XFL Risers and Fallers Week 2: Players With Expanding Roles Including A.J. McCarron, Max Borghi, Deontay Burnett, More

February 22, 2023

Juan's look at Risers and Fallers for Week 2 of the 2023 XFL season. These players are seeing their stock either expand or narrow heading into the next XFL slate.

Welcome to the Week 2 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, especially during the early portion of the season in a new league, 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 players at their position.

XFL Quarterback Risers         

Brandon Silvers, Roughnecks | Week 2 matchup: vs. Renegades (Sun.)

Silvers hit the ground running in the extremely passer-friendly offense of A.J. Smith in Week 1 with 272 passing yards and two touchdowns. He needs to clean things up a bit in terms of ball security (two interceptions), but he's hardly the only XFL signal-caller that had issues in that regard.

Already having demonstrated strong chemistry with the pass-catching trio of Jontre Kirklin, Deontay Burnett, and Travell Harris and backed by what appears to be a solid ground attack, Silvers' outlook is on the rise going into Week 2.

A.J. McCarron, Battlehawks | Week 2 matchup: @ Sea Dragons (Thurs.)

We'll get a better idea soon enough regarding whether McCarron's late-game surge in Week 1 will carry over, as he'll be back in action Thursday night in front of what could be a loud Lumen Field crowd. However, the former Bengals draft pick will undoubtedly head into that matchup with some momentum after authoring two late touchdown drives to pull off the improbable season-opening upset against the Brahmas.

The rapport McCarron displayed with the capable wideout trio of Hakeem Butler, Marcell Ateman, and Austin Proehl and the fact he has a very capable pass-catching back with plenty of NFL experience in Brian Hill all serve to boost McCarron's stock. Additionally, having a former quarterback in his headset in the form of coordinator Bruce Gradkowski certainly doesn't hurt his case.

XFL Quarterback Fallers

Jordan Ta'amu, Defenders | Week 2 matchup: @ Vipers (Sat.)

Ta'amu figures to have better stat lines than the 8-for-19, 86-yard, one-interception clunker he produced in Week 1 against the Sea Dragons. However, a second straight struggle versus a Vipers defense that actually did a good job against the Renegades in Week 1 could lead to head coach Reggie Barlow giving his versatile alternatives, D'Eriq King and Eric Dungey, a chance under center.

Paxton Lynch, Guardians | Week 2 matchup: vs. Brahmas (Sun.)

Lynch has taken some social media grief this week for the fact he apparently is the all-time pro football leader in number of leagues benched in, but the Broncos' 2015 first-round pick actually didn't look as bad as one might assume in Week 1. Nevertheless, head coach Terrell Buckley had previously said he wants to give all three of his quarterbacks playing time during the season, meaning Deondre Francois could be another obstacle to Lynch's playing time beginning in Week 2.

XFL Running Back Risers  

Kalen Ballage, Brahmas | Week 2 matchup: @ Guardians (Sun.)

One of the most telling metrics we can latch on to with just a one-game sample size is a player's initial workload. In the case of Ballage, that equates to a league-high 24 carries in Week 1, which were complemented with four targets. That volume alone makes Ballage a definite riser going into a favorable matchup against the Guardians defense in Week 2.

The five-year NFL veteran's combination of size and speed -- he's previously clocked a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash at 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds -- certainly gives him plenty of upside, as does the 97 total yards he amassed in the opener. Offensive coordinator Jamie Elizondo seems very comfortable with affording Ballage a true bell-cow role, and he has the frame and pass-catching ability to handle it.

Max Borghi, Roughnecks | Week 2 matchup: vs. Renegades (Sun.)

As pointed out in Silvers' entry, the Roughnecks are expected to run a pass-heavy attack. However, that doesn't mean there isn't room for a back of Borghi's diverse talents to thrive. That much was evident in Week 1, where he parlayed a relatively modest 12 touches into 74 yards and a rushing TD.

That type of production isn't foreign to the compactly-built Washington State product, who finished his college career with 3,292 scrimmage yards and 41 total touchdowns in 39 games. Even if his carries typically hover around 10 per game, the fact Borghi appears set to enjoy a solid passing game role keeps his stock bullish for the moment.

XFL Running Back Fallers

Rod Smith, Vipers | Week 2 matchup: vs. D.C. (Sat.)

Smith is a solid back with NFL experience that we suspect will have his moments in the XFL. However, the fact he logged just five carries and netted one rushing yard in the opener makes him an undeniable faller this week. Backfield mate John Lovett saw just one fewer rush attempt, and the Vegas offensive line looks like it also has plenty of run-blocking issues to work on for the moment.

Keith Ford, Renegades | Week 2 matchup: @ Roughnecks (Sun.)

Word was positive on Ford coming into Week 1, but he ended up seeing six fewer carries than talented backfield mate De'Veon Smith. Neither player had much success – they each averaged under 3.0 yards per carry – but Smith has prior XFL experience and is a good receiver out of the backfield, making it likely he continues to run in the lead-back role for now.

XFL Wide Receiver Risers

Jahcour Pearson, Sea Dragons | Week 2 matchup: vs. Battlehawks (Thurs.)

