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It's time for Week 5 of the XFL season. So far, this season's been all about the Defenders and the Roughnecks, who both sit at 4-0. The two teams face in Week 6—can both get past this weekend undefeated to set up that huge contest on March 27?
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 5 DFS slate of XFL contests on DraftKings, which goes live on 3/16/2023 at 10:30 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 5 XFL DFS Picks
Ben DiNucci - Seattle Sea Dragons - vs Houston Roughnecks - $11,300
With how many QBs are likely to be benched at a moment's notice, it's important to anchor your lineup with one of the three guys who won't get benched: Ben DiNucci, A.J. McCarron and Brandon Silvers.
DiNucci leads the XFL in passing yards this season and is the only player with over 1,000 yards through the first four games of the season. A pass-first offense with the best group of pass-catchers in the league will lead to that happening, won't it? This week's meeting with the Roughnecks is a tough one, as Houston allows the fewest passing yards per game, but they also haven't faced Seattle or St. Louis yet, so I think that number's a little misleading. I'm also testing a theory this weekend that DiNucci is matchup-proof.
Brandon Silvers - Houston Roughnecks - @ Seattle Sea Dragons - $10,200
The same basic idea here as with DiNucci, but at a little bit of a discount. Seattle's defense allows the second-fewest passing yards per game, but unlike the Houston defense, they've been tested by one of the elite passing attacks, holding A.J. McCarron to 184 yards and one touchdown.
But Silvers has thrown multiple touchdowns in every game this season and has over 200 yards in three of the four contests. Even if Seattle can hold him in check from a yardage perspective, he just keeps finding receivers in the end zone, and he's also been good at generating bid plays, with a pass of at least 40 yards in all four games.
DraftKings Running Backs - Week 5 XFL DFS Picks
Jah-Maine Martin - Orlando Guardians - @ Vegas Vipers - $6,600
The Vipers allow the most rushing yards per game...and it isn't even really close. Teams have slashed them for 157 rushing yards per game; the second-worst is the Battlehawks, who allow 105.2.
Sure, some of that yardage comes from QBs, like Jordan Ta'amu's 89 yards on the ground last week. But Morgan Ellison had a 100-yard game against them, proving it isn't just the fact they've faced Ta'amu twice that's skewed the numbers.
Martin has run for four or more yards per carry in three of the four games so far. He took a backseat to Devin Darrington last week, and Darrington is a cool value option this week, but I still think I trust Martin just a little bit more.
Kenneth Farrow - Arlington Renegades - @ San Antonio Brahmas - $3,000
De'Veon Smith's struggled to find running room all season, averaging under two yards per carry in each game. Meanwhile, Farrow has played the last two weeks and has looked a little better, averaging over three yards per carry in both games, though he only has nine total carries.
With how Smith's looked, it wouldn't be a shock to see Farrow's role grow some. This week, Arlington faces the Brahmas, who allow the third-most rushing yards per game in the XFL, making this an intriguing punt play. It could backfire, but at just $3,000, this is a bet worth taking.
DraftKings Wide Receivers and Tight Ends - Week 5 XFL DFS Picks
Jahcour Pearson - Seattle Sea Dragons - vs Houston Roughnecks - $11,000
If we're playing the top QBs, why not pair them with one of their receivers for a stack? Let's start in Seattle, where you have three good options, including the top two players in receiving yards in Jahcour Pearson and Josh Gordon. Pearson has been more consistent, with 76 or more receiving yards in every game, though he's only found the end zone once. Still, with at least eight targets in each game, Pearson has the highest floor of the Seattle wideouts.
Jontre Kirklin - Houston Roughnecks - @ Seattle Sea Dragons - $10,100
Kirklin is fourth in the XFL in receiving yards with 253 of them, and he's done it on just 15 catches. While he's coming off his worst game from a yardage perspective with just 49 of them, he remains a top big-play guy, with 30-plus yard catches in three of the four games. He's also scored three touchdowns over the last two games. There's more volatility here than there is with Pearson, but Kirklin's ability to find paydirt makes up for that.
Darrius Shepherd - St. Louis BattleHawks - vs D.C. Defenders - $8,000
And hey, while we're at it we might as well grab a receiver for the other good passing team, St. Louis. There are three good options there between Hakeem Butler, Darrius Shepherd and Austin Proehl, but I prefer Shepherd. He's in between the other two in pricing plus has been on a hot streak. After catching four passes for 19 yards over the first two games, he's caught 12 for 142 yards over the last two games and he found the end zone for the first time last week. He also had six catches for first downs as he's become a reliable weapon to move the chains.
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