• Impressive performance for WR Kiondre Smith: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats receiver led the league this week with four explosive receptions and an 84.0 receiving grade.

• Calgary DI Jaylon Hutchings continues season of dominance: Hutchings won this week’s pass rusher of the week award after recording a sack, a hit, and five additional hurries.

• Win with PFF+: From draft day to championship week, PFF+ is the ultimate fantasy sidekick. Get the Fantasy Mock Draft Simulator, Live Draft Assistant, Fantasy Draft Kit, weekly waiver suggestions, Start/Sit Optimizer and more.

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes

Labour Day Weekend is in the rearview, and the CFL is officially in the home stretch. Week 13 featured statement wins by Saskatchewan and Calgary in the West as both continue to battle for the top playoff seed. In the East, the Toronto Argonauts secured a second straight win and are now just one victory away from clinching a playoff spot despite a 2-8 start.

It’s no surprise the winning teams dominate this week’s CFL Team of the Week. The Argonauts lead the way with seven selections, while the Stampeders are close behind with six. Meanwhile, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers had just two players make the team — the fewest of any CFL club.

OFFENSE

• QB: Nick Arbuckle, Toronto
• RB: Spencer Brown, Toronto
• Receiver: Kiondre Smith, Hamilton
• Receiver: Kenny Lawler, Hamilton
• Receiver: Dejon Brissett, Toronto
• Receiver: Clark Barnes, Calgary
• Receiver: Nic Demski, Winnipeg
• LT: Stanley Bryant, Winnipeg
• LG: Zack Williams, Calgary
• C: Peter Nicastro, Toronto
• RG: Jacob Brammer, Saskatchewan
• RT: Quinton Barrow, Hamilton

DEFENSE

• DI: Jaylon Hutchings, Calgary
• DI: Miles Fox, Hamilton
• Edge: Malik Carney, Saskatchewan
• Edge: Brandon Barlow, Edmonton
• LB: Kyler Fisher, Hamilton
• LB: Wynton McManis, Toronto
• Cover LB: Chelen Garnes, Edmonton
• CB: Tevaughn Campbell, Saskatchewan
• CB: Benjie Franklin, Toronto
• HB: DaMarcus Fields, Saskatchewan
• HB: Kobe Williams, Edmonton
• S: Damon Webb, Calgary

SPECIAL TEAMS

• K: Rene Paredes, Calgary
• P: Mark Vassett, Calgary
• Returner: Janarion Grant, Toronto

QUARTERBACK OF THE WEEK: QB NICK ARBUCKLE, TORONTO 

It was another strong outing for Nick Arbuckle, who led Toronto to its second straight win. The Argonauts quarterback completed 33 of 40 passes for 351 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. While his average depth of target was just 7.1 yards, Arbuckle’s 85.7% adjusted completion rate led the league in Week 13. He also connected on three big-time throws and avoided any turnover-worthy plays — a notable improvement.

Ball security has been an issue this season for Arbuckle, whose 4.3% turnover-worthy play rate still exceeds his 3.3% big-time throw rate. If he can continue to flip that trend, Toronto could be poised for a strong finish.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: WR KIONDRE SMITH, HAMILTON

Despite Hamilton’s last-second loss, the offense turned in a strong performance, led by wide receiver Kiondre Smith. Smith hauled in seven of eight targets for a league-high 171 receiving yards. Six of those receptions moved the chains, including four explosive plays. He also led the CFL in Week 13 with 105 yards after the catch and 4.75 yards per route run, earning an 84.0 receiving grade — the highest of the week.

Smith is enjoying a breakout season and is on pace for 85 catches and nearly 1,200 yards. His 74.7 receiving grade ranks sixth among all CFL receivers this year.

OFFENSIVE LINE OF THE WEEK: CALGARY STAMPEDERS

The Stampeders look like the CFL’s top team right now, thanks in large part to their dominant offensive line. Calgary’s unit earned a league-best 69.8 overall grade in Week 13, including a 72.6 run-blocking mark that helped its backs average 1.9 yards before contact per carry — the second-highest figure of the week. In pass protection, the group surrendered just one sack and a league-low five total pressures.

Left guard Zack Williams once again led the way, posting an 82.7 run-blocking grade — the highest in the CFL — while allowing only one hurry in pass protection.

PASS RUSHER OF THE WEEK: DI JAYLON HUTCHINGS, CALGARY

Jaylon Hutchings continued his campaign for Most Outstanding Defensive Player with another dominant performance. The interior defender racked up a sack, a hit, five hurries and an additional win in Week 13. His 17.1% pass rush win rate and 20.0% pressure rate both ranked in the top five across the CFL, while his seven total pressures were the third-most. He finished with an 87.1 pass-rush grade.

On the season, Hutchings leads all interior defenders with 39 total pressures and an 83.8 pass-rush grade.

RUN DEFENDER OF THE WEEK: ED MALIK CARNEY, SASKATCHEWAN

While Hutchings remains the front-runner for Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Malik Carney is making his case. Known for his pass-rushing ability, Carney stood out this week with his run defense, earning the highest overall grade in the league at 91.6. He recorded two solo stops, including a key tackle for loss and a goal-line stop, adding another run-defense win to finish with a league-best 82.0 run-defense grade.

Carney now has 11 solo run stops on the season, the third-most among all edge defenders.

COVERAGE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: CB TEVAUGHN CAMPBELL, SASKATCHEWAN

This week’s player awards roundup was particularly compelling, as it highlights the top three contenders for the season-long Most Outstanding Defensive Player race: Hutchings, Carney, and now Campbell. Jihaad Campbell put up another dominant performance for Saskatchewan, giving up just one catch for nine yards on four targets. He forced an incompletion and—most notably—intercepted a two-point conversion attempt before returning it for a game-sealing score. Campbell led the CFL with an 84.7 coverage grade.

Through the season, he’s allowed just 23 catches and nine first downs on 44 targets. He’s added three standard interceptions (not including the two-point return) and broken up six passes, leading the league with a 90.1 coverage grade.