XFL 2023 Week 2 Fantasy Rankings, Schedule, Live Stream and Odds
The opening week of the new XFL was perhaps even more exciting than many fans might have expected.
The action started on Saturday with the Arlington Renegades mounting an epic comeback against the Vegas Vipers. The Houston Roughnecks dominated the Orlando Guardians in the late game, but Sunday featured two more nail-biters.
The St. Louis Battlehawks took advantage of a couple of unique XFL rules—like the three-point, post-touchdown try and the 4th-and-15 onside-kick alternative—to erase a 12-point deficit in the final three minutes and secure the win.
The D.C. Defenders dominated in the second half defensively and stymied a late goal-to-goal opportunity with a turnover to seal a come-from-behind victory over the Seattle Sea Dragons. This meant that three out of the four games were tight, and fans really seemed to enjoy the excitement.
Fans should be looking forward to what Week 2 has in store when the action kicks off on Thursday night. Here, you'll find everything you need to know, including scheduling information, odds and updated fantasy rankings.
XFL Week 2
Thursday, February 22
St. Louis Battlehawks at Seattle Sea Dragons
When: 9 p.m. ET
Line, Over/Under: Seattle -2.5, 36.5
TV and Live Stream; FX and ESPN+
Saturday, February 25
D.C. Defenders at Vegas Vipers
When: 7 p.m. ET
Line, Over/Under: Vegas -2.5, 36.5
TV and Live Stream: FX, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Sunday, February 26
San Antonio Brahmas at Orlando Guardians
When: 4 p.m. ET
Line, Over/Under: San Antonio -3.5, 38.5
TV and Live Stream: ESPN and ESPN+
Arlington Renegades at Houston Roughnecks
When: 7 p.m. ET
Line, Over/Under: -3.5, 39.5
TV and Live Stream: ESPN2 and ESPN+
*Odds via FanDuel
Fantasy Rankings
Quarterback
1. Luis Perez, Las Vegas Vipers
2. AJ McCarron, St. Louis Battlehawks
3. Ben DiNucci, Seattle Sea Dragons
4. Brandon Silvers, Houston Roughnecks
5. Jack Coan, San Antonio Brahmas
6. Drew Plitt, Arlington Renegades
7. Quinten Dormady, Orlando Guardians
8. Jordan Ta'amu, D.C. Defenders
Running Back
1. Kalen Ballage, San Antonio Brahmas
2. Brian Hill, St. Louis Battlehawks
3. Max Borghi, Houston Roughnecks
4. Brenden Knox, Seattle Sea Dragons
5. Deveon Smith, Arlington Renegades
6. Jah-Maine Martin, Orlando Guardians
7. Jacques Patrick, San Antonio Brahmas
8. Abram Smith, D.C. Defenders
9. Kelvin Taylor, Orlando Guardians
10. Dejoun Lee, Houston Roughnecks
Wide Receiver
1. Jahcour Pearson, Seattle Sea Dragons
2. Jeff Badet, Vegas Vipers
3. Josh Gordon, Seattle Sea Dragons
4. Deontay Burnett, Houston Roughnecks
5. Andrew Jamiel, Orlando Guardians
6. Jontre Kirklin, Houston Roughnecks
7. Cinque Sweeting, Vegas Vipers
8. Austin Proehl, St. Louis Battlehawks
9. Blake Jackson, Seattle Sea Dragons
10. Jalen Tolliver, San Antonio Brahmas
Tight End
1. Sal Cannella, Arlington Renegades
2. Cody Latimer, Orlando Guardians
3. Deon Yelder, San Antonio Brahmas
4. Jake Sutherland, St. Louis Battlehawks
5. Ryquell Armstead, D.C. Defenders
6. Morgan Ellison, Seattle Sea Dragons
7. Rod Smith, Vegas Vipers
8. Ethan Wolf, D.C. Defenders
Fantasy Analysis
While it's still too early in the season to recognize any defined tendencies, Week 1 provided insight into how XFL teams plans to run their offenses.
The Sea Dragons, for example, were very pass-heavy, with Ben DiNucci finishing with 54 attempts. This suggests that he'll be a solid Week 2 play, even though DiNucci tossed a pair of Week 1 interceptions and failed to get the win.
The Defenders, meanwhile, used a split-quarterback approach—with Jordan Ta'amu and Deriq King—and were very run-oriented. That's a tandem that's probably best avoided until/unless a clear-cut starter emerges.
Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron finished fifth in passing with 190 yards, but he tossed a pair of touchdowns, no interceptions and should gain confidence from his drive to win late in Sunday's game.
"From a competing standpoint, I think people who have played with me know that I compete at an all-time high," McCarron told The Jim Rome Show on Monday.
Vegas Vipers QB Luis Perez (249 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INTs) and Houston Roughnecks quarterback Brandon Silvers (272 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs) were also among the Week 1 stat leaders and should be solid options in fantasy for Week 2.
These early trends—including run-pass balance and quarterback play—make receivers like Jahcour Pearson and Josh Gordon of the Sea Dragons and Vipers wideout Jeff Badet solid Week 2 options as well.
Tight ends are much trickier to sort out, as few outside of Renegades tight end Sal Cannella and Guardians pass-catcher Cody Latimer had a significant impact on Week 1.
It's a similar situation at running back, where only five players—Kalen Ballage, Deveon Smith, Jacques Patrick, Brenden Knox and Abram Smith—logged double-digit carries in Week 1. Ballage led the league with 84 yards in Week 1, while he and Brian Hill were the only backs to top 50 yards.
Knox was the only ball carrier to log double-digit carries and find the end zone in Week 1.
Ballage should be the clear-cut RB1 heading into the second week, with volume players like Smith and Knox following in the rankings. Most other ball carriers are likely to be touchdown-dependent. Expect the rankings to be fluid throughout the season, though, as roles change.
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