Adam Gagnon/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 evaluation.
TORONTO — For the first time this season there’s a new number one atop the CFL.ca Quarterback Index.
Mike Reilly continues to build a strong case for his second straight Most Outstanding Player honour, adding four more touchdowns to his 2018 collection in a 40-24 win over the Montreal Alouettes to give him 27 in total on the season.
The Eskimo quarterback’s domination combined with Bo Levi Mitchell‘s first loss of the season against the Saskatchewan Roughriders has led to a big change at the peak of the quarterback mountain, as the drama escalates two weeks away from Labour Day.
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There’s plenty of movement elsewhere, too. Matt Nichols is trending down after a tough outing vs. the REDBLACKS, while Zach Collaros has opened some eyes following his best performance as a Rider, helping to unseat the undefeated Stampeders.
Meanwhile, Trevor Harris continues to put up massive yards, and newcomers to the scene McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Antonio Pipkin don’t look out of place as starters.
More in this week’s QB Index:
MIKE REILLY EDM
THIS WEEK: 1 | LAST WEEK: 2
With four combined touchdowns against Montreal, Mike Reilly bumped his average to three per game, putting him on pace for 54 on the season — the third-most all-time. He also leads the CFL in passing yards and yards per attempt while putting his team in a position to challenge Calgary in the West. Cue the MOP chants.
BO LEVI MITCHELL CGY
THIS WEEK: 2 | LAST WEEK: 1
It took just one loss — only the 11th of his career in the span of seven seasons — for Bo Levi Mitchell to fall out of top spot in this week’s QB Index. The Stamps’ pivot still leads all qualified starters in quarterback rating (109.2) and has compiled a 17:5 touchdown to interception ratio, enough to put him in serious contention for Most Outstanding Player.
JEREMIAH MASOLI HAM
THIS WEEK: 3 | LAST WEEK: 4
Jeremiah Masoli moves up despite not even playing in Week 10, thanks in part to a struggling Matt Nichols. Masoli’s eight touchdowns and eight interceptions are disappointing, and so is his team’s 3-5 record — but the peripherals are indicative of something better. The 9.2-yard average per attempt sandwiches him right in between Reilly and Mitchell.
TREVOR HARRIS OTT
THIS WEEK: 4 | LAST WEEK: 5
Trevor Harris is averaging 409.7 yards per game his last three outings, including back-to-back wins over Montreal and Winnipeg. We’ve often wondered aloud whether Harris can be an elite quarterback, but so far in his career he hasn’t had the consistency. With the REDBLACKS comfortably in front in the East, maybe his time has arrived.
MATT NICHOLS WPG
THIS WEEK: 5 | LAST WEEK: 3
An emotional Matt Nichols admitted he was hurt when fans booed him Friday night following his return to the field. Nichols will try to put that behind him, along with back-to-back shaky starts, but it doesn’t get any easier against the 7-1 Calgary Stampeders. The visit to McMahon Stadium is the toughest game on the Bombers’ schedule.
TRAVIS LULAY BC
THIS WEEK: 6 | LAST WEEK: 6
The Lions nearly had their first road win last week when Travis Lulay moved the offence into scoring position, only for Emmanuel Arceneaux‘s fumble to seal the game for the Argos. Lulay has made the Lions a factor in the highly-competitive West and is showing glimpses of his former 2011 self.
ZACH COLLAROS SSK
THIS WEEK: 7 | LAST WEEK: 8
Defensive and special teams touchdowns played a big role in the Riders’ shocking Week 10 upset of Calgary, but the play of Zach Collaros has to be an encouraging sign. Not only did the Riders’ pivot complete 74 per cent of his passes, he also attacked downfield, bringing back memories of the quarterback that would have won MOP in 2015 if not for getting injured.
McLEOD BETHEL-THOMPSON TOR
THIS WEEK: 8 | LAST WEEK: 7
McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s ranking is more indicative of the other impressive quarterback performances around the league, along with the fact that he’s only made two career starts. Still, the 30-year-old journeyman looks the part for the Boatmen, improving to 2-0 as a starter and moving them into a second-place tie with the Ticats in the East.
ANTONIO PIPKIN MTL
THIS WEEK: 9 | LAST WEEK: NOT RANKED
While he didn’t get much help, 23-year-old Antonio Pipkin exceeded expectations in his first CFL start, putting up 24 points while keeping up with the Edmonton Eskimos’ vaunted attack. He may not get another start — Johnny Manziel is waiting in the wings — but Pipkin is no longer invisible in CFL circles.
INJURED RESERVE
JOHNNY MANZIEL MTL
THIS WEEK: IR | LAST WEEK: 9
The Alouettes revealed that Johnny Manziel had been placed on concussion protocol before the team’s Week 10 matchup with Edmonton. Reports say he’s feeling better, but there’s no word yet on a return.
RICKY RAY TOR
THIS WEEK: IR | LAST WEEK: IR
Ricky Ray was spotted on the Argos’ sidelined last week without the neck brace, an encouraging sign in his recovery from the devastating hit suffered back in Week 2. There’s still no timeline in his recovery.
