RADIO
Welcome to the Week 2 edition of RotoBaller's UFL DFS Bargain Bin, where the goal is to touch on some potentially mispriced players in DraftKings' Week 1 UFL contests. Each week during the UFL 2024 season and postseason, I’ll give you my thoughts on where there may be some value spots to exploit for DraftKings' wide array of tournaments and cash games. After you're done here, be sure to also read all our other weekly UFL fantasy football articles.
The XFL and USFL had both defied the odds over the last pair of springs to complete full seasons -- one in the case of the former and two in the case of the latter -- and they've now joined forces in the hopes of forming a stable and long-lasting pro football alternative for fans that also serves as a launchpad to the NFL for as many players as possible. There's a solid degree of carryover in terms of personnel from both leagues for the 2024 season, even though several teams from each league didn't make the cut for the UFL.
DraftKings' UFL DFS rosters largely mirror that of NFL contests, with a notable exception -- there is no TE-specific spot, but rather two WR/TE spots and two additional flex spots that can be filled with a running back, wide receiver, or tight end.
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UFL DFS Bargain Bin Intro
Before we go UFL DFS Bargain Bin hunting, a few particulars about format and content.
The nature of the beast with value plays is at least a modest amount (and sometimes substantially more) of risk. Therefore, the Bargain Bin may prove to be a bit more of a roller coaster ride on some slates than your typical “tout” article! Naturally, that doesn’t mean there isn’t an upside to be had. All of these selections are therefore suitable for GPPs and can also often serve as solid cash game plays, while often helping you accommodate multiple higher-priced studs into your lineup.
This article is by no means intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all value options for the week. Rather, it’s meant to take a deeper dive into those I feel offer some of the best combinations of savings and upside.
The goal is to recommend truly affordable players, as opposed to, say, a player priced just $300-$400 away from the highest-priced option at his position. I don’t have set-in-stone price limits in mind for each site, but I do consider legitimate affordability a very important criterion.
UFL Quarterback DFS Value Plays
Luis Perez, ARL at STL | $8,800
Perez put together a relatively modest showing from a fantasy perspective in Week 1, posting 11.2 DK points in the loss to a tough Stallions defense. The spring league veteran did throw for 214 yards and a touchdown, and he didn't help his fantasy score with a pair of turnovers.
The Battlehawks were tough-luck losers in Week 1 when the Panthers' Adam Bates nailed a 64-yard field goal, and they did a good job versus Michigan's versatile signal-caller E.J. Perry. Nevertheless, with Perez having had another week to work with his pass catchers and the fast track of The Dome at America's Center in play, Perez could up his production in Week 2.
ALSO CONSIDER: E.J. Perry, MICH vs. BHAM | $9,300
UFL Running Back DFS Value Plays
Ricky Person, BHAM at MICH | $5,500
Person played a definite second fiddle to lead back C.J. Marable in Week 1, but the former still had a solid allotment of opportunity and performance in his own right. Person posted 18.2 DK points on the strength of 72 total yards on 10 touches and a spectacular rushing TD, lending credence he'll continue enjoying a solid complementary role in Week 2.
The Panthers played some solid run defense against the Renegades in Week 1, but the Stallions boast a multi-faceted offense that's committed to the ground game. With Marable softening up the front seven with his hard running and Person coming in as a change-of-pace option that's also a very good receiver, the latter could outpace his very reasonable salary.
You can't get a clearer look at it than this 🎥👀
Ricky Person Jr. with a big-time play for the @USFLStallions 🔥 pic.twitter.com/aLbDppYgDd
— United Football League (@XFL2023) March 30, 2024
Leddie Brown, ARL at STL | $5,400
Brown was an explosive complementary option on the XFL-champion Renegades behind De'Veon Smith last season, and the duo is reprising those roles to start the new season in the UFL. Brown logged nine touches overall in Week 1, and although he averaged a modest 3.8 yards per carry, he's showed some nice upside in the past while wrapping up his college career at West Virginia with a pair of 1,000-yard seasons.
