By ROB VANSTONE, Canwest News Service June 29, 2010
Andy Fantuz is the best receiver in the Canadian Football League who does not have a 1,000-yard season to his credit.
For now, anyway.
For now, anyway.
Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Ken Miller figures that Fantuz is good for "1,200 or 1,500 yards" if he can remain healthy. Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant is thinking in terms of CFL awards instead of numbers.
"If we can keep him healthy and put him in the right positions to make plays, I definitely see at least top Canadian in Andy," Durant said. "To me, he's one of the best receivers in this league, if not the best. Injuries have been hampering him a little bit the past couple of years, but he came to camp feeling good this year and hopefully it will carry over throughout the season."
Fantuz came close to 1,000 yards as a sophomore in 2007, making 56 catches for 978 yards. The former University of Western Ontario star would have almost certainly cracked the statistical milestone if he had not been rested in the regular-season finale, a meaningless game.
In the most meaningful game of Fantuz's CFL career, he caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown as Saskatchewan defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 in the 2007 Grey Cup. Afterwards, Fantuz was named the game's outstanding Canadian.
In the most meaningful game of Fantuz's CFL career, he caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown as Saskatchewan defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 23-19 in the 2007 Grey Cup. Afterwards, Fantuz was named the game's outstanding Canadian.
Fantuz was limited to seven regular-season games the following year because of a broken fibula. He had 36 receptions and 488 yards in 2008. The yardage total, extrapolated over a full 18 games, works out to 1,255.
In 2009, a torn hamstring limited Fantuz to 13 games. Nonetheless, he led the Roughriders in receptions (with 67) and registered 882 receiving yards.
Those numbers, extrapolated once again, compute to 93 catches for 1,221 yards.
"That's a nice little landmark to get to but, more importantly, I want a ring," the 26-year-old slotback said. "I would sacrifice 10 1,000-yard seasons for a ring. That's the goal, and they go hand-in-hand."
"That's a nice little landmark to get to but, more importantly, I want a ring," the 26-year-old slotback said. "I would sacrifice 10 1,000-yard seasons for a ring. That's the goal, and they go hand-in-hand."
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