CFL DFS Picks and Cheat Sheet for Week 12 on DraftKings
The Blue Bombers and Alouettes kick us off in Week 12 on Thursday night, and the four-game slate wraps up with a matchup between West Division contenders Saskatchewan and Calgary as the Stampeders look to inch closer to the division-leading Roughriders.
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 12
Nathan Rourke, B.C. at TOR ($11,200): Rourke is once again an elite weekly DFS play this season in a manner akin to his memorable 2022 season, averaging a stellar 25 DK points per contest. The mobile signal-caller has thrown for a whopping 790 yards in his last two games alone, a stretch where he also has a 6:2 TD:INT and 59 rushing yards. Rourke has also scored 29.9 to 36.4 DK points in three of the last four contests, and he's now getting his first crack of the season at an Argonauts squad that's been among the league's most generous against the pass.
The Argonauts have allowed 265.6 passing yards per game and have done so at the second-highest completion percentage (72.5). They've also given up the fourth-most touchdown passes (16) and are tied for the second-most completions of 30+ yards allowed (19). Rourke is tied for the second-most completions of that length in his own right (18), making this an ideal matchup for his playing style.
Vernon Adams Jr., CGY vs. SSK ($10,400): Adams has his Stampeders in second place in the West Division with a 6-3 record, as he's putting together a fine debut campaign in Calgary. The well-traveled but talented veteran has averaged a solid 17.4 DK points per game, eclipsing 21 DK points in four of his first nine contests. Adams has thrown for 11 touchdowns during that stretch as well, and in his one prior meeting with the Roughriders, he threw for a season-high 428 yards and three TDs on his way to a season-best 31.7 DK points.
The Roughriders did put together a highly impressive performance against Bo Levi Mitchell and the Tiger-Cats' high-powered passing attack in Week 11, but Saskatchewan has allowed 295.4 passing yards per game, a 68.7 percent completion rate, 14 touchdown passes and 13 completions of 30+ yards. Saskatchewan can certainly put the pressure on opposing offenses to try and keep up, so expecting Adams to have to remain aggressive here is very reasonable and could yield a rewarding fantasy performance.
Trevor Harris, SSK at CGY ($10,100): Harris continues to carry salaries that arguably leave him as a value play relative to his ceiling, and he therefore makes for an intriguing option if you're looking to save some dollars at quarterback. As just outlined, the matchup against the Stampeders could be a wire-to-wire affair, and Harris already piled up 425 yards versus Calgary back in the Week 6 meeting between these teams. That game netted him one of his three over the last five with at least 23 DK points.
The opposing Stampeders have surrendered 279.4 passing yards per game, have faced a league-high 344 pass attempts and have yielded the second-most completions (242). Calgary is also conceding a 70.3 percent completion rate, and although the Stamps have been very good about limiting yards after the catch, Harris' pinpoint accuracy – he's completing a career-high 75.5 percent of his throws – could certainly still lead him to plenty of success.
ALSO CONSIDER: Cody Fajardo, EDM at OTT ($9,000)
Running Back Plays for CFL Week 12
James Butler, B.C. at TOR ($10,300): With the Blue Bombers' Brady Oliveira sporting a hefty $10.4K salary this week and in a tough matchup on paper against Montreal, Butler becomes the player to consider if you're going to spend up at the position. The versatile veteran comes into the favorable matchup against a Toronto defense that's been beatable through both the ground and air in the midst of a solid stretch of play, as he's scored over 25 DK points in three of his past five games.
The Argos have surrendered a league-high 114.4 rushing yards per game and have given up 5.0 yards per carry, so there's no mistaking the opportunity here for Butler. When paired with the fact he often enjoys a reliable pass-catching role that's already led to a 28-245-1 receiving line to date this season, this is about as inviting a matchup as it gets for the Lions' top back.
Justin Rankin, EDM at OTT ($9,400): Rankin may be one of the trickiest players to roster in DFS on a week-to-week basis this season, as his involvement as a runner seems to particularly fluctuate. However, the explosive second-year back boasts at least four receptions and 42 receiving yards in four consecutive games, and a 9-175 receiving line over the last two games alone while posting 69- and 92-yard rushing yards tally in two of the last three contests.
The Redblacks have tightened up against the run as the season has unfolded, checking into this matchup surrendering a modest 84.9 rushing yards per game at a co-league-low 4.6 yards per carry. However, Rankin is a home-run hitter through both the ground and air, capable of delivering on his salary with just a single touch. Additionally, Ottawa is conceding 283.0 passing yards per game and a total of 1,024 yards after the catch on the 216 completions it's allowed, setting up Rankin well to wreak some havoc in space.
ALSO CONSIDER: Dedrick Mills, CGY vs. SSK ($8,000)
Wide Receiver/Slotback Plays for CFL Week 12
Justin McInnis, B.C. at TOR ($8,100): McInnis went through a recent quiet stretch, but he's seemingly emerging from it after recording a 13-228-1 receiving line on 18 targets in the last pair of contests. McInnis has scored 26.9 and 16.6 DK points in those games, his third and fourth tallies north of 16 DK points this season. The big-bodied wideout is now in prime position to extend his productive streak, considering the vulnerabilities of the Argonauts secondary.
