CFL.ca
The CFL.ca Quarterback Index is a weekly power ranking of quarterbacks across the CFL. The ranking reflects recent performance, historical value, statistical indicators, team success and overall on-field play.
TORONTO — He didn’t get the win, but Trevor Harris did just about everything else while throwing for a career-high 485 yards in a Week 15 loss to the BC Lions.
Harris finds himself on the way up in the latest CFL.ca Quarterback Index, moving past Zach Collaros into fourth place following a high-scoring affair with the Lions.
Bo Levi Mitchell, Mike Reilly and Jonathon Jennings all strengthened their hold on the first three spots by helping their respective teams win football games, while Jeremiah Masoli gets on the board following an injury to Zach Collaros.
RELATED:
» Landry: 5 takeaways from Week 15
» Steinberg’s MMQB: An important story to tell
» Win over Argos a key first step for Chapdelaine, Als
» Jennings, Lions win airshow vs. REDBLACKS
Jonathon Jennings gets set to throw during a Week 15 win over Ottawa (The Canadian Press)
Meanwhile, just as Drew Willy struggled in his first start as a Toronto Argonaut, Rakeem Cato threw four touchdown passes in a landslide win for the Als in their first game under newly-appointed head coach Jacques Chapdelaine.
As the balance of power remains mostly unchanged, we look at who belongs where heading into Week 16:
Bo Levi Mitchell CGY
This Week: 1 | Last Week: 1
Against an aggressive defence in a tough place to play, Bo Levi Mitchell made facing the Ticats look easy, guiding his team to a 36-17 win in the Hammer. Leading the league in touchdown passes (26) and ranking second in passing yards (4,590) to go with a career .851 winning percentage (40-7-1), the Katy, Texas native is on track to add ‘Most Outstanding Player’ to his list of achievements.
Mike Reilly EDM
This Week: 2 | Last Week: 2
Mike Reilly pumped his fists hard after connecting with Derel Walker on an out route and watching him sprint for a 61-yard game-clinching touchdown, and for good reason — it led the Esks to their second straight victory against a West Division team ahead of them in the standings. Edmonton is a key player in the West again and Reilly is a critical part of that.
Jonathon Jennings BC
This Week: 3 | Last Week: 3
It’s hard to imagine that Jonathon Jennings’ 348-yard, three-touchdown outing against Ottawa over the weekend was only his second best statistical performance of the season. The 24-year-old sophomore continues to thrive and has the Lions in a position to clinch a playoff spot for the 20th consecutive season — this time well ahead of schedule.
Matt Nichols WPG
This Week: 4 | Last Week: 4
Matt Nichols was inconsistent for the second straight game, but still gave the Bombers a chance in a high-scoring affair against the Eskimos. Trailing 29-13 heading into the fourth, Nichols led Winnipeg to within six points, but in the end it was too little too late. A seven-game winning streak feels like ancient history as Nichols and the Bombers are in a dog fight in the West right now.
Trevor Harris OTT
This Week: 5 | Last Week: 6
Trevor Harris put on a clinic against the BC Lions in Vancouver, throwing for a career-high 485 yards — although it wasn’t enough to avoid Ottawa’s sixth loss in nine games. Harris’ quarterback rating of 119.5 continues to lead the league while his 74.7 completion percentage is second only to Ricky Ray. There’s a good chance he’ll be quarterbacking the REDBLACKS in the Grey Cup this year.
Zach Collaros HAM
This Week: 6 | Last Week: 5
After Zach Collaros left the game with what the team described as an upper body injury, the Ticats fell to 3-5 on the season with their starting quarterback under centre. The 28-year-old has thrown at least one interception in five straight games, including six interceptions against just three touchdowns in his last four starts — three of which were losses.
Darian Durant SSK
This Week: 7 | Last Week: 7
Just as Darian Durant was playing some of his best football and the Riders had won two games in a row, the bye week arrived for Chris Jones and the Green and White. The Riders will hope the week off doesn’t disrupt any of their momentum as they cling to their playoff hopes in Week 16.
Rakeem Cato MTL
This Week: 8 | Last Week: 8
Vernon Adams Jr. will have to wait. Rakeem Cato sliced and diced the Argos’ defence last weekend to the tune of a 78 per cent efficiency rating and four touchdown passes with no interceptions. Cato has completed 74.5 per cent of his passes this season and thrown six touchdown passes against one interception, and looked like a changed man altogether under Jacques Chapdelaine. A repeat performance will see him rise.
Drew Willy TOR
This Week: 9 | Last Week: 9
The Argos’ newly-added pivot didn’t get much help in his first start in double blue, but the numbers certainly don’t flatter Drew Willy. The 29-year-old threw for 226 yards on 24-of-35 passing (a meager 6.5 yards per attempt) in his team’s 38-11 loss to Montreal. He’ll get a chance to silence his critics in his first home game as the Stampeders pay a visit to BMO on Thanksgiving.
Henry Burris OTT
This Week: 10 | Last Week: 11
Any thought that a quarterback change might be coming in Ottawa was put to rest with Trevor Harris’ monstrous Week 15 performance. Still, last year’s Most Outstanding Player winner in Henry Burris provides plenty of value to a REDBLACKS team that leads the East Division and could play for another Grey Cup this season.
DAN LEFEVOUR TOR
THIS WEEK: 11 | LAST WEEK: 10
Sometimes life just ain’t fair, as Dan LeFevour’s spot on the bench remains solidified despite two solid starts in a row in relief for the injured Ricky Ray. The Argos are Drew Willy’s team but LeFevour will be standing by if needed. Keep him on your radar.
Jeremiah Masoli HAM
This Week: 12 | Last Week: —
Jeremiah Masoli’s 3-3 record as a starter this year, in hindsight, looks pretty good for the Ticats. He won’t challenge Zach Collaros for the chance to start but if needed — Collaros left the Ticats’ Week 15 matchup with an upper body injury — Masoli is an excellent backup and could provide his team a much-needed spark.
» RELATED: Collaros exits game with upper body injury
Collaros stands on the sidelines during the Ticats’ Week 15 loss to Calgary (CFL.ca)
Injured Reserve
Quarterbacks not currently active won’t be ranked in the QB Index but will be added when healthy.
RICKY RAY TOR
THIS WEEK: IR | LAST WEEK: IR
Ricky Ray’s 4-6 week window is getting closer to expiring, but if the Argos keep slipping in the East Division standings then there won’t be any need to rush him back. There’s a chance the playoff dream ends before Ray returns ready to play.
