Fansided

XFL Week 6 Fantasy POV: Houston will beat ‘New Look’ Guardians

By Darwin (Deni) Martin

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 7: Cam Phillips #14 of the Houston Roughnecks catches a touchdown during the XFL game against the Seattle Dragons at TDECU Stadium on March 7, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas Campbell/XFL via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 7: Cam Phillips #14 of the Houston Roughnecks catches a touchdown during the XFL game against the Seattle Dragons at TDECU Stadium on March 7, 2020 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Thomas Campbell/XFL via Getty Images) /
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The ‘New Look’ New York Guardians have the second-longest winning streak (2 games) in the XFL, but they are playing the Houston Roughnecks (5-0) who have the league’s longest win streak and will extend it to six on Saturday afternoon.

The New York Guardians (3-2) certainly look and behave differently since head coach Kevin Gilbride made Juan Perez their starting quarterback.  Perez has led New York to wins over Los Angeles (17-14) and the Dallas Renegades (30-12) in the last two weeks.

The problem is the Guardians, who have the XFL’s east productive offense, are playing the undefeated Houston Roughnecks who have the league’s most explosive offense .  Houston is averaging over four touchdowns (actually 4.25) a game and the Guardians average only two touchdowns a game.

So, besides Perez, what else has changed on the Guardians to explain their turnabout?  Their defense has played better as the season has progressed.

The Guardians are second to St. Louis in points allowed (St. Louis’ 77 vs;. New York’s 85).  They are second only to the Roughnecks in sacks.  (Houston has 15 and New York has 13 sacks.)

New York just cannot put points on the scoreboard.  This past Wednesday FanSided posted a fantasy football article on the top 20 scorers in the XFL at midseason.  Houston Renegades quarterback P.J Walker was not only No. 1 on the list, but teammates Cam Phillips, James Butler and Nick Holley were Nos. 3, 7 and 16 respectively.  (The Guardians’  highest-rated player is quarterback Juan Perez who is No. 21 with 35.5 fantasy football points.)

Besides leading the league in sacks, the Houston defense is the XFL leader in takeaways with 12.  Two defensive stat leaders to watch are Houston cornerback Deatrick Nichols who has 3 interceptions and Guardians defensive tackle Cavon Walker who has 4.5 sacks.

Here are the DFS recommendations for this game:

  • START Houston quarterback P.J. Walker
  • START Houston wide receiver Cam Phillips
  • SLEEPER is the New York Guardians defense
  • SIT Houston running back James Butler
  • EXPECT the Houston Renegades to win by 5 with the total points not exceeding 37

The game will be played on:

  • Saturday, March 14, 2:00 p.m. EST at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
  • TV Channel: ABC and Live Stream: Watch ESPN and the ESPN App

Next. St Louis vs. Tampa XFL breakdown. dark

Saturday’s late game has the St. Louis BattleHawks  (3-2) facing off against the Vipers (1-4) in Tampa.  Sunday’s first game is between the Dallas Renegades (2-3) are headed to Washington D.C. to play the Defenders (3-2).  Sunday’s second game features the L.A. Wildcats (2-3) playing the Dragons (1-4) in Seattle.

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