Lineup construction is different for the XFL 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 XFL has three-point PATs, which are attempted from the 10-yard line.
You can find all of our XFL 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.
XFL DFS Week 9 Quarterback Picks
Top Play: Ben DiNucci ($12,200 DraftKings): Seattle Sea Dragons at St. Louis Battlehawks
Ben DiNucci played great in a tough loss to the DC Defenders last week, completing 66.7% of his passes for 301 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. He added a 23-yard scramble, but there wasn’t much ground production from him last week.
DiNucci had a solid performance the last time these teams matched up in Week 3. St. Louis took home the victory 20-18, with DiNucci completing 19 of 29 passes for 196 yards and two touchdowns. He added another 38 yards on the ground, flashing that little bit of rushing equity.
The pure volume in Seattle’s offense consistently makes DiNucci a target. DiNucci has 65 more pass attempts than the next closest quarterback. He has 301 pass attempts, while only two other quarterbacks have over 200. DiNucci is a smart target week in and week out.
Top Value: Quinten Dormady ($10,600 DraftKings): Orlando Guardians at San Antonio Brahmas
At the time of writing, it is unclear if A.J. McCarron or Nick Tiano will be starting for St. Louis. If Tiano were to start, that may change who the top value is. As of now, it is Quinten Dormady.
Dormady had a solid fantasy performance last week, but two interceptions and three lost fumbles proved costly in an 18-16 loss. He completed 65% of his passes for 303 yards and a touchdown while also adding 16 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.
Orlando only put up 12 points when these teams matched up in Week 3, but that was with Paxton Lyncg and Deondre Francois at the helm. The offense as a whole has looked vastly better with Dormady under center and should be poised to have a solid outing against San Antonio. Dormady ranks second in Points/Salary on the weekend.
XFL DFS Week 9 Running Back Picks
Top Play: Abram Smith ($10,600 DraftKings): DC Defenders vs. Arlington Renegades
Abram Smith has steadily had one of the strongest roles in the league this entire season. He has 137 carries, with only one other running back above 100 and only two others eclipsing 80. He has 718 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns, with the next closest backs having 397 yards and five touchdowns.
Smith carried the ball 17 times last week for 69 yards and a touchdown while catching his only target for 18 yards. He did run a route on about a third of the dropbacks, so he isn’t a total zero in the passing game.
Arlington does boast the best run defense grade per PFF, so Smith will have his work cut out for him this weekend.
However, his bankable volume makes him someone who must be on your radar.
Top Value: Jacques Patrick ($7,700 DraftKings): San Antonio Brahmas vs. Orlando Guardians
Jacques Patrick leads the position in Points/Salary despite coming with a fairly high price tag.. He’s taken this starting role and ran with it, proving to be essential in San Antonio’s ground and air attacks. He carried the ball 17 times for 98 yards and a touchdown last week while catching four of five targets for 38 yards.
We’ve seen many backs in the NFL that are integral parts of their team’s running and passing game, but that hasn’t translated as much to the XFL. Patrick is an exception to that. It’s not common to find a back with a role like his in this league, and he’s not priced as highly as he should yet.
He’s the top running back play this week.
XFL DFS Week 9 Wide Receiver/Tight End Picks
Top Play: Hakeem Butler ($11,000 DraftKings) St. Louis Battlehawks vs. Seattle Sea Dragons
Hakeem Butler’s price tag may cause some pause, but he boasts one of the top roles in the league. He had a middling performance last week, catching three of five targets for 36 yards and a touchdown. He still played on 58-of-59 snaps last week, and he’s due for a ceiling game.
He leads the league in touchdowns and plays for a team that throws the ball 70% of the time. It’s important to monitor A.J. McCarron’s status, as Butler’s outlook would be slightly diminished if Nick Tiano is to play. If McCarron misses, it could lower Butler’s ownership, which would make him an even better target.
Top Value: Eli Rogers ($5,300 DraftKings) Orlando Guardians at San Antonio Brahmas
We’ve been beating the drum for Eli Rogers all season long, as he’s had a great role for Orlando but hadn’t seen the production. He had a breakout game last week, catching 10 of 12 targets for 135 yards and a touchdown. His price hasn’t climbed too much, as he’s still one of the top values on the weekend. He ranks second in Points/Salary at the wide receiver position.
Cody Latimer is likely to miss this weekend’s game after not practicing all week, which could lead to an increased target share for Rogers.
