We’re set for another intriguing XFL slate in Week 7 that is spread over three days, beginning with Friday night’s Renegades-Sea Dragons battle and finishing off with a Battlehawks-Roughnecks showdown Sunday afternoon.
As customary, we’ll try to hone in on what could be considered some of the tougher Start/Sit decisions for the coming slate, although with the XFL’s abbreviated player pool, we’ll inevitably focus on what might be considered an obvious play from time to time, particularly at quarterback.
Ahead of what should be an exciting four games, here are XFL News Hub’s Start/Sit recommendations for your Week 7 season-long fantasy contests!
Quarterback
Start
A.J. McCarron, STL at HOU
McCarron’s matchup in Week 7 isn’t exactly ideal, but the Roughnecks did show some vulnerability to the pass against the Defenders on Monday night. Meanwhile, McCarron has flashed an excellent fantasy floor, throwing for at least 236 yards in three of the last four games and tossing multiple touchdowns in four consecutive contests.
The Roughnecks can certainly bring heat on the quarterback and the Battlehawks’ offensive line has done a below-average job protecting McCarron. Nevertheless, with a fully stocked skill-position arsenal that includes Brian Hill, Darrius Shepherd and Hakeem Butler, McCarron’s fantasy outlook is solid once again going into the Week 7 showdown.
Jordan Ta’amu, DC at ORL
As just alluded to, Jordan Ta’amu put together an impressive game through the air against the Roughnecks in Week 6, throwing for a season-high 245 yards and two touchdown passes. Ta’amu hasn’t thrown an interception since Week 1 as well and offers excellent rushing upside.
Ta’amu now faces a Guardians defense that’s been very solid against the run but easier to pass against. Orlando is allowing 207.2 passing yards per contest and has been susceptible to big plays through the air. Ta’amu is also displaying excellent chemistry with receivers Lucky Jackson and Josh Hammond, and with the confidence afforded from having just knocked off the Roughnecks in Week 6, Ta’amu could be set for another productive outing.
Sit
Drew Plitt, ARL vs. SEA
The Renegades traded for Luis Perez this past week and could well put him right to work on at least a part-time basis in Week 7 if he’s got at least a cursory grasp on the playbook. That dims the already bleak outlook for Plitt, who’s been part of the reason for Arlington’s struggles on offense this season. With the chance he has to cede reps and his worrisome body of work to date – not to mention a matchup against a tough Sea Dragons defense – Plitt can be given a seat this week.
Running Back
Start
Max Borghi, HOU vs. STL
Borghi scored another two touchdowns in Week 6 against the Defenders, giving him three total scores over the last two games. The versatile back also has 16 receptions on the campaign, and although he hasn’t found much running room the last two games, Borghi could be primed for a much easier time in that regard in Week 7.
The Battlehawks were trampled by the Defenders’ Abram Smith two games ago for 218 yards and three touchdowns, and although they bounced back nicely against the Vipers in Week 6, St. Louis is still yielding 118.7 rushing yards per contest. Borghi is the clear-cut lead back in Houston and often has a three-down role, giving him plenty of appeal in this home matchup.
Jacques Patrick, SAN at VGS
Kalen Ballage was lost for the season due to an Achilles injury prior to Week 6, and Patrick thrived in his first game with the lead-back role by recording 82 rushing yards on 15 carries and adding 18 yards on three receptions versus a tough Renegades defense.
The difficulty of the matchup now heads in the other direction for Patrick, as the Vipers have been the league’s most vulnerable defense against the run. Vegas is surrendering an XFL-high 136.7 rushing yards per contest, and Patrick should be set for another robust role in a Brahmas offense that has plenty of quarterback questions at the moment.
ALSO CONSIDER: Brian Hill, STL at HOU
Sit
Jah-Maine Martin, ORL vs. DC
Martin has been relatively solid when given opportunities this season and is a powerful runner, but the speedier, more explosive Devin Darrington appears to be eating into his touches. Martin has yet to top nine carries all season, but Darrington already has one 12-carry tally on his resume and turned seven rush attempts into 82 yards and two touchdowns against the Sea Dragons in Week 6. With a tough matchup against the Defenders’ league-best run defense on tap, Martin is likely best left inactive in your lineups this week.
Wide Receiver
Start
Charleston Rambo, ORL vs. DC
Rambo has seen a nice increase in involvement within an improving Guardians offense over the last three games, posting a 13-212-2 line over that span on 18 targets. Six of those 13 catches have gone for first downs as well, and Rambo now heads into a matchup that could be more palatable than what would appear on paper.
The Defenders have made life difficult on quarterbacks while carrying out coordinator Gregg Williams’ high-pressure approach, but when the rush hasn’t gotten there, DC has allowed some plays through the air. The Defenders come into Week 7 allowing an XFL-high 238.2 passing yards per game, and Rambo has the speed to pay off for fantasy managers with just a couple of long catches.
Darrius Shephard, STL at HOU
As alluded to earlier in McCarron’s entry, Shepherd is one of the weapons on a well-balanced Battlehawks offense that could deliver for fantasy managers again in Week 7. The North Dakota State product came through handsomely as a Start suggestion in Week 6, posting a 7-79-2 line.
Shepherd at least eight targets in three of the past four games, and a solid five in the other contest during that span. With a locked-in role as a primary pass catcher in St. Louis’ impressive air attack, Shepherd has to receiver starting consideration again in Week 7 despite the Roughnecks’ impressive numbers, especially considering what the Defenders’ Lucky Jackson and Josh Hammond were able to do against them in Week 6.
ALSO CONSIDER: Lucky Jackson, DC at ORL
Sit
Jalen Tolliver, SAN at VGS
The Brahmas offense has been sputtering overall, and the passing game is particularly having a difficult time garnering any traction with a revolving door of quarterbacks. Tolliver has not seen the field in the last two games and also went without a target back in Week 3, making him a complete fantasy non-factor at the moment.
Tight End
Start
Cody Latimer, ORL vs. DC
It was another generally underwhelming week for tight ends in Week 6, but Latimer continued to offer his ever-reliable production. The veteran posted a 5-59-2 line on seven targets, a week after furnishing a spectacular 8-124-1 tally against the Vipers.
Latimer has at least four catches in five consecutive games and no less than seven targets in any of those contests. His clear chemistry with quarterback Quinten Dormady should help pay off again in Week 7 despite the difficult matchup versus the Defenders.
Alize Mack, SAN at VGS
Mack is no surefire option by any stretch thanks to the Brahmas’ shaky quarterback situation, but the talented tight end is certainly what passes for a safer option in Week 7. Mack went without a catch for the first time this season in Week 6 and had just a 1-5 line in Week 5, yet the matchup in Week 7 could lead to much better production.
The Vipers have been almost as bad against the pass as they’ve been versus the run, surrendering the second-most passing yards per contest (223.2). Mack can be a mismatch downfield and should have a chance to be more involved after two quiet weeks in the favorable matchup.
Sit
Jake Sutherland, STL at HOU
Sutherland has just a 4-51-1 line across six games, and he’s gone without a target in three of the last five games. The Morehead State product has had a couple of big catches thus far, but with just a 2-7 line in the last three contests, Sutherland just doesn’t carry any fantasy appeal heading into Week 7.
