USFL DFS Playbook: Week 5

The quarterback situation in the USFL is getting narrower for DFS purposes. Michigan and Pittsburgh have horrible quarterback play, the Generals rotate their two in too much to trust one or the other, and Tampa Bay’s Jordan Ta’amu has badly fallen short of expectations. So, while Sloter hasn’t exactly looked amazing, he is coming off of a game where he threw for nearly 400 yards and has six total touchdowns on the season. They do play the Generals who have allowed the third fewest points in the league, but New Jersey has also played three of the worst offenses in the USFL. Sloter doesn’t always make the best decisions but given the landscape this week he is easily the best option on the board. 

He was unable to play last week due to an illness, but I have to believe that Smith will be back under center for Week 5. In his absence, Alex McGough did move the Stallions to 4-0, but threw for just 126 yards and had a rushing touchdown. The team also scored a season low 16 points. I am 100 percent sure that head coach Skip Holtz will go back to Smith if he is able to play. He has shown a better arm, an ability to extend plays or make plays with his legs and makes plays when the team needs it most. Injury news for the USFL is not easy to find but be sure to do a search of the news if you want to go to Smith to be sure he is going to be in there. He hasn’t had less than 18 fantasy points in a game this season, and he should be able to meet or top that mark against the Stars who give up the second most yards in the league and just allowed Michigan to score 25 points. 

Are ya feeling lucky punk? That is movie reference that just made me feel old and I’m pretty sure 85% of you won’t get it. But anyway, you would be rolling the dice for sure if you go for the pure salary savings with Cookus. He wasn’t terrible last week against the Panthers as he threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns against perhaps the best defense in the league. He also ran for 35 yards and honestly looked better than two or three other team’s starters. The Stallions are the definition of a middle-of-the-pack defense both as far as points allowed and passing yards allowed through four weeks. Sloter or Smith are definitely the safer bet, but Cookus is $2,000 to $3,000 less than those two and if you roll those dice the rest of your roster could likely be stacked with anyone else you want. 

I have no idea why he continues to be the fifth highest salaried running back, but I am going to enjoy the $1,400 savings from B.J. Emmons every single week! Ellis is one of the most consistent guys in the USFL. He has averaged over 20 carries a game for four weeks and he has had 89 yards or more in three of the four. The only drawback is he hasn’t been used in the passing game that much, but he did double his season reception total with his four last week. The Generals are the stingiest run defense in the league so far, but I just don’t know if any team can stop Ellis for an entire day. I wish he was slightly more involved in the pass game, but he is averaging the second most fantasy points per game among running backs in the USFL so I’m back for more this week.  

The Maulers offense is one of the worst in the league, and you’d think since they are losing all the time that the run game wouldn’t be very effective. You’d be right to an extent as Groshek has averaged just 2.7 yards per carry in the last two weeks, but he also did score in the game. He made the playbook for two reasons. One, I expect Josh Love to be back at quarterback for Pittsburgh this week and I think he is better than Kyle Lauletta. Second, the matchup. The Gamblers allow the second most rushing yards per game on the ground with a whopping 154.3 each week. Groshek isn’t going to run for 150 yards, but if he can get 70 yards, catch a couple passes and find the end zone in this one he will be worth the investment. 

Despite not having a great yards per carry average the last two weeks, Marable is dominating the carries in the Birmingham backfield that don’t go to the quarterback. He has 49 totes in the last three weeks, and the fun part for fantasy is that he’s also been targeted 11 times over that span. The Stallions had their worst offensive showing of the season last week but will face off against the Stars this week that just allowed a ton of yards to Michigan and allow over 200 yards per game on the ground as an average. Look for Marable to get north of 15 carries in this one, have four or five targets, and likely find the end zone in a big fantasy output. 

He has taken the USFL by storm the last two weeks as Corbin has claimed the majority of the running production for perhaps the best running team in the league. He broke off the longest play of the season so far with an 88-yard touchdown last week. I wish he was more involved in the pass game, but it is hard to complain about 287 yards on 33 carries in the last two weeks. He has shown a great burst as well as patience in the hole as the offensive line blocks, and although Stevie Smith still gets some short yardage work (and a two-point conversion last week), most of the carries are going to Corbin these days. Jeff Fisher has identified a weapon in his offense and expect him to ride it again. His DFS salary is an absolute steal given how he has been playing lately and should likely be in every lineup you play. 

