• Saskatchewan QB Trevor Harris early frontrunner for MOP: Harris leads all players in the CFL with a 91.6 overall grade and is our pick for midseason Most Outstanding Player.

• DI Jaylon Hutchings is leading Calgary’s defensive resurgence: The interior defender is the highest-graded player on the defensive side of the ball at 86.5 overall, and has the inside track to the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award.

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Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes

With the 2025 CFL season almost halfway complete, stars have begun to separate themselves, and unsung storylines have emerged. Below is PFF’s assessment of the top players in the CFL by position, as well as the leaders in every major award race.

OFFENSE

QB: Trevor Harris, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Second Team: Nathan Rourke, B.C. Lions

RB: James Butler, B.C. Lions

Second Team: A.J. Ouellette, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Receiver: KeeSean Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Second Team: Nic Demski, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Receiver: Damonte Coxie, Toronto Argonauts

Second Team: Tyler Snead, Montreal Alouettes

Receiver: Keon Hatcher, B.C. Lions

Second Team: Dominique Rhymes, Calgary Stampeders

Receiver: Dohnte Meyers, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Second Team: Kiondre Smith, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Receiver: Kenny Lawler, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Second Team: Eugene Lewis, Ottawa Redblacks

LT: Jarell Broxton, B.C. Lions

Second Team: Nick Callender, Montreal Alouettes

LG: Pier-Olivier Lestage, Montreal Alouettes

Second Team: Brandon Revenberg, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

C: Coulter Woodmansey, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Second Team: Christopher Fortin, Calgary Stampeders

RG: Liam Dobson, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Second Team: Patrick Neufeld, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

RT: Jermarcus Hardrick, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Second Team: Joshua Coker, Calgary Stampeders

DEFENSE

DI: Jaylon Hutchings, Calgary Stampeders

Second Team: Jonah Tavai, B.C. Lions

DI: Mike Rose, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Second Team: Miles Fox, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Edge: Malik Carney, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Second Team: Willie Jefferson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Edge: Folarin Orimolade, Toronto Argonauts

Second Team: Mathieu Betts, B.C. Lions

LB: Tyrice Beverette, Montreal Alouettes

Second Team: Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, Montreal Alouettes

LB: Jovan Santos-Knox, Ottawa Redblacks

Second Team: Wynton McManis, Toronto Argonauts

Cover LB: Derrick Moncrief, Calgary Stampeders

Second Team: C.J. Reavis, Saskatchewan Roughriders

CB: Tevaughn Campbell, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Second Team: Tyrell Ford, Edmonton Elks

CB: Adrian Greene, Calgary Stampeders

Second Team: Tarvarus McFadden, Toronto Argonauts

HB: Destin Talbert, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Second Team: Jaydon Grant, Calgary Stampeders

HB: Rolan Milligan, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Second Team: Evan Holm, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

S: Stavros Katsantonis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Second Team: Cristophe Beaulieu, B.C. Lions

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: Sergio Castillo, Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Second Team: Jose Maltos, Montreal Alouettes

P: Nik Constantinou, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Second Team: Cody Grace, Edmonton Elks

LS: Jorgen Hus, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Second Team: Luke Burton-Krahn, Edmonton Elks

KR: Isaiah Wooden, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Second Team: Mario Alford, Saskatchewan Roughriders

PR: Kalil Pimpleton, Ottawa Redblacks

Second Team: Javon Leake, Edmonton Elks

Special Teams: Alexandre Gagne, Montreal Alouettes

Second Team: Tyron Vrede, Ottawa Redblacks

Most Outstanding Player: QB Trevor Harris, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Honorable Mentions: QB Nathan Rourke, RB James Butler, DI Jaylon Hutchings

No player has separated themselves from the pack too much for this award, but Trevor Harris should be the leader. The quarterback has been excellent so far this season, leading Saskatchewan to a first place 8-1 record.

There’s no quarterback in the CFL better than Harris at quickly discerning what the defense is doing and making the right throw. He leads the league with 49.0% of his throws going beyond the sticks, while also having the fastest average time to throw in the league at 2.21 seconds. He’s one of three quarterbacks with an adjusted completion percentage above 80.0% and also has the best big-time throw percentage in the league at 7.8%. Harris has done all that while missing one of his top receivers, Samuel Emilus, for most of the season.

Harris has the highest PFF passing grade in the CFL at 91.0, so it’s no surprise that his 91.6 overall PFF grade is the highest among any player in the league. This season has plenty of excellent players, but Harris stands at the top at this point in the year.

Most Outstanding Defensive Player: DI Jaylon Hutchings, Calgary Stampeders

Honorable Mentions: EDGE Malik Carney, CB Tevaughn Campbell, FS Stavros Katsantonis

Like the Most Outstanding Player award, there’s no runaway favourite for this award. However, what Jaylon Hutchings has done this season should put him at the front of the pack.

Hutchings has been the best defensive player in the league this season, and the main reason that the Stampeders have one of the top defenses in the CFL. As a run defender, Hutchings leads all defensive linemen with 22 total tackles, 13 solo run stops and an 86.1 PFF run-defense grade. As a pass rusher, he’s added six sacks and 27 total pressures, the ninth-most in the CFL. His 6.6 pass-rushing productivity score ranks eighth. 

