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The rebranded USFL pulled off something the AAF and XFL could not: a successful spring season. It was the one-loss Birmingham Stallions who hoisted the hardware earlier this month, as they defeated the Philadelphia Stars in the USFL championship, 33-30. While the Stallions didn’t have the USFL MVP, the Offensive Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year or Coach of the Year, Skip Holtz put together arguably the most talented roster in the league.

If there’s anything we learned from the past few months, it’s that there’s talent not rostered in the NFL. From defensive linemen to even kickers, the USFL showcased some impressive players who NFL teams are intrigued by.

Below, we will break down each USFL-to-NFL signing that has been reported this offseason.

Arizona Cardinals
WR Victor Bolden Jr. (Birmingham Stallions)
Bolden, who had short stints in the NFL with the 49ers, Bills and Lions, proved to be a valuable piece in the Stallions’ offense, totaling 42 receptions for 415 yards and one touchdown. Those reception totals were the third highest in the league, while his receiving yards ranked fourth. Bolden capped off his productive season with an MVP performance in the USFL title game win over the Philadelphia Stars.

Chicago Bears
LB DeMarquis Gates (Birmingham Stallions)
The Bears are reportedly signing one of the best players from the 2022 USFL season in linebacker Gates. He recorded 62 tackles, 6.5 sacks and a league-leading 11 tackles for loss for the champion Stallions. Undrafted out of Ole Miss in 2018, Gates spent time with the Browns, Washington and Vikings, but has not played in an NFL game yet.

Cleveland Browns
DE Chris Odom (Houston Gamblers)
Cleveland is taking a flier on the USFL Defensive Player of the Year. Odom was dominant over the past few months, as he led the USFL in sacks with 12.5, and forced fumbles with six. Undrafted out of Arkansas State in 2017, Odom has spent time with a few different NFL teams. He did suit up seven games for the Packers in 2017, and four games for Washington in 2019. In those 11 games, Odom recorded 16 combined tackles and two sacks to go along with a forced fumble.

Dallas Cowboys
LB Christian Sam (New Orleans Breakers)
Sam was a sixth-round pick of the New England Patriots out of Arizona State back in 2018, but never played in a regular-season game. He spent time on the practice squads of three other NFL franchises afterwards. Sam was actually drafted by the USFL’s Tampa Bay Bandits, but was released and then claimed by the Breakers. According to the USFL’s press release, the Texas native recorded 54 tackles, eight tackles for loss and an interception in nine games played for the Breakers.

WR/KR KaVontae Turpin (New Jersey Generals)
Dallas held a workout for Turpin only days ahead of training camp and clearly liked what they saw, adding to what he put on film during the inaugural USFL season, when he led that league with 540 receiving yards and four touchdowns on 44 receptions in 10 games. He added 184 punt return yards and could be used in that role with the Cowboys.

Green Bay Packers
TE Sal Cannella (New Orleans Breakers)
A 6-foot-5, 242-pound All-USFL tight end, Cannella caught 34 passes for 368 yards and two touchdowns in 10 games played for the Breakers. He started his college career at Scottsdale Community College in 2016, and then played for Auburn.

WR Osirus Mitchell (Birmingham Stallions)
A USFL champion, Mitchell caught 23 passes for 333 yards and three touchdowns in 10 games played. The Mississippi State product went undrafted in 2021, and was on the practice squad of the Cowboys for the majority of last season.

WR Ishmael Hyman (Michigan Panthers)
The Packers are clearly interested in receivers. Hyman played his college ball at Kansas and James Madison before going undrafted in 2018. He spent time with the Browns, Buccaneers and Panthers, and actually played two games for the Buccaneers in 2019, catching two passes for 34 yards.