He averages about 12 carries per game which isn’t a ton, but he sure does a lot with them. Victor averages a respectable 4.3 yards a carry, but his big value comes with the red zone work. He now has four touchdowns in the last three weeks and that is where your bread is buttered in fantasy football. Even better, he has six catches on six targets in the last two weeks, which is just adding to his appeal. His salary remains dirt cheap and is a great option to help you save money for other positions and still give you double digit fantasy points with that cost savings. 

The third most targets in the league belong to Dixon and he is just seven yards behind teammate Sal Cannella for the USFL lead in receiving yards as well. Oh, have I mentioned that he also has three touchdown catches and is one of the more productive offenses in the league. The Generals allow the second most passing yards per game in the league, and I see almost no way that Dixon doesn’t pay off on his salary. Victor Bolden might get more targets, but Dixon is more productive. 

While I definitely like Bryan Scott over Case Cookus behind center for the Stars, the fact of the matter is that Cookus will be out there again this week with Scott’s injury. And it is just one game, but Gray was the most targeted receiver by the Philadelphia quarterback, and he finished with seven catches for 70 yards and a touchdown. He isn’t a big guy at 5’11” and 185 pounds, but Gray has good speed and has shown reliable hands as he has caught 12 of the 16 balls thrown his way so far this season. Birmingham’s defense has been very middle of the road this season and I do expect Philadelphia to either put up 20 points or get close and for Gray to be the most targeted receiver again this week. 

He does have a tough matchup this week against New Orleans who has been one of the tougher units in the USFL, but Turpin has watched his usage increase every week. He has seven targets which he turned into six catches last week even if it was only good for 28 yards. However, he is also involved in the run game as he has 11 carries in the four games and had 37 yards on the ground and a touchdown in Week 4. I am really liking how the Generals are incorporating him into the gameplan a little more each week as he is a guy, I had my eye on when the season started. His salary remains very friendly to the cap, and I still think the best is still ahead of him in this season. 

He had a great first week and then was not active for Week 2 or Week 3. Ward was back on the field last week in a tough matchup against New Orleans and was modest with two catches on four targets for 31 yards. However, he found the end zone and had the third most targets on the team. Assuming he is active again, and the USFL hasn’t been awesome about telling us that, I expect Ward to be much more involved in the pass game like the nine targets he had in the season opener. He gets a much easier matchup against the Maulers who are one of the softer defenses, and although there is a little risk with Ward missing those couple games he is a very reliable target for Clayton Thorson to depend on. 

The big tight end missed last week, but don’t forget that he had four catches for 66 yards in Week 3 against a tough Breakers defense. He now has double digit fantasy points in two of the three games that he has played in, and his salary is very low. Birmingham should be welcoming J’Mar Smith back under center this week and he has shown that he runs the offense much more efficiently than Alex McGough has. Angeline has averaged almost six targets a game and we can expect that to continue. The Stars are one of the worst defenses in the USFL and I expect Angeline to be an absolute nuisance over the middle and to find the end zone at some point during this game. 

Can you tell that I like the Breakers this week? This one is another GPP play as Adams has had two big games and two total duds in the four weeks of the season so far. He is coming off his best game of the year with six catches for 101 yards in Week 5 against the Gamblers. I expect Kyle Sloter to throw the ball a lot again this week and as I have already stated the Generals are a very giving pass defense. He is a good-sized guy at 6’3” and 220 pounds and while he isn’t the most targeted receiver he makes the most of the times that he gets the ball thrown to him. 

It is a Week 5 Breakers party! The most consistent tight end in the league, Canella has had five catches or more in three of the four games this season and is leading the league in receiving yards. He has had a whopping 19 targets in the last two weeks, and is not only a plodder over the middle, but he can get down the field and cause some damage. New Orleans is one of the most consistent offenses in the USFL, and he has scored 12 or more fantasy points in every game but one. The Generals allow the second most passing yards per game this season, and I can see Cannella approaching double digit targets again in Week 5. 

This one is your GPP dart throw so to speak. He had his best game of the season last week with five catches and 73 yards, but he not only is a good threat to catch a longer pass, but he has scored in three straight games. He could actually be helped out by backup quarterback Case Cookus as his five targets last week were a season high. His production has been a little all over the map through four weeks, but Birmingham is a middle of the road pass defense and scoring in three straight games is hard to ignore if you are looking for that potential diamond in the rough at a cheap price.