Fantasy POV: Top 20 scorers at XFL midseason

We’re halfway through the XFL regular season schedule of 10 games and two players – Houston quarterback P.J. Walker and Los Angeles quarterback Josh Johnson – dominate fantasy football with over 100 points each.

Here is a detailed look at the top 10 in the XFL based on a standard fantasy football scoring system.  You will find Nos. 11 through 20 listed after the top 10.

No. 1 – P.J. Walker, quarterback, Houston Roughnecks – 151.4 points

Comments:  Quarterback P.J. Walker has been compared to Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes for his ability to rally his team to  victory.  But it might be more accurate to compare him to Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson.  Their similarities in stature and how they manage an offense is unmistakable.  He is on a path to becomes the XFL’s first Most Valuable Player (MVP) when you consider his credentials:

• Position:  Quarterback
  • Position Rank: No. 1
  • Games played: 5
  • Height:  5′ 11″   Weight: 214 pounds
  • College: Temple
• Fantasy Stats – 151.4 points
  • Passing – 135.5 points, completed 119  of 184 passes (64.7%) for 1338 yards, 15 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions
  • Rushing – 15.9 points, 24 carries for 99 yards, 9.9 yards per carry, 1 touchdown

No. 2 – Josh Johnson, quarterback, L.A. Wildcats – 108.0 points

Comments:  Josh Johnson has been on several NFL rosters in the past and you can see it in his arm strength and ability to find pass receivers..  Johnson’s numbers would be even better if he hadn’t missed the season opener due to an injury.  His best game was last Sunday when he threw for 288 yards and 4 touchdowns in a 41-34 home victory over the Tampa Bay Vipers.

• Position:  Quarterback
  • Position Rank: No. 2
  • Games played: 4
  • Height:  6′ 3″   Weight: 205 pounds
  • College: San Diego
• Fantasy Stats – 108.0 points
  • Passing – 105.0 points, completed 81 of 135 passes (60.0%) for 1076 yards, 11 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions
  • Rushing – 3.0 points, 15 carries for 30 yards, 2.0 yards per carry

No. 3 – Cam Phillips, wide receiver, Houston Roughnecks – 99.5 points

Comments: Last month a FanSided article focused on the deadly  combination of  P..J. Walker to Cam Phillips.  You may slow them down, but you never completely stop them.   The only disappointment is Phillips was half a point shy of 100 fantasy points at the midseason mark.

• Position:  Wide receiver
  • Position Rank: No. 1
  • Games played: 5
  • Height:  6′    Weight: 201 pounds
  • College: Virginia Tech
• Fantasy Stats – 99.5 points
  • Receiving – Targeted 44 times, 31 catches for 455 yards, 9 touchdowns, averages 14.7 yards per catch

No. 4 – Jordan Ta’amu, quarterback, St. Louis BattleHawks – 95.7 points

Comments:  The BattleHawks are committed to the run-pass option (RPO) and Jordan Ta’amu is the most efficient quarterback at running this style of offense thus far in the XFL.  Ta’amu has been impressive running and passing the football, but will need a stronger effort in the second half of the season to break through the logjam at the top of the XFL East division.

• Position: Quarterback
  • Position Rank: No. 3
  • Games played: 5
  • Height: 5′ 11″   Weight: 214 pounds
  • College: Mississippi
• Fantasy Stats – 95.7 points
  • Passing – 68.0 points, completed 97 of 134 passes (72.4%) for 1050 yards, 5 touchdown passes and 2 interceptions
  • Rushing – 27.7 points, 41 carries for 217 yards, 5.3 yards per carry,1 touchdown

No. 5 – Taylor Cornelius, quarterback, Tampa Bay Vipers – 75.7 points

Comments:  With the XFL being a quarterback-driven league, it is not unusual for four of the top five scorers in fantasy football being quarterbacks. It is unusual for Cornelius to climb up the scoring chart so quickly since taking the helm of the Vipers’ offense.

• Position: Quarterback
  • Position Rank: No. 4
  • Games played: 5
  • Height: 6′ 5″   Weight: 224 pounds
  • College: Oklahoma State
• Fantasy Stats -75.7 points
  • Passing – 46.3 points, completed 78 of 123 passes (63.4%) for 858 yards, 4 touchdown passes and 6 interceptions
  • Rushing – 29.4 points, 17 carries for 114 yards, 6.7 yards per carry, 3 touchdowns

No. 6 – James Butler, running back, Houston Roughnecks – 56.3 points

Comments: James Butler is the No 1 multipurpose back in the XFL.  A little over 80% of his fantasy points have come from running the ball, while the rest of the time he becomes one of P.J. Walker’s favorite targets out of the backfield.

