ARGOS RB JAMES WILDER JR NAMED CFL TOP PERFORMER IN WEEK 18

TORONTO - Toronto Argonauts rookie running back James Wilder Jr. has once again been named a CFL Top Performer of the Week for Week 18 after capturing the honour in Week’s 13 and 14 as well. It is Toronto’s fifth Top Performer recognition in the past six weeks.

A week after sitting out a game against Edmonton to get healthy, Wilder rushed 18 times for 112 yards and his first two-touchdown game of his CFL career in a win vs. Winnipeg on Saturday night. The do-it-all running back and former Florida State Seminole also hauled in seven receptions for 85 yards, often times dragging tacklers on his back for first downs.

Over his last five games, Wilder has burst onto the scene, putting his stamp down as one of the most explosive players league-wide. Over that span, he has 65 carries for 564 yards and four touchdowns, good for 112.8 yards per game and 8.6 yards per carry. Wilder has also shown soft hands in his last five contests, coming out of the backfield to the tune of 30 catches for 350 yards.

The 25-year-old currently sits sixth in CFL rushing, quite remarkable considering he has only carried the ball 104 times on the season. His 7.1 yards per rush and six runs of 20+ yards put him at the top of those respective statistical categories. Wilder also ranks third in receiving yards amongst running backs in 2017.

Six Argos players have accounted for 11 Top Performer of the Week honours so far this season: