XFL week 3 Fantasy POV: Start Roughnecks, Defenders

This XFL weekend provides the best opportunity from a DFS standpoint to start Houston or D.C.’s skilled position players, because both of these undefeated teams play winless opponents.

The Houston Roughnecks (2-0) travel to Tampa Bay (0-2) to face a Vipers team that has yet to score an offensive touchdown.  The D.C. Defenders (2-0) are on the West Coast to play the L.A. Wildcats (0-2) who have given up the most touchdowns (8) in the league.

Houston Roughnecks (2-0) at T.B. Vipers (0-2) 

• Saturday, February 22, 2:00 p.m. EST at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
• TV Channel: ABC and Live Stream: Watch ESPN and the ESPN App

Summary:  Houston has the most touchdowns (9) and the Vipers have the least (1) in the XFL.  The Roughnecks have quarterback Philip (P.K.) Walker, who is the leading scorer in fantasy football with 65.3 points.

Houston also has the XFL’s star of week 2, wide receiver Cam Phillips who caught three touchdown passes thrown by Walker in last Sunday’s 28-24 win over St. Louis.  Phillips has not only 4 touchdown receptions, but also 37.5 fantasy football points.

With the uncertainty surrounding who will start at quarterback for the Vipers,  Tampa Bay’s running game will have to dominate if they are to beat Houston.  Running back De’Veon Smith has 115 yards rushing and teammate Jacques Patrick has 105 yards.

Here are the DFS recommendations for this game:

• START Houston quarterback  Philip (P.K.) Walker
• START Houston wide receiver Cam Phillips
• SIT any skilled position player playing for Tampa Bay except RB’s Smith and Patrick
• EXPECT the Roughnecks to win by 12 with the total points not exceeding 42.

Dallas Renegades (1-1) at Seattle Dragons (1-1) 

• Saturday, February 22, 5:00 p.m. EST at CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA
• TV Channel: Fox and Live Stream:  fuboTV

Summary:  Dallas quarterback Landry Jones was hoping to play better in last weekend’s 25-18 win over the L.A. Wildcats.  He threw one touchdown pass and two interceptions, but it was the Renegades rushing game that made a difference in the game.

Renegade running back Cameron Artis-Payne rushed for 99 yards and scored two touchdowns against the Wildcats.  Teammate Lance Dunbar had 42 yards on 6 carries and Landry Jones ran for 13 yards as the Dallas running attack finished with 154 yards.

Seattle will need to rely on their “12th man” to beat Dallas late Saturday.  Quarterback Brandon Silvers has 4 touchdown passes in two games, but has less than a 50% completion rate.  Silvers’ favorite target Is wide receiver Austin Proehl who has been targeted 14 times in two games.  Proehl has caught two of the four touchdowns thrown b y Silvers.

Here are the DFS recommendations for this game:

• START Dallas running back Cameron Artis-Payne
• START Dallas running back Lance Dunbar
• SIT Seattle quarterback Brandon Silvers
• EXPECT the Renegades to win by 3 with the total points not exceeding 39.

N.Y. Guardians (1-1) St. Louis BattleHawks (1-1)

• Sunday, Feb. 23, 3:00 p.m. EST at The Dome at America’s Center, St. Louis, MO
• TV Channel: ESPN and Live Stream: Watch ESPN and the ESPN App

Summary:  The pressing question for the Guardians is: who will start at quarterback in Sunday’s game against the BattleHawks?

After New York quarterback Matt McGloin’s verbal tantrum directed at anyone listening (the dangers of live audio & video feeds), you wondered how head coach Kevin Gilbride would handle McGloin’s post-game remarks.

The assumption is the issue was addressed “in-house”, because there is no indication that McGloin’s status has changed as the starting quarterback.  His statistics aren’t very good as he has completed less than 50% of his passes and thrown just one touchdown pass.

For the BattleHawks, there is no denying that quarterback Jordan Ta’amu is the leader in St. Louis. He has completed an amazing 78.1% (50 out of 64) of his passes and thrown 4 touchdown passes.

Ta’amu is also willing to run with the ball as he has amassed 109 yards rushing.  His favorite target is wide receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El, who has caught 9 passes for 114 yards and one touchdown.

Here are the DFS recommendations for this game:

• START St. Louis quarterback Jordan Ta’amu
• START St. Louis wide receiver De’Mornay Pierson-El
• SIT the New York Guardians quarterback(s)
• EXPECT the BattleHawks to win at home by 10 with the total points not exceeding 44.

D.C. Defenders (2-0) at L.A. Wildcats (0-2)

• Sunday, Feb. 23, 6:00 p.m. EST at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, CA
• TV Channel: FS1 and Live Stream: fuboTV

Summary:  The difference between these two teams is consistency.  The Defenders have it; the Wildcats don’t.

D.C. is led by quarterback Cardale Jones, who is the second best QB in the XFL based on his 46.6 fantasy football points.  Jones leads the league in passage yardage with 511.

The projected starter for L.A. at the beginning of the season, Josh Johnson, played in his first game last Sunday against Dallas.  Johnson completed 18 out of 34 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to beat the Renegades.

One of the best wide receivers in the XFL, Nelson Spruce of the Wildcats, will be featured in this game.  Spruce leads the league in reception yardage with 192 yards.  He’s also caught two touchdown passes.

Here are the DFS recommendations for this game:

• START D.C. quarterback Cardale Jones
• START L.A. wide receiver Nelson Spruce
• SIT the porous L.A. Wildcats’ defense
• EXPECT the Defenders to win by 7 with the total points not exceeding 47.