Photo: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography / 3DownNation. All rights reserved.
The 2026 CFL season has reached the halfway point, and top performers have been easy to identify.
Everyone knows of the record-setting trajectory that Davis Alexander and Tyson Philpot are on. Dedrick Mills’ prowess on the ground has been no secret. The sack race between Clarence Hicks and Mathieu Betts, and duelling interceptions from Tyrell Ford and Ben Labrosse have all been given time in print. Still, those box score statistics tell only part of the story.
Buried beneath every play is a mountain of data waiting to be uncovered. Dating back to 2022, Pro Football Focus, the CFL’s analytics partner, has been grading every snap and recording hundreds of advanced statistics unavailable to the general public. While snippets have been drip-fed to fans, only those working within football have had access to the full breadth of information.
This year, I’ve managed to take a peek behind the curtain at that carefully guarded data. Today, I share a fraction of that access with you, highlighting the leaders or laggards in 20 key player statistics that might otherwise be left up to speculation.
Take all of this data with a grain of salt. The information collected is not my own, and I cannot independently confirm its validity. PFF’s process has always been controversial in football circles and rife for valid criticism. After massive organizational changes this year, that is probably more true than ever.
Consider this a conversation starter, rather than a full-throated endorsement. However, I share these selected statistics in the hope that fans find them as interesting (and informative) as I have.
Lowest average time to throw (min. 50 attempts): Trevor Harris, Saskatchewan Roughriders — 2.12 seconds
Trevor Harris gets the ball out fast. You’ve heard analysts say that a thousand times, but it’s impossible to fully comprehend just how quick the 40-year-old’s release is without looking at the raw numbers. The gap between Harris and the second-fastest CFL QB is 0.28 seconds, which is equivalent to the gap between second and ninth place, and he is 1.08 seconds faster than the slowest trigger-man, Hamilton’s Tre Ford. His average time to throw is also faster than any NFL starter’s over the past several years, and better than any season PFF has on record for legends Tom Brady or Peyton Manning.
Next up: Bo Levi Mitchell, HAM (2.40) | Harrison Frost, HAM (2.41) | Dru Brown, WPG (2.43) | Cody Fajardo, EDM (2.45)
Most big-time throws: Chad Kelly, Toronto Argonauts — 21
While this might be a slightly more subjective metric than most on this list, PFF uses “big-time throws” to describe passes that fall at the highest end of its grading scale. In order to qualify, the throw must be both difficult to deliver (which often means attacking tight windows or pressing down the field) and perfectly placed. Kelly has been a boom-or-bust pivot this year, but his elite arm talent allows him to connect on passes other players can only dream of. That has kept Toronto competitive despite limitations in other areas.
Next up: Trevor Harris, SSK (15) | Davis Alexander, MTL (13) | Vernon Adams Jr., CGY (13) | Cody Fajardo, EDM (12)
Most turnover-worthy plays: Vernon Adams Jr., Calgary Stampeders — 21
This is a perfect example of how traditional box scores tend to fib. Adams’ run of interception-free play, which ended in Week 10, generated a lot of headlines, but there have been plenty of moments where he has put the ball in jeopardy and not been punished. While Stampeders’ QB has been picked off just twice this year, he has thrown more batted passes (12) and had more passes broken up (27) than any other signal-caller. He’s also scrambled a league-high 23 times, which can be as dangerous as it is exciting.
Next up: Chad Kelly, TOR (20) | Trevor Harris, SSK (18) | Jake Maier, OTT (16) | Dru Brown, WPG (15)
Photo: Gord Weber/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Most contested catches: Ayden Eberhardt, Ottawa Redblacks — 15
During his time with the B.C. Lions, Eberhardt was primarily known as a supplementary deep-threat. Since signing with the Redblacks in free agency, he’s become a legitimate number one target, in no small part due to his ability to make tough catches. 28 percent of his receptions this year have come in contact with a defender, and he has only failed to reel in seven contested targets. Through nine games, his 15 contested catches are equal to his previous career total.
