QB Rankings: Ranking the quarterbacks down The Final Stretch

Quarterback Rankings is a bi-weekly series that breaks down the top signal-callers in the CFL. The ranking of starters heading into each week reflects recent performance, statistical indicators, team success, and overall on-field evaluation.

I can’t believe this is my last Quarterback Rankings column. Where has the time gone?

This has been a fun season doing this exercise, with three passers already having topped 5,000 yards. Cody Fajardo is close to crossing that impressive statistical finish line as well.

Nathan Rourke easily would have hit that mark, if not for injuries that kept him out of two games.

Here are my rankings.

1. (1) DAVIS ALEXANDER | MONTREAL ALOUETTES

There is going to be so much debate about which one of Alexander or Tyson Philpot will win the George Reed Most Outstanding Player award, and there should be because both have a deserving case. The one thing that we can all agree on is that the Alexander to Philpot connection is the best in the CFL and it is not particularly close.

Two weeks ago, against Winnipeg, on the Alouettes' first drive, the two hooked up on a 52-yard deep shot where All-CFLer Evan Holm was in good position. Then last week, the duo's highlight was a diving 46-yard touchdown reception. That play helped break open a close game (it was 17-16 at the time) into a 20-point Montreal victory. According to PFF, Alexander had the highest passing grade of any quarterback.

The last two weeks have been brilliant for the Montreal starter.

2. (2) NATHAN ROURKE | BC LIONS

I had considered putting Nathan Rourke atop this list two weeks ago, but over the past two games, Alexander has widened the gap.

Rourke completed less than half of his passes against the Toronto Argonauts as the BC Lions needed eight Sean Whyte field goals to take down the Boatmen. Against the Ottawa REDBLACKS, Rourke’s numbers were much better as he completed his first seven passes on the Lions' opening drive leading to a 10-yard score to Keon Hatcher Sr.

Yes, I may be a tough grader, but the overall level of play from the quarterback position demands that I treat the quarterbacks like my grade eight French teacher treated me.

3. (3) CHAD KELLY | TORONTO ARGONAUTS

I understand if many CFL fans west of Mississauga are angry at Chad Kelly remaining at third despite missing one game and Toronto coming off a bye week, but I will explain with my next couple picks.

Kelly has been a full participant at practice and I, for one, am excited every time he launches a 50-yard pass.

4. (4) TREVOR HARRIS | SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

If you just looked at the box score, you would say that despite the losses, Trevor Harris has played two high-end games. However, the numbers can be deceiving.

In the Roughriders' 37-31 loss to Calgary, Harris directed two scoring drives with his team down 37-19 and two minutes to go. Those two touchdown passes may have helped some fans in their CFL Fantasy league, but it was too little, too late.

Then against Montreal, a 14-yard score to Kian Schaffer-Baker came with Saskatchewan trailing by 25 and the game in the final three minutes. Harris had plenty of positive moments, but not enough to climb up in the rankings.

5. (7) VERNON ADAMS JR. | CALGARY STAMPEDERS

It was a tight battle between Adams Jr. and Cody Fajardo. In the end, it came down to what Adams Jr. did in the Stampeders' Week 18 37-31 win over Saskatchewan.

Adams Jr. had four touchdowns and only seven incompletions and was dialled in right from the start, hitting Jalen Philpot for 16 yards in the tiniest of windows. Later on, with the game knotted up at seven, he found a streaking Damien Alford for a 48-yard score. Adams Jr. and the entire Calgary team took a step back last week against Winnipeg, but Adams Jr. is still tied with Alexander with a CFL-leading 35 touchdown passes.

6. (5) CODY FAJARDO | EDMONTON ELKS

The most important thing going for Fajardo is his team is leading the West Division with 12 wins, two more than the Lions.

Fajardo did enough with his arm and legs to play mistake-free football in their 27-12 road win in Hamilton.

7. (-) ZACH COLLAROS | WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

Now that is how you come back from an injury!

Out for a month, Zach Collaros announced his return in the first quarter against Calgary, rolling out to his right and hitting Dorian Singer for 52 yards. Yes, his 18-yard touchdown to Ontaria Wilson could be seen as a dangerous throw with all the coverage around the Bombers receiver, but when you hit a man right in the chest, does it really matter?

Collaros connected on several deep shots against the Stampeders defence and ended the game with a second-and-10, pressure-in-his-face 39-yard completion to Singer to seal that one away.

8. (9) HARRISON FROST | HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

The Harrison Frost to Kenny Lawler combo in Week 18 (six receptions, 132 yards, two touchdowns) was super fun.

Hamilton’s inability to score in the first half in Week 19 against the Elks was decidedly less fun.

9. (-) BRYSON BARNES | OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Bryson Barnes is set to start for the Ottawa REDBLACKS in Week 20 against the Toronto Argonauts (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)

Ottawa is doing the right thing by giving rookie Bryson Barnes the start this Friday against Toronto.

With the playoffs out of the question, now is the time to see what the team has in Barnes. Let’s see how he looks going from mop-up duty to full-time starter.

A quick shoutout to McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who has been a gamer for Ottawa. Yes, he lost critical fumbles in losses to Hamilton and BC, but Bethel-Thompson has also kept Ottawa competitive.