Two NFL teams take a look at Fantuz

It appears that Andy Fantuz’s performance in the 2010 CFL season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders has drawn interest from some NFL teams.

The National Football Post (NFP) reported Friday that the Riders’ all-star slotback has workouts scheduled with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings. The NFP, citing a league source with knowledge of the situation, added that Fantuz is expected to work out for some other unnamed NFL teams. The NFP reported that Fantuz is expected to work out next week with the Steelers and Vikings. TSN reported Friday that the workouts with the Steelers and Vikings are to take place in January.

Fantuz, who wasn’t available for comment Friday, earned the attention after a career-best season with the Riders. He led the CFL with 1,380 receiving yards, the first time a Canadian receiver has led the league in that category since Dave Sapunjis accomplished the feat in 1995 with the Calgary Stampeders. Fantuz, 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, was named the CFL’s most outstanding Canadian in 2010 after catching 87 passes and six touchdowns. He was also selected as a CFL all-star for the first time in his five-year career.

Fantuz re-signed with the Riders in February. The contract, which was for one year and an option, allowed him to pursue opportunities with NFL teams in the second year of the deal.

Fantuz, who was the Riders’ first-round selection (third overall) in the 2006 CFL draft, has had other workouts with NFL teams. He was a late arrival for the Riders’ training camp in 2006 after a failed tryout with the Detroit Lions. Fantuz re-signed with the Riders in October 2009 with the stipulation that he was allowed to explore any NFL options. The 26-year-old slotback re-signed when there was no interest in him.

"It was just the fact that I had two seasons in a row where I missed some games with injuries," Fantuz said in June when asked about the lack of interest by NFL squads. "It’s more of a question of trying to be productive and staying healthy."

In 2010, Fantuz dressed for 18 regular-season games and three playoff contests. He had four receptions for a team-high 66 receiving yards in the Riders’ 21-18 loss to the Montreal Alouettes in the 2010 Grey Cup game. In 2008, Fantuz missed 11 regular-season games with a broken left fibula. In 2009, he was sidelined for five regular-season games with a torn hamstring.