XFL Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 3: QB, RB, WR, TE Rankings and Analysis (2023)

March 3, 2023

Week 3 XFL fantasy football rankings at QB, RB, WR, TE for 2023. The top fantasy XFL players at each position (QB, RB, WR, TE) for XFL drafts and DFS XFL lineups.

Just like that, two weeks of the XFL season are in the books, and stud players and top-notch teams are beginning to emerge. Needless to say, two weeks of games are still not enough to have concrete data, but with each passing slate of games, our rankings should get more advanced and accurate as we craft the pecking order for each position.

Our Week 3 XFL fantasy football rankings are sure to skew toward what happened through two weeks, but data points like passing attempts, total touches, target share, and overall effectiveness of the offenses and defenses will play a part. These positional XFL rankings are a team effort, combing the rankings and analysis of three rankers:

• Quarterbacks - Jackson Sparks
• Running Backs - Andrew Lennox
• Wide Receivers - Brant Henson
• Tight Ends - Jackson Sparks

If you weren't successful in season-long leagues or DFS XFL contests through two weeks, there's plenty of time to turn things around, so let's get to it!

Quarterback XFL Fantasy Football Rankings

Rankings and analysis by Jackson Sparks

Luis Perez had one of the most prolific debuts among quarterbacks to open the year, throwing for 249 passing yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions. He threw 36 passes and was effective, so he looked to be a top fantasy QB. However, he was unexpectedly benched for Brett Hundley in Week 2, so there is now quarterback uncertainty in Vegas. He and Hundley are risky options for Week 3.

Ben DiNucci leads the XFL in passing, totaling 478 yards on 54 competitions through two weeks. The Dragons are clearly a pass-first team, so the volume should remain consistent.

Drew Plitt has been just "OK" through two weeks, but he'll face the Guardians next weekend. Orlando has allowed at least 30 points in each of their first two contests and look like the defense to target early on.

Jack Coan torched the dreadful Orlando Guardians defense for three passing touchdowns in Week 2 after a respectable Week 1 performance. That said, he seems to have job security, which is more than we can say about the bottom-half of the rankings at this point in the season.

Jordan Ta'amu was a popular preseason choice at quarterback, but his Week 1 performance was lackluster and he followed it up with another dreadful passing day against the Vipers in Week 2. Ta'amu completed just 11 of his 23 attempts for 93 yards and zero touchdowns. D'Eriq King rushed for 32 yards and a score. Will King continue to be a mere rusher or will he eventually dethrone Ta'amu as QB1?

Paxton Lynch has shared reps with Quinten Dormandy and Deondre Francois through two weeks, so he's a stayaway if you can help it. For now, the Guardians' quarterback situation is murky.

King and Cole McDonald are currently being used as gadget QBs, but both are worth monitoring at least somewhat since they're seeing touches.

Running Back XFL Fantasy Football Rankings

Rankings and analysis by Andrew Lennox

As we head into Week 3, the starting running back positions are still uncertain for several teams, as multiple rushers made contributions in Week 2.

Morgan Ellison played a role in stabilizing Seattle's offensive attack during Week 2. He contributed both on the ground and through the air, gaining a total of 74 yards on 14 touches. As Seattle prepares to face Vegas in Week 3, their opponent's defensive weaknesses suggest that Ellison may have the chance to make a significant impact once again.

Approaching Week 3, it's becoming increasingly clear that Abram Smith and Ryquell Armstead are valuable assets for the DC Defenders. Smith has proven his worth by rushing for 99 yards on 22 attempts, landing him in second place for rushing yards. Armstead is not far behind with 88 yards on 23 carries, and he has also contributed with one rushing touchdown. Despite facing a tough home matchup against the undefeated St. Louis Battlehawks (2-0), the Defenders may find some success running the ball as St. Louis' run defense hasn't been particularly strong in the first two weeks. As a result, both running backs should have plenty of opportunities to replicate their Week 2 performance.

Max Borghi has emerged as an offensive threat for the Houston Roughnecks. In Week 2, he rushed for 27 yards and he also caught two passes for 20 receiving yards. Borghi has run for two touchdowns this season. Moving into Week 3, Houston is playing against San Antonio, whose defense allowed 100 rushing yards to Orlando. With this in mind, Borghi should continue to produce offensively this week.

Wide Receiver XFL Fantasy Football Rankings

Rankings and analysis by Brant Henson

One thing is for certain: through two weeks, wide receiver remains the toughest position to project in the XFL. Week-to-week variance is high, just like in the NFL, but we are seeing a few trends emerge and some names separating themselves from others in the league. Let’s take a look at the XFL wide receiver rankings for Week 3:

Through two weeks of XFL action, we are seeing three key trends emerge: fade the D.C. Defenders’ passing game, fade whoever plays against the D.C. Defenders, and fire up whatever passing attack plays against the Orlando Guardians. Of course, these trends could all be bucked quickly. That’s the nature of the XFL.

Jahcour Pearson has by far been the most consistent receiver in the league through the first two weeks and as the top target in the Seattle passing attack, he should see plenty of action against Vegas this week in a game that both teams will be fighting for their first win.

Hakeem Butler boasts fourth-round NFL draft capital, a 6-foot-5 frame, highlight-reel catches, and a touchdown in each week of XFL action so far. Be wary with Butler this week against the D.C. Defenders, who play stout defense and love to play ball control, but he appears to have supplanted Marcell Ateman as WR1 for St. Louis.

Tyler Vaughns put up a donut a week ago, but the USC product was limited in practice last week and should be full-go against the league’s worst defense. Jack Coan tossed three touchdowns on Orlando a week ago, and Arlington should be ready to cook this week.

Andrew Jamiel is the highest-ceiling receiver in the Orlando passing game, ripping off a 51-yard play in Week 1, and he should see plenty of volume as Orlando leans on the pass while playing from behind.

Travell Harris missed last week but if he returns to the lineup for Houston he is a good bet to put out production. The Washington State product caught five passes for 48 yards in Week 1 and Ben Putman recorded four receptions for 65 yards from Harris' position a week ago.

Tight End XFL Fantasy Football Rankings

Rankings and analysis by Jackson Sparks

Like the NFL, some teams don't feature tight ends much, so the rankings are very shallow after the top few players. Only a handful of tight ends saw across Week 1 and 2, but every team except the Seattle Sea Dragons, who don't have a tight end, is featured here.

Through two weeks, Sal Canella sits seventh overall in targets (12) and third overall in receiving yard (108). However, he is first among tight ends in both categories and again looked like a real advantage at the position.

Alize Mack has drawn 10 targets through two weeks and posted a four-catch 48 yard, one touchdown day in Week 2, so he's the clear cut TE at this point in the season. If anyone can dethrone Canella, it'll be him.

After Mack, there's a big drop off. However, Ethan Wolf's seven targets through the first two games places him at the TE3 spot for now. Defenders' quarterback Jordan Ta'amu has struggled mightily, but if he can turn it around or the team changes QBs, Wolf's ceiling could be raised.

Deon Yelder has only seen five targets this season, but his 42 yards and one touchdown reception have him as a top-five player at the position thus far. Ultimately, he's a low-ceiling guy, but should his tiny bit of production has been enough to keep him a fantasy relevant option.

Nate Becker has seen exactly one target in each of his two games, but he's one of the handful of player at tight end to score a touchdown.

Logan Carter has turned six targets into just 10 yards. However, he's the lowest guy on this list you'll even want to consider playing, as the rest of the guys haven't seen targets in one of their two games.

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