Jacksonville Jaguars
QB Kyle Sloter (New Orleans Breakers)
Sloter went undrafted in 2017 out of Northern Colorado, but has bounced around the NFL quite a bit. He’s made stops with the Broncos, Vikings, Cardinals, Lions, Bears, and Raiders before this latest stint with the Jaguars. For the Breakers, Sloter passed for 1,798 yards, which was the second highest mark in the league. He also completed 168 of his 291 throws for nine touchdowns and 11 interceptions.

Las Vegas Raiders
WR Isaiah Zuber (Houston Gamblers)
Zuber went undrafted in 2020 after playing college football at Kansas State and Mississippi State, but did get a chance with the Patriots. He played four games in his rookie season, catching two passes for 29 yards and rushing twice for 21 yards. However, Zuber was waived the next preseason before bouncing around a few practice squads. With the Gamblers this season, Zuber led all USFL players with five receiving touchdowns and led Houston with 322 receiving yards on 22 catches.

CB Ike Brown (New Orleans Breakers)
A Florida International product, Brown signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 2020. However, he actually quickly retired, saying he fell out of love with playing. Brown then returned to football and recorded 16 tackles and two interceptions for the Breakers this past season.

Los Angeles Chargers
DE Carlo Kemp (Pittsburgh Maulers)
Kemp recorded five sacks and 51 total tackles for Pittsburgh. He went undrafted out of Michigan last year, but had a cup of coffee with the Packers and the Broncos’ practice squad. He’s also the nephew of Chuck Pagano.

Los Angeles Rams
QB Luis Perez (New Jersey Generals)
New Jersey’s top quarterback threw for 1,200 yards, nine touchdowns and just one interception in nine USFL games played. After going undrafted in 2018 out of Texas A&M-Commerce, it was actually the Rams that gave him his first NFL opportunity, but he was cut from the roster after the preseason. Perez played in the AAF, the XFL and the USFL.

New England Patriots
DL Jeremiah Pharms (Pittsburgh Maulers)
Pharms recorded 31 tackles and two sacks for the Maulers this season, per CBS News. He played his college ball at Friends University.

Pittsburgh Steelers
DL Doug Costin (Birmingham Stallions)
Costin went undrafted out of Miami University in 2020, but caught on with the Jacksonville Jaguars. In 13 games played with nine starts over two seasons, he recorded 33 combined tackles and three tackles for loss. Costin spent most of the 2021 season on the practice squad, and actually later spent a week on the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad in January.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TE Bug Howard (Philadelphia Stars)
The Bucs are taking a flier on one of the most intriguing USFL players, signing 6-foot-5, 240-pound tight end Johnathan “Bug” Howard. He led the Stars in receiving yards with 371, and touchdown catches with four. Overall, he finished seventh in the USFL in receiving yards, and tied for second in receiving touchdowns.

Undrafted out of UNC in 2017, the 27-year-old tight end/wide receiver hybrid bounced around with a handful of NFL teams, and now gets a chance with the Buccaneers.

Tennessee Titans
CB Shakur Brown (Pittsburgh Maulers)
Undrafted out of Michigan State last year, Brown spent time with the Steelers, Chiefs and Lions practice squads before joining the Maulers. Listed at 5-foot-10, 190 pounds, he recorded 36 total tackles and one pass defended in nine USFL games played.

Washington Commanders
CB Channing Stribling (Philadelphia Stars)
Undrafted out of Michigan, the 27-year-old Stribling has spent time with the practice squads of a handful of NFL teams. While he played in just seven USFL games due to injuries, he led the league in interceptions with seven.

CB DeJuan Neal (New Jersey Generals)
Neal actually spent time with Washington as an undrafted free agent in 2019, but was cut. He played his college ball at Division II Shepherd University.

The San Antonio Brahmas helped kick off the latest rendition of the XFL on Sunday. Their city will also help the 2023 XFL season culminate by hosting the inaugural championship game. Minutes before Week 1’s showdown between the Brahmas and St. Louis Battlehawks, the league announced that the Alamodome will feature the title contest on May 13.

