Justin Rankin isn't just having a great season
He's putting together one of the hottest starts the CFL has ever seen.
Through five games, the Edmonton Elks running back has piled up an incredible 810 yards from scrimmage. That is more than any player in CFL history through five games. Including Hall of Famer Mike Pringle, who had 530 yards at the same point during his record-setting 1998 season.
If Rankin maintains his current pace, he would break Pringle's all-time single-season record of 2,414 yards from scrimmage. He is also on pace to become the first player in CFL history to record 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.
What makes Rankin's season so remarkable is his versatility. Most elite running backs do their damage on the ground.
Rankin is doing it everywhere.
His toughest game of the season came two weeks ago against the BC Lions. Edmonton fell behind early, and the Lions limited him to just 19 rushing yards on seven carries. Even then, Rankin still took over the game in another way. Despite the Elks losing that game. Rankin showed how dangerous he is.
He caught 10 passes for 100 yards. According to CFL game statistics, an astonishing 93 of those 100 receiving yards came after the catch. Showing his ability to turn short completions into explosive plays.
That performance says everything about Rankin's value. When defenses close the running lanes, he becomes another receiver. When linebackers widen to defend the pass, he attacks between the tackles.
Very few players can force defenses to adjust on every snap
That is why Edmonton's offense is so difficult to defend. When Rankin is producing as both a runner and a receiver, the Elks become one of the CFL's most balanced teams. Opponents can't focus on stopping just one part of the offense because Rankin creates problems from every alignment.
History is still months away. There are plenty of games left, and records are never easy to break. But through five games, Justin Rankin isn't simply leading the CFL. He's setting a pace the league has never seen before.