Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo has been named the CFL’s top performer for the month of August.
Riders defensive lineman Jonathan Woodard and B.C. Lions QB Michael Reilly came in second and third place respectively. The selections include all appearances from Weeks 1 to 4.
The three players were chosen by a panel of judges comprised of former CFL players Matt Dunigan and Duane Forde of TSN, as well as Pierre Vercheval of RDS, who independently send their selections to the CFL head office.
QB | CODY FAJARDO | SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Fajardo guided Saskatchewan to an undefeated 3-0 record to start the season and put the Riders in first place as they enter Labour Day Weekend.
Through his first three games, Fajardo has completed a league-best 78.8 percent of his passes while throwing for 773 yards with four touchdown passes to only one interception. Along the ground he has added 139 yards and scored another two touchdowns.
He is also the lone player in the league to be named a CFL top performer of the week multiple times this year (Week 2 and 3.)
Against Hamilton in Week 2, the 2019 Most Outstanding Player finalist had an efficient game all around by completing 17-of-25 passes for 222 yards, added 66 rushing yards and contributing three touchdowns (two pass, one rush.)
He followed up that performance in Week 3 against Ottawa by passing for 321 yards and completing 85.7 percent of his passes.
Fajardo is in his fifth season in the CFL, second with the Roughriders.
DL | JONATHAN WOODARD | SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Fajardo’s teammate Woodard was another key piece in the Roughriders roaring start to the 2021 season.
In his first three games in the CFL, the Brentwood, Tennessee native has racked up five sacks leading the league in that category while adding five tackles and one forced fumble.
His best game came in Week 2 against the B.C. Lions when he recorded three sacks accumulating a loss of 21 yards and added two tackles in the game.
In Week 3, he made it consecutive games with multiple sacks after bringing down Matt Nichols twice.
Collegiately, Woodard played at Central Arkansas.
QB | MICHAEL REILLY | BC LIONS
Through the first four weeks of the season, despite a nagging elbow injury, Reilly has led the B.C. Lions to a 2-2 record and has put up impressive numbers in the process.
Reilly currently leads the league with 974 passing yards, completing 71.7 percent of his passes with two touchdowns. He continues to add a presence in the running game with 40 yards rushing and has a share of the league-lead with three rushing touchdowns on the season.
This season he has notched two games with 300 or more yards passing including 342 in Week 2 against Calgary. It happened to be the same week he was named a CFL top performer.
Reilly is in his 11th season in the CFL.
