XFL 2023 Week 5 Fantasy Rankings, Schedule, Live Stream and Odds
Though four weeks of (the new) XFL play, a few teams are beginning to rise to the top. The D.C. Defenders and Houston Roughnecks are the league's only undefeated teams, but the St. Louis Battlehawks are challenging D.C. in the XFL North.
D.C. handed the Battlehawks their only loss of the season in Week 3, but the two powerhouses are set to face off on Saturday night in St. Louis. That's the easy pick for "game of the week." especially with the Battlehawks faithful providing the best home-field advantage in the XFL.
Week 5 will kick off on Thursday night when the Roughnecks visit the Seattle Sea Dragons. That should be another fun one, as Seattle is only 2-2 but boasts some of the top players (and fantasy options) in the league.
Here, you'll find everything you need to know for the upcoming slate, including scheduling information, odds and updated fantasy rankings.
XFL Week 5
Thursday, March 16
Houston Roughnecks at Seattle Sea Dragons
When: 10:30 p.m. ET
Line and Over/Under: Houston -3, 42.5
TV and Live Stream: ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Saturday, March 18
D.C. Defenders at St. Louis Battlehawks
When: 7 p.m. ET
Line and Over/Under: D.C. -2, 42.5
TV and Live Stream: FX and ESPN+
Orlando Guardians at Vegas Vipers
When: 10 p.m. ET
Line and Over/Under: Vegas -7.5, 41.5
TV and Live Stream: FX, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
Sunday, March 19
Arlington Renegades at San Antonio Brahmas
When: 9 p.m. ET
Line and Over/Under: San Antonio -2, 35.5
TV and Live Stream: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+
*Odds via FanDuel
Week 5 Fantasy Rankings
Quarterback
1. Brandon Sivers, Houston Roughnecks
2. AJ McCarron, St. Louis Battlehawks
3. Ben DiNucci, Seattle Sea Dragons
4. Paxton Lynch, Orlando Guardians
5. Jack Coan, San Antonio Brahmas
6. Jordan Ta'amu, D.C. Defenders
7. Luis Perez, Vegas Vipers
8. Kyle Sloter, Arlington Renegades
Running Back
1. Morgan Ellison, Seattle Sea Dragons
2. Brian Hill, St. Louis Battlehawks
3. Abram Smith, D.C. Defenders
4. Ryquell Armstead, D.C. Defenders
5. Kalen Ballage, San Antonio Brahmas
6. Max Borghi, Houston Roughnecks
7. De'Veon Smith, Arlington Renegades
8. Brycen Alleyne, Huston Roughnecks
9. Jah-Maine Martin, Orlando Guardians
10. Rod Smith, Vegas Vipers
Wide Receiver
1. Jahcour Pearson, Seattle Sea Dragons
2. Josh Gordon, Seattle Sea Dragons
3. Blake Jackson, Seattle Sea Dragons
4. Hakeem Butler, St. Louis Battlehawks
5. Jontre Kirklin, Houston Roughnecks
6. Jeff Badet, Vegas Vipers
7. Deontay Burnett, Houston Roughnecks
8. Austin Proehl, St. Louis Battlehawks
9. Lucky Jackson, D.C. Defenders
10. Eli Rogers, Orlando Guardians
Tight End
1. Cody Latimer, Orlando Guardians
2. Sal Cannella, Arlington Renegades
3. Alizé Mack, San Antonio Brahmas
4. Ethan Wolf, D.C. Defenders
5. Deon Yelder, San Antonio Brahmas
6. Logan Carter, Orlando Guardians
7. Jake Sutherland, St. Louis Battlehawks
8. Brandon Dillon, Vegas Vipers
Fantasy Analysis
A handful of XFL stars are beginning to establish themselves as top fantasy options. Quarterbacks Ben DiNucci, AJ McCarron and Brandon Silvers have been the most consistent and productive quarterbacks through four weeks, though Paxton Lynch (690 yards, 4 TDs, 1 INT) has rebounded nicely for the Orlando Guardians.
Lynch should be a solid play against a so-so Vegas Vipers defense this week.
Defenders quarterback Jordan Ta'amu hasn't been as consistent as a passer, but he does have 185 rushing yards and two rushing scores. His value gets a boost in leagues and daily fantasy sports (DFS) games that reward quarterbacks for rushing.
Because the Sea Dragons run a pass-heavy offense, wideouts Jahcour Pearson, Blake Jackson and Josh Gordon have emerged as dependable receiver options. St. Louis' Hakeem Butler also appears to be a rising star.
"Once a promising fourth-round draft pick, Butler never gained a foothold in the NFL and is now forging a career in the XFL with St. Louis," Ben Cooper of Pro Football Focus wrote. "Butler has quickly developed into quarterback A.J. McCarron's favorite target."
Managers do have a variety of options at receiver, so it's smart to play the matchups with the top pass-catchers. Butler, for example, can be downgraded just a bit against a brutal D.C. defense.
As is the case at quarterback, a couple of running backs have become clear top choices. Morgan Ellison and Abram Smith are the only players with more than 200 rushing yards through four weeks. Brian Hill and Ryquell Armstead are the only other two with at least 150 rushing yards.
The pickings are even slimmer at tight end. Cody Latimer, Alizé Mack and Sal Cannella are really the only tight ends worth playing in DFS games. Managers in season-long leagues who don't have one of the big three are left banking on touchdowns and hoping for the best.
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