By Bob Coatsworth,
Fantasy Sports Network
1. B.C. Lions (5-0) – The Lions might be going through quarterbacks quicker than Gatorade, but it’s not slowing them down with three capable CFL starters on the depth chart. Third-stringer Jarious Jackson did enough in relief to beat Calgary and will be elevated to starter for Thursday’s home game with Saskatchewan as Dave Dickenson (head) and Buck Pierce (ribs, hand, toe) recover from injuries. Joe Smith has been most important offensive piece in the Lions’ unbeaten start. He had another 100-yard game Saturday and now leads the CFL with 433 rushing yards – 19 better than Winnipeg’s Charles Roberts.
Season Grade: B+
Last week: B+
2. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-1-1) – For Milt Stegall, the touchdown mission is complete. The 13-year Blue Bomber vet finally got into the end zone for the 138th time in his career Friday and then added some gold-plating to the feat with No. 139, a catch that had a much higher degree of difficulty. Now Stegall and the Bombers can concentrate on football and their pursuit for a first division title since 2001. Despite the 36-18 score, Winnipeg was outplayed by Hamilton for most of Friday’s game, only to come on strong in the fourth quarter and take advantage of several Hamilton blunders.
Season Grade: B
Last week: B+
3. Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-2) – The Rider faithful have reason to celebrate after trashing Edmonton 54-14 Saturday afternoon in the scorching prairie heat. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Flash back to Week 2. Kerry Joseph throws four touchdown passes and the Riders look like an offensive war machine in a 49-8 romp over Calgary. They follow up with a demoralizing 30-point loss to the B.C. Lions the next week. Hopefully Kent Austin’s gang has learned from that experience and Thursday’s game in Vancouver won’t have the same result.
Season Grade: B
Last week: C+
4. Montreal Alouettes (2-3) – Montreal bounced back from a crushing defeat at home to Winnipeg with a solid road effort against the Argonauts on Thursday. Jarrett Payton rushed for 63 hard-earned yards in his CFL debut. Impressive was the way Payton gutted out an injury to do it. Whether it was a leftover ankle problem or cramping, several times Payton limped to the sidelines in agony, but continued to return to the field. If he can get healthy, watch out. Montreal appears to have a promising bruiser in the backfield.
Season Grade: B-
Last week: C
5. Edmonton Eskimos (2-2-1) – In Week 4, the Eskimos proved they have the ability to come back in a football game. Down 20-0 at the half, they scored three second-half touchdowns and beat the Roughriders in Edmonton. Saturday was a different story.
Edmonton spotted the Riders 29 first-half points off five turnovers and trailed 34-8 at the half. This time they weren’t able to mount a comeback. The result was a 54-14 defeat – the worst in eight years for the Eskimos.
Season Grade: C
Last week: B
6. Toronto Argonauts (2-3) – When Michael Bishop broke his wrist a few weeks back, it’s doubtful the Argonauts envisioned themselves in this kind of predicament. Faced with at least another month without him, the coaching staff will have to find a way to win with Damon Allen or perhaps Rocky Butler at the centre of the offence. Toronto is 0-2 and has scored 23 points since Bishop went on the shelf. Oh, and remember that opportunistic defence? Well, it’s looking mighty ordinary lately. The Argonauts’ D hasn’t forced a turnover in the last two contests.
Season Grade: C
Last Week: B-
7. Calgary Stampeders (2-3) – Saturday’s game was one almost everybody penciled in as a potential victory for the Stampeders. Owners of an eight-game win streak at McMahon Stadium; coming off a huge win against the Argonauts. The Lions unbeaten start was as good as finished before the teams even took the field. That’s just the problem with Calgary. When you think they’re building momentum, they’ll disappoint you. Most of the blame for the loss falls on the shoulders of Henry Burris who’s just about to run himself out of a job. The Stamps travel north to Edmonton on Saturday in hopes of rebounding against another team coming off a disheartening loss.
Season Grade: C-
Last week: C+
8. Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-5) – In other years, an 0-5 start would have made the Ticats a write-off. Plain and simple they were bad and there wasn’t much hope for getting better. This year is different. Every week they show improvement. On Friday, for the second straight time, Hamilton stayed in the game through three quarters only to collapse in the final frame. The Tiger-Cats are now heading into a favourable stretch of their schedule. They host the Bombers at home this Friday, travel to Edmonton and Montreal and then host Toronto on Labour Day. At least two victories will come out of these next four.
Season Grade: C-
Last week: C-
A+ of the Week:
Nik Lewis, Calgary – 6 receptions, 128 yards
Making Lewis a healthy scratch in Week 4 proved just what head coach Tom Higgins needed to do for his brash 25-year-old receiver and his early-season slump. Through the first three games of the season Lewis had just seven catches for 63 yards.
After sitting out a game, he returned to the field as Calgary’s best player on Saturday and doubled his season totals in the process.
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)
