Last Updated: March 1st at 3:03pm ET
News Update Saturday 12:43pm ET: Justin Stockton is a healthy scratch. That leaves Tim Cook and Darius Victor as the 2-RB committee for New York.
News Update Saturday 12:44pm ET: Tanner Gentry came off IR this week, but he is INACTIVE for today’s game. That means the roles of Joe Horn Jr., Teo Redding and Colby Pearson a bit more secure. We still prefer Mekele McKay as the best NY play on the Fanduel 2-game Saturday Only slate. On DraftKings, Gentry being inactive helps Horn but he’s still very thin with Luis Perez expected to start.
News Update Saturday 12:50pm ET: Martez Carter (hip) is INACTIVE but Elijah Hood (ankle) is ACTIVE. We expect Hood and Larry Rose to be the two main RBs for Los Angeles Saturday, with DuJuan Harris and Winston Dimel in support.
News Update Saturday 1:45pm ET: Reports are that Luis Perez and Marquise Williams will share the QB workload today for New York. Perez expected to start.
News Update Sunday 3:03pm ET: Sean Price is inactive for Dallas. Donald Parham and Cam Phillips are active as expected.
DFS is a game of partial information, and XFL DFS takes that to an extreme. This is a brand new league with some new rules and a slew of relatively unknown players. We don’t have reliable beat writers for each team and the injury information will be spotty. This article is an attempt to provide clarity to those looking for the best plays on the XFL DFS slate. Please note that there is a lot of guesswork involved in creating this column, and we suggest you use it as a starting point and combine it with your own research and judgement.
Typically, players who make our top plays have a strong combination of a confirmed role with health and relative talent. Tier 1 plays we consider to be more viable for head-to-head and 50/50 contests, while lower tiers tend to be more of tournament considerations. Much of the information we consider to be of critical importance will be conveyed in this article, but we recommend monitoring our Team-by-Team Depth Charts which will also contain useful information.
Finally, we recommend that you watch or listen to our Live Show for some more context on these plays. The replay and audio download is available here. For RSS podcast instructions, click here.
Editor’s Note: DraftKings refers to the 4-game main slate. Fanduel refers to the 2-game “Saturday Only” or “Sunday Only” slates. If a player doesn’t have a Fanduel salary listed next to their name, we think their price is prohibitive on that site.
WEEK 4 NOTABLE INJURIES
Martez Carter INACTIVE
Nelson Spruce INACTIVE
Josh Johnson ACTIVE
Elijah Hood ACTIVE
Larry Rose ACTIVE
Tre McBride ACTIVE
Matt McGloin INACTIVE
Tanner Gentry INACTIVE
Darius Victor ACTIVE
Kasen Williams O
Matt Jones Q (expected to play)
De’Angelo Henderson O
Sammie Coates P
Cam Phillips P
Andre Williams P
Josh Crockett P
Donald Parham P
Nick Truesdell D
Aaron Murray P (but Taylor Cornelius expected to start)
QUARTERBACK
TIER 1
Landry Jones, DAL ($9800 DK, $18 FD) — Renegades lead XFL in pass ratio at 68.5%. Jones projects to lead the slate in attempts and provides very significant savings off Phillip Walker. Downside is Jones’ extreme lack of mobility and tendency to check down to often.
Phillip Walker, HOU ($12000 DK, $23 FD) — Operating June Jones’ run-n-shoot, 4-WR, 0-TE, pass-happy offense at an elite level. Adds in solid rushing upside and vertical mentality. This week’s matchup at Dallas brings Walker’s best projected game environment yet.
TIER 2
Cardale Jones, WAS ($9900 DK, $19 FD) — We suspect last week’s mind-blowingly hideous performance from Cardale will prove to be a fluke. That said, offensive scheme isn’t as fantasy-friendly as Dallas or Houston.
TIER 3
Taylor Cornelius, TB ($7000 DK, $14 FD) — Quinton Flowers has left the team and Aaron Murray (ankle) is back. Reports say Cornelius will start but Vipers plan to get Murray in the game at some point. Still, we suspect if Cornelius plays reasonably he’ll get the overwhelming majority of snaps. His price tag is extremely appealing on both sites, he has solid rushing expectation and has solid weapons.
Jordan Ta’amu, STL ($9500 DK, $20 FD) — BattleHawks are XFL’s most run-centric team and when they do throw it’s short. As we saw last week, when they can win with run game and defense Ta’amu is in big trouble from a fantasy perspective. Still, he’s in play for GPPs thanks to rushing ability and unexpected game scripts against Seattle.
Josh Johnson, LA ($10200 DK, $21 FD) — Johnson was excellent last week, but price is now up $1,000 on DraftKings and there are concerns. He’ll be without elite WR Nelson Spruce (knee), Johnson is yet to show an inclination to run and New York is the slowest/worst team in the league. Still very much in play on FD’s 2-game Saturday Only slate.
