Lineup construction is different for the USFL than for NFL DFS. Only six offensive players make the roster, with one quarterback, one running back, two WR/TE spots, and two flexes. That means we don’t have to roster a tight end and can load up on high-upside wide receivers. It also means tight ends could be much lower owned, which could be an edge.
The scoring system is carried over from the NFL, with the lone exception being three-point conversions counting for…three fantasy points. Yes, the USFL has three-point PATs, which are attempted from the 10-yard line.
You can find all of our USFL projections in our Player Models.
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
USFL DFS Week 2 Quarterback Picks
Top Play: McLeod Bethel-Thompson ($9,700 DraftKings): New Orleans Breakers vs. Houston Gamblers
In these amateur football leagues, we consistently like to attack teams that throw the ball at a high rate. New Orleans threw the ball on 69% of plays last week, which was the highest rate in the league. Bethel-Thompson had a productive game, throwing for 302 yards and a touchdown.
He was also one of three quarterbacks who threw every pass for his team, with the other two being Case Cookus and Benji Mahar. With how much change there constantly is in these amateur leagues, it’s nice to know that the player you roster is going to play.
Bethel-Tompson had 20.7 DraftKings points last week and holds the reigns on the most pass-heavy team in the league.
Top Value: Kenji Bahar ($7,800 DraftKings): Houston Gamblers at New Orleans Breakers
Case Cookus and McLeod Bethel-Thompson look like the two top options, but Kenji Bahar is a nice value who threw every pass for Houston last week. He’ll likely be overlooked in tournaments, and we can get a quarterback option who we know will be in the game.
Bahar had a tough Week 1, but the team didn’t go away from him. He threw just 109 yards and two interceptions, but he didn’t get benched. We know he’s comfortable running as well, as he averaged 43 rushing yards in Weeks 8 and 9 of the 2022 USFL.
The floor is very low with Bahar, but he could be the low-owned piece that sends you to the top of tournaments. Houston is a 5.5-point underdog this week, so Bahar should be forced to throw.
USFL DFS Week 2 Running Back Picks
Top Play: Anthony Jones ($8,600 DraftKings): New Orleans Breakers vs. Houston Gamblers
Anthony Jones handled arguably the most valuable role in the league last week, taking 100% of the team’s backfield opportunities. He carried the ball 19 times for 46 yards and saw eight targets, catching six balls for 29 yards and a touchdown. He was inefficient yardage-wise, but 27 touches are nothing to scoff at.
His usage is elite, and he’s set up with a positive game script against the Gamblers as a 5.5-point favorite. There’s not too much to overthink here, as he’s the third-highest-priced running back despite having the most valuable role. He leads the position in Poins/Salary,
Top Value: Alex Collins ($8,500 DraftKings): Memphis Showboats at Birmingham Stallions
Former NFL running back Alex Collins had a well-rounded Week 1, getting a very valuable workload. He carried the ball 14 times for 63 yards and a touchdown.
We love finding these backs that are utilized through the air as well, which Collins was. He caught five balls for 25 yards, showing that he’s a key part of the passing game as well. He earned 88% of the backfield carries and saw eight targets.
Birmingham also just gave up 197 rushing yards in Week 1, so Collins should be able to take advantage of the weak run defense. Memphis is a 7.5-point underdog, so they could be forced into throwing the ball and abandoning the run. Collins is utilized through the air, though, so this is alright.
USFL DFS Week 2 Wide Receiver/Tight End Picks
Top Play: Devin Gray ($6,800 DraftKings) Philadelphia Stars vs. Michigan Panthers
Philadelphia is one of the offenses that are attackable this early in the USFL season, as Case Cookus is a capable quarterback who can command an offense. Devin Gray saw a team-high nine targets last week, catching seven of them for 77 yards in a touchdown.
Gray appears to be Cookus’ top option. Getting the top option for potentially the league’s best quarterback at just $6,800 is a steal. He is the 14th-priced pass-catcher, but we’ll likely see that salary rise in the coming weeks.
Top Value: Sage Surratt ($4,200 DraftKings) New Orleans Breakers vs. Houston Gamblers
Sage Surratt still has an extremely cheap price tag despite seeing elite usage in Week 1, putting him as the top player in Points/Salary of all pass-catchers. He saw nine targets last week, catching five balls for 85 yards. He is second in the league in targets and receiving yards yet comes with one of the cheapest price tags.
He’s taking over Sal Cannella’s role in this offense, who thrived in last year’s USFL. Cannella had the fifth-most targets and tenth-most receiving yards in last year’s season. If Surratt is slotting right into that role, his price won’t be this cheap for long.