In addition to the metrics already cited in Rourke's entry, it's also worth noting no defense has given up more yards after the catch than Toronto's 1,220. What's more, that figure has come on only 198 completions, meaning the Argos are surrendering an average of 6.2 additional yards per reception. Meanwhile, McInnis is averaging 14.2 yards per reception and 4.5 yards after the catch per grab, dovetailing well with Toronto's weakness.
Kalil Pimpleton, OTT vs. EDM ($7,800): Pimpleton is expected to work with yet another quarterback in Dustin Crum this week, but given the explosiveness and versatility of the talented receiver/returner, he remains in play versus an Elks defense that's been beatable through the air. Pimpleton already scored 24.8 DK points against Edmonton in Week 5, and he checks in with tallies of 17.0 and 26.2 DK points in the last pair of contests against the Argonauts and Blue Bombers.
The Elks have given up a league-high 316.3 passing yards per game, 245 completions and a 76.1 percent completion rate. Edmonton has also surrendered a league-high 20 touchdown passes and 17 completions of 30+ yards, while Pimpleton has a stout 78.3 percent catch rate. Then, it's also worth noting Edmonton has given up five big-play returns (30+ yard punt returns, 40+ yard kickoff returns), while Pimpleton is averaging 26.4 yards per kickoff return and 13.5 yards per punt runback, also having scored one TD in the latter role.
Clark Barnes, CGY vs. SSK ($6,400): Barnes has been breaking off big plays any time he's been on the field thus far in 2025, making him an interesting stacking partner with Adams this week against the Roughriders defense. The third-year national is averaging an eye-catching 26.5 yards per reception on his 11 catches, and he's scored 11.3 to 18.2 DK points in three of his five games to date.
Some of the inviting pass-defense metrics associated with the Roughriders defense were already listed in Adams' entry, and in addition to considering those numbers, Barnes has a 78.6 percent catch rate and has brought in all five of the targets of 20 yards or more in depth he's seen, underscoring how he's capable of hitting for some chunk plays in virtually any scenario.
Charleston Rambo, MTL vs. WPG ($5,900): The Alouettes' offensive outlook isn't the brightest with James Morgan the latest quarterback set to work under center for Montreal, but Rambo's salary and potential involvement make him worthy of consideration. The speedster got an opportunity to work with Morgan for most of the Week 11 loss to the Lions and came away with a 5-46 receiving line on eight targets overall.
Rambo has the speed to pay off his sub-$6K salary on just a play or two, and both his double-digit DK-point tallies this season have come within the last four games. He's also been steadily involved for the most part despite the QB carousel in Montreal, logging at least seven targets in four of the last five contests. The Bombers have been susceptible to the big play through the air as well, allowing 292.2 passing yards per game and tying for the second-most completions of 30+ yards surrendered (19).
ALSO CONSIDER: Keon Hatcher, B.C. at TOR ($10,000); Jerreth Sterns, WPG at MTL ($6,200)
Team Defense Plays for Week 12
Winnipeg Blue Bombers ($4,500) at Montreal Alouettes: Some weeks, the highest-salaried defensive unit is also the most prudent one to take, and such may well be the case for this slate. The Bombers will face off with an Alouettes squad that's down to Morgan as its starting quarterback, a development that could lead to some turnover opportunities.
Winnipeg already checks in allowing the second-lowest touchdown drive rate (15.9 percent) and forcing a league-high 39.0 percent 2-and-out rate. The Bombers have also forced a league-high seven fumbles and are tied for second in defensive touchdowns with three scores. Meanwhile, Montreal already comes in averaging a league-low 5.9 yards per play and has scored a league-low 17 touchdowns on offense.
Morgan did look solid in emergency duty in Week 11, but he's had a short week to prepare since Montreal just played Saturday night. In turn, the Bombers defense has had a full week of rest, and despite the road setting for Winnipeg on Thursday, I see their veteran unit taking advantage of the circumstances.
CFL DFS Cheat Sheet for Week 12
Vernon Adams Jr., QB
Justin Rankin, RB
Justin McInnis, WR
Total salary expenditure: $27.9K
We've got ceiling galore in this best-suited-for-tournaments trio, which does require an investment of more than half your salary cap but could pay big dividends. Adams has favorable conditions to accumulate some yardage as noted earlier, and Calgary figures to have to be aggressive to keep pace with Harris and his weapons. Rankin is the wild card of the group considering how his usage on the ground fluctuates, but his massive upside as a receiver and his explosiveness in space keep him in consideration. Finally, McInnis is an interesting selection among Rourke's many weapons, given his upside is also elite and he enters a highly favorable matchup already on a two-game surge, as noted in his entry earlier.
