Hands On Approach: 9 receivers teams can rely on

TORONTO — Best in the League returns for a third season as the CFL’s biggest stars evaluate their peers in 12 different categories, from fastest to most clutch.

On Monday it all kicks off with best hands, meaning fans can expect some of the usual suspects voted on as the players with the niftiest mitts. But after a big year for receivers in 2016 — 15 pass-catchers went over the 1,000-yard mark — some new names are in contention.

You can check back on Monday for what the players have to say but for now, we look at nine receivers across the league that could challenge for the title of best hands.

Emmanuel Arceneaux | BC Lions

Lions receiver Emmanuel Arceneaux enjoyed a career year in 2016 (Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca)

Wally Buono sums it up best in saying that Emmanuel Arceneaux is one of those receivers who’s open even when he’s not. Arceneaux was the top target for young Jonathon Jennings last season, tying for second in targets (154) and ranking third in receptions (105) in the league.

Few receivers were relied upon the way Arceneaux was and the 29-year-old responded with a career year in his eighth professional season.

Honourable mention must go to Bryan Burnham, who also earned a reputation for his sturdy hands after seldom dropping a pass in 2016.

Adarius Bowman | Edmonton Eskimos

Adarius Bowman has drastically reduced the number of drops over the past several years (The Canadian Press)

If you just stepped off your time machine from 2011 then you might not believe your eyes, but it’s true, Adarius Bowman has overcome his issues with dropped passes and actually emerged as one of the league’s more reliable targets.

No. 4 in Green and Gold has always commanded a high volume of targets since joining the team six years ago but it was a much improved catch rate that allowed Bowman to climb to the top of the CFL ladder.

Bowman hauled in a league-leading 120 of his also-league-leading 168 targets last season, finishing with a CFL-best 1,761 yards. He also pulled off a couple of the season’s most awe-inspiring, highlight-reel catches.

Marquay McDaniel | Calgary Stampeders

One of the CFL’s most underrated receivers, Marquay McDaniel has a reputation for his reliability (CFL.ca)

The Stamps’ veteran receiver doesn’t fly under the radar like he used to. In other words, it’s fairly obvious to everyone that Marquay McDaniel is one of the CFL’s most steady, reliable receivers.

McDaniel was one of 17 receivers in the league to accumulate 100 targets last season, ranking 11th in that category but more importantly surpassing it by ranking eighth with 83 receptions.

McDaniel has reached 1,000 yards in three of his last four seasons, providing a reliable outlet for the reigning MOP in Bo Levi Mitchell.

Chad Owens | Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Riders’ newest receivers had shown a penchant for making one-handed grabs over the years (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Riders’ off-season addition Chad Owens has made enough thrilling one-handed catches in his career to earn some consideration on this list. Like the one on Labour Day back in 2012 in the last two minutes of the game, or the leaping game-winning stab against the REDBLACKS in 2015.

They say as a receiver you should catch anything you touch. For Owens, that seems like a perfectly reasonable expectation and nothing should come as a surprise anymore.

Weston Dressler | Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Weston Dressler enjoyed a solid debut season as a member of the Blue and Gold (The Canadian Press)

Despite being sidelined four games in his first year with the Bombers in 2016, Weston Dressler still led the team with 118 targets — the sixth-highest total in the CFL.

Dressler’s got some sticky hands, no doubt, and should be a favourite target for Matt Nichols in 2017.

Luke Tasker | Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Staying healthy will be key for Ticats receiver Luke Tasker in 2017 (The Canadian Press)

The Ticats lost Chad Owens but still have the also-reliable Luke Tasker, who says he’s healthy heading into the 2017 season.

Tasker was plagued by injury last season but still caught 76 of 104 targets, chipping in 852 yards and five touchdowns.

While he arrived young in the CFL, the 26-year-old has emerged as one of the better-rounded receivers in the league and has all the confidence in the world from his quarterback Zach Collaros.

S.J. Green | Toronto Argonauts

Despite missing most of 2016, S.J. Green remains one of the league’s premier receivers entering 2017 (Johany Jutras/Argonauts.ca)

Just because he missed most of the 2016 season doesn’t mean you should forget about S.J. Green. Green has built a reputation for his sticky fingers throughout 10 CFL seasons, his work going beyond the numerous highlight-reel grabs he’s produced.

S.J. makes the impossible look possible but, more than that, he’s one of the most reliable receivers in the game. We expect Green will be a favourite target of Ricky Ray in his new home of Toronto.

Brad Sinopoli | Ottawa REDBLACKS

REDBLACKS receiver Brad Sinopoli took another step forward in 2016 (The Canadian Press)

The story about Brad Sinopoli has changed the last couple of years from quarterback transitioning to receiver to, now, Sinopoli being one of the most trustworthy pass-catchers in the CFL.

Sinopoli broke out with a career year on the Grey Cup-winning Ottawa REDBLACKS last season, contributing 90 catches for 1,036 and four touchdowns. Most impressive may be his catch rate after he hauled in 90 of the 113 passes thrown in his direction — 79.6 per cent.

He’s become one of the most predictable players in the CFL, and that’s meant in a good way as his quarterbacks know exactly what they’re getting from the former Gee-Gee.

Ernest Jackson | Montreal Alouettes

With a new contract in hand, Ernest Jackson will look to make waves as a Montreal Alouette (MontrealAlouettes.com)

One of the top-ranked free agents going into last February, there was a reason the Alouettes coveted the services of Ernest Jackson. Not only did Jackson catch the Grey Cup’s game-winning pass, he also earned East Division Most Outstanding Player honours.

Finding EJ dropping a pass on tape may be a scavenger hunt to no end and he’ll fit in nicely along with an otherwise young group of Alouettes’ pass-catchers.