After multiple failed attempts, we are now in our third consecutive year of having Spring football. The XFL and USFL both experienced success as dual spring leagues, leading to the two merging into the United Football League (UFL), which debuts this weekend. For those looking to dabble in some UFL fantasy football, here are our rankings.
Which UFL Players Should You Draft in 2024?
It goes without saying Spring fantasy football is very much a niche game. As a result, the level of customization available is minimal. For the purposes of these rankings, assume a PPR setup of 1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, and 1 TE.
UFL QB Fantasy Rankings
1) A.J. McCarron, St. Louis Battlehawks
2) Luis Perez, Arlington Renegades
3) Matt Corral, Birmingham Stallions
4) Case Cookus, Memphis Showboats
5) Jordan Ta’amu, D.C. Defenders
6) E.J. Perry, Michigan Panthers
7) Jarrett Guarantano, Houston Roughnecks
8) Chase Garbers, San Antonio Brahmas
I highly recommend going with Team QB instead of individuals here. A.J. McCarron is the clear class of the UFL. He is the quarterback with the most NFL experience and was the most prolific passer in the XFL last season. Having him will provide your team with an edge.
The second best QB is the Stallions’ QB. The problem is even now, just days before kickoff, we don’t know who it will.
J’Mar Smtih has been with the team each of the past two seasons. He was the opening-day starter last season, ahead of Alex McGough, who wound up taking over for an injured Smith and leading the Stallions to their second consecutive USFL championship.
This year, however, the Stallions signed former Carolina Panthers QB Matt Corral, who was quite the prolific college passer. Corral couldn’t quite make it in the NFL, but he can easily be one of the top signal callers in the UFL. Further adding to the confusion, the Stallions said both QBs will likely play.
MORE: UFL Week 1 Schedule
I went with Smith because he’s technically the incumbent, but we are really flying blind here. Either way, the Stallions should be one of the best offenses in the UFL. Their QB would be ranked second in a Team QB scenario.
Renegades QB Luis Perez is only occupying the second spot because he has tremendous job security. Perez is a Spring football legend, and has bounced around just about every iteration of league. When we last saw him, he was throwing for 288 yards and three touchdowns in the XFL Championship Game.
Rounding out the top four is Case Cookus. The Showboats’ starting QB had five multi-touchdown games last season, with four of them coming in the USFL’s final four weeks. He really got things together as the season progressed. Cookus is another quarterback with a higher level of job security.
The remaining four quarterbacks are all at risk of being part of QB committees, which is something we saw a lot of last year, and losing their jobs entirely.
UFL RB Fantasy Rankings
1) C.J. Marable, Birmingham Stallions
2) Mark Thompson, Houston Roughnecks
3) Wes Hills, Michigan Panthers
4) Wayne Gallman, St. Louis Battlehawks
5) De’Veon Smith, Arlington Renegades
6) Cam’Ron Harris, D.C. Defenders
7) Anthony McFarland, San Antonio Brahmas
8) Darius Victor, Memphis Showboats
9) Trey Williams, Memphis Showboats
10) Mataeo Durant, St. Louis Battlehawks
11) Matt Colburn, Michigan Panthers
12) T.J. Pledger, Houston Roughnecks
13) Pooka Williams, D.C. Defenders
14) John Lovett, San Antonio Brahmas
15) Leddie Brown, Arlington Renegades
It’s rare to find continuity in Spring football, especially the year after two leagues merged. C.J. Marable was the leadback on the best team in the USFL. The Stallions’ leading rusher returns for another season, looking to follow up his 524 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground from last season, plus 28 receptions for 235 yards through the air. He is the best running back on the best team.
The Roughnecks are not the second-best team, but Mark Thompson was a force last season. The power back was like the USFL’s version of Derrick Henry, rushing for a whopping 14 touchdowns in just eight games.
Wes Hills ran for 679 yards and 10 touchdowns for the New Orleans Breakers last year. He should be the lead back and handle substantial volume. My concern is he plays for the Panthers, who are projected to be one of the worst teams in the UFL. Nevertheless, his role appears more secure than the guys behind him.
