Rankin’s rushing dip coincides with fewer carries

Edmonton Elks running back Justin Rankin's recent dip in rushing performance can be directly linked to a reduction in his workload. The numbers show a clear pattern: when Rankin receives 10 or more carries, he consistently surpasses the 100-yard mark. He achieved this milestone in four of the five games where he had at least 10 carries, including a strong 14-carry, 107-yard performance with two touchdowns against the Ottawa Redblacks on July 9.

The outlier in this trend was a game against the B.C. Lions on July 4, where Rankin had only seven carries for 19 yards. This occurred when quarterback Cody Fajardo was heavily involved in the passing game, throwing for 395 yards. However, since the Ottawa win, Rankin has only reached double-digit carries once, in a July 23 game against Saskatchewan where he managed 39 yards on 12 attempts, while Fajardo set a career-high with 510 passing yards.

In the four games where Rankin did not reach 100 yards, he averaged seven carries on three occasions and eight in the remaining game. Last week, he ran the ball seven times for 62 yards in a loss to the Montreal Alouettes. During Edmonton's last three games, receiver Austin Mack has been a prominent figure, averaging 5.7 catches for 120 yards and a touchdown, while the Elks' defense has been allowing an average of 36.7 points per game.

Despite the recent decrease in carries, Rankin is still having a productive season overall. He has amassed 651 rushing yards on 101 carries, averaging an impressive 6.4 yards per attempt, and has scored seven touchdowns. He has also contributed significantly as a receiver, with 37 catches for 418 yards and another touchdown. The Elks, currently holding a 6-3 record, are preparing to face the Toronto Argonauts (4-4) at Commonwealth Stadium on Saturday.