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 Los Angeles’ depth chart, their Week 1 DraftKings Prices, as well as the coaching staff to give you a complete picture of the Wildcats
Los Angeles Wildcats
Season win total: 4 (-115)
Championship odds: +700
Head Coach: Winston Moss
Offensive Coordinator: Norm Chow
Norm Chow was a fixture on the sideline for the classic BYU teams for a long time. He helped coach up Jim McMahon, Steve Young, and Ty Detmer to the tune of a bunch of points. Chow then bounced around before becoming Pete Carroll’s offensive coordinator at USC — yeah, those electric USC squads led by Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart. After throwing the rock around the yard for the majority of his coaching career, he called plays for Steve McNair and Vince Young’s Titan squads — two of the better dual-threats ever. He then bounced around the west coast again for a few years, and was most recently a high school assistant. Pretty cool. Either way, his offenses have always been very good and he’ll find a way to make the most out of his talent.
Los Angeles Wildcats Official Depth Chart & Fantasy names to know:
QB:
1) Josh Johnson (San Diego), $10,700 – Questionable (thigh)
Backup: Charles Kanoff (Princeton), $6000
RB:
1) Elijah Hood (UNC, 8th Overall, RB3), $7500
2) DuJuan Harris (Troy), $4000
3) Larry Rose, $3500
WR:
1) Nelson Spruce (Colorado, 24th Overall, WR14), $8500
2) Jordan Smallwood (OU, Supplemental), $3000
3) Adonis Jennings (Temple, Supplemental), $3300
Others:
4) Tre McBride (William & Mary, 16th Overall, WR9 – Acquired via Trade), $5500 – Questionable Week 1
5) Saeed Blacknall (PSU, Supplemental), $5900
TE: Brandon Barnes (Alabama St.), $6400
Josh Johnson is the complete package at quarterback and would likely be the first quarterback selected in XFL fantasy… if not dealing with a thigh injury. He is listed as a game-time decision for Week 1. If and when Johnson suits up, he’s in the perfect offense under Norm Chow, who’s developed Heisman winners in college and coached duel threats in both Steve McNair (RIP) and Vince Young in the NFL. At age 33, Johnson has been the ultimate NFL journeyman, playing or being on the practice squad for 15 different squads since he was drafted in 2008. This is a perfect fit for Johnson and he should be a Top-4 QB, worthy of No.1 overall if healthy.
Former Tarheel Elijah Hood should be the bell-cow of this offense. Although Chow has developed quarterbacks and has a knack for throwing the football, Hood will still get fed carries. Hood didn’t get a real chance in the NFL, yet he put up gaudy numbers in Chapel Hill, rushing for 2,500 yards in college. The XFL team site speculated the team “expects Hood to be their workhorse.” As the third overall RB selected and The Wildcats first-rounder, expect him to be a focal point who can benefit from the cutback lanes of their dual-threat QB.
Meanwhile, DuJuan Harris most notably saw some carries for the Packers back in 2012, topping 100 total yards in a playoff game against the Vikings. Since then, he suffered a knee injury and bounced around NFL teams and practice squads. He’ll be Hood’s change-of-pace back.
This receiving core is something to get excited about. Nelson Spruce, Jordan Smallwood, and Adonis Jennings will be the three starters according to their depth chart and all three are solid fits in Chow’s pass-happy attack. In the AAF, Spruce was a target hog, as he was thrown to the third most times in the league. Although he did next to nothing in college at Oklahoma, Smallwood has been signed to a few NFL practice squads. He has a big body, standing at 6-foot-2, 225 lbs. There must be something there that coaches see.
Meanwhile, Tre McBride might be the most interesting name, despite the low depth chart ranking. He was known around the NFL for a few years as a real speedster, running a 4.37 40. The Wildcats traded away their top WR in Rashaad Ross to acquire McBride, and clearly had a role in mind. At minimum, he’ll likely be a key return man and deep threat
Checkout all our Team Previews in one spot, and don’t miss our XFL Rankings!
