XFL Fantasy Draft Rankings

To quote the great Vince McMahon, “This.. is… the XFL!!!”

Though much has changed in 20 years since the last incarnation of the XFL, a great deal has stayed the same. The rules are different, the innovation is different, the face of the organization is different, but the fans are just as rabid as ever.

Being the rabid fan you are, you’ve started trying to find somewhere to play, and as of right now, you really have two options. The first is DraftKings, which runs excellent daily contests including some (other word for great) ones last spring for the short lived AAF (RIP, FTD). Head over here to get you daily fill and you won’t be disappointed.

If daily fantasy sports doesn’t do it for you, then I highly recommend heading over to altfantasysports.com. Brian, the man who created a full blown fantasy site with live scoring and an ever improving interface on a whim because he wanted to play, does a great job with this site and is constantly making improvements to it. You have control of league size, scoring and a revamped draft interface as well! Plus, it’s free! So get some friends together and head on over to prove who’s the biggest degen ⁠— I mean greatest fantasy player of all!

“We already found somewhere to play…”

“Quit boring us…”

“You suck…”

Alright, alright, let’s get to what you really want, RANKINGS!!!

Rankings take into account the following factors:

• Past pro performance
• Opportunity
• Collegiate performance
• System
• Measurables

All rankings are based around a six-team, 0.5 PPR league with standard scoring. I advocate for a six-team league in a traditional league so no one gets left hanging without a QB.

QUARTERBACK

Connor Cook	Houston	QB01
Cardale Jones	DC	QB02
Josh Johnson	LA	QB03
Landry Jones	Dallas	QB04
Matt McGloin	New York	QB05
Jordan Ta’Amu	St. Louis	QB06
Aaron Murray	Tampa	QB07
Brandon Silvers	Seattle	QB08
Philip Nelson	Dallas	QB09
Taylor Heinicke	St. Louis	QB10
Luis Perez	LA	QB11
Eric Dungey	Dallas	QB12
Tyree Jackson	DC	QB13

The biggest thing to remember is you’re looking for a QB who won’t kill you with turnovers and gives you the potential to set a floor with 1, 2, or 3 point conversions, add in a high floor with rushing (Cardale, Josh, Ta’Amu, Nelson) is an added bonus as well. Landry Jones would be my season long No. 1.  He’s playing for Bob Stoops again, and in an Air-Raid offense coached by a Godfather of the Air Raid Hal Mume; however, he’s out for 4-6 weeks with a knee injury, according to the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Renegades. This puts him down for a return around Weeks 2-3. IF everything goes right and he’s ready to roll he’ll be a must start. Highly recommend drafting him, but you also have to have a Plan B, whether that’s Eric Dungey or Philip Nelson (his backup is still TBD), or one of the lower tier QBs.

Other things to note: Cardale Jones will have an opportunity to ball out like it’s 2014 with a high octane backfield containing Jhurrell Pressley and Donnel Pumphrey, and deep threat Rashad Ross. The Defender’s offense could be a thing of beauty for fantasy players… Whoever ends up winning the St. Louis job, whether its Ta’Amu, Heinicke or Brogan Roback, could have massive fantasy relevance. Newly installed OC Chuck Long is a former star college QB and another Air Raid coach. Big time weapons like Terrance Williams, L’Damian Washington and De’Mornay Pierson-El at receiver and a strong running game make that QB a strong sleeper pick… Strongly recommend avoiding Brandon Silvers until late if at all; he has a weak supporting cast and never impressed last year in the AAF.

RUNNING BACK

Jhurrell Pressley	DC	RB01
Kenenth Farrow	Seattle	RB02
Christine Michael	St. Louis	RB03
De’Veon Smith	Tampa	RB04
Tim Cook III	New York	RB05
Cameron Artis-Payne	Dallas	RB06
Andre Williams	Houston	RB06
Ja’Quan Gardner	Seattle	RB07
Lance Dunbar	Dallas	RB08
Tarean Folston	Tampa	RB09
Matt Jones	St. Louis	RB10
Justin Stockton	New York	RB11
Martez Carter	LA	RB12
Trey Williams	Seattle	RB13
DuJuan Harris	LA	RB14
Donnel Pumphrey	DC	RB15
Steve McShane	Houston	RB16
Larry Rose	LA	RB17

What makes for a quality back in Spring Fantasy Football? Touches. It’s all about getting those touches. Some are more valuable than others, but if a back is going to get 12+ touches, he’s an RB1. If he’s going to touch the ball about 8 times a game or get the goal-line/PAT work (1, 2 or 3 points) he’s an RB2. Be content sometimes to flex anyone who will touch the ball six times a game since. Spring Fantasy carries some new expectations on scoring. Christian McCaffrey isn’t walking through those doors any time soon.

