By Bob Coatsworth,
Fantasy Sports Network
1. B.C. Lions (4-0) – Although Hamilton gave them a scare on Thursday, the Lions are proving they’re still the class of the league while passing less and rushing more. Airing it out with less regularity has meant fewer catches and touchdowns for Geroy Simon, who just 11 catches and hasn’t found than end zone in four games. For a player who caught 15 touchdowns and had more than 1,800 yards receiving in 2006, it has to be frustrating. But Simon says he’s a team guy and Wally Buono would rather have five receivers make four catches than have one make 10. The CFL’s Outstanding Player will be healthier at playoff time for it.
Season Grade: B+
Last week: A-
2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-1-1) – You’re not going to run on the Bombers, just ask Robert Edwards. Something else you should never do is make Charles Roberts angry. With 23 yards on his first eight carries, the Als essentially had lightning in a bottle until Diamond Ferri drove Roberts into the turf on his head. After that, Roberts rushed for 72 yards on his final nine carries including 15 on a bruising touchdown run that sealed Winnipeg’s victory and clinched the season series with Montreal.
Season Grade: B+
Last week: C+
3. Edmonton Eskimos (2-1-1) – Down 20-1 after the first half of Friday’s game against the Roughriders, Danny Maciocia needed to stop Kerry Joseph. He switched from man-to-man to zone defence and all the Eskimos’ problems were solved. Joseph completed just five of his last 13 passes in the second half allowing Edmonton to fight back and win the game on Sean Fleming’s 47-yard field goal into the wind. The Eskimos can expect more wind when they go to Regina this Saturday for a rematch.
Season Grade: B
Last week: C+
4. Toronto Argonauts (2-2) – Mike McMahon’s first CFL start is one he’d like to forget. With Arland Bruce and Tony Miles on the sidelines, McMahon had a difficult time generating offence in Calgary. In fact, it took the former NFLer until halfway through the second quarter to make a completion and get the Argonauts their first first down. He completed six-of-18 passes for 58 yards before he got the hook in third quarter. McMahon will get a chance to redeem himself Thursday against Montreal at Rogers Centre.
Season Grade: B-
Last week: B+
5. Calgary Stampeders (2-2) – If you’re going to judge by his trademark smile, no one enjoyed Saturday’s 33-10 victory over the Argonauts more than Henry Burris. The eight-year veteran had arguably his best game of the season throwing for 307 yards and two touchdowns following back-to-back games where he failed to reach 200 and was intercepted three times. Calgary’s defence was much improved in Week 4, limiting the Boatmen to just 203 yards of total offence. The Stampeders will look to hand B.C. their first loss of season this weekend at McMahon Stadium, where they’ve won eight in a row at home dating back to last season.
Season Grade: C+
Last week: D
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-2) – When Saskatchewan broke out to 2-0 start I refused to buy into the hype because no matter what, the Riders will always find a way to retreat to .500 football. And here they are again. Saskatchewan’s latest relapse has involved Luca Congi’s 19-yard clanker, Wes Cates’ run for naught and the mystery of Andy Fantuz’s missing hands.
Season Grade: C+
Last week: C
7. Montreal Alouettes (1-3) – Off to their worst start in more than 10 years, the winds of change have blown through Montreal. Edwards is out as the starting running back and will be replaced by Jarrett Payton, while rush end R-Kal Truluck has been released. The Alouettes are battling a number of injury problems. Running back Mike Imoh has a broken collarbone, Davis Sanchez has a sprained knee, centre Bryan Chiu had knee surgery and linebacker Tim Strickland has a hamstring problem. All of them are expected to be missing in Week 5.
Season Grade: C
Last week: B-
8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-4) – Coming off their best outing of the season, the young Ticats found a way to get their offence going utilizing Jesse Lumsden out of the backfield. However, forgotten man Corey Holmes, had just one rush attempt for three yards and failed to record a catch. Offensive co-ordinator Mike Working needs to figure out how to get him involved, something the team hasn’t been able to do since he arrived in Hamilton at the start of last season.
Season Grade: C-
Last week: D
A+ of the Week:
Jesse Lumsden, Hamilton – 11-158 yards, 5 rec, 68 yards
Breaking tackles and breaking off long runs, Lumsden steamrolled the mighty B.C. defence behind a good showing from his offensive line in Week 4. His 158-yard performance on the ground is a single-game best for Lumsden in the CFL and showed why the Ticats made the 24-year-old their first pick in the 2005 draft.
Bob Coatsworth works as an editorial coordinator at The Score Television Network and has been a fantasy sports enthusiast for years.
(The opinions expressed are those of the author and not necessarily of the Canadian Football League)
