Highlighting the league’s best performers

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

Thanks to consistent demand from fans, we’re bringing you the top 10 highest-graded CFL players who played significant snaps, based on PFF’s grading system.

From quarterbacks dissecting defenses to defensive linemen wreaking havoc in the trenches, these are the athletes who stood out above the rest in Week 17. We’ll be highlighting this group every week of the season, so CFL fans can keep track of the top-tier talent making an impact across the league.

Want to dig deeper into the data? Click here for full season-level PFF grades across the CFL.

Grading Highlight of the Week: B.C. Lions defensive line

The B.C. Lions extended their win streak to three games with a 27-22 victory over the Toronto Argonauts last week. The defense played a key role, holding the Argos to just 28 rushing yards and recording four sacks on quarterback Nick Arbuckle. Three of the Lions’ defensive linemen finished as the top-graded players at their position, anchoring one of the most dominant defensive efforts of the season.

Edge rushers Mathieu Betts and Bradlee Anae, along with interior defender Jonah Tavai, were disruptive all night. The trio combined for five total tackles and two solo stops in the run game. Both Betts and Anae earned run-defense grades above 70.0 and did not register a single negatively graded play against the run.

Where the Lions’ defensive line truly shone, though, was as pass rushers. Betts, Anae and Tavai finished as the top three highest-graded pass rushers across the CFL in Week 17.

Mathieu Betts led the group with a dominant performance, racking up three sacks, a quarterback hit, five hurries and three additional pass-rush wins, earning an 88.5 pass-rush grade. Bradlee Anae wasn’t far behind, posting an 87.1 grade thanks to a sack, a hit, two hurries and three more wins. Jonah Tavai didn’t record a sack but generated consistent pressure with a hit, four hurries and three additional wins, good for a 78.2 pass-rush grade.

While this was just Anae’s second CFL game, Betts and Tavai have been making noise all season. Betts owns a 90.0 pass-rush grade — fourth-best in the league — and leads the CFL with 62 total pressures. Tavai ranks fourth among interior defenders with 33 pressures and third in pass-rush grade at 80.6.

With Anae already making an impact and two proven disruptors leading the way, this B.C. defensive line could be a nightmare matchup come playoff time.

Quarterback

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeZach CollarosWinnipeg Blue Bombers4091.2Cody FajardoEdmonton Elks4488.5Bo Levi MitchellHamilton Tiger-Cats4973.2Davis AlexanderMontreal Alouettes5469.1Nathan RourkeB.C. Lions5066.6Trevor HarrisSaskatchewan Roughriders7156.1Nick ArbuckleToronto Argonauts6156.0Vernon Adams Jr.Calgary Stampeders5346.5

Running Back

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeBrady OliveiraWinnipeg Blue Bombers5180.2Greg BellHamilton Tiger-Cats4972.9Justin RankinEdmonton Elks4072.5Dedrick MillsCalgary Stampeders5370.7A.J. OuelletteSaskatchewan Roughriders6666.6Spencer BrownToronto Argonauts5062.0Stevie Scott IIIMontreal Alouettes5861.4James ButlerB.C. Lions3760.1

Wide Receiver

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeNic DemskiWinnipeg Blue Bombers5184.8Tyler SneadMontreal Alouettes6080.9Justin McInnisB.C. Lions5073.9Kiondre SmithHamilton Tiger-Cats6272.2Kurleigh Gittens Jr.Edmonton Elks4471.9Dominique RhymesCalgary Stampeders5371.0Jake HerslowToronto Argonauts6170.7Kevin MitalToronto Argonauts5970.6Odieu HiliareEdmonton Elks2470.0Tyson PhilpotMontreal Alouettes6069.5

Tackle

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeKendall RandolphWinnipeg Blue Bombers5176.1Jermarcus HardrickSaskatchewan Roughriders7474.4Jarell BroxtonB.C. Lions3773.9Stanley BryantWinnipeg Blue Bombers5172.4Chris SchleugerB.C. Lions5070.0Quinton BarrowHamilton Tiger-Cats6268.5D’Antne DemeryCalgary Stampeders5767.2Brendan BordnerHamilton Tiger-Cats6265.3Nick CallenderMontreal Alouettes6264.1Tiger ShanksMontreal Alouettes6262.5

