CFL.ca’s latest quarterback rankings put Davis Alexander at the top, and the case for that spot is hard to argue with. In Week 8, the Montreal Alouettes quarterback kept producing the kind of numbers that force the conversation to move beyond reputation and into evidence: over 700 passing yards and four touchdowns across two games, with Montreal sweeping Calgary and Alexander reaching the 300-yard mark in every game this year.
The rankings matter because they arrive at a time when several starters have been sidelined, making recent form even more valuable. That context helps explain why Alexander jumped to No. 1, but it also explains why the rest of the list has become so unstable. Bo Levi Mitchell, Zach Collaros and Nathan Rourke have all been part of the injury conversation, and in a league where quarterback availability can change the competitive picture quickly, the hot hand becomes a major factor.
Why Alexander landed first
The simplest answer is production. Montreal’s 38-32 victory over Calgary included a 25-yard touchdown pass from Davis Alexander to Tyler Snead, and it was another reminder that the Alouettes are getting efficient quarterback play when they need it most. Alexander has already passed for over 300 yards in every game this year, which gives his ranking more weight than a one-week spike. This is not a case of a quarterback rising on one dramatic afternoon; it is a case of sustained output over multiple games.
That is why the two victories over Calgary matter so much. They are not just wins in the standings. They are evidence that Montreal can trust Alexander to drive the offense through different game scripts, whether the scoring is tight or whether the Alouettes need a late push. In a ranking exercise, that kind of consistency is usually more persuasive than flash.
The rest of the QB picture
The rankings also reflect a league still waiting for stability. Trevor Harris was last seen in a 38-7 win over Hamilton, while Dru Brown took over as starting quarterback soon after Zach Collaros’s injury and won two games. Winnipeg’s 36-34 win over Ottawa, where Brown led a comeback and a two-point conversion duel, showed how quickly a backup can become central to the discussion. Toronto’s 30-21 loss to Winnipeg was another reminder that even when Chad Kelly helped keep his team in position to win, the result still tilted toward the quarterback who finished stronger.
Edmonton’s recent stretch added another layer. The Elks beat BC 19-17, and the notes from the week before that game underline how much quarterback evaluation depends on the pieces around him. Cody Fajardo played in Edmonton’s 40-17 triumph over Ottawa in Week 6, and before that 19-17 win against BC, Edmonton’s receivers produced 228 yards after the catch against the REDBLACKS defense and over 200 yards on the ground. That is a reminder that quarterback rankings rarely tell the whole story on their own.
There is also the issue of uncertainty at the bottom and middle of the list. CFL.ca included Tre Ford and Chase Brice assuming they were starting, because the Tiger-Cats and Lions had not announced starters as of writing. That small detail matters. In a week like this, rankings are not only about performance; they are also about who is actually available to play and who is positioned to keep the offense moving.
So the answer to the main question is clear: Davis Alexander is ranked first. The bigger answer is that the ranking reflects more than one explosive outing. It reflects a quarterback who has delivered over 700 yards and four touchdowns in two games, has stayed above the 300-yard line every week, and has helped Montreal beat Calgary twice while the league’s quarterback picture remains unsettled. In a season shaped by injuries and shifting depth charts, that is enough to matter.
