RADIO
It's time for Week 4 of the XFL season. I'd write a longer intro here, but I've been sick for almost a week and I don't want to waste too many of my words here, so let's just get to discussing the XFL.
With DraftKings offering XFL contests again this year, I'll be here every week with lineup picks for the league. It looks like the plan at DraftKings is to do one four-game slate each weekend, even when there's a game on Thursday.
Below, you'll find my thoughts on the Week 4 DFS slate of XFL contests on DraftKings, which goes live on 3/11/2023 at 7:00 p.m. ET. Be sure to also read all our other weekly XFL fantasy football articles. Let's get to it, and good luck RotoBallers!
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DraftKings Quarterbacks - Week 4 XFL DFS Picks
Brett Hundley - Vegas Vipers - vs D.C. Defenders - $10,000
The Vipers fell to 0-3 last week, but Brett Hundley gave them a solid quarterbacking performance. He only completed 46.4% of his passes, but something you have to get used to in this league is that completion percentage don't work like it does in the NFL. Only Ben DiNucci is completing over 65% of his passes; 18 of the 33 qualifying NFL quarterbacks did that last season.
More of what I'm looking at is production, and Hundley had some production last week, finishing with 224 passing yards and two touchdowns. He also had a real chance to showcase his legs, carrying the ball eight times for 66 yards and a score.
That's another thing you want in the XFL: a QB with rushing upside. Hundley has that.
Jordan Ta'amu - D.C. Defenders - vs Vegas Vipers - $9,200
It took a little bit, but it seems like Jordan Ta'amu might finally be rounding into form after his best showing of the season last week. Ta'amu struggled once again with his efficiency, going 11-for-20, but he boosted his other numbers, throwing for a season-high 196 yards and his first touchdown of the year. He also ran for this second touchdown of the season.
Hundley faces Vegas this week. The Vipers let Ben DiNucci throw for 377 yards and four touchdowns last week and while Ta'amu isn't that kind of passer, he's still got a pretty lively arm, so this week could be his best chance of finishing with 200-plus yards, in addition to what he brings on the ground. He leads all XFL quarterbacks in rushing attempts with 27.
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 4 XFL DFS Picks
Abram Smith - D.C. Defenders - vs Vegas Vipers - $8,400
Smith returns to the column again, but it's just so hard to resist playing him. He has the volume—he ranks third in the XFL in carries—and he's also managed to be more productive on a per-touch basis than a lot of other guys. The two players with more carries average 3.09 and 2.68 yards per carry, but Smith is at 4.03.
This week, Smith takes on a Vipers team that got shredded on the ground last week. Morgan Ellison didn't find the end zone, but he turned his 17 carries into 103 yards, good for 6.06 yards per carry.
Brycen Alleyne - Houston Roughnecks - vs Orlando Guardians - $3,400
Alleyne had some intriguing usage last week. After not playing in Week 1 and getting just two carries in Week 2, Alleyne saw seven carries against the Brahmas last week. It wasn't the most productive seven carries—he produced just 25 yards—but the usage pattern itself is what matters to me here.
Also important: his receiving ability. In addition to those 25 rushing yards, he added 40 receiving yards, catching all four of his targets. His ability to make plays out of the backfield should help him see the field about as much this week as he did last week.
DraftKings Wide Receivers and Tight Ends - Week 4 XFL DFS Picks
Josh Gordon - Seattle Sea Dragons - vs San Antonio Brahmas - $10,600
I think I've said it before, but I just really like having exposure to the Sea Dragons passing attack every week. And after a disappointing Week 2 effort, Josh Gordon showed last week why he's the guy you want exposure to. He's up to second in the XFL in receiving yards now, behind only teammate Jahcour Pearson.
Gordon was just an absolute beast against the Vipers last week, catching six passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns.
Look, I'm not saying Gordon could go back to the NFL and dominate, but he can do to the XFL what he once did to the NFL, which was to just absolutely destroy some defenses. Gordon's expensive in DFS, but he's also the XFL's best wide receiver, and sometimes you have to pay up for the talent.
Gordon faces the Brahmas, who let Houston's Brandon Silvers throw for 278 yards and three touchdowns last week. If Silvers can do that, then the sky's the limit for this Seattle offense, and Gordon will benefit from that.
Jontre Kirklin - Houston Roughnecks - vs Orlando Guardians - $8,900
I played Kirklin at $7,700 last week. I'll play him at $8,900 this week. He ranks third in the league in receiving yards and has over 50 yards in every game this season, as well as six or more targets in each contest.
Houston's rolling right now, one of two undefeated teams left. There's really not much reason not to play Kirklin—especially considering he's already played the Guardians once this season, catching five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown back in Week 1.
Cody Latimer - Orlando Guardians - vs Houston Roughnecks - $5,600
Latimer's been really solid this season. He's found the end zone twice already. He's got at least five catches in every game, and over 65 yards in two of those contests. The Guardians aren't very good, but Latimer is a bright spot.
Which is why getting him at $5,600 is a nice steal. He's already shown he can be productive against this Houston team, catching five passes for 68 yards and a score last month. But because of overall struggles of this offense, he comes in underpriced—like, teammate Charleston Rambo shouldn't cost $1,700 more than Latimer does.
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