Star CFL Wide Receiver To Work Out For Vikings Next Week

by Christopher Gates on Dec 10, 2010 7:18 PM CST in Minnesota Vikings 2010 Season

Andy Fantuz (#83) of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders reacts to his touchdown over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the fourth quarter in the 95th Grey Cup on November 25, 2007 at the Rogers Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Rough Riders won 23-19. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

The National Football Post is reporting that star CFL wide receiver Andy Fantuz will be working out for the Vikings, as well as the Pittsburgh Steelers, next week.

Fantuz is a big wide receiver, standing 6'4" and weighing in at around 220 pounds. This season for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, he caught 87 passes for 1,380 yards and six touchdowns. In his CFL career, he has caught 276 passes for 4,136 yards (15.0 ypc) and 23 touchdowns.

He played in the East-West Shrine Game in 2006 after an outstanding college career at the University of Western Ontario, and tried out for the Detroit Lions, but was never signed to an NFL contract.

Sounds like an intriguing person to bring in for a workout. Not sure how much will come of it, but he could be an interesting prospect to keep around and bring to camp next season, if nothing else.

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looks like The Basket Case won't be staying around if this guy jumps aboard.

but he wasn’t going to be on the team anyway after this year.

by muffin man on Dec 10, 2010 8:10 PM CST reply actions

whos the basket case?

are you talking about hank basket?

by mattnmics on Dec 10, 2010 9:51 PM CST up reply actions

he is solid

man i hope we sign him i cant believe this, he is from my town , chatham in ontario canada , he is one of the cfl s top recievers and would make a great addition mmy fingers are croost for ya good luck andy

by favre4204ever on Dec 10, 2010 8:39 PM CST reply actions

He was a beast...

At UWO when I was there.

It’d be nice to see another Western boy playing in the NFL. Here’s hoping he can make the best of his chance!

by McCoubs on Dec 10, 2010 9:05 PM CST reply actions

...

And that’s University of Western Ontario, not Western Ontario University… but guaranteed I’m the only one on here who cares :)

by McCoubs on Dec 10, 2010 9:06 PM CST up reply actions

Well, I care enough to fix it

Consider the error corrected. (-:

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by Christopher Gates on Dec 10, 2010 9:32 PM CST up reply actions

i care

fanshawe here bro im from chatham

by favre4204ever on Dec 10, 2010 9:17 PM CST reply actions

really?

is this signing just like how Hank Basket was supposed to wreck havoc on opposing defenses?

by Glenn'sYank13 on Dec 11, 2010 12:55 AM CST reply actions

did you just make that up

i dont think i remeember hearing nor reading anyone say anything about hank baskett in that way, i believe it was more along the lines of oh no we didint get vincent jackson and we got that guy who fumbled the onside kick in the superbowl

by favre4204ever on Dec 11, 2010 2:27 AM CST up reply actions

not really

No way this guy can be half as bad as Baskett. The only thing Baskett is better at is fumbling away Super Bowl victories. Baskett’s hands are so bad, Kendra tried to pass him some VD and he couldn’t even catch that! Sign this guy today and we’ll never have to think about Hank ever again.

by NoDakMan on Dec 11, 2010 8:06 AM CST up reply actions

Great hands.

For all the Americans who haven’t seen him think of as a taller Camarillo.

by CanadianViking on Dec 11, 2010 1:36 AM CST reply actions

EW

This team only has room for one Cam

by Jepp The Viking on Dec 11, 2010 9:09 AM CST up reply actions

So you’re saying he runs great routes, has great hands, and is a #3 type reciever? Is he faster than Camarillo? His numbers look good, I just want to know more about how he plays.

by Tuba on Dec 11, 2010 9:10 AM CST up reply actions

Yup. Great hands and routes but not very fast.

He’s probably a high 4-5 low 4-6 guy for speed but he does have good size and will make tough catches. In the NFL I’d picture him as a good 3-4 possession receiver. He’d be good in the red-zone and for converting third-downs.

by CanadianViking on Dec 11, 2010 10:03 AM CST up reply actions

Thanks

by Tuba on Dec 11, 2010 10:18 AM CST up reply actions

Predict our WRs in camp next year:

Rice
Harvin
Cammy
Jaymar Johnson
maybe this dude
and we usually pick up one guy in the draft/scrap heap.

by Jepp The Viking on Dec 11, 2010 9:10 AM CST reply actions

You never know who the next Kurt Warner or Antonio Gates will be

Maybe this guy is that type of player. At worst, he’s already an improvement over a certain overall #7 draft pick who couldn’t catch a chill in Siberia. Probably has Berrian beat too.

by Bodysuit Man on Dec 11, 2010 10:09 AM CST reply actions

As a huge Saskatchewan Roughrider fan...

My first reaction was…

by craig in calgary on Dec 11, 2010 11:48 AM CST reply actions

...and Christopher

It’s the Saskatchewan Roughriders (one word), not to be confused with the now defunct Ottawa Rough Riders (two words)

That’s right, we had 9 teams and 2 were called some variable of “Roughriders”

by craig in calgary on Dec 11, 2010 11:50 AM CST up reply actions

Fixed!

Thanks!

SBNation Minnesota - For the greatest sports fans in the world.
The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Christopher Gates on Dec 11, 2010 12:51 PM CST up reply actions

Seriously, if he's as solid as Caramillo I don't care if he's not a burner.

Sidney isn’t a burner, he just goes and get’s the ball.
So if you’re implying that this guy will go and get the ball, then go and get him.
The position is Wide RECEIVER.
They have to catch the ball. Doesn’t matter is the guy runs a 3.5 forty with a top speed of 38.1 mph if they can’t catch.

Here’s the list of the fastest WR’s from this year’s combine. Only name i recognize is Jacoby Ford. I added the catches they have this season.
Ford, Jacoby 4.28 - 17 receptions this season
Price, Taylor 4.41 - 0 receptions
Sanders, Emmanuel 4.41 - 16 receptions
Tate, Golden 4.42 - 14 receptions
Banks, Brandon 4.43 - 2 receptions
Williams, Kyle 4.43 - 1 reception
Easley, Marcus 4.46 - 0 receptions
Roberts, Andre 4.46 14 receptions

Yes there are numerous reasons that this may have happened. But I’m using these numbers to prove my point. They get paid to catch, running fast is nice, catching is what counts. Fast don’t lie, and it don’t catch either.

So if this guy catches, then he could be and addition. If he catches then he’s probably better than Hank.

I’m not saying, I’m just saying.

"Empty your mind, be formless, shapeless - like water. Now you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup, you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle, you put it in a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be water, my friend."
Bruce Lee (1/27/40 - 7/20/73)

by Marcus.Grayson on Dec 11, 2010 3:48 PM CST reply actions

If I wasn't on my iPod, Id Rec this.

"Time for some Percy Harvin Magic Baby!"-Me right before he returned a Kickoff for a Touchdown against Shits, err, Pittsburgh...

by marsexxxy23 on Dec 11, 2010 6:54 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Can anyone find any Youtube Vids?

I’d like to see this guy in action… Course, He can’t be worse than Bernard “Cement Hands” Berrian. As long as he knows how to jump towards a ball thrown in his direction, i’d say he has a great chance at making it on our roster.

"Time for some Percy Harvin Magic Baby!"-Me right before he returned a Kickoff for a Touchdown against Shits, err, Pittsburgh...

by marsexxxy23 on Dec 11, 2010 6:56 PM CST via mobile reply actions