I am gambling that former NFL running back Wayne Gallman will be the lead back for what I think is the best offense in the UFL. Gallman has the most NFL experience of any UFL running back. But it wouldn’t shock me if returning Mateo Durant got the first crack at the job.
Beyond those guys, we are mostly guessing at what these depth charts will look like. Many Spring teams used multiple backs. It’s entirely possible there is more than one worth rostering from the better teams. Be prepared to act swiftly on the waiver wire. We can and should heavily react to what we see in Week 1.
UFL WR Fantasy Rankings
1) Hakeem Butler, St. Louis Battlehawks
2) Jahcour Pearson, St. Louis Battlehawks
3) Amari Rodgers, Birmingham Stallions
4) Brandon Smith, D.C. Defenders
5) Trey Quinn, Michigan Panthers
6) Jontre Kirklin, San Antonio Brahmas
7) Darrius Shepherd, St. Louis Battlehawks
8) Deontay Burnett, Arlington Renegades
9) Deon Cain, Birmingham Stallions
10) Landen Akers, San Antonio Brahmas
11) Kevin Austin, Birmingham Stallions
12) Tyler Vaughns, Arlington Renegades
13) Dezmon Patmon, Michigan Panthers
14) Cyril Grayson, Houston Roughnecks
15) Keke Coutee, D.C. Defenders
The only thing I am supremely confident in is Hakeem Butler. Last season, Butler had a tremendous rapport with QB A.J. McCarron. He was a scoring machine with eight touchdowns in 10 games. Both are back for another year. Continuity is highly underrated.
To give you an idea of how important QB play is, the overall WR2 is also a Battlehawk. McCarron is so far and away the best quarterback in the league. This is going to be a passing offense and one that can feature a second top receiver. Jahcour Pearson caught 60 balls for 670 yards and 4 touchdowns as a member of the Seattle Sea Dragons last year.
The WR1 on the Stallions should be a valuable fantasy asset. I’m tentatively projecting that to be Amari Rodgers, but it could easily be Deon Cain. Both have NFL experience, but neither ever did enough to hang around in the league. Perhaps the two of them are Spring superstars like Butler.
While the Defenders signed former Houston Texans WR Keke Coutee, who somehow is only 27 years old, Brandon Smith projects to be their top receiver. The Defenders had one of the top offenses in the XFL last season.
Rounding out the top five is former Mr. Irrelevant, Trey Quinn. He posted 438 yards and 4 touchdowns in the USFL. I don’t love any receivers on the Panthers, but they have to throw to someone.
As a bonus, I will briefly discuss Jontre Kirklin. He was a serious contender for the best WR in the XFL last year before a chest injury ended his season after just four games. He had already amassed 253 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Brahmas should be trailing a lot, and, thus, throwing. Kirklin could be a sneaky valuable selection after the top guys are gone.
UFL TE Fantasy Rankings
1) Jace Sternberger, Birmingham Stallions
2) Sal Canella, Arlington Renegades
3) Cody Latimer, San Antonio Brahmas
4) Sage Surratt, Memphis Showboats
5) Braedon Bowman, Houston Roughnecks
6) Briley Moore, D.C. Defenders
7) Cole Hikutini, Michigan Panthers
8) Jake Sutherland, St. Louis Battlehawks
Jace Sternberger and Cody Latimer are the two names fantasy managers will likely notice. I put Sternberger first because of his NFL experience and the fact that he plays for the best team in the UFL. But this easily could be Sal Canella, who has spent the past two years in Spring Football and very well could be the Renegades’ de facto WR1.
Latimer is a former NFL wide receiver who converted to tight end and experienced solid success last season. The fact that he’s more of a TE/WR hybrid gives him extra value due to his being TE-eligible. Latimer caught 43 passes for 523 yards and 4 touchdowns as a member of the Orlando Guardians last year. He could easily be second on the Brahmas in receiving behind Kirklin.
Beyond those three, the tight end position is a complete craps shoot. We are just drafting the guys we think will be their teams’ TE1s. Ironically, the Battlehawks’ TE is last mostly because of their loaded WR corps making it unlikely he is higher than fourth or fifth in the target hierarchy.
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