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Welcome to the Week 8 edition of RotoBaller's XFL DFS Bargain Bin, where the goal is to touch on some potentially mispriced players in DraftKings' Week 8 XFL contests. Each week during the XFL 2023 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 XFL fantasy football articles.
We have an important Week 8 slate on tap that could help further clarify the postseason picture and that features some intriguing matchups with only team, the Vipers, officially eliminated thus far. As customary, we'll break down multiple cost-saving options at each position to consider for your DraftKings lineups.
DraftKings' XFL 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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XFL DFS Bargain Bin Intro
Before we go XFL 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 rollercoaster 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.
XFL Quarterback DFS Value Plays
Quinten Dormady, ORL vs. ARL | $9,400
Dormady has experienced a well-earned bump in salary after his memorable six-touchdown game versus the previously undefeated Defenders in Week 7, one that netted 48.3 DK points. However, the former Central Michigan quarterback had already been trending upward prior to that, as he'd produced a solid 14 DK points in Week 6 against the Sea Dragons and had thrown for 256 yards and a pair of scores in relief of Paxton Lynch back in Week 5.
Dormady should be brimming with confidence heading into the key Week 8 showdown against the Renegades. While both squads have losing marks, each is still alive for a postseason spot and this could therefore turn into another hotly-contested affair. Dormady offers some solid rushing upside as well and has an impressive array of pass catchers at his disposal, making even a matchup against an Arlington defense yielding a modest 177.1 passing yards per contest appealing.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jalan McClendon, VGS at STL | $9,200
XFL Running Back DFS Value Plays
De'Veon Smith, ARL at ORL | $8,000
Smith makes for an interesting option on the other side of the Renegades-Guardians battle, given both his steady role and the matchup. The Michigan product has logged a robust 90 carries through seven games, and he also enjoys a role in the passing game that's substantiated by his 17-147 line through the air. What's more, Smith enters on an upswing, having just netted 24.4 DK points on the strength of a two-touchdown performance versus the Sea Dragons in Week 7.
Smith had also posted 13.0 and 13.1 DK points against the Battlehawks and Brahmas, respectively, in two prior games, and the caliber of opponent now shifts much more in his favor Saturday. The Guardians are allowing the third-most rushing yards per game (100.3) and just surrendered 127 and a touchdown to the Defenders' Abram Smith in the wild Week 7 upset. Given Smith's touch share and nose for the end zone, he could well deliver another double-digit DK-point tally in this matchup.
John Lovett, VGS at STL | $5,200
Lovett is best suited for tournament play due to the fact he has to split touches with Rod Smith, but the Penn State alum has shown an encouraging penchant for chunk gains that have helped lead to a trio of double-digit DK-point tallies already. One of those, a season-high 15.3 in Week 6, came against the same Battlehawks squad he'll face Saturday, with Lovett getting to St. Louis for 63 total yards and a receiving TD.
The versatile back could be in good position to replicate the feat, considering the 'Hawks are surrendering the second-most rushing yards per game (121.1). Lovett just logged a season-high nine carries and scored a rushing touchdown in Week 7 as well, and he's recorded multiple catches in four contests overall this season. Given the rushing threat quarterback Jalan McClendon poses, running room could also be more available for the Vipers backs.
ALSO CONSIDER: Jacques Patrick, SAN vs. HOU | $6,800
XFL Wide Receiver DFS Value Plays
Cedric Byrd II, HOU at SAN | $5,800
Byrd has enjoyed a steady role in the Roughnecks air attack for most of the season, and he comes into Week 8 having impressively posted at least five receptions and logged seven targets in each of his last four games. The Hawaii product, who recorded over 900 receiving yards in each of his last three college seasons with the Rainbows, has four double-digit DK-point totals overall, topping out thus far at 12.6 two games ago.
The Brahmas haven't been the friendliest team to throw against -- San Antonio is surrendering 189.3 passing yards per game. However, San Antonio was exposed a bit last week by the Vipers' McClendon, who threw for over 260 yards in his first start. Several Vegas pass catchers enjoyed solid outings, and given that development as well as Byrd's solid target share, he could pay off nicely in a game Houston figures to be aggressive in while trying to stop a three-game skid.
Chris Blair, DC at SEA | $5,200
Blair exploded for a 139-yard, one-touchdown effort in Week 7 against the Guardians and also has produced 62- and 84-yard efforts this season. The Alcorn State alum has been a big-play threat all season, averaging 19.7 yards per reception and already recording two catches of 40+ yards. Blair's involvement has been somewhat uneven– he has a one and two-target game apiece – but he's seen 12 over the last two games.
The Sea Dragons have been a solid but not suffocating pass defense, as they've recorded only three interceptions on the season and are allowing 185.6 passing yards per contest. Seattle may be forced to devote lesser coverage assets to Blair as well despite his big game in Week 7, as Lucky Jackson recorded another pair of touchdown grabs in that contest and continues to be the Defenders' most prominent week-to-week threat through the air.
Jordan Veasy, SEA vs. DC | $4,800
Veasy is another GPP-only play, as, despite his steady role in the Sea Dragons' passing attack, he plays alongside several other talented wideouts. Nevertheless, he makes for an interesting value option in Week 8, considering the matchup and the fact he's coming off having posted a season-high 79 receiving yards against the Renegades on his way to a season-high 10.9 DK points.
Veasy has multiple receptions in five straight games, logging five and seven targets in two of those contests. He's also going up against a Defenders secondary that's been highly susceptible through the air, allowing an XFL-high 248.3 passing yards per game. With this very likely being the game of the week and the Dragons expected to remain especially aggressive through the air, Veasy makes for a viable value play.
ALSO CONSIDER: Lucky Jackson, DC at SEA | $7,500
XFL Flex DFS Value Plays
Sal Cannella, TE - ARL at ORL | $7,000
Cannella has been delivering solid returns all season at the fickle tight end position, recording at least four receptions – including a five-catch outing against these same Guardians in Week 3 – in all but one game and posting a trio of double-digit DK-point tallies along the way. The Auburn product has three games with at least 40 receiving yards as well, and he could be poised for a strong follow-up to his 4-64 tally in Week 7 against the Sea Dragons.
The Guardians continue to be one of the league's most susceptible teams to the pass in the league, surrendering the second-most passing yards per contest (219.4). Cannella is the most trustworthy target in the Renegades' passing attack, and this week, he should have the benefit of working with spring league veteran Luis Perez as his quarterback, which should up the overall prospects of Arlington's offense as a whole.
Fred Brown, WR - SAN vs. HOU | $3,700
The speedy Brown can be deployed in tournaments at a deep discount and comes off having produced 16.2 DK points in Week 7 on the strength of one receiving touchdown and another score on a kickoff return. The Mississippi State alum has four multi-catch games overall and a pair of receiving touchdowns, as well as two double-digit DK-point tallies including last week's.
The Roughnecks are an intimidating defense overall, but they've been more vulnerable during the team's three-game losing streak. The Sea Dragons, Defenders, and Battlehawks have all put up over 20 points against Houston, and Brown, who can pay off his salary with one play, could certainly take advantage.
ALSO CONSIDER: Juwan Green - SEA vs. DC | $4,500
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