Geoff Lambert looks at XFL DFS top plays for Week 5.
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Well, Cam Phillips fell back to Earth in Week 4, but that won’t dissuade me from going back to him this week. Stacking him with his quarterback won’t be easy, but there is some good value that could open up if we get some injury reports before the game’s kickoff. Here are a few of my top picks for this weekend…
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Quarterbacks
Jordan Ta’amu (STL) $9,700 @ DC
Ta’amu will likely be my most owned quarterback across all my lineups. He has a very safe floor with his running ability but still has the passing upside that P.J. Walker and Josh Johnson have. Last week he had a whopping 16 carries on both designed runs and scrambles. The Defenders defense hasn’t played well of late, especially against the run, making Ta’amu my favorite play at quarterback.
Taylor Cornelius (TB) $8,500 @ LA
Cornelius won the starting job after leading the Vipers to their first victory in franchise history. His numbers weren’t gaudy going 24-for-31 211 yards one TD and one interception — he also added 36 yards and a TD on the ground. The Wildcats have been one of the better offenses in the league since Josh Johnson came back from an injury that kept him out Week 1, which could lead the Vipers to pass more. Cornelius is the quarterback you will need to use if you plan on paying up for some of the more expensive skill players.
Running Backs
Cameron Artis-Payne (DAL) $8,200 vs. NY
Artis-Payne is the most expensive running back on the slate, but he’s a hard player to fade with the workload he gets. His targets have increased in each game so far this year and had eight in Week 4. The Guardians give up 113.5 yards per game on the ground, third-worst in the league. With a backup quarterback under center, look for Dallas to lean on the run game with Artis-Payne and Lance Dunbar.
Martez Carter (LA) $4,600 vs. TB
Carter was the star of Week 3 for LA but unfortunately missed last week with an injury. He seems to be on pace to make his return here in Week 5 and at $4,600 he will be a huge value.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Jordan Smallwood (LA) $6,200 vs. TB
Teammate and fellow wide receiver, Nelson Spruce, has already been ruled out opening the door once again for Smallwood to have a large role in the passing game. He had had at least six targets in three of four games this season and last week had career highs in receptions, yards, and targets — which coincided with Nelson Spruce missing the game.
Nick Truesdell (TB) $4,700 @ LA
On the opposite side of the field in the same game as Smallwood is Nick Truesdell who had 11 targets over the first two games. At $4,700, Truesdell may be the best value at receiver on the entire slate. A good stack option could be Taylor Cornelius, Nick Truesdell and running it back with Jordan Smallwood on the other side.
Defense
NY Guardians $3,200 @ DAL
This pick is purely based on price and the backup quarterback that Dallas is forced to play. The Guardians’ defense hasn’t been terrible this year, at least not from a fantasy perspective.