The Battlehawks were susceptible to the run in Week 1, surrendering 85 rushing yards on only 11 carries to the Panthers' Wes Hills. Brown's ability to contribute through both the ground and air -- he recorded 67 receptions in his last two college seasons and tallied 12 catches for Arlington in just five games (two starts) last season -- should give him a solid chance for strong returns in Week 2.
UFL Wide Receiver DFS Value Plays
Darrius Shepherd, STL vs. ARL | $7,000
Marcell Ateman is also an intriguing Battlehawks value receiver after finding the end zone in Week 1, but we'll roll with Shepherd here as a suggestion after he was the subject of plenty of AJ McCarron's attention in the opener. Shepherd drew a robust eight targets, turning them into a 5-34 line against the Panthers.
The North Dakoka State product, who boasts 14 games of NFL experience from his time with the Packers in the 2019-20 seasons, was highly effectively while working with McCarron a season ago in the XFL. Shepherd finished with a 48-519-6 line across 10 games, logging at least six targets in each of the last five contests. With that level of involvement present again in Week 1 of the new league, Shepherd offers impressive ceiling at his salary.
Daewood Davis, MEM vs. SAN | $6,600
Davis flashed some solid upside in Week 1 while getting his first opportunity to work with the versatile Case Cookus as his quarterback. The Western Kentucky product, who finished off his college career with two strong seasons, posted a 7-43 line on the ground and a 15-yard rush to net 12.8 DK points.
Another week of working with Cookus in practice should serve Davis well, and the rookie wideout remains very reasonably priced for the upside he displayed in the opener. The Brahmas did play formidable defense against the Defenders in Week 1, but the Showboats could present a strong challenge for them outside of the comfortable conditions of the Alamodome and San Antonio did give up a combined 12 receptions to the Defenders' top three wideouts.
Ty Scott, D.C. vs. HOU | $5,100
Scott displayed some encouraging chemistry with quarterback Jordan Ta'amu in what was a disappointing Week 1 for the Defenders, posting a 4-87 line on six targets to net 12.7 DK points. Scott offers an impressive combination of size and speed and put together a pair of impressive seasons in 2021-22 at Missouri State to close out his college career.
The Defenders offense did focus heavily on the wideouts in Week 1 against San Antonio, and Scott's target total tied for second on the team. Ta'amu should be a lot better in Week 2 while playing in front of the home crowd, and the Roughnecks did show some vulnerability to the pass against the Showboats in Week 1. With Scott's salary being what it is, I don't mind taking a shot in tournaments given his home-run capability.
ALSO CONSIDER: Brandon Smith, D.C. vs. HOU | $5,400
UFL Flex DFS Value Plays
Jace Sternberger, TE - BHAM at MICH | $6,300
Sternberger didn't fully deliver as a value suggestion in the Week 1 Bargain Bin, but the veteran tight end still boasts plenty of upside and will undoubtedly become more involved as he continues to work with the talented but inexperienced Matt Corral. Sternberger was targeted four times in Week 1, and he effectively got downfield by recording 32 yards on only two catches.
The Panthers gave up a 3-45 line to Battlehawks tight end Jake Sutherland in Week 1, and Sternberger, who finished last season with between 58 and 84 receiving yards in each of his last five contests including the postseason, certainly has the talent to surpass those numbers if Corral shows some improvement from the opener.
Jace Sternberger for 18 yards 👉 pic.twitter.com/P3twKn0j1j
— B2B CHAMPIONSTALLIONS 🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) March 30, 2024
Sal Cannella, TE - ARL at STL | $6,000
Much like Sternberger did in the USFL last season, Cannella offered the upside of a receiver on many weeks in the XFL in 2023. The Auburn product, who was also impressive with the USFL's Breakers in 2022, got the inaugural UFL campaign off to a solid start with a 4-49 line on five targets in Week 1 against a tough Stallions defense.
Cannella will now have the benefit of the fast track of a dome environment, and it's worth noting the Battlehawks surrendered a 41-yard reception to Panthers tight end Cole Hikutini in the Week 1 loss. Cannella's sure hands and ability to stretch the field put him in play every week, especially when also considering his established rapport with Perez.
ALSO CONSIDER: Cole Hikutini, MICH vs. BHAM | $3,800
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