Elks Division Dominance
Edmonton Elks Lead West Division 5-1, Fueled by Cody Fajardo and Strong Defense
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The Edmonton Elks sit at 5-1 and own first place in the CFL's West Division — a spot they haven't held since the team was rebranded, according to Edmonton Sun. The secret weapon isn't a big-name franchise quarterback. It's a steady, efficient Cody Fajardo running a balanced offence backed by a dominant defence.
Fajardo holds the CFL's all-time record for completion percentage at over 71.5%, per Toronto Sun. He was projected to lead the league in passing yards and went on to win Grey Cup MVP honours in 2023. Now, in 2025, he's doing it again — quietly and efficiently.
Fajardo Quietly Builds a Historic Quarterback Resume
Cody Fajardo is not flashy. But the numbers don't lie. He ranks in the top three in the CFL in passing, according to Cold Lake Sun. His completion rate of over 71.5% is the best in league history. He makes smart decisions and rarely forces throws into tight windows.
Fajardo won Grey Cup MVP honours in 2023, cementing his place among the league's elite players, Goderich Signal Star reported. This season, he has picked up right where he left off. The Elks don't need a marquee name under centre. They just need Fajardo to keep being Fajardo.
Toughest Test Came From a Winless B.C. Lions Squad
Edmonton's closest call this season came against the B.C. Lions, who entered the game without a win. The Lions shut down running back Grayson Rankin in the ground game, per Brantford Expositor. That forced the Elks offence to pass on nearly every down — a rare one-dimensional showing for this team.
Even in that grind-it-out game, the Elks found a way to win. It showed the team can adapt when its preferred game plan gets taken away. That kind of resilience is what separates good teams from great ones in a long CFL season.
Sherritt's Defence Has Been the Elks' Backbone All Season
While Fajardo gets attention, the defence has been just as important. Co-ordinator J.C. Sherritt has built one of the CFL's stingiest units, Edmonton Journal reported. His biggest moment came when the Elks stopped the Montreal Alouettes in overtime to secure a win against the East Division leader.
Sherritt, a longtime Edmonton favourite as a player, has translated that knowledge into sharp defensive scheming. The unit disrupts opposing offences, forces punts, and makes big plays in crunch moments. That kind of defence gives any offence — even a quiet, steady one — a chance to win every week.
Edmonton Proves Team-Building Beats Chasing Star Power
For years, the Elks cycled through quarterbacks searching for a franchise saviour. The 5-1 start suggests they found something better: a complete team. Fajardo manages the game. The run game creates balance. And the defence closes out wins, per Fairview Post.
The Elks haven't led the West Division this deep into a season since they dropped the Eskimos name in 2021. At 5-1, they are proof that building smart beats spending big. If this team stays healthy, a deep playoff run is well within reach.
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