If you thought we were just going to do season-long XFL fantasy, you’re crazy. Not only will our positional rankings help win you some cash if you do season-long, but let’s also get rich every weekend by playing XFL DraftKings.
From former NFL castoffs trying to get back into the league, to big-time college players who didn’t quite make it, this is a chance for the players to make some noise and put up fantasy points in electric offenses that are built to score.
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Let’s get that Week 1 XFL bag.
Quarterbacks
Cardale Jones, DC Defenders ($10,200)
Outside of backup Jalan McClendon who will likely start in favor of an injured Josh Johnson in Week 1, DraftKings has upped the prices significantly on quarterbacks. If you’re going to pray a pretty penny anyways and can find some cheaper guys down the line, Cardale Jones is someone who is worth paying up for. 12 Gauge squares off against the Seattle Dragons. The Defenders are favored by 8 points as of right now and the line has continued to climb. With a cabinet of weapons surrounding him, expect Cardale to put up some points in the league’s debut game on Saturday.
Aaron Murray, Tampa Bay Vipers ($9,000)
I might be a little too high on Aaron Murray here because I don’t love him as a talent, but I’m such a big believer in Marc Trestman’s ability to generate points through the air that I’m all in on this Vipers squad. Murray underwhelmed in the AAF last year, but I think Trestman can make things easy for him and let him utilize his solid group of weapons, led by the best tight end in the XFL, Nick Truesdell.
P.J. Walker, Houston Roughnecks ($7,800)
The cheapest of the legitimate starting quarterbacks is P.J.Walker, who surprisingly beat out Connor Cook and will be slinging it in June Jones’ Run n’ Shoot offense. Jones is known for his aerial attack that rearranged the collegiate record books and it looks like Phillips will get a shot at putting up serious numbers in the XFL. Walker has a dangerous group of receivers that I’ll touch on in a bit, highlighted by Sammie Coates and Kahlil Lewis. If you’re looking to save some money and go with the high upside/ unknown, Walker is your guy.
Running Backs
Elijah Hood, Los Angeles Wildcats ($7,500)
Elijah Hood is going to be the Wildcats’ bell-cow back and as of now, it looks like starting QB Josh Johnson will miss Week 1 with a thigh injury. With something called Jalan McClendon set to start, Norm Chow might have to lean on Hood and the running game more than he initially expected. Hood didn’t do much in the NFL but he was a stud at North Carolina, amassing 2,500 yards on the ground. Expect the Wildcats to grind it out on the ground and against June Jones’ Run n’ Shoot offense.
Cameron Artis-Payne, Dallas Renegades ($6,800)
Our No. 1 overall player is vastly undervalued on DraftKings and is the 5th highest priced running back on the board. CAP has tons of NFL experience and the Renegades should have their way with the lowly BattleHawks, as they are currently 9.5-point favorites. It shouldn’t surprise anyone if Artis-Payne gets a couple of goal-line scores to build an early lead and then they let him pound the rock to ice the game. Either way, he needs to be rostered.
De’Veon Smith, Tampa Bay Vipers ($6,300)
De’Veon Smith is a mediocre talent, but he’s playing in Trestman’s offense that loves to throw the ball to the running back. He’s had a strong preseason for the Vipers and was able to hold off Jacques Patrick, meaning Smith drips in potential as a very possible bell-cow in an explosive offense. He wasn’t much of a pass-catcher at Michigan, but the hands are somewhat there for him to stay on the field for all three downs.
Donnell Pumphrey, DC Defenders ($5,100)
Jhurrell Pressley was named the Week 1 starter for the Defenders, but Donnell Pumphrey is a three-down back who has the better resume. The former SDSU Aztec is college football’s all-time leading rusher, with an obscene 6,405 yards on the ground. The Eagles snagged Pumphrey in the fourth round, yet he never delivered in the league. I could easily see Pumphrey grabbing a handful of balls early on, before getting some carries once the game gets out of hand.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Mekale McKay, New York Guardians ($9,900)
The 6’5″ Mekale McKay has turned some heads during the scrimmages and should be the team’s clear-cut No. 1 WR. Recently, McKay played in the AAF, where he led the league in red zone targets and finished third in TDs. He should have a major RZ presence and, after the team lost two of their top-three WR selections in minicamp, is the unanimous target hog here. To reinforce this point, HC Kevin Gilbride listed McKay as the “starting X” WR, a role where Plaxico Burress feasted on red zone looks.
Sammie Coates, Houston Roughnecks ($9,300)
The former Steeler third round selection back in 2015 has to make a splash to get back into the league. He’s still a burner (4.43 40) and he’s in the perfect offense under June Jones to show off his talents. He’s the second highest priced WR behind DC’s Rashad Ross and he could easily make a push as the league’s top wideout.
Jeff Badet, Dallas Renegades ($8,800)
While there are a handful of talented receivers in the league, Badet is my choice to be the standout of the bunch. He’s in the perfect offense in Bob Stoops’ Air Raid and he was even committed to Stoops before he retired. Badet has looked great in the preseason and I expect him to put up some serious numbers this season with former Sooner Landry Jones throwing him the rock.
Nick Truesdell, Tampa Bay Vipers ($6,900)
As I’ve said, I love Trestman’s offense. However, I don’t love the actual talent on the perimeter. Enter Nick Truesdell, who led all tight ends in receiving in the AAF and was the Vipers’ first pick of the XFL Draft. He’s been a red zone monster in the preseason and should be Murray’s No. 1 option through the air. Expect a touchdown grab from the league’s top tight end.
Kahlil Lewis, Houston Roughnecks ($4,100)
If it seems like I’m a fan of June Jones’ Run n’ Shoot offense, it’s because I am. I could easily see both Kahlil Lewis and Coates go off this week. The ball will be spinning all afternoon and I’m sensing an ultimate aerial bukake with Walker, Coates, and Lewis.
Donald Parham, Dallas Renegades ($2,600)
Standing at a monstrous 6-foot-8, 240 lbs with an NBA-like 7 ft wingspan, Parham shredded the FCS at Stetson. Throughout his collegiate career, he put up a ridiculous 180-2591-20 stat-line and reportedly proved “to be a useful target at the back of the endzone and over the top of coverage in 7-on-7 drill.” Expect Parham to be a fantasy favorite in the Air Raid.
Defense
Dallas Renegades ($4,700)
With all of the defenses being relatively cheap, might as well take the biggest favorite on the board to keep a boring offense out of the end zone.
DC Defenders ($4,200)
With all of the defenses being relatively cheap, might as well take the second biggest favorite on the board to keep a boring offense out of the end zone.
Houston Roughnecks ($3,200)
Let’s take advantage of the Wildcats being without their stud quarterback this week.
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