UFL DFS Value Plays: Week 10 Bargain Bin for DraftKings Including Jordan Ta'amu, Mark Thompson, Jace Sternberger, More

Welcome to the Week 10 edition of RotoBaller's UFL DFS Bargain Bin, where the goal is to touch on some potentially mispriced players in DraftKings' Week 10 UFL contests. Each week during the UFL 2024 season and postseason, I’ll give you my thoughts on where there may be some value spots to exploit for DraftKings' wide array of tournaments and cash games. After you're done here, be sure also to read all our other weekly UFL fantasy football articles.

The XFL and USFL had both defied the odds over the last pair of springs to complete full seasons -- one in the case of the former and two in the case of the latter. They've now joined forces in the hopes of forming a stable and long-lasting pro football alternative for fans that also serves as a launchpad to the NFL for as many players as possible. There's a solid degree of carryover in terms of personnel from both leagues for the 2024 season, even though several teams from each league didn't make the cut for the UFL.

DraftKings' UFL DFS rosters largely mirror that of NFL contests, with a notable exception -- there is no TE-specific spot, but rather two WR/TE spots and two additional flex spots that can be filled with a running back, wide receiver, or tight end.

UFL DFS Bargain Bin Intro

Before we go UFL DFS Bargain Bin hunting, a few particulars about format and content.

The nature of the beast with value plays is at least a modest amount (and sometimes substantially more) of risk. Therefore, the Bargain Bin may prove to be a bit more of a roller coaster ride on some slates than your typical “tout” article! Naturally, that doesn’t mean there is no upside to be had. All of these selections are, therefore, suitable for GPPs and can also often serve as solid cash game plays while often helping you accommodate multiple higher-priced studs into your lineup.

This article is by no means intended to serve as an exhaustive list of all value options for the week. Rather, it is meant to take a deeper dive into those I feel offer some of the best combinations of savings and upside.

The goal is to recommend truly affordable players, as opposed to, say, a player priced just $300-$400 away from the highest-priced option at his position. I don’t have set-in-stone price limits in mind for each site, but I do consider legitimate affordability a very important criterion.

UFL Quarterback DFS Value Plays              

Jordan Ta'amu, D.C. vs. ARL | $9.8K  

Ta'amu posted a season-high 31.3 DK points in Week 9 against the Showboats, a stellar effort preceded by a tally of 19.9 against a tough Battlehawks defense in Week 8. The spring league vet now has five double-digit DK-point contributions on the season, and he closes out the regular season against another non-contending team in a game that could turn into an anything-goes affair on offense.

The Renegades head into the final game of the season still allowing a UFL-high 11.8 yards per completion while also giving up 13 passing touchdowns, further Ta'amu's case. Ta'amu threw a pair of touchdowns passes in the first meeting with Arlington, and he could certainly find himself adding to that total while running what should be a wide-open game plan.

Jordan Ta'amu with a DIME to Alex Ellis for the TD 🏹🏹

The @XFLDefenders strike just before the end of the first half 🛡️ pic.twitter.com/hnXrQKzNFt

— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 26, 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Nolan Henderson, HOU at MEM | $8.9K

UFL Running Back DFS Value Plays   

Mark Thompson, HOU at MEM | $8K  

Thompson is another value option closing out the season against a fellow non-playoff squad, and it just happens to be a team that's been the worst in the league at defending the run in the Showboats. Memphis has generally looked like it threw in the towel weeks ago, and Thompson is coming off a third double-digit DK-point tally over his last four games in Week 9.

The Showboats check in allowing the second-highest yards per carry (4.6) and a league-high 17 rushing touchdowns, along with 111.6 rushing yards per game. Thompson did not face Memphis earlier in the season due to his injury-delayed start to the season, but given Thompson has found the end zone on four occasions in the last four games, he's a solid bet to put together a strong performance to close out the season.

