Top Ranked CFL Players of Week 19: Highlighting the league’s best players

The CFL season is heating up and each week we’re diving into the numbers to spotlight the league’s top performers.

Thanks to constant fan demand, we bring you the top 10 highest-rated CFL players who played significant snaps, based on PFF’s rating system.

From quarterbacks dissecting defensive lines to defensive linemen wreaking havoc in the trenches, these are the athletes who stood above the rest in Week 19. We will highlight this group each week of the season so CFL fans can follow the top talent making an impact across the league.

Do you want to dive deeper into the data? Click here for full-season PFF grades for the CFL.

Highlight of the week: WR Samuel Emilus, Saskatchewan Roughriders

No receiver came close to Samuel Emilus in Week 19. The Riders wideout earned the highest receiving grade of the week after a dominant performance, catching six of eight targets for 142 yards and four first downs. His highlights included a toe-tapping sideline grab while being forced into the air, an underthrown deep ball retrieved behind a defender’s head and a shallow cross that he turned into a 50-yard gain after outsmarting defenders and forcing a missed tackle.

Each of these catches received a high rating: contested catches, side checks and post-catch production all have a high value. Emilus was a threat every time he took the field, finishing with a league-best 5.68 yards per route in Week 19.

It’s a shame that Emilus is limited to just seven games due to injuries. At his current pace, a full season would amount to 85 catches for 1,344 yards and five touchdowns – production that would rank near the top of the league.

His advanced stats are just as impressive. Among receivers who have played enough snaps to qualify, Emilus would lead the league with a grade of 84.1. His 3.03 yards per route average ranks first by a wide margin (Keon Hatcher is second at 2.64), and he is also the CFL’s highest run-blocking wideout at 75.0. A healthy Emilus is one of the most complete players in the league – and the Riders hope he can stay on the field for the rest of the time.

Quarterback

Run back

Wide receiver

Offensive tackle

Offensive Guard

Center

Domestic defender

Edge defender

Linebacker

Cornerback

Halfback

Safety