• Position:  Running back
  • Position Rank: No. 1
  • Games played: 5
  • Height:  5′ 10″   Weight: 205 pounds
  • College: Nevada/Iowa
• Fantasy Stats – 56.3 points
  • Rushing – 46.1 points, 48 carries for 221 yards, 4.8 yards per carry, 4 touchdowns
  • Receiving – 10.2 points, targeted 11 times, 11 catches for 42 yards, 1 touchdown

No. 7 – Tre McBride, wide receiver, L.A. Wildcats – 55.4 points

Comments: P.J. Walker has Cam Phillips and Josh Johnson has Tre McBride as his top pass receiver.  McBride has caught 4 touchdown passes in his last three games.  He is averaging an impressive 16.9 yards per catch despite being inactive in the season opener.

• Position:  Wide receiver
  • Position Rank: No. 2
  • Games played: 4
  • Height:  6′    Weight: 210 pounds
  • College: William & Mary
• Fantasy Stats – 55.4 poin,ts
  • Receiving – Targeted 24 times, 16 catches for 271 yards, 4 touchdowns

No. 8 – Donald Parham, tight end, Dallas Renegades – 54.7 points

Comments: Donald Parham is simply the best tight end in the XFL.  He is No. 3 on the XFL Player Stats page for receiving yards with 307.  He became Dallas quarterback Landry Jones‘ favorite target in week 3 when Parham caught 5 passes for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns.  HIs size makes him difficult to cover and tackle.

• Position:  Tight end
  • Position Rank: No. 1
  • Games played: 5
  • Height:  6′ 8″   Weight: 240 pounds
  • College: Stetson
• Fantasy Stats – 54.7 points
  • Receiving – Targeted 43 times, 24 catches for 307 yards, 12.8 yards per catch, 4 touchdowns

No. 9 – Brandon Silvers, quarterback, Seattle Dragons – 50.2 points

Comments:  Brandon Silvers did everything for the Seattle Dragons except win football games.  He started the first three games of the season and compiled impressive statistics, but Seattle head coach Jim Zorn felt that he had to go a different direction at quarterback and replaced Silvers with the more mobile B.J. Daniels.  Despite a three-game losing streak, Zorn and the Dragons seem content with Daniels at QB and Silvers will slide out pf the top 10.

• Position: Quarterback
  • Position Rank: No. 4
  • Games played: 4
  • Height: 6′ 3″   Weight: Not listed
  • College: Troy
• Fantasy Stats -50.2 points
  • Passing – Completed 53 of 102 passes (52.0%) for 552 yards, 6 touchdown passes and 4 interceptions

No. 10 – Landry Jones, quarterback, Dallas Renegades – 48.9 points

Comments:  Landry Jones managed  to climb into the top 10 list in three games.  He missed the season opener due to a knee injury, but played well in weeks 2 through 4.  But in trying to run the ball in game 4 against the Houston Roughnecks, Jones re-injured his knee.  He is still listed as “Out” on XFL injury reports.

• Position: Quarterback
  • Position Rank: No. 5
  • Games played: 3
  • Height: 6′ 4″   Weight: 225 pounds
  • College: Oklahoma
• Fantasy Stats -48.9 points
  • Passing – 47.4 points, completed 83 of 119 passes (69.7%) for 784 yards, 5 touchdown passes and 7 interceptions
  • Rushing – 1.5 points, 5 carries for 15 yards, 3 yards per carry

Here are the players  that are  ranked 11 through 20 and have definite DFS value.

• Curtis Artis-Payne, running back, Dallas Renegades – 45.9 points
• Matt Jones, running back, St. Louis BattleHawks – 45.9
• Cardale Jones, quarterback, D.C. Defenders – 43.1
• De’Veon Smith, running back, T.B. Vipers – 42.1
• Nelson Spruce, wide receiver, L.A. Wildcats – 41.5
• Nick Holley, running back, Houston Roughnecks – 41.2
• Austin Proehl, wide receiver, Seattle Dragons – 40.8
• Jacques Patrick, running back, T.B. Vipers – 40.2
• B.J. Daniels, quarterback , Seattle Dragons – 40.0
• Jalen Tolliver, wide receiver, T.B. Vipers – 36.9