Pearson's 14-target haul in Week 1 is essentially the receiver equivalent of Ballage's massive workload on the running back end of the spectrum. The Western Kentucky/Ole Miss product finished his college days with one 800-yard college campaign under his belt, and although he was utilized almost exclusively in a short-area role in Week 1, he averaged over 15 yards per reception in his senior season.

Much like the Roughnecks, the Sea Dragons are expected to put the ball in the air plenty all season under the coordination of June Jones. Pearson's Week 1 usage naturally seems to indicate he'll be a primary beneficiary, even with the likes of Josh Gordon and Blake Jackson also combining for 14 catches in the opener.

Deontay Burnett, Roughnecks | Week 2 matchup: vs. Renegades (Sun.)

Burnett wasted no time parlaying his NFL experience into XFL success in Week 1, posting an 8-90-1 line in Houston's prolific offensive effort versus the Guardians. The USC product has the speed and solid size to complement the confidence that comes from having had any level of regular-season experience at the NFL level as well.

Houston should continue to lean toward getting the bulk of its yardage through the air, and given Burnett logged 12 targets right out of the gate, there's no reason to doubt his rising profile for the time being.

Jeff Badet, Vipers | Week 2 matchup: vs. Defenders (Sat.)

Badet has plenty of spring league experience and has spent time with some NFL teams as well, so his 6-81-2 line on nine targets in Week 1 isn't a complete surprise. The 28-year-old is a savvy route runner that also had success at a high level of college football with Kentucky and Oklahoma, certainly giving him a reliable body of work.

Badet's Week 1 success came with Luis Perez under center for the Vipers. While Brett Hundley could take over the reins of the Vegas offense as early as Week 2, he also has the experience to maximize Badet's talent. The fact the Vipers receiving corps also features Martavis Bryant and Geronimo Allison could continue to open up plenty of one-on-one opportunities for Badet to exploit.

XFL Wide Receiver Fallers

Stephen Guidry, Guardians | Week 2 matchup: @ Vipers (Sat.)

Guidry showed some flashes during his college years at Mississippi State and has enticing measurables, but he was largely a forgotten man in Week 1. The Guardians' quarterback play is already a source of concern, and the experienced duo of Cody Latimer and Eli Rogers, along with the promising Charleston Rambo, all figure to continue running ahead of Guidry for the moment.

Gary Jennings, Battlehawks | Week 2 matchup: @ Sea Dragons (Thurs.)

Jennings was a fourth-round pick of the Dolphins back in 2019 and also had some buzz heading into the regular season, yet he drew all of one target, which he didn't haul in, in the opener. St. Louis apparently has plenty of viable options ahead of him in the form of Marcell Ateman, Hakeem Butler, Darrius Shepherd, and Austin Proehl if Week 1 is any indication, meaning Jennings' stock remains depressed for the time being.

XFL Tight End Risers  

Sal Cannella, Renegades | Week 2 matchup: @ Roughnecks (Sun.)

We almost could have penciled in Cannella's name here ahead of Week 1, but it was good to see the Auburn alum corroborate his significant pass-catching talent yet again on a spring league field. After a standout season with the USFL's New Orleans Breakers and a summer cup of coffee with the Packers in the NFL, Cannella came out of the XFL gates hot with a 7-70 tally in Week 1.

The Renegades are rolling with a promising but inexperienced quarterback in Drew Plitt, and his wideout corps is likewise short on pro football tenure. Therefore Cannella, much as was the case in Week 1, figures to continue to be quite the security blanket. And, if Plitt is eventually replaced by Kyle Sloter, that could be even better news for Cannella's prospects, considering the success he enjoyed with the former in the USFL.

Ethan Wolf, Defenders | Week 2 matchup: @ Vipers (Sat.)

Wolf is the one Riser this week whose Week 1 numbers don't necessarily support the designation. Nevertheless, the Tennessee product, who posted a 91-996-7 line in 44 college games, saw four targets in the opener, tying him for second on the Defenders for the night. The one catch he did record went for a solid 12 yards, a glimpse at the downfield upside Wolf might offer.

D.C.'s quarterback play was undeniably an issue in Week 1 with Ta'amu surprisingly struggling, but he certainly has a spring league resume that implies he'll bounce back with much better efforts. Wolf posted YPC's of 10.3 or higher in three of his four college campaigns with the Volunteers, so don't be surprised to see him get progressively more involved as a down-the-seam threat beginning in Week 2.

XFL Tight End Fallers

Garrett Owens, Roughnecks | Week 2 matchup: vs. Renegades (Sun.)

Owens' stock was already somewhat bearish heading into the season given his role as a tight end in A.J. Smith's offense, and that much was borne out in Week 1 when he finished with zero catches on one target. With Houston having plenty of wideout weapons and a very good pass-catching back in Borghi, don't expect much from Owens other than blocking unless multiple injuries strike.

Brandon Dillon, Vipers | Week 2 matchup: vs. Defenders (Sat.)

Dillon was another nearly invisible Week 1 tight end, also failing to bring in his only target. Vegas' receiver corps is loaded with a top trio of Bryant, Allison, and Badet as mentioned earlier, and both Cinque Sweeting and Mathew Sexton look like the could be strong complementary options as well. Consequently, Dillon could well be headed for a similarly modest role most weeks.

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