Next up: Justin McInnis, BC (11) | Justin Hardy, OTT (11) | T.J. Luther, EDM (10) | KeeSean Johnson, SSK (10)
Most dropped passes: Austin Mack, Edmonton Elks — 8
Since reuniting with his old friend Cody Fajardo in Edmonton, Mack has enjoyed a career renaissance and currently sits fifth in receptions (55), third in receiving yards (824), and tied for second in receiving touchdowns (6). Drops have been his only sore spot, as he has already doubled his season total from 2025 and notched two more than he did in all of 2023. Fortunately, the 28-year-old hasn’t let a pass slip in the past two games, though he has fumbled in both of the contests and also sits tied for the league lead in that category with three overall.
Next up: Justin McInnis, BC (6) | Kaion Julien-Grant, EDM (5) | KeeSean Johnson, SSK (5) | Justin Hardy, OTT (5)
Most forced missed tackles (offence): Justin Rankin, Edmonton Elks — 70
Rankin has cooled considerably from his historic pace to start the season, but he remains a magician when it comes to making the first man miss — and often the second and third. Because of his prolific activity as both a rusher and a receiver, the Elks’ star back has left defenders grasping at air on 43.8 percent of his 170 total touches — only Nathan Rourke and Damonte Coxie boast a higher percentage on more than 10 carries or receptions. It should be noted that missed tackles forced in the return game aren’t counted here; Winnipeg’s Trey Vaval leads the way on special teams with 47.
Next up: Dedrick Mills, CGY (47) | Brady Oliveira, WPG (36) | Travis Theis, MTL (34) | Damonte Coxie, TOR (23) | Larry Rountree III, HAM (23)
Most pressures allowed: Brandon Kemp, Toronto Argonauts — 39
The Argos made it a point of emphasis to improve their offensive line this offseason, and in some ways they’ve succeeded, but their tackle play leaves a lot to be desired. Kemp has struggled mightily on the right side, allowing pressure on 11.2 percent of his pass-blocking snaps. He has also been beaten by defenders on 33 plays in which pressure didn’t result because of outside factors. Chad Kelly’s escapability has made the result just three sacks surrendered, but he has been hit a league-high 13 times due to the 29-year-old. Sadly, his left tackle, Desmond Bland, is second in hits allowed with 11 surrendered; no other lineman has allowed more than six.
Next up: Giordano Vaccaro, OTT (29) | Desmond Bland, TOR (29) | D’Antne Demery, CGY (25) | Zack Williams, CGY (24)
Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks.
Lowest pressure percentage allowed (min. 150 pass-blocking snaps): David Beard, Edmonton Elks — 0.8 percent
When Beard was forced to miss three games due to injury, it wreaked havoc on the Elks’ pass protection. This statistic shows why, as the 2024 All-CFL selection has surrendered just two pressures across 251 pass-blocking snaps. Centres generally allow less pressure than other positions on the offensive line because they operate in tighter quarters, but the 33-year-old from Sherwood Park, Alta., has taken that to another level while keeping Cody Fajardo clean.
Next up: Peter Nicastro, TOR (1.3) | Nick Callender, MTL (2.4) | Pier-Olivier Lestage, MTL (2.4) | Jermarcus Hardrick, SSK (2.4) | Jacob Brammer, SSK (2.4) | Payton Collins, SSK (2.4)
Highest impact run-block percentage (min. 100 run-blocking snaps): Christy Nkanu, Calgary Stampeders — 14.1 percent
It is harder to statistically quantify success in the run game for individual offensive linemen than it is in the passing game, but PFF does keep track of the number of positively graded plays for each player. “Impact blocks” are those that go beyond expected results and constitute an outright victory for the offensive player, and nobody produces them more frequently than Nkanu. The 2024 first-round pick has been a major component in Dedrick Mills’ ascent to the top of the CFL rushing charts. On the flip side, the Stampeders’ right guard has been “defeated” on 9.7 percent of his run blocks — good for the 10th lowest in the league. Montreal’s Pier-Olivier Lestage leads the way with the lowest percentage of “defeated” run blocks at just 6.3 percent.
