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Welcome to the Week 7 edition of RotoBaller's XFL Risers and Fallers, where we'll aim to identify multiple players at each skill position each week that appear to be either be trending toward an expanding or shrinking role. After you're done here, be sure to also read all our other weekly XFL fantasy football articles.
Naturally, the participation and success level of many players can vary from week to week. However, the goal will be to spotlight players that have clear-cut reasons to support a continued ascension or decline while factoring in conditions such as the offensive system they're in, injuries around them, and the roles of other teammates at their position.
One note about the general protocol I'll try to follow with the selection of players for this article – once a player has been designated as either Riser or Faller in a particular week, I'll usually refrain from assigning them the same designation the very following week. The rare exception will be when an additional factor that makes them even more of a Riser or Faller surfaces during that specific time frame.
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XFL Quarterback Risers
Brett Hundley, Vipers | Week 7 matchup: vs. Brahmas (Sat.)
Player roles can change on a much quicker curve in a new league than the NFL, and that's exactly the case when it comes to Hundley. A week ago in this very space, it was Hundley's former teammate Luis Perez that I was highlighting as a player on the rise following two straight impressive performances.
Fast forward a few days, and it's now Hundley, a Faller last week, that's earned Riser status thanks to the Week 6 benching of Perez and his subsequent trade to the Renegades.
That leaves the NFL veteran, who completed nine of 18 passes for 120 yards and a touchdown after replacing Perez against the Battlehawks last week, should now be locked into the starting role moving forward and will be able to once again work with a talented group of pass catchers that includes Jeff Badet, Martavis Bryant and Cinque Sweeting, among others.
Cole McDonald, Roughnecks | Week 7 matchup: vs. Battlehawks (Sun.)
McDonald was another in-game replacement that thrived in Week 6. The mobile Hawaii alum was excellent in relief of an ineffective Brandon Silvers, completing eight of 11 passes for 194 yards with a touchdown while adding 37 rushing yards and another score. McDonald had already been offering encouraging flashes a runner on specialty plays prior to Week 6, and his performance could earn him a Week 7 start.
If McDonald is indeed announced as a starter for at least Week 7, he's certainly worthy of waiver-wire consideration. Not only will he be helming an aggressive offense with plenty of talented pass catchers and a versatile back, but McDonald can make plenty of plays with his legs. He also has an impressive college resume that includes 8,033 passing yards and 69 touchdowns plus 742 rushing yards and 11 more scores over his final two seasons with the Rainbows, giving him plenty of upside.
XFL Quarterback Fallers
Brandon Silvers, Roughnecks | Week 7 matchup: vs. Battlehawks (Sun.)
In line with McDonald's ascending status, I'm classifying Silvers as a Faller for the time being. No official word has yet been provided on which quarterback starts the Week 7 matchup against the Battlehawks, but McDonald's success last week essentially guarantees head coach Wade Phillips won't hesitate to make a chance in-game even if Silvers starts. Additionally, it's worth noting the Troy State product had already begun to struggle in Week 5 against a tough Sea Dragons defense and would be facing another tough assignment versus the St. Louis secondary this week.
XFL Running Back Risers
Jacques Patrick, Brahmas | Week 7 matchup: at Vipers (Sat.)
Kalen Ballage was lost for the season just before Week 6 due to an Achilles injury, and Patrick wasted no time proving he could make good use of the expanded opportunity that affords him. The FSU product rushed 15 times for 82 yards and added three receptions for 18 yards against the Renegades.
Patrick will face a highly appealing matchup in Week 7 versus a Vipers defense surrendering a league-high 136.7 rushing yards per contest. Patrick has both XFL 2020 and NFL experience and is a good receiver as well, and the lead-back role he should enjoy in a run-heavy San Antonio offense moving forward has his stock rising.
Devin Darrington, Guardians | Week 7 matchup: vs. Defenders (Sat.)
Darrington broke out with 82 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Week 6 against the Sea Dragons, and he also logged 12 carries three games ago. Backfield mate Jah-Maine Martin hasn't topped 10 carries in a game yet this season, and although he figures to remain involved to some degree, Darrington's explosiveness may prove to difficult to keep off the field.