“We are thrilled to announce that San Antonio and the Alamodome will be the host of this season’s inaugural Championship Game,” XFL chairwoman and co-owner Dany Garcia said in a statement. “I have been so impressed by the level of enthusiasm and commitment from the fans in San Antonio. We can’t wait to bring together the best of the XFL North and XFL South to compete for the Championship title in an event that will celebrate our players, coaches, and the revival of professional football in San Antonio.”

Dwayne Johnson, Garcia’s XFL co-owner, said the host site also has a special connection to his past.

“I started my wrestling career in San Antonio, specifically at the Alamodome,” he said in an XFL statement. “This was my very first Royal Rumble. The city, the fans, San Antonio and the state of Texas helped shape my career.”

The first annual XFL Championship Game is officially scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on May 13, with ABC set to broadcast.

Besides hosting the Brahmas, a new franchise in the latest spin on the XFL, the Alamodome also serves as the home stadium for the NCAA’s Alamo Bowl and the UTSA Roadrunners. The venue previously served as the home of the San Antonio Commanders, one of the eight teams in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football League.

The XFL makes its triumphant return this weekend with several intriguing matchups, including one between the Seattle Sea Dragons and the D.C. Defenders from Audi Field in Washington, D.C. The Sea Dragons and Defenders have been picked by many experts to be two of the top three teams in the league. Both have solid quarterbacks in Ben DiNucci for Seattle and Jordan Ta’amu for D.C., and both have top-notch coaches in the Sea Dragons’ Jim Haslett and D.C’s Reggie Barlow. Seattle also has one of the better offensive coordinators in the game in June Jones, a former NFL head coach himself.

Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET. The Defenders beat the Sea Dragons 31-19 during the 2020 Covid-shortened season. Seattle is a 2-point favorite in the latest Defenders vs. Sea Dragons odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is set at 38. Before making any Sea Dragons vs. Defenders picks or XFL predictions of your own, you need to see what pro football expert R.J. White has to say.

White, a Fantasy and gambling editor for CBS Sports, consistently crushes against-the-spread picks and went 535-450-30 on his ATS picks from 2017-22, which returned more than $3,500 to $100 players. He also closed the NFL season on an incredible 107-80-6 on his last 193 against-the-spread and total NFL picks during the 2022 NFL season, returning more than $1,800 for $100 bettors.

White has crushed not only the NFL but also the XFL during its abbreviated 2020 season, going 16-4 on XFL ATS picks before the league suspended operations. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, he has locked in on Sea Dragons vs. Defenders and released a confident against-the-spread pick that is available only at SportsLine. Here are the XFL lines and trends for Defenders vs. Sea Dragons:

Defenders vs. Sea Dragons spread: Sea Dragons -2
Defenders vs. Sea Dragons over/under: 38 points
Defenders vs. Sea Dragons money line: Seattle -135, D.C. +115
SEA: The Sea Dragons had a minus-3 touchdown deficit in 2020
DC: The Defenders were 3-0 on their home field in 2020
Defenders vs. Sea Dragons picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Sea Dragons can cover
Wide receiver Josh Gordon has NFL talent, but it’s yet to be determined if he is committed to getting back to an elite level following his off-the-field struggles. In parts of eight NFL seasons, he played in 77 games, making 252 catches for 4,284 yards (17.0 average) and 21 touchdowns. He also rushed six times for 89 yards (14.8 average). His best season was in 2013 with the Cleveland Browns, when he caught 87 passes for 1,646 yards (18.9 average) and nine touchdowns.

Another intriguing receiver on the Seattle roster is Juwan Green. A former member of the Tennessee Titans, he played two collegiate seasons at Albany. In 2019, he had a monster season with 83 receptions for 1,386 yards (16.7 average) and 17 touchdowns. His best game that year was in a 38-35 overtime loss at Monmouth, when he caught 15 passes for 245 yards (16.3 average) and three touchdowns.