Next up: Bakyne Coly, CGY (13.7) | Liam Dobson, HAM (12.2) | Carter O’Donnell, EDM (11.5) | Pier-Olivier Lestage, MTL (11.5)
Worst defeated run-block percentage (min. 100 run-blocking snaps): Michael Couture, B.C. Lions — 20.6 percent
The Lions have found their running game in recent weeks thanks to the emergence of big Zander Horvath, but that hasn’t been from running behind their centre. Couture has received negative grades on more than a fifth of his road-grading opportunities this year, while being credited with “impact” wins on 6.1 percent. The Burnaby, B.C., native tends to struggle against bigger gap-pluggers and has been beaten for tackles on his running back on 12 occasions.
Next up: Brandon Kemp, TOR (19.1) | Drew Desjarlais, OTT (18.6) | D’Antne Demery, CGY (18.4) | Tyler Elsbury, WPG (18.2)
Highest pass-rush win rate (min. 150 pass-rush snaps): Clarence Hicks, Calgary Stampeders — 22.4 percent
To be clear, Hicks also has the outright lead in total defensive pressures with 56, which is 14 more than Malik Carney in second place, but I think pass-rush win rate provides a better overall assessment of his dominance. This formula adds plays in which the defender beat his blocker but could not generate a pressure due to outside factors to the equation, while also removing unblocked and clean-up pressures from the mix. The result is just the rate at which a player is beating the man across from him, which in the case of 3DownNation‘s midseason Most Outstanding Defensive Player is almost a quarter of the time.
Next up: Caleb Sanders, SSK (22.0) | Jake Ceresna, WPG (20.2) | Malik Carney, EDM (19.8) | Willie Jefferson, WPG (19.5)
Lowest pass-rush win rate (min. 150 pass-rush snaps): Daniel Wise, Montreal Alouettes — 6.3 percent
The opportunity to rush the passer does not always equate to success doing so, as Wise has exemplified thus far. The 30-year-old rookie defensive tackle has notched two sacks this year, but only 11 total pressures on 221 attempts. Of those, one was unblocked, and four were clean-up pressures generated by other players. An important caveat is that Noel Thorpe’s blitz-heavy scheme likely plays a role in handcuffing Wise and others, as teammate Mustafa Johnson ranks second here, while Josh Archibald and Lwal Uguak would have topped the list if the minimum pass-rush requirement was dropped to 100 snaps.
Next up: Mustafa Johnson, MTL (6.5) | Philip Ossai, HAM (6.8) | Jared Brinkman, EDM (6.9) | Luiji Vilain, OTT (7.1)
Photo: Guang Quan/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Most defensive stops: Adarius Pickett, Toronto Argonauts — 24
Not all tackles are created equal, and “defensive stops” represent only those plays that constitute a situational loss for the offence — less than 45 percent of the distance needed on first down, less than 60 percent on second down, and short of the sticks on third down. While you could quibble with those definitions in the CFL context, rest assured that when Pickett gets his hands on you, it is often bad news. Technically, Toronto’s strong-side linebacker is a three-way tie with teammate Isaac Darkangelo and Winnipeg’s Tony Jones in this category, though I choose to give him the edge because he outright leads the CFL with nine tackles for loss or no gain.
Next up: Tony Jones, WPG (24) | Isaac Darkangelo, TOR (24) | Jameer Thurman, SSK (22) | Clarence Hicks, CGY (21)
Most missed tackles: Antoine Brooks Jr., Saskatchewan Roughriders — 19
Brooks has competently filled the shoes left by C.J. Reavis as Saskatchewan’s strong-side linebacker, and is currently tied for the most defensive tackles in the CFL with 53. His reliability has left something to be desired, however, as he is currently missing 21.1 percent of the tackles he attempts. While nobody has initiated first contact more frequently this season, his struggles have affected him almost equally against the run (8) and the pass (11).