RUNNING BACK
TIER 1
Lance Dunbar, DAL ($6700 DK, $16 FD) — Featured player for Renegades as Landry Jones has shown extreme tendency to check down. Dunbar has a big 18.5% target share on the season and is fifth in the entire XFL in targets with 23.
Cameron Artis-Payne, DAL ($8000 DK, $18 FD) — Renegades have multiple formations which feature both Artis-Payne and Lance Dunbar. Artis-Payne has tacked up 27 carries and 11 targets over the last two weeks as Dallas has ditched their 4-man committee for a 2-man/high-usage backfield.
TIER 2
Christine Michael, STL ($5700 DK, $15 FD) — The XFL’s most run-heavy team projects for 30+ RB carries once again in a home game against Seattle. Michael will likely see a few less carries than starter Matt Jones, but he’s also $1400 cheaper.
Matt Jones, STL ($7100 DK, $17 FD) — Has just one target through three games, but at least 15 carries in each. A home game against Seattle is fertile ground for another 15+ rush attempts. Jones (knee) is listed Q for the third straight week, but we again expect him to start and play through it.
TIER 3
Donnel Pumphrey, WAS ($6500 DK, $14 FD) — Has clearly moved ahead of Jhurell Pressley and is strong in pass game. But a bit overpriced relative to touch projection.
De’Veon Smith, TB ($6100 DK, $15 FD) — Vipers will go with hot hand at running back and employ 2-man committee, but Smith will get the first cracks ahead of Jacques Patrick. Smith has at least 12 touches in each game this season.
TIER 4
James Butler, HOU ($7500 DK, $17 FD) — De’Angelo Henderson (shoulder) is expected to miss again, but Butler is quite expensive relative to role. Roughnecks do not want to give more than 6-10 RB carries and Phillip Walker does not target RBs in pass game with consistency.
Larry Rose ($3500 DK, $13 FD) — Martez Carter (hip) is out and DuJuan Harris was only used in garbage time last week. Elijah Hood (ankle) is active. We expect Hood and Larry Rose to be the 1-2 punch for the Wildcats Saturday, with Rose operating as the better pass-catching option. Note that LA also has DuJuan Harris and Winston Dimel active at the running back position.
Trey Williams, SEA ($4400 DK) — Very few true “punt” options at RB this week. Trey Williams only projects for a third of the snaps, but is averaging 7.3 carries and 3.3 targets per game.
WIDE RECEIVER AND TIGHT END
TIER 1
Cam Phillips, HOU ($11700 DK, $22 FD) — Has played on 97% of the snaps through three weeks and is second in XFL with 27.4% target share. No-doubt favorite target for league MVP Phillip Walker. Concerns this week include price, projected ownership in GPPs and a nagging ankle issue that caused him to miss practice Thursday. Phillips did return to a full practice Friday and is listed probable.
TIER 2
Donald Parham, DAL ($9900 DK, $19 FD) — Athleticism and size proving too much for XFL defenders to handle. Played 59-of-68 snaps last week, is fourth in XFL in targets on season with 24.
Jalen Tolliver, TB ($6000 DK, $16 FD) — Nick Truesdell (knee) remains out and rush-centric QB Quinton Flowers is gone. Tolliver is third in XFL with 24.5% target share and projects for around 100% of the snaps. Clearly underpriced on DraftKings.
Eli Rogers, DC ($9200 DK, $15 FD) — Easily most defined and consistent role among pass-catchers on Defenders. Currently fifth in XFL with 23.8% target share. NFL-caliber talent.
TIER 3
Tre McBride, LA ($8100 DK, $17 FD) — Popped off for 5-109-2 on just 11 routes run in XFL debut last week. Had some thigh and concussion concerns, but practiced full Thursday and is listed probable. If McBride is truly healthy, he should see big spike in usage with Nelson Spruce (knee) out. Has NFL-caliber skills.
DeAndre Thompkins, WAS ($5200 DK, $17 FD) — We’re expecting Malachi Dupre (shoulder) to return this week, which introduces some potential downside to Thompkins’ role. That said, there’s plenty of evidence to suggest Thompkins is actually ahead of Rashad Ross. At a minimum we can project Thompkins for 60% of the snaps and he’s underpriced for that role.
Mekale McKay, NY ($13 FD) — Wildly overpriced on DraftKings, but very affordable on Fanduel’s 2-game Saturday Only slate. Also easier to play on Fanduel because the Saturday Only slate does not include Houston at Dallas. McKay’s usage remains elite.
Adonis Jennings, LA ($3000 DK, $12 FD) — Nelson Spruce (knee) and his league-leading target share are out. Adonis’ ability is shaky, but he’s stone minimum and projects to play at least 75% of the snaps.