Why the Defenders can cover
Running back Abram Smith is another weapon for D.C. The former Baylor standout had been with the New Orleans Saints last year, but failed to crack the roster. He was coming off a remarkable senior season in college. At Baylor in 2021, he carried 257 times for 1,601 yards (6.2 average) and 12 touchdowns. He had nine 100-plus-yard rushing games in 2021, including a 27-carry, 188-yard and three-touchdown performance against No. 19 BYU in a 38-24 victory.

Also ready to make his mark in D.C. is wide receiver Josh Hammond, who had been in camp with the New England Patriots. He played collegiately at Florida, compiling 1,138 yards receiving on 87 receptions (13.1 average). His best season was in 2018, when he caught 28 passes for 369 yards (13.2 average) and four touchdowns. In a loss to Missouri that season, he caught five passes for 48 yards (9.6 average) and one touchdown.

How to make Defenders vs. Sea Dragons picks
White has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Under the total, he has discovered a crucial x-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He’s sharing it only at SportsLine.

The first weekend of the XFL’s 2023 season had a little bit of everything. Saturday saw the Arlington Renegades rally past the Vegas Vipers and the Houston Roughnecks rough up the Orlando Guardians. Sunday’s doubleheader featured two close games, including the St. Louis BattleHawks’ thrilling comeback win over the Brahmas in San Antonio. In the nightcap, the D.C. Defenders rallied to defeat the Seattle Sea Dragons after trailing most of the game.

The Defenders and Renegades justified their first and second spots in our Week 1 Power Rankings. Houston, which was fifth in our initial rankings, had the most convincing win of the weekend, albeit it came against the team we had ranked at the bottom of the league.

How far did the Roughnecks move up? Did D.C. do enough to stay ahead of the field? We’ve got all those answers and more in our Week 2 Power Rankings below.

1. D.C. Defenders (1-0)
   Last week: No. 1
   D.C. didn’t do anything to lose its grip on No. 1. It showed resolve in battling back to post a road victory against a gritty Seattle team that went into the game as the betting favorite.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ unit settled down after allowing a touchdown on the game’s first drive. Leading the charge was defensive back Michael Joseph, who had two second-half interceptions: first a pick-six, then a pick to set up Jordan Ta’amu’s game-winning touchdown run.

The Defenders won, but they will need more production from their offense moving forward. They particularly struggled in the passing game, as Ta’amu completed just eight of his 19 attempts.

2. Houston Roughnecks (1-0)
   Last week: No. 5
   Wade Phillips’ squad jumps up three spots after its 33-12 thumping of Orlando. After allowing an early touchdown, Houston was in control the rest of the way while dominating play on both sides of the ball.

Brandon Silvers did throw two picks, but was otherwise solid with 272 yards and two touchdowns. He had a lot of success getting the ball to Deontay Burnett and Jontre Kirklin, who combined to catch 13 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns. Houston’s passing game was complemented by running backs Max Borghi and Dejoun Lee, who ran for a combined 77 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries.

Led by Trent Harris’ four sacks, Houston’s defense came up with several momentum-changing plays that included three interceptions and several stops on possession downs.

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3. St. Louis BattleHawks (1-0)
   Last week: No. 4
   In the final 90 seconds of the BattleHawks’ opening win, they took full advantage of the XFL’s rules that differentiate it from the NFL. Down 15-3, St. Louis scored a touchdown, then made it a 15-12 game after a successful three-point conversion. The BattleHawks then were able to keep possession after choosing to try to convert on fourth-and-15. A.J. McCarron hit Austin Proehl to convert, then the duo connected on the game-winning score with 16 seconds left.

It was an extremely effective XFL debut for McCarron, a former NFL starter and three-time national champion at Alabama. Though he was sacked five times, McCarron managed to complete 18 of 26 passes for 190 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He went 11 of 14 for 133 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter.

