The XFL is about to kickoff! Us fantasy football addicts now have a fix for the rest of the season (set your league up now!). We already ranked and graded all eight XFL Teams, but if you’re just looking for one specific roster, we’ve got you covered too. Official XFL Depth Charts were released on Thursday, and many had shocking implications. Below, we look at the Houston’s depth chart, their Week 1 DraftKings Prices, as well as the coaching staff to give you a complete picture of the Roughnecks.
Houston Roughnecks Preview
Season win total: 6 (-120)
Championship odds: +600
Head Coach: June Jones
Offensive Coordinator: Chris Miller
June Jones is known for his Run N’ Shoot offense on the island at Hawaii and more recently at SMU. He’s going to throw the ball down the field and win shootouts. Hopefully he wears his patented flowered lei on the sideline as his team runs up the score. He should also see if Colt Brennan wants to throw the rock for the Roughnecks.
Houston Renegades Official Depth Chart & Fantasy names to know:
QB:
1) PJ Walker (Temple), $7800
Back-up: Connor Cook (Michigan St.)
RB:
1) Andre Williams (Boston College, 66th Overall, RB16), $3800
2) De’Angelo Henderson (Coastal Carolina, Supplemental), $4500
**Nick Holley – technically a RB – is listed as a starting WR, with the team projecting to go into 4-WR sets. $5800
Note – Kyle Hicks was the Roughnecks top-drafted RB at 31st overall, but did not make the final roster. This team is going to HUCK.
WR:
1) Sammie Coates (Auburn, 18th Overall, WR10), $9300
2) Kahlil Lewis (Cincinnati, 15th Overall, WR8), $4100
3) Nick Holley (Kent State, 79th Overall, RB19), $5800
4) Cam Phillips (Virginia Tech, 47th Overall, WR25), $5100
TE: None!
PJ Walker won the vaunted QB competition with Connor Cook, which carries serious fantasy weight given June Jones‘ run-and-shoot attack. Despite playing in a run-heavy, pro-style attack at Temple under Matt Rhule, Walker is thrilled with the offensive philosophy switch:
“Coming from the pro-style system to a straight-out, Run ‘n’ Shoot system is a lot different… I’m in the shotgun a lot, I think offensively we’re going to throw the ball a lot. That’s our mindset. That’s the mentality we’re going to have is we’re going to put up a lot of points, especially with the receivers we have.”
Though his leash may be short with Cook breathing down his neck, Walker has immense upside every start he makes. If you draft team QBs, consider the Roughnecks a Top-2 option because of the scheme.
Meanwhile, Andre Williams lands as the starting running back, though it might not matter in this pass-happy offense. In fact, the Roughnecks were the last team to select an RB (Kyle Hicks), who didn’t even make the final roster. As a poor pass-catcher, Williams feels like a square peg in a round hole here. He had 10 career catches in college, and snared only 18 of his 37 targets in the pros. Still, in an offense that could move up-and-down the field, Williams has AAF “Trent Richardson” 10+ TD upside. He did rack up over 1,000 NFL yards, no matter how ugly.
Meanwhile, De’Angelo Henderson is still worth a late round nod as the better fit for this offense. He’s had a few cups of coffee in the NFL and actually tied both Pumphrey and Christian McCaffrey in the 2017 NFL Combine by running a 4.48 40-yard dash. He was a three-down warrior at Coastal Carolina and is the school’s most decorated back. If he steals the gig, Henderson would have real upside.
Another RB wildcard here is Nick Holley. Despite being drafted as an RB, he’s listed as a starting WR. Perhaps this indicates a slot role? Either way, he might be the best bet of all three, given he clearly has the top pass-catching chops, and can be motioned in and out of the backfield. He’d be my first Roughnecks RB, but I’ll be targeting WRs more heavily here.
Which is where we should really turn our attention in Jones’ high-octane pass attack. Behind only Christine Michael, Sammie Coates was the second-highest NFL selection to now play in the XFL (23rd pick of Round 3 in 2015). Though he only recorded 29 receptions in the NFL, he remains a size-speed freak at 6’1″ with a 4.43 second 40, and should blaze all over the field in this offense. Coates could easily win the league’s receiving crown, and is drawing rave reviews from camp:
“Sammie Coates had a great camp. Big target, reminds of Michael Irvin when I played with him in the Pro Bowl back in the day.” said offensive coordinator Chris Miller.
For all Coates’ upside, he was actually selected after fellow WR Kahlil Lewis. Though not a well-known name, Lewis played well in camp and should also put up numbers in the Run N’ Shoot. When with the Falcons, Jones had three of four Falcons offenses feature three WRs with 100+ targets. This will be the largest Aerial Pie in the NFL, and Coates and Lewis should be XFL Fantasy Roster Locks. Cam Phillips rounds out the starting WRs. Though a relative unknown, any starting pass-catcher is worth a look in this attack. To further cement the their huge WR target loads, the Roughnecks didn’t even roster a TE.
Check out all our Team Previews in one spot, and don’t miss our XFL Rankings!
