XFL Week 4 Preview: Seattle Dragons @ St Louis BattleHawks

Seattle Dragons (1-2) vs St. Louis (2-1)

Saturday, February 29, 2020 5:00 pm EST @ The Dome at America’s Center on FOX

Odds: BattleHawks -12.0 (https://www.actionnetwork.com/)

The Beast of the East v. The Best Worst of the West

The Seattle Dragons are coming off a disappointing loss in front of their own crowd, going scoreless in the second half of their game against the Dallas Renegades. Sitting at 1-2, the Dragons face a tough matchup against the favored St. Louis BattleHawks who are coming off a momentous victory against the NY Guardians, 29-9 at home. Such victory places the BattleHawks first in the XFL East division, holding the edge on the 2-1 DC Defenders due to their TD for/against ratio (The BattleHawks share a TD+ of 4 compared to the DC Defenders who sit at -1).

Although both teams feature run-first offense, it is the St. Louis BattleHawks who have a better balanced run game. Averaging 157.7 rushing yards per game to the Dragons’ 100.7 rushing yards, fans should expect plenty of action in what should be a smash mouth football showdown.

Key Matchups

Brandon Silvers (17) vs Jordan Ta’amu (10)

Brandon Silvers and Jordan Ta’amu are the respective starting quarterbacks for the teams facing off against on another. While Silvers is considered to be a more traditional pocket passer, Ta’amu’s game features a west-coast style of play. Whether it is Silvers utilizing his arm strength to make deep throws late in the game or Ta’amu using his legs to enhance the BattleHawks’ offense, it will be interesting to see how both quarterbacks perform in a key matchup for both teams in their current situations as they near the halfway point of the season.

Austin Proehl (13) vs Matt Jones (24)

Austin Proehl of the Seattle Dragons currently sits at 5th amongst all receivers in receiving yards with 168, with three of his 12 receptions being caught for a touchdown. Matt Jones, on the other hand, is the league’s leading rusher with 224 rushing yards and is a key piece in the BattleHawks’ offensive play-calling. In order for both teams to keep fresh drives alive and to maintain a well-balanced offensive game plan, it is essential for both teams to give the reps these two need to create plays as well as maximize their opportunities to put up points for their teams. Look out for both playmakers to display captivating performances that may draw more league-wide attention toward their games (as if they haven’t already).

Marcell Frazier (57) vs BattleHawks O-Line

Marcell Frazier created buzz around the league after his infamous pick-six during the Dragons’ Week 2 matchup against the Tampa Bay Vipers. Displaying nothing but pure grit and hustle in his game, Frazier’s hot streak continues as he faces up against arguably the best protection in the league. It will be interesting to see how Frazier can maneuver his way around the BattleHawks’ offensive line to disrupt Jordan Ta’amu’s time in the pocket.

Injury Report

Seattle Dragons

St. Louis BattleHawks

Fantasy Preview

One player that is definitely worth inserting into your DFS line-up for Week 4 is St. Louis BattleHawks QB Jordan Ta’amu. Ta’amu is coming off a mediocre fantasy performance last week against NY, but that can be excused due to the executed game plan to run out as much clock as possible, considering the BattleHawks held a 23-3 lead at half against the Guardians. He is a mobile quarterback that will give you a strong collection of passing and rushing yards. Another option to consider for DFS is the BattleHawks defensive unit, as the Brandon Silvers and his offense continue to struggle to address their issue with committing turnovers. The last time the Dragons were on the road was in Washington D.C where they had committed three turnovers.

Preview Summary

Brandon Silvers and the Seattle Dragons look to bounce off a home-defeat they battle against a Jordan Ta’amu-led offense. It is up to Silvers to maintain a steady offensive outing against the BattleHawks and their gritty defensive unit. If Ta’amu and the BattleHawks come out with an early lead against the Dragons, we could see a repeat of last week’s beatdown the BattleHawks put up in front of an electric home crowd. As long as the Brandon Silvers and his offense can fix their miscues on offensive by taking care of the ball and moving down-field more efficiently than previous weeks, the Dragons could potentially position themselves for an upset. However, if the BattleHawks come in aggressive just like last week and get the crowd involved, it will be a difficult atmosphere for the Dragons to handle business. This game will feature two run-heavy offenses, and two gritty defensive units who fail to quit. Nonetheless, fans should expect to see an entertaining showdown in The Dome at America’s Center.