Mark Thompson putting people on SKATES 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/Iw2paaAszs

— Houston Roughnecks (@XFLRoughnecks) May 9, 2024

Devin Darrington, ARL at D.C. | $4.2K

Darrington is best suited for tournaments due to uncertainty about his workload, but the speedy complementary back could be given some extended run in the regular-season finale against an inconsistent Defenders defense. Darrington already comes in off a solid Week 9 showing, one where he logged a season-high eight carries for 41 yards.

The Renegades have been vulnerable to the run as well, giving up a co-league-high 4.7 yards per carry, 11 rushing touchdowns and the second-most rushing yards per game (115.4). If Darrington sees at least a 10-20% boost in workload, he could easily pay off his very reasonable salary with a big play or two.

ALSO CONSIDER: Cam'Ron Harris, D.C. vs. ARL ($6,100)

UFL Wide Receiver DFS Value Plays      

Ty Scott, D.C. vs. ARL | $7.7K

Scott nabs a spot in this space yet again to close out the regular season, as the speedy Missouri State product looks to close out an impressive regular season on a high note. Scott did see his streak of double-digit DK-point tallies snapped at two games, but he still provided a solid 3-52 line on five targets that netted 8.2 DK points.

Scott now faces a beatable Renegades pass defense whose weaknesses were already enumerated in Ta'amu's entry. Scott averaged 16.0 yards per catch on three grabs against Arlington in the first meeting this season, and given the Renegades' previously described issues preventing chunk plays through the air, he could certainly strike for a big play or two.

Siaosi Mariner, MICH at BHAM | $5.9K

Mariner finished Week 9 with season highs in receptions (eight), receiving yards (95) and targets (eight), recording 17.5 DK points along the way in a win over the Roughnecks. The one-time CFL wideout has been working well with whichever quarterback is under center for the playoff-bound Panthers, and despite the tough matchup on paper against the Stallions, Mariner shapes up as an intriguing Week 10 option.

Birmingham has actually allowed the third-highest completion percentage in the league (62.8 percent) and has also given up 11 passing touchdowns, offering Mariner enough of a window to potentially keep his strong playing going.

"The #UFL has been extremely important...it's lit a fire in me."@USFLPanthers WR Siaosi Mariner has been a revelation for Michigan's offense. @SdotGatsby wasn't with the team during Training Camp - signing prior to week two.

Since then, he's picked up the playbook impressively… pic.twitter.com/QFUX0l0YUC

— James Larsen (@JamesLarsenPFN) May 28, 2024

ALSO CONSIDER: Chris Rowland, D.C. vs. ARL | $5.3K

UFL Flex DFS Value Plays  

Jace Sternberger, TE - BHAM vs. MICH | $6.5K

Sternberger is coming off a season-best performance against the Brahmas in Week 9, posting a 7-110-1 line on nine targets on his way to 27 DK points. The athletic tight end has another pair of double-digit DK-point tallies on the campaign, and while his production has been a bit volatile, he's an appealing play at his current salary.

The Panthers have been a solid defense overall, but they've also given up 13 passing touchdowns overall and have shown some vulnerability against tight ends down the seam. Consequently, the field-stretching Sternberger could be a very effective tournament play in a game Birmingham needs to at least play competitively in to lock in the top seed in the USFL Conference.

WOW

Adrian Martinez with a DIME to Jace Sternberger for the @USFLStallions TD 🎯🎯🎯🎯 pic.twitter.com/7mC0a2DFUy

— United Football League (@TheUFL) May 25, 2024

Alex Ellis, TE - D.C. vs. ARL | $4.4K

Ellis has had his moments throughout the 2024 season while working with Ta'amu once again, and he checks into the regular-season finale having recorded a touchdown in each of the last two games. The Tennessee product is still sporting a very reasonable salary despite his consecutive double-digit DK-point tallies, and he'll be in a favorable matchup against a vulnerable Renegades pass defense.

More Weekly DFS Analysis