USFL DFS Plays for Week 4

Week 4 of the USFL is here, and we have some intriguing matchups across the board. QB play has been spotty as expected but there are some serious studs separating themselves from the rest of the pack. We will keep our DFS player pool relatively tight and place a priority on consistency above all else. I will highlight my top 2-3 plays at each position while also providing you with a two-man core to build around. Let’s dive in.

Vegas Odds

Quarterbacks

Alex McGough, Birmingham ($11.4k)

For a second straight week, Alex McGough is our top QB target. He has solidified himself as the QB1 for the Stallions after looking fantastic following J’Mar Smith’s Week 1 injury. He has been a versatile DFS option with his efficient passing and rushing upside. He was major chalk last week and will likely be highly rostered once again with a favorable matchup against Pittsburgh on tap. McGough has completed 70% of his passes for 607 yards and an impressive 7 touchdowns to just 1 interception through three games. Additionally, he has a YPC of 9 on 15 carries. The price is steep but ultimately will be well worth it.

Additional QB Targets

Cole Kelley, Memphis — Brady White was benched after a horrific Week 2 performance, which gave Cole Kelley the opportunity to star in Week 3. Kelley performed well in a close loss to Houston by throwing for over 300 yards and 2 touchdowns on 38 pass attempts. He clearly benefited from a positive gamescript, but he at least showed us that he could be a dangerous passer in a league filled with mediocre signal callers. Kelley spent two years at Arkansas before transferring to FCS school Southeastern Louisiana. He was electric in his final college season, throwing over 5,000 yards and 44 TDs to just 10 INTs while also rushing for just under 500 yards/16 TDs. Kelley has an ability to beat teams in a multitude of ways and he can be considered a high-level tournament play this week at a bargain price of just $9k.

Troy Williams, Pittsburgh — Case Cookus of Philadelphia can be considered a solid play each week because of the heavy passing volume from the Stars offense. However, Cookus’ price is sky-high, and his lack of rushing upside has really hurt him as he has failed to eclipse 11 fantasy points in back-to-back weeks. I’d prefer to utilize McGough or go with one of the cheaper options such as Kelley or new Pittsburgh starter Troy Williams. After ineffective QB play through the first two weeks, the Maulers turned to Williams, and he led the team to their first victory of the season over the Philly Stars. Troy flashed major dual-threat upside by rushing for 65 yards on just 7 carries and also threw a touchdown. His passing yardage was lackluster but at only $8k, he could theoretically hit value with his legs alone. My strategy this week is to pay up for McGough or take a shot on one of the cheaper QBs in an advantageous situation.

Running Backs

Wes Hills, New Orleans ($9.5k)

Hills will carry 75% rostership in all contests, but we simply have to eat that chalk with the way he is playing. He rushed for almost 200 yards last week on 34 carries which is a rock-solid 5.6 YPC. After missing week 1, he has racked up 301 yards and 6 TDs on 52 carries while catching 6 of his 8 targets for 33 yards. Anthony Jones has quickly become an afterthought and Hills is locked in as the RB1 going forward. Keep rolling him out there with confidence.

Additional RB Targets

Mark Thompson, Houston — It would appear that Mark Thompson is healthy and ready to get back to being a workhorse for the Gamblers. He outcarried TJ Pledger 21 to 4 and grinded out 81 yards along with 2 scores. Thompson was a top-five back in the USFL last year and one of the leaders of this team. He won’t be priced below $6k for very long so take advantage while you can. The Gamblers have a good problem on their hands with two talented backs but right now Thompson is the guy to focus on for DFS purposes.

Birmingham Stallions RBs — It’s a split backfield for the Stallions, but CJ Marable and Zaquandre White have both been effective in spite of this. Marable has rushed for 116 yards and a score on 31 carries while White has rushed for 82 yards on 12 carries. White’s been more efficient but it’s clear the Stallions are going to ensure Marable keeps getting work because of his versatility. White can be considered a solid salary-saving option at $5.2k while Marable is hovering just over $8k. The Stallions offense is potent and there is enough to go around for everyone relevant to pay in terms of fantasy. You can use McGough while also playing one of his RBs because of their relevance in the passing game. White has caught all 5 of his targets for 34 yards and Marable has caught 4 of his 7 targets for 38 yards.

Wide Receiver/Tight End

Sage Surratt, New Orleans ($8k)

Surratt has been the apple of new QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s eye this season. Sage has been peppered with targets through three games and there is no reason to think it will stop anytime soon. He has caught 20 of his 26 targets for 257 yards and a touchdown. His price is creeping up, but $8k is still reasonable for his expected production.

Additional WR/TE Targets

Jace Sternberger, Birmingham — Just like last week, I’m rolling multiple tight ends in my main lineup until it fails. This means Surratt and Jace Sternberger are staple plays. Jace has been targeted at least 4 times in each of the first three games and hasn’t been below 12 fantasy points yet. He has caught 13 of his 15 targets for 218 yards and 3 touchdowns. $15.9k salary might seem like a lot to invest in two tight ends but it’s essential since we are prioritizing consistency.

Justin Hall, Houston — Hall is another player that was major chalk last week, and since he crushed for a second straight game we can expect ridiculously high rostership once again. He has scored at least 27 fantasy points in back-to-back games which makes his $5.3k price point laughably low. Hall has been targeted 22 times and has a stat line of 16-220-4. There is going to be a ton of overlap this week, but we shouldn’t fade good chalk just for the sake of being different.

Corey Coleman, Philadelphia — Coleman has been a favorite of mine since the USFL season started and it’s clear that he is an NFL-caliber talent that has proven to be a problem for opposing secondaries. He has been targeted 24 times in the past two games alone and 28 targets on the season. He has 28 catches for 211 yards and a touchdown. He is still relatively affordable at $8.9k as well.

Trey Quinn, Michigan — Quinn represents a misprice, and he can used in all formats if you need the savings. He has a stat line of 11-129-2 on 14 targets, which is clearly not the production for a $3.3k player. Quinn has found a way to rack up stats despite the fact that the Michigan QB play has been completely lackadaisical. If the Panthers coaching staff decides to replace Josh Love with Carson Strong, it would make Quinn an even better option. Strong has an absolute cannon for an arm and Quinn has emerged as the top weapon in the Panthers’ WR room.

Core

• Wes Hills
• Sage Surratt