Retooling across the board offensively should help the Argonauts improve upon last year’s 5-13 season. While the venerable Ricky Ray returns for his 16th season in the league, Toronto is sorting out a crowded backfield vying for playing time behind 1,000-yard rusher Brandon Whitaker. They also need to find a way to replace the 148 receptions Kenny Shaw and Diontae Spencer took with them to Ottawa.
QUARTERBACKS: When healthy, Ray can still be productive. In nine games last season, the 37-year-old completed 74.5 per cent of his passes for 2,397 yards and 15 touchdowns, while climbing to fourth on the all-time list for passing yards (54,883). Ray will cross 300 touchdown passes at some point this season, yet it’s hard to project him among the upper half of his peers in Fantasy. The magic and flair that has made him a four-time Grey Cup participant and future Hall of Famer will occasionally flash, but the uncertainty with the talent around him might make Ray too much of a risk on a weekly basis in Fantasy.
The health of Ricky Ray will be critical tot he Argos’ hopes in 2017 (Johany Jutras/Argonauts.ca)
Drew Willy started three games for the Argos, throwing for 681 yards and three touchdowns, and he showed surprising running ability (nine carries, 91 yards). A veteran with 76 games under his belt, Willy is capable of leading the attack if Ray is unable to. There will be a scramble for the third spot, as Cody Fajardo, Jeff Mathews, Dakota Prukop and McLeod Bethel-Thompson are all competing to make the opening roster.
RUNNING BACKS: One of the most durable backs in the league, Whitaker started all 18 games last season and topped the East Division with 1,009 rushing yards. He was the only back to lead his team in receptions (81), the most by a running back with at least 150 rushing attempts since former Argos star Robert Drummond achieved the feat in 1997. Whitaker is the team’s best scoring threat, having tallied seven touchdowns (four rushing, three receiving).
That the Argonauts signed Whitaker late in free agency is a concern. The team had signed Kendall Hunter, who played with the San Francisco 49ers, but Hunter retired shortly before training camp started. His departure gives former NFL back James Wilder Jr. a chance to climb behind Whitaker on the depth chart. The son a former NFL All-Pro back, Wilder is an imposing 6-foot-3, 232 pounds and could be a damaging presence if he can quickly adapt to his new surroundings. Cam McDaniel has the edge of knowing the system of coach Jim Popp, having played for him with the Alouettes. Martese Jackson is an undersized back who was a productive runner and receiver in college at Florida Atlantic.
If Whitaker can defy age and a heavy workload, he should remain a productive Fantasy player. Wilder and McDaniel will press Whitaker in a bid to snatch touches, but no matter who gets the bulk of the carries, the Argonauts should do much better than the league-low seven touchdowns they managed on the ground last season.
SLOT BACKS/WIDE RECEIVERS: To counter the loss of Shaw and Spencer, the Argonauts traded a pair of draft picks to the Alouettes for slotback S.J. Green, who suffered a season-ending knee injury early in the 2016 season. A healthy Green gives the Toronto passing game one the league’s steadiest receivers, as he has four 1,000-yard seasons and five East Division All-Star nods to his credit. He will be undervalued due to his injury and new locale, yet Green still has plenty left to offer and is a potential Fantasy sleeper.
Expect the Argos to rely heavily on newly-added receiver S.J. Green (Bea Serden/Argonauts.ca)
Devon Wylie may have a chance to emerge as a quality option for the Argos, having caught 14 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown in 13 games. With the upheaval in the receiving corps, the second-year player is in position to gather his share of targets. The team traded for Roughriders wideout Armanti Edwards, who caught 19 passes for 231 yards and a score in four games last season. Edwards brings the versatility that could make him useful as a receiver, a runner and a return specialist. Fellow former NFL receiver Devier Posey played in four games after being signed in mid-September and could also have a more prominent role in his first full season in the league.
If there is a receiver to look out for, it could be Brian Jones, the team’s first round pick in 2016. Though much of his time was spent on special teams, the 6-foot-4, 233-pounder from Acadia showed his potential with 12 catches for 128 yards and a touchdown. Malcolm Williams, who spent last season on the Toronto practice squad, could get a chance to make his professional debut at some point.
DEFENCE/SPECIAL TEAMS: There is room for improvement after allowing a league-high 568 points last season. Toronto was sixth in the league with 38 sacks, with East All-Star lineman Shawn Lemon leading the way with 14. A.J. Jefferson led the team with three interceptions, but Argonauts lost him when he signed a free agent deal with the REDBLACKS.
The door is wide open for someone to step up as a return specialist. Wilder could get an opportunity at the role, but Edwards, who has experience returning kicks from his time with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, may be the player the Argonauts choose. Don’t discount Posey, who also returned kicks during his time with the Houston Texans of the NFL.