Jhurrell Pressley will be an absolute monster in all formats. He’s a dynamic runner who can catch the ball coming out of the backfield, and he’s paired with one of the stronger running QBs, Cardale Jones, in the XFL. Look for some interesting wrinkles from Pep Hamilton to get Pressley opportunities. Don’t sleep on his backfield running-mate Donnel Pumphrey, an RB3 with upside. Anyone who can tally multiple 2000 yard seasons in college deserves some respect when he steps on the field.

Many people are high on Cameron Artis-Payne, but don’t believe the hype. Lance Dunbar will see more passing down work and Payne lacks that top end talent to run away with the job. Artis-Payne is still an RB1, but temper expectations… Matt Jones and Christine Michael are the most experienced backfield combo, and may make a run at being the most complimentary as well. Michael will move the chains and Jones has the size to finish drives, could do worse than picking both… The LA Wildcat backfield is a mess, so look for more clarification as the preseason goes along, but right now Martez Carter gets the nod as the highest ranked LA back on the strength of his TD, let’s go out on a limb and say he’ll get the goalline work, in the scrimmage against Dallas earlier this week.

WIDE RECEIVER

Rashad Ross	DC	WR01
Terrance Williams	St. Louis	WR02
Mekale McKay	New York	WR03
L’Damian Washington	St. Louis	WR04
Sammie Coates	Houston	WR05
Nelson Spruce	LA	WR06
Reece Horn	Tampa	WR07
Korey Roberston	Seattle	WR08
Seantavius Jones	Tampa	WR09
Eli Rogers	DC	WR10
Alonzo Moore	Tampa	WR11
Jazz Ferguson	Dallas	WR12
Adonis Jennings	LA	WR13
Jalen Rowell	Seattle	WR14
Darius Prince	New York	WR15
Keenan Reynolds	Seattle	WR16
Freddie Martino	Dallas	WR17
De’Mornay Pierson-El	St. Louis	WR18

Wide receiver is another place to modify your thinking. Six targets a game equals a WR1 and a WR2 is usually going to be either a deep threat or red zone target who may only see 2-3 targets a game. The same goes for your Flex options.

One of the most potentially explosive receiver groups will be the St. Louis Battlehawks. Terrance Williams is a legitimate NFL talent who will leverage a strong XFL season into another shot in the NFL, L’Damian Washington is a big bodied receiver who did a lot with subpar QB play last year in the AAF and the same can be said for De’Mornay Pierson-El. Look for Chuck Long’s Air Raid approach to unlock these talented receivers, assuming they can pick a competent QB.

Reece Horn will face major coverage for Tampa since he is their most legitimate, nearly almost only, receiving target. Seantavious Jones may have made strides since last spring, but with Murray at QB these guys could be limited… Mekale McKay and Rashad Ross will be breakout stars again this year; McKay will bail Matt McGloin out by going up and getting balls through tight coverage and Ross will be the kind of speedster Cardale Jones will love… Sammie Coates will climb draft boards as more clips emerge of him absolutely cooking DBs during scrimmages and preseason, go get him early.

TIGHT ENDS

Nick Truesdell	Tampa	TE1
Brandon Barnes	LA	TE2
Evan Rodriguez	Seattle	TE3
Adrien Robinson	DC	TE4
Jake Sutherland	NewYork	TE5
Khari Lee	DC	TE6
Sean Price	Dallas	TE7
Connor Davis	St.Louis	TE8
Colin Jeter	Seattle	TE9

If tight end play is anything like it was in the AAF, you’re going to hold your nose and hope for five points. Look for guys without many other receiving threats on their team, or guys who can be red zone threats.

Nick Truesdell was a breakout player in the AAF and posted a respectable 24/269/3 last spring, if you want a good bet at consistent production, go get him… Brandon Barnes, Evan Rodriguez and Adrien Robinson all had momentary flashes last spring… Khari Lee played with Cardale Jones for a few weeks in Buffalo a while back, could be some chemistry there… Colin Jeter scored a TD during a scrimmage, he might climb or it could just be a random occurrence.

So go forth! Draft your team! Talk some smack and enjoy being the most prepared of your friends! If you win, I’ll gladly accept your praises, if you lose, don’t blame me, I bet you didn’t listen to me!