Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Who is the most underrated player in the CFL?
As Best in the League continues to put the league’s brightest stars in the spotlight, next on the list is the category of ‘most underrated’.
Underrated, of course, is subjective, and when we asked the league’s best players the responses widely varied. It might come as a shock to see top-five leading receivers in Bryan Burnham and Adarius Bowman on the list — but it’s not out of the question if their peers still don’t think they get enough credit.
Others on this list might be a little more obvious. Darvin Adams would have been among the league-leaders had he played an 18-game season last year, while Alouettes defensive lineman Gabriel Knapton has never recorded fewer than nine sacks in a season.
As Best in the League continues with even more, we first take a team-by-team look at the most underrated players in the CFL:
BRYAN BURNHAM | BC
Bryan Burnham enjoyed a breakout season in 2016 in the Lions’ explosive offence (The Canadian Press)
It may seem puzzling to list last year’s fourth-leading receiver as one of the league’s most underrated, but Bryan Burnham’s name was mentioned often by his peers for this category.
Burnham was Mr. Reliable for the Lions, going over the middle for tough catches and also barely ever dropping a pass. But the 27-year-old Tulsa graduate emerged as arguably the league’s top big-play receiver, averaging a CFL-best 17.6 yards per reception.
In other words, if you don’t already, you may want to start putting Burnham’s name high among the current CFL greats.
ADARIUS BOWMAN | EDM
The Eskimos leaned heavily on league-leading receiver Adarius Bowman last season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
OK, so Adarius Bowman is not exactly a secret around these parts. But if the guy with the dynamic personality can lead the league in receiving yards and still get mentioned as underrated, how good is he?
Bowman has eclipsed 1,300 receiving yards for three years in a row catching passes from Mike Reilly but catches like this must be what drive opposing defensive coordinators crazy. Sometimes the perfect coverage just isn’t enough.
MARQUAY McDANIEL | CGY
Marquay McDaniel remains a popular annual choice for the league’s most underrated player (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
You knew it was coming. Players see and respect what Marquay McDaniel brings to the Calgary Stampeders every season — even if the Stamps’ veteran isn’t the flashiest or doesn’t appear on your MOP shortlists.
McDaniel has never recorded fewer than 688 yards in any of his seven full CFL seasons (not counting 2011 when he was limited to just one game and four receptions). And he’s gone over 1,000 in three of the last four.
Often overshadowed, McDaniel is as irreplaceable as Eric Rogers or DaVaris Daniels ever have been.
ED GAINEY | SSK
After a forgettable end to his 2015 season, Ed Gainey rebounded nicely with his new team (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)
Remember, Ed Gainey was the one burned on Greg Ellingson’s infamous ‘Clutch in the Capital’ touchdown for the REDBLACKS in the 2015 Eastern Final. A year later, though, he turned out to be a sneaky good signing by Riders coach and GM Chris Jones.
Gainey started 17 games for the Riders last season and will be integral to their hopes of turning things around in 2017.
DARVIN ADAMS | WPG
Darvin Adams was on a torrid pace for the Bombers before getting injured last season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
With 690 receiving yards through only eight games, Darvin Adams was an elite producer for the Bombers when on the field in 2016. That eight-game pace, expanded over an 18-game season, would have given him 1,553 yards — the fourth-most in the CFL right in between Emmanuel Arceneaux and Bryan Burnham.
Mike O’Shea suggested this camp that Adams has picked up where he left off and the expectations are high heading into the 2017 season for the Bombers’ top receiver, who could easily rank in the top five in receiving yards this year if healthy.
ANDY FANTUZ | HAM
While Andy Fantuz remains out with an injury, he could still make an impact later in 2017 (David Chidley/CFL.ca)
It’s easy to imagine why Andy Fantuz has become a forgotten name these days — while healing from his season-ending knee injury late last year, Fantuz has signed up for a football operations role with the team in 2017.
The 33-year-old is far from done and when he’s back, he’ll be an invaluable piece of Kent Austin’s offence. The veteran can play multiple positions at receiver and last year enjoyed a strong resurgence with 1,059 yards and a career-high 101 catches.
ANTHONY COOMBS | TOR
The Argos could lean a little more on Anthony Coombs in their new-look offence (Johany Jutras/Argonauts.ca)
We’re still waiting for the Anthony Coombs breakout season in Toronto but it’s easy to forget the Manitoba graduate is just 24 years old. The versatile slotback has a new contract with the Boatmen, says he’s moving to Toronto full-time and should be a comfortable fit in new head coach Marc Trestman’s system.
Coombs was brought along slowly by Scott Milanovich in a similar mold as the retired Andre Durie. The former university running back can block, catch, run routes and make things happen in space.
Underrated, yes, and now it’s just a matter of him becoming a bigger part of the Argos’ offence.
DIONTAE SPENCER | OTT
Diontae Spencer is one of several new receivers in REDBLACKS camp this season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
While he’s never recorded more than 706 yards in a season, Diontae Spencer is one of the league’s most electrifying up-and-coming receivers and was rightly mentioned by several of the players surveyed.
Diminutive but fast, Spencer caught 71 passes for the Boatmen last season and will now strike a familiar connection with Trevor Harris, a duo that used to link up in Toronto.
Look for Spencer’s name to be called often on Ottawa REDBLACKS broadcasts in 2017.
GABRIEL KNAPTON | MTL
Gabriel Knapton continued to produce in 2016 with nine more sacks to his total (Peter McCabe/CFL.ca)
While he’s hard not to recognize, Gabriel Knapton isn’t usually mentioned among the CFL’s best defensive linemen. Another good year in 2017 might see fans reconsider as Knapton goes into the year with 29 sacks over three seasons in Montreal.
The 28-year-old has been a big part of that defence’s recent success under Noel Thorpe and on a unit with plenty of new faces this year, Knapton will shoulder a pretty large load.
