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Week 5 Fantasy POV: BattleHawks, Ta’amu will win XFL East showdown

By Darwin (Deni) Martin

ST. LOUIS, MO - FEBRUARY 29: Jordan Ta'Amu #10 of the St. Louis Battlehawks rushes during an XFL game against the Seattle Dragons at the Dome at America's Center on February 29, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas /Getty Images)
ST. LOUIS, MO - FEBRUARY 29: Jordan Ta'Amu #10 of the St. Louis Battlehawks rushes during an XFL game against the Seattle Dragons at the Dome at America's Center on February 29, 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri. (Photo by Michael B. Thomas /Getty Images) /
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Jordan Ta’amu, quarterback of XFL East’s No. 1 team, is ready (well prepared) to lead the St. Louis BattleHawks (3-1) to a road victory over the D.C. Defenders (2-2) Sunday afternoon.

According to XFL Stats, Ta’amu is No. 2 in passing yards with 876 yards and No. 5 in rushing with 186 yards.  He is so consistent and improving that last week he was selected the XFL’s Star of the Week for week 4.

The BattleHawks only defeat was a 28-24 road loss in week 2 to the undefeated Houston Roughnecks, which happened to be Ta’amu’s worst game.  He did have three touchdown passes, but he also threw two interceptions.

Supporting Ta’amu is running back Matt Jones who is No. 2 in rushing with 244 yards.  He also has one catch for 25 yards and a touchdown.

Actually, the BattleHawks running game is the key to their offensive success this season.  In their week 3 win over the New York Guardians, Ta’amu only had to throw 18 passes.  Most of the game he was handing the ball off to Jones or running back Christine Michael.  Both Jones and Michael scored a touchdown in the 29-9 win.

Two BattleHawk wide receivers are virtually tied in  pass catching statistics.  L’Damian Washington has 16 catches for 138 yards.  Wide receiver Alonzo Russell has 12 catches for 134 yards.

For the Defenders, starting quarterback Cardale Jones has slipped statistically. IIn the first two games of the season, Jones combined to complete 39 out of 63 passes.  In the last two games, he is 22 for 48.  An equally telling set of statistics show Jones threw four touchdown passes and 1 interception in week 1 and 2 games.  In weeks 3 and 4, he failed to throw a touchdown pass but tossed 5 interceptions..

Offensively, the D.C. Defenders look to throw the ball to Rashad Ross.  Early in the season, the Jones-to-Ross connection accounted for 147 yards passing.  The worst game was in week 3 when Ross was targeted 6 times, had only one catch and it was for 17 yards.

One noteworthy player on the D.C. defense is safety Rahim Moore who has two interceptions and one fumble recovery.

Here are the DFS recommendations for this game:

  • START St. Louis quarterback Jordan Ta’amu
  • START St, Louis running back Matt Jones
  • SLEEPER is D.c. quarterback Cardale Jones
  • SIT St. Louis running back Christine Michael
  • EXPECT the St. Louis BattleHawks to win by 6 with the total points not exceeding 32

The game will be played on:

  • Sunday, March 8, 3:00 p.m. EST at Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
  • TV Channel: FS1 and Live Stream:  fuboTV

Next. DraftKings XFL picks week 5. dark

Saturday’s first game has the Seattle Dragons (1-3) facing off against the Roughnecks (4-0) in Houston . Saturday’s second game is the New York Guardians (3-2) traveling to Dallas. to play the Renegades (2-2).  The final game of week 5 features the Tampa Bay Vipers (1-3) playing the Wildcats (1-3) Sunday night in Los Angeles.

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