MOP Watch: Cody Fajardo among top 10 contenders
09/19/2024 08:46 AM
As we've made the turn past OK Tire Labour Day Weekend and playoff football begins to come more into focus, so too do the major awards which will be voted on as the playoffs get underway.
Of course, the crown jewel is the Most Outstanding Player award which goes annually to the player deemed to have made the biggest impact on their teams’ success.
RELATED
» AMSOIL Power Rankings: Making moves
» Costabile: 4 storylines to watch in Week 16
» MMQB: Hamilton's playoff path is clear but difficult
» CFL Simulation: The team nobody wants to see
» Sign up and watch CFL games on CFL+ in the U.S. and Internationally
» Diversity is Strength stories, podcasts and much more
» Subscribe to the CFL's newsletter for exclusive offers and league updates
Much like the NCAA's Heisman Award, the unfortunate reality is far too often the top award goes to the quarterback who won the most games.
That formula often does a disservice to the ultimate team game of football and this new weekly piece over the next month or so will aim to avoid making that the singular focus as I list my top ten favourites for the 2024 CFL MOP.
1 (-) CODY FAJARDO | MONTREAL ALOUETTES | QB
Cody Fajardo has thrown for 2,416 yards, 13 touchdowns and six interceptions in 10 games this season (Minas Panagiotakis/CFL.ca)
The Alouettes have been the most outstanding team from the start of the season to the present moment and Cody Fajardo – when healthy – has not just been along for the ride, but steadily driving the Als’ efforts with both hands on the wheel.
Leading the CFL in completion percentage (74.9%) and big pass plays of 30-yards or more (17), Fajardo remains the front-runner with a CFL best touchdown to interception ratio of 2.17.
2 (-) NATHAN ROURKE | BC LIONS | QB
In five games, Nathan Rourke has passed for 1,099 yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions (Patrick Doyle/CFL.ca)
Since his return to the lineup, it's been anything but a straight line to MOP and Grey Cup greatness for Nathan Rourke, but that should have been expected! The re-acclimation process to the CFL has seen ups and downs statistically and with Vernon Adams Jr. waiting in the wings, the Lions feel comfortable with either quarterback at the helm, which makes the MOP odds of either a complicated proposition.
When Rourke is on, he's as good as anyone in the CFL and will undoubtedly heat up down the home stretch.
3 (-) VERNON ADAMS JR. | BC LIONS | QB
Vernon Adams Jr. has tallied 2,544 passing yards to go along with 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 14 games (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)
The most perplexing MOP nominee has to be VA.
If he plays, he can ball with anyone and win a Grey Cup when supported properly by all three phases, but will he play? It’s pretty difficult to win a major award while standing on the sidelines.
4 (-) DRU BROWN OTTAWA REDBLACKS | QB
In his first season as a starting quarterback, Dru Brown has amassed 3,045 yards along with 11 touchdowns and six interceptions (Minas Panagiotakis/CFL.ca)
The REDBLACKS resurgence, especially at home this season, has been thanks in large part to Dru Brown and his CFL-best 1.6% interception percentage on attempts.
The winningest quarterback starter (seven) in 2024, Brown could help get Ottawa a playoff spot this week against Montreal for the first time since 2018!
5 (-) JUSTIN MCINNIS | BC LIONS | REC
Justin McInnis has hauled in 71 passes for 1,169 yards and seven touchdowns this season (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)
If any non-quarterback wins the MOP this year it has to be Justin McInnis.
He appears a lock for Most Outstanding Canadian at this point with his CFL-leading 106 targets, 1,169 receiving yards, and seven touchdowns. What a year. But is it good enough for the Most Outstanding Player? It might help his cause if both talented BC quarterbacks continue to split reps and subsequent snaps.
6 (-) ZACH COLLAROS | WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS | QB
In 13 games, Zach Collaros has thrown for 2,932 yards, eight touchdowns and 13 interceptions (Daniel Crump/CFL.ca)
Could he really do it? This year, Zach Collaros has been the olympic 3000-metre distance runner who hangs out at the back of the pack for most of the race with commentators wondering why they haven't broken free before the home stretch appears and in the final 200m suddenly a gold helmet goes flying past everyone.
That being said, that’s a lot of room to make up after starting the season 0-5 with four interceptions and no touchdowns.
7 (-) TREVOR HARRIS | SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS | QB
In just seven games, Trevor Harris has connected on 170 of his 247 passes for 2,072 yards, 15 touchdowns and seven interceptions (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)
Tervor Harris would've been ranked much higher in this article earlier this season, but after injury meant missed time and a rough stretch against the Bombers to start September, he's now up against Riders’ late-season collapses of the past.
8 (-) BRADY OLIVEIRA| WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS | RB
Brady Oliveira has carried the rock 158 times for 894 yards and is averaging 5.7 yards per rush (Daniel Crump/CFL.ca)
If Winnipeg comes all the way back, Collaros will likely have the teams best chance UNLESS the running game begins to go wild led by Brady Oliveira and the Bombers’ big front.
9 (-) TRE FORD | EDMONTON ELKS | QB
Tre Ford returns to action in Week 16 with 473 yards, five touchdowns and one interception to his name (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)
Never say never, if Tre Ford goes on an all-time heater from here to the end of the regular season, he will get serious consideration and more than a handful of votes.
10 (-) MCLEOD BETHEL-THOMPSON | EDMONTON ELKS | QB
McLeod Bethel-Thompson has thrown for 3,098 yards, 19 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 games this season (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)
OR it could be the perfect poetic ending to Edmonton's up and down, back and forth season to Have McLeod Bethel-Thompson step in and finish what he started in Green and Gold with a home stretch to remember of his own.
