three-sack games and are facing a backup quarterback in Dustin Crum in this Week 14 matchup.
The Lions now have 18 sacks, eight interceptions and four fumble recoveries, and Crum has a career 13:16 TD:INT and a style of play that can lend itself to fumbles as well. B.C. has also allowed the fewest passing yards per game (260.5), and the Lions are also ranked in the top half of the league in yards per play allowed (6.7).
While this is a play best suited for tournaments due to what B.C.'s body of work has been so far, it could be one that pays off if a rested Lions unit can get Crum off his game early, especially considering the Redblacks will have to likely throw plenty to try and keep up.
CFL DFS Cheat Sheet for Week 14
Zach Collaros, QB
Dedrick Mills, RB
Justin Hardy, WR
Total salary expenditure: $26.8K
While this trio will take up slightly more than half your salary cap, there's plenty of floor and a solid amount of upside. Collaros just proved his ability to thrive in this same matchup a week ago, while Mills has been consistently delivering solid returns regardless of matchup. Then, Hardy has been quieter in the last couple of weeks, but he's capable of spike games and should see his fair share of targets in a scenario where Ottawa will likely have to be aggressive.
