Zach Collaros is done for six games, and now Winnipeg has to find a way to slow down the CFL's hottest passing attack without him under center.
This Week's CFL Schedule
Toronto Argonauts at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
| When | Friday, September 25 at 8:00 PM ET |
| Where | Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg |
| TV | TSN, CBS Sports Network |
| Stream | Watch live on CFL+ |
| Line | Toronto Argonauts -2 | O/U 58 |
Toronto has ripped off three straight and won this one 30-21 back in Week 6, but Winnipeg has taken seven of the last eight meetings between these two at home. Something has to give. The Argos bring the league's top passing offense (359.1 yards per game) into a building where the Bombers have allowed a league-low 64.7 percent completion rate, and last week Toronto somehow won while getting outgained on the ground -1 yard to positive territory — just the second team in 60 years to pull that off, joining the 1995 Birmingham Barracudas.
The Collaros injury news looms large. He's headed to the six-game injury list, which hands the keys to Dru Brown, who's actually 3-1 in his career against Toronto. Brady Oliveira remains the engine for Winnipeg regardless of who's throwing it — he's hit 100 rushing yards in three of his last four games and needs just three more triple-digit outings to break Andrew Harris's Canadian rushing record.
Players to Watch:
- Chad Kelly (Toronto Argonauts, QB) — 1,135 yards and seven touchdowns over his last three games, on a 6,142-yard, 40-TD full-season pace.
- Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, RB) — Winnipeg is 22-5 when he tops 100 yards, and he's three games from an all-time Canadian rushing record.
- Damonte Coxie (Toronto Argonauts, WR) — Sitting at 67 catches for 1,111 yards, he's the big-play piece defenses have to account for on the outside.
Injury Watch:
- Zach Collaros (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, QB) — Placed on the six-game injury list, hands starting duties to Dru Brown.
- Makai Polk (Toronto Argonauts, WR) — Back from a six-game injury absence and active for this one.
- Nolan Ulm (Toronto Argonauts, WR) — Returns from a single-game injury designation.
Pick: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 27-24. Toronto's ATS record sits at 7-6-1, but this series has been a house of horrors for the Argos, and Winnipeg's defense — plus Oliveira chasing history — gets it done at home.
Saskatchewan Roughriders at BC Lions
| When | Friday, September 25 at 10:30 PM ET |
| Where | BC Place Stadium, Vancouver |
| TV | TSN, CBS Sports Network |
| Stream | Watch live on CFL+ |
| Line | BC Lions -4 | O/U 62 |
The season series is split — Saskatchewan won in Week 2, BC answered in Week 12 — so whoever wins this one claims the tiebreaker and bragging rights. BC has won six of its last seven games and rolls in fresh off a 48-29 demolition of Montreal, while Saskatchewan is coming off its worst offensive showing of the year, a 19-6 loss to Winnipeg where the Riders were held to a season-low six points.
Nathan Rourke has been unstoppable lately, throwing for 300-plus yards in six straight starts, and Zander Horvath has been a touchdown machine with 19 total scores — 16 rushing and three receiving — putting him on pace for a CFL-record 26. Trevor Harris has owned this matchup historically at 11-5 career against BC, but he'll need a bounce-back after the shutout-adjacent effort last week. Mathieu Betts is one sack away from tying Ted Laurent for the most by a Quebec-born player, and he'll be teeing off on a Riders offensive line that just gave up a shutout of a performance.
Players to Watch:
- Nathan Rourke (BC Lions, QB) — Six straight 300-yard passing games and a 4-4 career mark against Saskatchewan.
- Zander Horvath (BC Lions, RB) — 19 total touchdowns has him chasing a CFL record of 26.
- KeeSean Johnson (Saskatchewan Roughriders, WR) — One catch away from a new career high, and the Riders need him to bail out a struggling offense.
Injury Watch:
- A.J. Ouellette (Saskatchewan Roughriders, RB) — Back from a single-game injury, gives the Riders a healthier backfield.
- Kian Schaffer-Baker (Saskatchewan Roughriders, WR) — Returns from a six-game injury stint, a boost for a passing game that badly needs one.
- Quali Conley (Saskatchewan Roughriders, RB) — Moved to the single-game injury list.
- C.J. Coldon Jr (BC Lions, DB) — Out for six games with injury.
Pick: BC Lions 30-20. Saskatchewan's offense just no-showed against Winnipeg, and Rourke and Horvath are playing at too high a level right now for the Riders to slow down at BC Place.
CFL Standings
| Team | W | L | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Alouettes | 11 | 3 | 498 | 410 |
| Edmonton Elks | 10 | 4 | 433 | 347 |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders | 8 | 5 | 375 | 340 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 8 | 6 | 415 | 403 |
| BC Lions | 7 | 6 | 397 | 357 |
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 7 | 6 | 345 | 352 |
| Calgary Stampeders | 6 | 8 | 490 | 479 |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 4 | 10 | 327 | 421 |
| Ottawa Redblacks | 0 | 13 | 308 | 479 |
Quick Hits
- Winnipeg added Taylor Elgersma off the reserve roster the same day Collaros went down, giving the Bombers extra depth behind Dru Brown at quarterback.
- Saskatchewan got a nice roster boost getting both A.J. Ouellette and Kian Schaffer-Baker back off injury designations right before facing a hot BC team.
- If you're building a fantasy lineup this week, Zander Horvath is the play — 19 total touchdowns and he's chasing a CFL record.
- BC has won six of its past seven games and looks like the league's most dangerous team outside of Montreal and Edmonton right now.
Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders
Who wins this week? Drop your picks in the comments.