4. Arlington Renegades (1-0)
   Last week: No. 2
   The Renegades’ defense was responsible for both of the team’s second half touchdowns in their 22-20 win over Las Vegas. The unit then stymied the Vipers’ game-tying, two-point conversion attempt before stopping the Vipers’ fourth-and-15 attempt to retain possession.

The Renegades’ defense did its job, but Arlington will obviously need more from its offense going forward. Sal Canella produced as expected with 70 yards on seven catches. But Arlington needs more players who can stretch the field for Drew Plitt, who threw for just 172 yards on 19 of 25 passing.

5. Seattle Sea Dragons (0-1)
   Last week: No. 6
   There were plenty of things to like in Seattle’s season opener. Ben DiNucci threw for 282 yards while having immediate success connecting with Josh Gordon (six catches for 74 yards and touchdown), Jahcour Pearson (12 catches for 95 yards) and Blake Jackson (eight catches for 51 yards). Seattle’s defense, led by Emmanuel Smith, held D.C. to a meager 2.5 yards per carry.

DiNucci’s three turnovers (especially his fumble near D.C.’s goal line in the game’s final seconds) loomed largest, but the Sea Dragons’ inability to run the ball (just 51 yards on 17 carries) and their lack of a pass rush also contributed to the loss.

6. San Antonio Brahmas (0-1)
   Last week: No. 3
   The Brahmas appeared on their way to victory before McCarron led the BattleHawks’ epic comeback. San Antonio’s defense, which dominated through three quarters, gave up 15 points and two touchdowns in the game’s final 90 seconds.

Lost in Sunday’s game was the fact that San Antonio’s offense also got things going late in the game. Led by Jack Coan’s passing, the Brahmas scored on their final two possessions to build a 15-3 lead. Coan completed passes to nine different players on the day, while Kalen Ballage gained 84 of San Antonio’s 133 rushing yards.

Big plays were missing from San Antonio’s offense. The unit had just two runs of over 10 yards and one pass that went for over 20 yards.

7. Las Vegas Vipers (0-1)
   Last week: No. 7
   In a game that was decided by defense, the only thing the Vipers’ defense did not do was get the ball in the end zone themselves. That proved to be the difference in the game, as Las Vegas quarterback Luis Perez threw two pick-sixes that sank the Vipers’ Week 1 hopes.

The Vegas defense is good, but the offense is a major cause for concern. The Vipers ran for a paltry 25 yards on 15 carries, while former Steelers standout Martavis Bryant finished with a disappointing stat line of 28 yards on four catches.

8. Orlando Guardians (0-1)
   Last week: 8
   Yes, they’re last in Power Rankings for a second straight week. And yes, they had the least impressive performance of Week 1. But there were some positives to glean from Orlando’s opening game.

In defeat, the Guardians received solid efforts by wideouts Cody Latimer, Andrew Jamiel and Eli Rogers. They were also able to run the ball against Houston’s defense. In fact, the Guardians should have run the ball more after averaging nearly 5 yards per carry on 16 attempts. Orlando’s defense also came up with splash plays in the form of two third-quarter interceptions.

Unfortunately for Guardians coach Terrell Buckley, the good things his team did against Houston were undone by poor quarterback play and several big plays allowed by his defense. Orlando tried to resolve the former problem by benching Paxton Lynch for Quinten Dormady during the second half.

Week 2 of the 2023 XFL season will begin on Thursday night as the Seattle Sea Dragons host the St. Louis Battlehawks at 9 p.m. ET. DraftKings is running XFL DFS tournaments for Thursday’s single-game slate and XFL daily Fantasy players across the country are trying to dial in their XFL DFS strategies. The Sea Dragons are coming off a disappointing 22-18 loss to the DC Defenders in Week 1 but they’re likely to be integral in XFL DFS with former Hawaii head coach June Jones calling the plays.

