XFL DFS Week 2 DraftKings Lineup Recommendations

After the fun of the unknown when it came to Week 1 DFS, we now get down to serious business with our XFL Week 2 DraftKings lineups. We now have a better idea of how teams will lineup, which allows us to make more informed decisions. Over the coming weeks, we will continue to learn more and more about these teams, their tendencies, and how they like to use their players. 

Entering Week 2, we are expecting another reasonably high-scoring week with all four games shaving a projected total over 45. The game with the highest projected score can be found in the BattleHawks and Roughnecks matchup, meaning we will be looking to find any value that we can in that particular matchup.

Let’s take a look at the DraftKings lineup recommendations for Week 2 of the XFL season.

Quarterback

Jordan Ta’amu, St. Louis BattleHawks @ HOU (DK $8,900)

Week 1 saw Ta’amu be everything I hoped that he could be, both in the passing game and with his legs. He completed 20-of-27 for 209 yards and a touchdown but added a lot of value for fantasy owners with nine carries for 77 yards on the ground. While those numbers are good, he still only scored one touchdown, emphasizing how high his ceiling could be if it all comes together for him. Despite the third-best return at the position last week, Ta’amu’s price only rose by $200 this week, meaning he remains a great value this week. Choosing Ta’amu as your quarterback should give you a solid floor with the potential for a very high ceiling.

Quinton Flowers, Tampa Bay Vipers @ SEA ($7,500)

This one is going to be a last-minute play come the weekend once we see how the Vipers injury report shapes up. As of Wednesday, Aaron Murray was listed as “Did Not Participate” for the Vipers, leaving Flowers and Taylor Cornelius vying for the starting quarterback role. Right now, Flowers is listed as the QB3, but we saw the Vipers turn to him when they needed to try and get back into the game. Flowers is the potential x-factor that the XFL rules were designed to create, and with a full week to plan I am excited to see what the Vipers and Marc Trestman have dialed up for Flowers, who has a chance to be the top scorer at the position in the right circumstances this week.

Running back

Matt Jones, St. Louis BattleHawks @ HOU (DK $5,900)

No one carried the ball more than Jones last week, as he turned 21 carries into 85 yards. Unfortunately for Jones’ fantasy owners, zero receptions and being held out of the end zone led to a somewhat disappointing return. However, Jones was the most heavily used back in the league last week, and against the explosive Roughnecks, I expect the BattleHawks to lean on him again this week. 

Trey Williams, Seattle Dragons vs. TB (DK $5,000)

Williams may have carried the ball just three times last week, but he was a crucial part of the Dragons passing game. Williams pulled in four receptions on five targets for 27 yards and a touchdown. His day was saved mainly thanks to his touchdown, but the usage was essential to see, and I expect that role to be there again this week. In a league where stand out rushing performances were few and far between, finding a contributor in the passing game can be a crucial way to anchor your DFS lineup on DraftKings.

Lance Dunbar, Dallas Renegades @ LA (DK $4,600)

Another player who played a crucial role in his team’s receiving game was Dunbar, who had six receptions on six targets for the Renegades in Week 1. Despite having a shaky role coming into the week, Dunbar cemented himself as a player that could make a significant impact on this XFL season. With Landry Jones hopefully back this week, the field should open more for Dunbar to have a greater opportunity.

Wide Receiver

Rashad Ross, D.C. Defenders vs. NY (DK $9,900) 

The longer this season goes, the more productive I believe Ross will be. There was talk that he was struggling to grasp the playbook, and yet still, he had 53 yards and a touchdown on two receptions in Week 1. Ross was a star of the AAF and has the talent to take the XFL by storm. To some extent, there is concern that Ross and fellow receiver Eli Rogers may cannibalize value from each other all season. Still, with Ross serving the deep-threat role, they should both be able to find value in what is one of the more explosive offenses in the league.

Alonzo Russell, St. Louis BattleHawks @ HOU (DK $4,800)

Russell looked impressive last week for the BattleHawks and came down with three receptions on five targets for 49 yards a touchdown. He seemed to be an option that Ta’amu looked to in the clutch moments, and he should be a player we see plenty of this season. The value here is really in the price for Russell, who could easily be up towards the $7,000 mark next week with another solid performance in Week 2.

Reece Horn, Tampa Bay Vipers @ SEA (DK $3,800)

I am hesitant to take too much of the Vipers with the question marks surrounding the QB position. Therefore, if I am going to gamble on a Vipers receiver, it is Horn for the second week running. Horn was outshone by Dan Williams, but he still had his moments and nearly found the end zone late in the game. Horn was another receiver who impressed in the AAF, and if the Vipers can figure out their offense, he could be a steal at this price.

Defense and Special Teams

D.C. Defenders vs. NY (DK $4,400)

For me, the Guardians are perhaps the most overrated team in the XFL entering Week 2. They scored just 23 points, and six of those points were scored by the defense on a fumble recovery. McGloin completed just 15-of-29 passes, and the Guardians averaged only five yards per play on offense. I expect the Defenders to shut down the Guardians’ offense and bring the team from New York back down to earth. 

Ben Role is a handicapper, DFS writer, and editor for Pro Football Network. You can follow him on Twitter @benrolfe15.