Week 1 of the USFL is in the books, with a level of play about what we’ve come to expect from minor league professional football. Only one game topped 40 points scored, despite scoring-friendly rule changes. There was some drama with three of four games coming down to the final drive.
For more on what we learned from Week 1 of the USFL, you can find my observations here.
Lineup construction is different with the USFL than for NFL DFS. Only six offensive players make the roster, with one quarterback and 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 will 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.)
Also, don’t forget that for large-field tournaments, you can utilize our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 150 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at who our models like at each position.
USFL DFS Quarterbacks
Top Pick
Jordan Ta’Amu ($10,700): Tampa Bay Bandits (-2.5) vs. New Orleans Breakers
Ta’Amu was the favorite to be the best quarterback in the league coming into Week 1. While he didn’t have a great performance, nothing really jumped out to dispel that notion either. Ta’Amu ranked second in pass attempts with 32 last week, despite his Bandits easily controlling the game against Pittsburgh.
This week’s game should — on paper — be more competitive, which could force Ta’Amu to be more aggressive. I wouldn’t expect much more volume, but he might be forced to look downfield a bit more. His Week 1 YPA of 5.8 was concerning but partially a function of the lopsided scoreboard.
He was also Week 1’s chalkiest passer, at 34.2% ownership in the $60K USFL Touchdown contest. Since he finished as only the sixth-highest scoring quarterback, we should get an ownership discount this week. He’ll need to add something with his legs this time around, though. He ran just once for seven yards last week. Rushing upside was part of the case on Ta’Amu, but it’s entirely possible he doesn’t live up to that expectation.
Regardless, he’s our USFL Model’s top projected quarterback for Week 2, both in median and ceiling projection. He’s worth another look in what looks to be a closer game this time around.
Tournament Picks
Bryan Scott ($9,600): Philadelphia Stars (-7) vs. Pittsburgh Maulers
Scott led the USFL in both passing yards and attempts last week. Philadelphia carried over a ton of players and coaches from their Spring League team (including Scott) and looks to be one of the few pass-first offenses in the league. He added little with his legs with just seven yards on three carries.
Philadelphia is the biggest favorite on the Week 2 slate, which is a mixed bag for Scott. On the one hand, betting markets expect Philadelphia to put up enough points to justify a seven-point spread. On the other, it could mean a more run-heavy game plan. With Scott being mostly a pocket passer, he needs to add multiple touchdowns to pay off in such a scenario.
Still, I like the continuity with players and coaching staff and the Stars’ willingness to throw the ball. Scott and Ta’Amu were the only quarterbacks to attempt 30 or more passes, and volume is king for DFS. Scott ranks just behind Ta’Amu in our projections.
De’Andre Johnson ($7,900): New Jersey Generals (-1) vs. Michigan Panthers
Johnson is a bit of a wildcard, serving as the backup/1B option at quarterback for the Generals. He attempted only eight passes last week, sharing time with Luis Perez ($8,100), who attempted 18.
Johnson has all of the rushing upside, though. He led the league in rushing yards in Week 1, amassing 98 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts. In what’s clearly a run-first league, playing what’s effectively an extra running back at your QB position has some appeal.
It’s tough to bank on that level of efficiency (over eight yards per carry) again, but even at a lower rate, Johnson could easily lead the position in scoring again. Anything we get from his arm is simply a bonus. He ranks as the top Pts/Sal quarterback on the slate.
USFL DFS Running Backs