Despite the 0-6 record, Orlando has a solid offense that includes several playmakers capable of moving the chains. Given Darrington's showing in Week 6 against a tough Seattle defense, head coach Terrell Buckley could well decide his speedy back needs more touches moving forward as Orlando tries to get some wins on the board before the end of the campaign.
XFL Running Back Fallers
Morgan Ellison, Sea Dragons | Week 7 matchup: @ Renegades (Fri.)
Ellison was a healthy scratch against the Guardians in Week 6, and when asked in his postgame press conference, head coach Jim Haslett had no qualms about calling out the running back's questionable ball security and overall carrying out of assignments. Seattle has some viable alternatives in former Los Angeles Chargers back Darius Bradwell and T.J. Hammonds, so until Ellison earns his snaps back, his stock is naturally bearish.
XFL Wide Receiver Risers
Deontay Burnett, Roughnecks | Week 7 matchup: vs. Battlehawks (Sat.)
Playing his first full game without position mate Jontre Kirklin (IR-shoulder) in Week 6, Burnett came through in stellar fashion. The speedy former NFL wideout exploded for 122 receiving yards on four receptions, with the highlight an 85-yard scoring grab. Burnett had logged eight targets two games ago as well and is going to be in line for a robust role in each remaining game.
Burnett already has four touchdown receptions overall, and in a testament to his reliability and ability to make plays after the catch, 11 of his 21 grabs overall have gone for first downs. With the Roughnecks still running a highly aggressive pass offense and Cole McDonald showing promise and excellent rapport with Burnett as an in-game replacement in Week 6, the wideout's stock is definitely bullish at the moment.
Lucky Jackson, Defenders | Week 7 matchup: @ Guardians (Sat.)
Jackson had already been enjoying a solid season prior to Week 6, but he broke out on the Monday night stage versus a tough Houston defense with a 5-136-1 line on five targets. The Western Kentucky product now heads into a favorable Week 7 matchup against the Guardians with a 24-385-1 line through six contests while logging 37 targets in that span.
Jackson has at least four receptions and six targets in four consecutive games, corroborating his importance in the offense and chemistry with Jordan Ta'amu. Ta'amu just threw for a season-high 245 yards in that Week 6 contest, and if his improvement as a passer is lasting, Jackson could certainly be a primary beneficiary for what remains of the regular season.
ON THE RADAR: Josh Hammond, Defenders | Week 7 matchup: @ Guardians (Sat.); Daniel Williams III, Guardians | Week 7 matchup: vs. Defenders (Sat.)
XFL Wide Receiver Fallers
Josh Gordon, Sea Dragons | Week 7 matchup: @ Renegades (Fri.)
Another Sea Dragon who's earned a downgrade this week is Gordon, who, despite his impressive pedigree, hasn't been consistent at the XFL level. Part of that is the fact Seattle has plenty of impressive pass catchers, but Gordon's 2-15 line on nine targets in the last two games -- including a blanking in Week 6 -- leaves us with no choice but to assign him a Faller designation at present.
XFL Tight End Risers
Ethan Wolf, Defenders | Week 7 matchup: @ Guardians (Sat.)
Wolf is another member of the Defenders pass-catching corps that's starting to demonstrate some encouraging signs at a position that's been a tough one fantasy-wise in the XFL. The Tennessee alum emerged from inactive status in Weeks 4 and 5 to record a 3-21 line in Week 6. He also has multiple catches in two other games this season, and his Week 6 effort makes him worth keeping an eye on going forward.
XFL Tight End Fallers
Nate Becker, Renegades | Week 7 matchup: vs. Sea Dragons (Fri.)
Becker has just four receptions for 24 yards on six targets this season, and he has just one reception for eight yards on two targets in the last two weeks. The Renegades have been the least productive passing offense in the league and are starting over at quarterback yet again with Luis Perez, so for the time being, a marginal target like Becker can safely be sidelined for fantasy purposes.
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