REGINA – When a team is having a season like the Edmonton Elks, it’s easy to think that as their most productive player goes, so they go. And there’s little question that if running back Justin Rankin is on his game, the Elks could be the best team in the CFL.
But TSN analyst Glen Suitor warns that teams focus solely on Rankin at their peril – and that allowing quarterback Cody Fajardo free reign can lead to all sorts of disappointing outcomes.
Suitor joined the SportsCage for a special edition of his Press Coverage segment on Wednesday afternoon and was quick to point out that for as much attention as Rankin has received this season, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will need to keep a special eye on the Elks quarterback when the teams meet Thursday at Mosaic Stadium.
“I still don't think enough credit is given to Cody Fajardo for what he does,” Suitor said before going on to point out that Fajardo has the highest career pass completion record in CFL history – a few points ahead of Riders quarterback Trevor Harris. “I don't know what the superpower of Cody Fajardo is. He's not flashy, but he's super accurate and when you're really accurate, you give your receivers a chance to get yards after the catch. So I think they are a well-balanced team with a good defence and it might be a mistake for opponents now to say, if we shut down Rankin, we can win the game. I think there's more to it.”
As one might expect with Edmonton’s 5-1 record, Fajardo is having himself one heck of a season, having completed 147 passes for 1,781 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions across six games.
Austin Mack has been Fajardo’s top target with 30 catches for 406 yards, but he hasn’t been afraid to spread the ball around, either. Three other receivers in Rankin (343 yards), T.J. Luther (290) and Kaion Julien-Grant have over 200 yards receiving, and Joshua Cephus is right behind them with 192 yards.
That’s a lot of weapons, and doesn’t even take into account running back Javon Leake, whose presence and ability to spell off Rankin gives the Elks a dangerous one-two punch – not unlike Saskatchewan with A.J. Ouellette and Thomas Bertrand-Hudon.
“Javon Leake is another different type of threat and there's a possibility that they could both be on the field at the same time, and that puts a real bind of pressure on your linebacking crews,” Suitor said, adding that Fajardo’s willingness to grind out drives makes good use of Edmonton’s complete offence.
“It's a well-balanced team with a very accurate thrower and a guy that doesn't mind at all in going 10-, 15-, 12-play drives. He's all for that because it does two things: If you're at 12 or 15 plays in a drive, you're ending up with points, either a field goal or a touchdown, and you're keeping Trevor Harris on the bench. And that's a good formula for success if you're playing against a great team like Saskatchewan.”
The contest will also act as a tester for the clubs’ defences, with both teams coming off impressive showings in their most recent outings. Saskatchewan took a 38-7 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats back on July 12 prior to their second bye week; Edmonton downed B.C. 19-17 in their Week 7 game.
“I would say Saskatchewan may have the best secondary in the league, but this Edmonton defence is playing championship level football,” Suitor said. “I think their secondary going through those bumps in the road last year really helped. They kept them together and now, with (former Roughrider) Malik Carney up front helping out and Noah Taylor, another great defensive lineman, they look good. They're going to have their hands full, but again, good balance.”
One thing that's for certain is there’s little question Edmonton will be coming out gunning. Thanks to their 2025 Grey Cup championship, the Riders have become a team with a target on their back, and they’ll undoubtedly be facing the best the Elks have to offer.
“I’ve talked to coaches on our Zoom calls and they sometimes, without being asked, will sort of leak that in order to get where we want to get, we have to beat Saskatchewan,” Suitor said. “That used to be something that was said about Winnipeg all the time and now it's said about Saskatchewan because of last year and the year before. Teams are saying if we want to be considered a championship team, we got to beat the Riders, so they have to be ready for that.”
The Rider Broadcast Network pregame show begins at 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, and the Voice of the Roughriders Dave Thomas and analyst Luc Mullinder will have the game call at kickoff at 7 p.m.