Sam Mobley, HOU ($3400 DK, 13 FD) — Sammie Coates’ woes and Cam Phillips’ ankle concerns have Mobley on the rise. Last week, Mobley played on 56% of the snaps while Coates was in on 48%. In this pass-happy, efficient and vertical offense, a 60% role at a bargain price is appealing.
TIER 4
Dan Williams, TB ($7800 DK, $17 FD) — Raw talent stands out in XFL. Similar role and usage to Jalen Tolliver, but $1800 more on DraftKings. Still, ceiling is among highest on a weekly basis even if floor is too low for price.
Keenan Reynolds, SEA ($7000 DK, $16 FD) — Usage is among best in XFL as Reynolds plays nearly every snap, is 4th in target share at 23.9% and 2nd in WOPR at 0.64. Problems are Brandon Silvers’ limitations and a tough matchup at St. Louis.
Flynn Nagel, DAL ($4800 DK, $15 FD) — Solid role as the no-doubt slot man for Landry Jones in an elite game environment.
Reece Horn, TB ($5000 DK, $14 FD) — Similar to Flynn Nagel and Nick Holley as the no-doubt slot man for Vipers. Has at least five targets in each game this season, averaging 6.3 per game.
Jeff Badet, DAL ($8100 DK, $14 FD) — Route tree continues to disappoint, but has the most clear-cut role among Renegades WRs. Speed, natural talent and game environment breed hope for a breakout, but Badet has 72 receiving yards all season.
TIER 5
Jordan Smallwood, LA ($6700 DK, $15 FD) — Route tree and skill set doesn’t really overlap with Nelson Spruce’s (out, knee). But Spruce was seeing 9.3 targets per game and some of that projects to spread to Smallwood. Big red-zone target at 6’2/219.
Alonzo Russell, STL ($5800 DK, $15 FD) — Cheapest WR on St. Louis and also cleanest role. Played on 84% of snaps this season and has strong 17.9% target share.
Nick Holley, HOU ($4500 DK, $14 FD) — Projects to play around 100% of the snaps in the slot and price is cheap — particularly for this game environment. However, ceiling is questionable due to shallow route tree and lack of YAC ability.
Kahlil Lewis, HOU ($8900 DK, $16 FD) — Has similar role to Nick Holley, but is $4400 more on DraftKings. That said, Lewis does have enough YAC ability to find a ceiling. A “pay up to be contrarian” option in GPPs.
Austin Proehl, SEA ($8400 DK, $18 FD) — Certainly overpriced as Proehl doesn’t even play in a majority of 3-WR sets. But has good chemistry with Brandon Silvers as is 8th in XFL in targets.
Rashad Ross, WAS ($8700 DK, $16 FD) — The expected return of Malachi Dupre (shoulder) is a concern for Ross, who only played on 36-of-61 snaps in Week 2. Still, Ross’ usage when he’s on the field is strong as he’s actually 8th in entire XFL in WOPR at .49. Overpriced for floor and projected targets, but ceiling is undoubtedly still here.
FLIERS
Kermit Whitfield, LA ($3800 DK, $12 FD) — Wildcats could decide to use Whitfield as a primary replacement for slot man Nelson Spruce (out, knee). Kermit has 49 slot snaps so far this season while Smallwood has 2 and Adonis Jennings has 31.
Alonzo Moore, SEA ($3000 DK, $12 FD) — Appeared to pass Dontez Byrd last week for the primary outside role opposite Keenan Reynolds. Brandon Silvers’ limitations and the matchup at St. Louis are problems, but Moore is stone minimum.
Sammie Coates, HOU ($6100 DK, $12 FD) — Slipped behind Sam Mobley in playing time last week. Coates still projects for 1-3 deep shots per week, which gives him theoretical upside.
Josh Crockett, DAL ($3600 DK, $12 FD) — Role expanding lately as a primary outside, vertical option. But Landry Jones has been loathe to throw vertically so far. Note Crockett (illness) missed practice Thursday.
DEFENSE
TIER 1
Los Angeles ($4500 DK) — Tough overall spot for Wildcats as they go across country for early game on a short week. But New York’s broken offense is expected to start woeful Luis Perez.
Houston ($4200 DK) — Landry Jones projects to lead the slate in dropbacks. That means a ton of chances for this high-pressure Roughnecks front-four to get after an immobile quarterback.
St. Louis ($5100 DK) — Arguably the XFL’s best defense gets a home game against Brandon Silvers and the brutal weaponry of Seattle.
TIER 2
Tampa ($3600 DK) — Best salary-saver as we saw the floor of Cardale Jones last week.
DC ($4700 DK) — Expensive, but Vipers run a lot of plays and Taylor Cornelius/Aaron Murray have very low floors.
