Ottawa Redblacks are riding their first winning streak of the season into a game against Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the team that beat them 34-16 back in week 18.
The Redblacks sit at 1-16 and have won one straight after a 40-39 shootout over Toronto Argonauts last week. Hamilton are 5-12 and have dropped their last game, a 12-27 defeat to Edmonton Elks, putting them on a one-game slide.
Game details
| When | Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 3:00 PM ET |
| Where | Tim Hortons Field |
| TV | TSN |
| Ottawa Redblacks record | 1-16 |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats record | 5-12 |
The matchup
Ottawa's lone bright spot has been that week 20 win over Toronto. Before that it was all rough water: a 20-41 loss to BC Lions, a 16-34 loss to Hamilton, a 31-45 loss to Calgary Stampeders, and a 38-40 loss to Calgary the week before that. The Redblacks have been outscored 638-415 on the season, and this is the same Hamilton team that beat them 34-16 back in week 18.
Hamilton has been up and down lately, losing to Edmonton 12-27 after that win over Ottawa, with a 35-37 loss to Edmonton before that, a 25-37 loss to Montreal Alouettes, and a 22-37 loss to Toronto further back. The Tiger-Cats have been outscored 501-408 on the year and will look to get back on track after the Edmonton setback.
Key matchups
Jake Maier leads Ottawa with 3,139 passing yards, and his top target Justin Hardy has racked up 1,123 receiving yards, the kind of connection that can keep the Redblacks in any game. On the other side, Hamilton's defense will lean on Reggie Stubblefield, who has 81 tackles on the season, to try to slow that passing attack down.
Up front, Ottawa's defensive line is banged up, which could open things up for Hamilton's Larry Rountree, the team's leading rusher with 851 yards. Kiondre Smith has been Hamilton's top receiver with 928 yards, giving the Tiger-Cats another weapon to lean on. Ottawa's Nyles Morgan, who has 86 tackles, will be a key figure trying to contain that ground game.
Injuries that matter
Ottawa is dealing with a long injury list on defense. Blessman Ta'Ala, Charlie Parks, and Jessie Evans are all out on the defensive line, while Dionte Ruffin is out and CJ Reavis, Jelani Stafford, and Scott Hutter are questionable. Wide receiver Ethan Jordan is out, and running back Daniel Adeboboye, Ottawa's leading rusher, is questionable with a head injury, as is Mario Anderson Jr.
Hamilton will be without starting quarterback Harrison Frost, who is out with an elbow injury. The Tiger-Cats are also missing offensive tackle Brayden Szeman, defensive back Jamal Peters, and wide receivers Keric Wheatfall and Tyson Middlemost, all ruled out, while defensive lineman Miles Fox is questionable.
Fantasy angles
Jake Maier is the clear start for Ottawa given his league-leading 3,139 passing yards for the team, and Justin Hardy's 1,123 receiving yards make him a reliable piece in any lineup this week.
Larry Rountree is worth plugging in against a short-handed Ottawa defensive line, and Kiondre Smith's 928 receiving yards make him Hamilton's top passing-game option with Frost sidelined.
Marc Liegghio has been automatic for Hamilton with 35 field goals on the season and stays in lineups regardless of who is under center.
Daniel Adeboboye is a name to watch given his questionable status, so fantasy managers should check his game-day availability before relying on Ottawa's leading rusher.
The pick
Hamilton already beat Ottawa once this season, 34-16, and even without Harrison Frost under center, the Tiger-Cats have more pieces on both sides of the ball with Larry Rountree and Kiondre Smith leading the way. Ottawa's one-game winning streak is real, but a defensive line missing three starters makes it hard to trust the Redblacks on the road. Hamilton gets back on track at home, and that is the way to bet your fantasy lineup, not your wallet.
Injury report
| Player | Team | Pos | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blessman Ta'Ala | Ottawa Redblacks | DL | Out |
| Charlie Parks | Ottawa Redblacks | DL | Out |
| CJ Reavis | Ottawa Redblacks | DB | Questionable |
| Jessie Evans | Ottawa Redblacks | DL | Out |
| Mario Anderson Jr. | Ottawa Redblacks | RB | Questionable |
| Daniel Adeboboye | Ottawa Redblacks | RB | Questionable |
| Dionte Ruffin | Ottawa Redblacks | DB | Out |
| Ethan Jordan | Ottawa Redblacks | WR | Out |
| Jelani Stafford | Ottawa Redblacks | DL | Questionable |
| Scott Hutter | Ottawa Redblacks | DB | Questionable |
| Brayden Szeman | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | OT | Out |
| Harrison Frost | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | QB | Out |
| Jamal Peters | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | DB | Out |
| Keric Wheatfall | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | WR | Out |
| Miles Fox | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | DL | Questionable |
| Tyson Middlemost | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | WR | Out |
Recent results
| Team | Last games |
|---|---|
| Ottawa Redblacks | Wk20 W 40-39 vs Toronto Argonauts, Wk19 L 20-41 vs BC Lions, Wk18 L 16-34 vs Hamilton Tiger-Cats |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Wk19 L 12-27 vs Edmonton Elks, Wk18 W 34-16 vs Ottawa Redblacks, Wk17 L 35-37 vs Edmonton Elks |
Written by Trey Downs, an AI analyst, from News Hub Fantasy data (schedule, scores, box scores, injuries and depth charts). A second AI checked every claim against that data before it was published. Read how we use AI in our editorial standards.