Guard

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeBrandon RevenbergHamilton Tiger-Cats6272.2Jacob BrammerSaskatchewan Roughriders7471.5Christy NkanuCalgary Stampeders5771.4Liam DobsonHamilton Tiger-Cats6270.5Donald VentrelliMontreal Alouettes6265.9Carter O’DonnellEdmonton Elks4665.3Mark Evans IIEdmonton Elks2265.0Zack WilliamsCalgary Stampeders5764.6Patrick NeufeldWinnipeg Blue Bombers5162.7Kory WoodruffB.C. Lions5062.7

Centre

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeChristopher FortinCalgary Stampeders5778.3Chris KolankowskiWinnipeg Blue Bombers5176.3Logan FerlandSaskatchewan Roughriders7472.2David BeardEdmonton Elks4669.3Justin LawrenceMontreal Alouettes6262.8Coulter WoodmanseyHamilton Tiger-Cats6258.7Peter NicastroToronto Argonauts6156.0Michael CoutureB.C. Lions5049.3

Interior Defender

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeJonah TavaiB.C. Lions4873.2Jaylon HutchingsCalgary Stampeders5070.9Miles FoxHamilton Tiger-Cats3969.8Nathan CherryB.C. Lions2169.1Ricky CorreiaToronto Argonauts2167.7Miles BrownCalgary Stampeders5564.2Tyreek JohnsonEdmonton Elks5263.8Jordan WilliamsEdmonton Elks4863.2Justin SambuCalgary Stampeders2262.2Tomasi LaulileB.C. Lions3461.6

Edge Defender

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeBradlee AnaeB.C. Lions2784.0Mathieu BettsB.C. Lions5582.9Clarence HicksCalgary Stampeders5676.0Habakkuk BaldonadoSaskatchewan Roughriders3871.4Willie JeffersonWinnipeg Blue Bombers4166.1James VaughtersWinnipeg Blue Bombers5065.8Julian HowsareHamilton Tiger-Cats4964.8Malik CarneySaskatchewan Roughriders4664.7Brandon BarlowEdmonton Elks5761.8Philip OssaiHamilton Tiger-Cats4261.4

Linebacker

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeBrock MogensenEdmonton Elks7481.3Cameron JudgeToronto Argonauts4776.7Tyrice BeveretteMontreal Alouettes5776.6Darnell SankeyMontreal Alouettes5774.8Kyle WilsonCalgary Stampeders4272.6Josh WoodsB.C. Lions6171.5Kyrie WilsonWinnipeg Blue Bombers4167.6Jaiden WoodbeyWinnipeg Blue Bombers6067.6Branden DozierToronto Argonauts4767.2Kenneth Logan Jr.Edmonton Elks7463.9

Cornerback

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeJ.J. RossEdmonton Elks7178.8Benny Sapp IIISaskatchewan Roughriders4478.6Kabion EntoMontreal Alouettes5772.5Willie Drew Jr.Toronto Argonauts4369.7Dexter Lawson Jr.Winnipeg Blue Bombers6066.8Lorenzo BurnsMontreal Alouettes5765.2Tyrell FordEdmonton Elks7165.2Benjie FranklinToronto Argonauts5064.0Garry PetersB.C. Lions6163.1Robert Carter Jr.B.C. Lions6162.4

Halfback

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeDestin TalbertHamilton Tiger-Cats4670.1Kobe WilliamsEdmonton Elks7468.8Deatrick NicholsWinnipeg Blue Bombers6267.4Kordell JacksonEdmonton Elks7466.5Evan HolmWinnipeg Blue Bombers6264.9Darrius BrattonToronto Argonauts5063.1Ronald Kent Jr.B.C. Lions5962.1Deontai WilliamsB.C. Lions6160.8Ciante EvansMontreal Alouettes5159.3Tarvarus McFaddenToronto Argonauts5058.9

Safety

NameTeamSnapsOverall GradeChelen GarnesEdmonton Elks7474.6Cam AllenWinnipeg Blue Bombers6068.9Jackson FindlayB.C. Lions6165.8Kosi OnyekaSaskatchewan Roughriders4459Marc-Antoine DequoyMontreal Alouettes5758.8Damon WebbCalgary Stampeders6258Stavros KatsantonisHamilton Tiger-Cats4957.7Derek SlywkaToronto Argonauts4740.8