Hutchings is doing all this despite receiving some form of a double team on 51.6% of his plays. That’s the fourth-highest double-team rate among all defenders in the league. The production he’s achieved, despite those double-team numbers, is staggering. It’s the reason his 86.5 overall PFF grade is the highest among any defender in the CFL, and why he’s the frontrunner for this award.

Most Outstanding Rookie: C Christopher Fortin, Calgary Stampeders

Honorable Mentions: S Derek Slywka, WR Damien Alford, RB Travis Theis

While rookies like Slywka and Alford get more attention because of the positions they play, there hasn’t been a rookie more impactful than Christopher Fortin has been for Calgary. 

The 2025 first-round draft pick took over for injured centre Bryce Bell in Calgary’s Week Two game, and hasn’t looked back since. Fortin has anchored one of the best rushing attacks in the CFL, putting up a 71.0 PFF run-blocking grade that ranks sixth among all CFL offensive linemen. As a pass protector, Fortin has yet to allow a sack and has surrendered just seven total pressures across 242 pass-blocking snaps. His 98.8 pass-blocking efficiency score is second among centres and seventh in the whole CFL.

Halfway through the season, Fortin boasts a 71.8 overall PFF grade that ranks fifth among all offensive linemen in the league. At this point, he’s playing more like a six-year veteran than a rookie and deserves this top rookie award.

Most Outstanding Canadian: QB Nathan Rourke, British Columbia Lions

Honorable Mentions: CB Tevaughn Campbell, FS Stavros Katsantonis, CB Adrian Greene

Canadians are once again having plenty of incredible seasons at all positions. There are plenty of names to choose from for this award, but Nathan Rourke is the top choice thus far.

Rourke struggled a bit in his return to Canada midway through last season, but he’s all the way back to being one of the best quarterbacks in the CFL. He currently ranks third with an 84.3 PFF passing grade. Beyond that, his 7.1% big-time throw rate is the second-highest in the league, while his 3.0% turnover-worthy play rate is tied for second-lowest. Rourke also has the highest PFF rushing grade of any quarterback by far at 88.9, thanks to his 264 yards and 13 missed tackles forced on 35 rushes. 

Rourke just barely trails Trevor Harris for the spot of highest-graded player in the CFL at 90.6 overall. Still, he’s well on his way to winning his second Most Outstanding Canadian award.

Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: RT Jermarcus Hardrick, Saskatchewan Roughriders

Honorable Mentions: LT Jarell Broxton, C Coulter Woodmansey, LT Nick Callender

While many of the awards have been toss-ups at the top, this one is not. With all due respect to the offensive linemen around the league, this prize is Jermarcus Hardrick’s to lose. 

Halfway through the season, the Roughriders have anchored the league’s strongest rushing attack while also allowing the second-fewest pressures. Hardrick has been the king of both. His 79.6 PFF run-blocking grade ranks second among all offensive linemen, and his 81.3 PFF pass-blocking grade sits second as well. Over 279 pass-blocking snaps, Hardrick has not given up a sack and surrendered just five total pressures.

Hardrick has earned an 82.6 overall grade right now, the highest among all offensive linemen. The second-highest (Nick Callender of Montreal) is at 74.9 overall. Hardrick is having a phenomenal season, and if he continues to play at this level, then this award is a lock.

John Argo Special Teams Award: Returner Isaiah Wooden, Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Honorable Mentions: PK Sergio Castillo, PK Jose Maltos, ST Alexandre Gagne

It’s easy to give this award to a kick returner instead of highlighting a top-flight special teams player. But Isaiah Wooden has been so good this season that he’s left no other choice. 

Hamilton’s speedy kick returner leads the CFL with a 31.1-yard kickoff return average, two touchdowns and a 0.58 missed tackles forced rate. As a punt returner, he also leads the league with a 15.4-yard average, another touchdown and a 0.72 missed tackles forced rate.

Wooden has a 90.7 overall PFF return grade, the clear highest in the league. As such, he’s the runaway leader for this award.

Annis Stuckus Trophy (Coach of the Year): Dave Dickenson, Calgary Stampeders

Honorable Mentions: Corey Mace, Scott Milanovich

While Corey Mace has been impressive, coaching his Roughriders to a league-best 8-1 record, Saskatchewan entered the season with expectations to not only compete for the West Division title but also the Grey Cup. Meanwhile, Dave Dickenson’s Calgary Stampeders had the longest Grey Cup odds in the league.

Before the season, PFF ranked all CFL teams by their position groups. Calgary ranked outside the top four in all but one group (quarterback), and its average defensive rank was 8.67. Halfway through the season, Calgary has already won more games than last season (six to five) and sits second in the West at 6-3.

The Stampeders’ defense is the No. 1 scoring defense in the CFL, allowing just 19.6 offensive points per game. The group also ranks first in second-down conversion percentage (44.8%) and touchdown drives allowed (10.6%). That stingy defense complements one of the league’s top offenses.

Simply put, the Calgary coaching staff has turned this team from a basement dweller to a legitimate Grey Cup threat. Dickenson deserves this award for the work that he’s done in getting the bunch to this point.