Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — With two months left in the 2018 CFL regular season, Mike Reilly appears to be the clear favourite to win Most Outstanding Player.
The Eskimos’ quarterback is enjoying a career season, leading the league in passing yards (3,943), passing touchdowns (26) and rushing touchdowns (11) as he looks to earn top player honours for the second consecutive campaign.
However, a lot can happen between now and Nov. 3, when the last game of the season unfolds in Vancouver. Bo Levi Mitchell and Jeremiah Masoli are other quarterbacks that have carried their teams, while a receiver, a running back and, yes, a defensive end, are also in contention.
With that, we take our first look at the top candidates for Most Outstanding Player:
THE FAVOURITE:
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IN THE RUNNING
BO LEVI MITCHELL | QB | CGY
Despite Mike Reilly‘s accolades, Bo Levi Mitchell is very much in the running for another MOP (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Week 13: 25-46, 491 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT vs. EDM
Best Game: 25-42, 452 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT (Aug. 25 vs. WPG)
Key Statistics (Overall): 25 TD (2nd), 3,360 yards (3rd), 9.4 yards per attempt (2nd), 25:8 TD:INT ratio
In most years Bo Levi Mitchell would be the clear-cut favourite to win Most Outstanding Player. Mike Reilly‘s exceptional campaign has left Bo in the shadows, but the Katy, Texas native is having the best season of his career, ranking in the top-three in every major category while posting a career-high 9.4 yards per attempt.
The debate for Mitchell will always surround his winning percentage, which, at 65-12-2 (.844), remains the best mark among eligible starting quarterbacks in CFL history. How valuable are wins as a statistic when evaluating pivots?
D’HAQUILLE WILLIAMS | WR | EDM
D’haquille Williams has set the standard for pass-catchers in his sophomore season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Week 13: 7 catches, 172 yards, 1 TD vs. CGY
Best Game: 7 catches, 172 yards, 1 TD (Sept. 8 vs. CGY)
Key Statistics (Overall): 1,235 yards (1st), 110 targets (1st), 64 catches (3rd), 19.3 yards per catch (1st among eligible)
Barring some sort of unforeseen struggle or injury for Mike Reilly, league-leading receiver D’haquille Williams won’t likely factor into the MOP race come November. However the Esks’ go-to pass-catcher deserves some consideration with the season he’s having, dominating the competition in yards (1,235), touchdowns (9) and receiving average (19.3).
Williams’ production through 12 games puts him on pace for 1,852 receiving yards — the seventh all-time and the most since Geroy Simon’s 1,856 in 2006.
CHARLESTON HUGHES | DL | SSK
Age is no obstacle for 34-year-old Charleston Hughes, who leads the CFL with 13 sacks (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)
Week 13: 1 tackle, 0 sacks vs. WPG
Best Game: 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 TD (July 5 vs. HAM)
Key Statistics (Overall): 13 sacks (1st), 3 forced fumbles (T-1st), 2 fumbles recovered (T-4th), 1 TD (T-1st)
It may have seemed logical to question whether a 34-year-old rush end could continue to dominate in the manner we’ve been accustomed to, but in hindsight, doubting Charleston Hughes turned out to be a mistake. Hughes is enjoying the best season of his 11-year career, already clinching his fourth straight season with double-digit sacks with a league-leading 13 takedowns.
What an acquisition for Chris Jones and the Riders. That’s six out of seven seasons with double-digit sacks for Hughes, who’s on pace for a career-best 21 sacks in 2018 — a mark not seen since Cam Wake’s 23 back in 2008. Hughes has at least a sack in all but two games this season, although one of those outings was last week’s Banjo Bowl.
ANDREW HARRIS | RB | WPG
Andrew Harris is in the midst of the best rushing season of his career, on pace for nearly 1,500 yards (The Canadian Press)
Week 13: 10 rushes, 21 yards, 1 catch, 13 yards vs. SSK
Best Game: 161 rushing yards, 16 receiving yards, 2 TD (July 21 vs. TOR)
Key Statistics (Overall): 984 rushing yards (1st), 339 receiving yards (2nd among RB), 7 TD (T-3rd), 6.0 yards per carry (2nd among qualified RB)
Despite his team’s recent struggles, Andrew Harris is on pace to shatter career highs with 1,476 rushing yards by the end of an 18-game season. Harris is the centrepiece of the Bombers’ offence and will be the key to success if the team is going to bust out of a slump and climb the West Division standings.
The dream of rushing and receiving for 1,000 yards may be out of reach, but Harris is as dominant a back as you will find in the CFL, and a ratio-breaker to boot.
JEREMIAH MASOLI | QB | HAM
Jeremiah Masoli is heating up for the Ticats, throwing seven touchdowns over his last two outings (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Week 13: 18-25, 307 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT vs. TOR
Best Game: 18-25, 307 yards, 4 TD, 0 INT (Sept. 8 vs. TOR)
Key Statistics (Overall): 3,576 yards (2nd), 9.6 yards per attempt (1st), 387 rushing yards (1st among QBs)
Jeremiah Masoli has come a long way in 12 months, going from newly-anointed starter last Labour Day to leading MOP candidate for the East Division. The 30-year-old has earned it, leading the CFL’s most productive offence (429.8 yards per game) while ranking second in quarterback passing yards and first in rushing yards.
In the midst of his team’s three-game winning streak, Masoli has also improved his touchdown to interception ratio (16:11) after throwing seven touchdown passes with just two picks during a two-game sweep of the Argos. He’s still well behind Mike Reilly for MOP consideration, but there’s potential for hardware down the road.