Next up: Joel Dublanko, EDM (16) | Isaac Darkangelo, TOR (15) | Alonzo Addae, OTT (14) | Jaxon Ford, SSK (13)
Lowest missed tackle percentage (min. 30 attempts): Darnell Sankey, B.C. Lions — 4.3 percent
If you had to bet on one man to make a tackle with the game on the line, Sankey should be your first choice. The three-time all-star has been unbelievably reliable since joining the Lions this offseason, making 47 defensive tackles and missing just three attempts all year. The 31-year-old has often been a stalwart in the middle throughout his career, but this level of tackling efficiency is exceptional even by his standards, as he missed 7.3 percent during his previous best year in 2025.
Next up: Marquel Lee, CGY (6.4) | Braxton Hill, HAM (7.3) | Nyles Morgan, OTT (7.8) | Damon Webb, CGY (7.9)
Most passing touchdowns allowed: Deatrick Nichols, Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 6
General skepticism is warranted when looking at advanced stats that blame individual defenders for coverage results, as it is not always clear, without inside insight, who is responsible for whom. I will only indulge here as it pertains to the end zone, where PFF has pointed the finger most frequently at Nichols for coverage busts. The 32-year-old has been one of the CFL’s best halfbacks since making his way to Canada in 2021, but appears to have taken a step back this year.
Next up: T.J. Lee, BC (5) | Ronald Kent Jr., BC (5) | Jackson Findlay, BC (4) | Jake Kelly, WPG (4) | Tarvarus McFadden, TOR (4) | Damon Webb, CGY (4)
Photo: Samantha Keen/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Most forced incompletions: Major Williams, Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 10
In order to break up a lot of passes as a cornerback, you need to be regularly targeted, and that has certainly been true of Williams. 61 passes have been thrown in the direction of the Bombers’ rookie this year, second only to Antoine Brooks Jr., but he has held up well, allowing just 34 catches. 10 of those have fallen incomplete as a direct result of his actions in coverage, nine of which he actually got a hand on. The 24-year-old has also picked off a pass, quietly establishing himself as one of the league’s best newcomers.
Next up: Anthony Johnson, CGY (9) | Lorenzo Burns, MTL (9) | Kobe Williams, EDM (8) | James Ceasar, TOR (8)
Highest average punt hangtime: James Burnip, Toronto Argonauts — 4.41 seconds
You can decide for yourself whether Burnip should qualify here, given that he has only played in four games and punted 18 times. However, the Alabama product’s booming leg has been pretty remarkable over a small sample size, giving the Argos’ coverage team plenty of time to get downfield. You have to wonder whether the Redblacks will come to rue the day they traded him away, as he is on an impressive early trajectory.
Next up: Jake Julien, EDM (4.21) | Oscar Chapman, SSK (4.14) | Noah Gettman, OTT (3.98) | Carl Meyer, BC (3.97)
Most bad snaps: Bradley Hladik, Edmonton Elks — 14
An injury to Luke Burton-Krahn, arguably the league’s best long snapper, has forced the younger Hladik into the lineup for Edmonton, and the results have been inconsistent at best. The Vernon, B.C., native sure can whip the ball back, as a league-high 91.5 percent of his punt snaps have arrived in under 0.9 seconds, but his placement has left a lot to be desired — five sent high, four too low, four to the left, and one to the right. That might give you a greater appreciation for Jake Julien’s punting success, but it shouldn’t affect your view of Vincent Blanchard, as Hladik has yet to record a bad snap on a field goal.
Next up: Louis-Philippe Bourassa, MTL (11) | Cam Foran, BC (7) | Jason MacGougan, CGY (6) | Ian Leroux, WPG (6) | Adam Guillemette, TOR (6)
Most penalties committed: Desmond Evans, Saskatchewan Roughriders — 9
Evans has been a very nice rookie addition for the Riders, but has largely flown under the radar while amassing 28 total pressures, which ties him for ninth in the CFL. Unfortunately, a disproportionate amount of his best plays have been erased by penalty, with eight of the nine flags thrown against him being accepted. Among those accepted infractions are three offsides, three roughing the passers, one unnecessary roughness penalty, and one horse-collar.
Next up: Isaiah Bagnah, HAM (7) | Clarence Hicks, CGY (7) | Deontai Williams, BC (7) | Brendan Bordner, EDM (7)