Seattle passed the ball 56 times during their Week 1 loss and had three different receivers — Jahcour Pearson, Josh Gordon and Blake Jackson — finish with at least six catches for 50 yards. So does that mean that you should be loading Seattle players into your XFL DFS lineups, or might too much exposure to that side be too risky? Before making any XFL DFS picks on DraftKings for this Thursday night showdown, be sure to check out the XFL DFS advice, strategy and projections from CBS Sports Fantasy and gambling editor R.J. White.

White, a Fantasy and gambling editor for CBS Sports, consistently crushes against-the-spread picks and went 535-450-30 on his ATS picks from 2017-22, which returned more than $3,500 to $100 players. He also closed the NFL season on an incredible 107-80-6 on his last 193 against-the-spread and total NFL picks during the 2022 NFL season, returning more than $1,800 for $100 bettors.

White has crushed not only the NFL but also the XFL during its abbreviated 2020 season, going 16-4 on XFL ATS picks before the league suspended operations as sportsbooks scrambled to correctly evaluate team quality in a league where little was known heading into the season. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, White has turned his attention to Thursday night XFL action in Week 2 and locked in his top daily Fantasy football picks. You can only see them by heading to SportsLine.

Top XFL DFS picks for Sea Dragons vs. Battlehawks
White is high on Sea Dragons wide receiver Jahcour Pearson. After catching 76 passes for 804 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior at Western Kentucky, Pearson only appeared in three games during the COVID season of 2020 and then transferred to spend his final season at Ole Miss. He caught 26 passes for 392 yards in his lone season in Mississippi and then was invited to Giants rookie minicamp but didn’t stick.

This is a clear opportunity for Pearson to raise his profile with NFL scouts watching and he’s already taking advantage. Last week in the loss to DC, Pearson was targeted 14 times and caught 12 passes for 95 yards, leading Seattle in all three categories. With so much attention being paid to Gordon, expect a big season from Pearson in a pass-happy offense.

Another one of the top XFL DFS picks from White: Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron. The former national champion at Alabama was a fifth-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft and he played with five different teams over the course of his seven-year NFL career. McCarron threw for 9,019 yards and 77 touchdowns at Alabama and then threw for 1,173 yards and six touchdowns with just three interceptions in his NFL career.

Now the 32-year-old is looking to prove that he’s back healthy again after suffering a torn ACL while playing for the Falcons in 2021. He went 18 for 26 last week and threw for 190 yards and two touchdowns while engineering a wild comeback win over the San Antonio Brahmas. He’ll look to recapture that fourth-quarter magic on Thursday and quarterbacks are must-plays in single-game daily Fantasy football formats.

How to set XFL DFS lineups
White is also targeting an undervalued player who is set to explode for huge numbers in Battlehawks vs. Sea Dragons on Thursday. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here.

The St. Louis Battlehawks’ three-game road trip to start the season rolls through Seattle on Thursday when they square off against the Seattle Sea Dragons in the first XFL game of Week 2, at Lumen Field. Last week the Battlehawks (1-0) rallied for an improbable 18-15 victory at San Antonio. After facing Seattle, they will hit the road next week to play the DC Defenders before their first home game, in Week 4. Meanwhile Thursday’s game is the home opener for the Sea Dragons (0-1), who lost on Sunday at DC, 22-18.

Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET. Seattle is a 4-point favorite in the latest Sea Dragons vs. Battlehawks odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 38. Before making any Battlehawks vs. Sea Dragons picks, you need to see what SportsLine pro football expert R.J. White has to say.

White, a Fantasy and gambling editor for CBS Sports, consistently crushes against-the-spread picks and went 535-450-30 on his ATS picks from 2017-22, which returned more than $3,500 to $100 players. He also closed the NFL season on an incredible 107-80-6 on his last 193 against-the-spread and total NFL picks during the 2022 NFL season, returning more than $1,800 for $100 bettors.

White has crushed not only the NFL but also the XFL during its abbreviated 2020 season, going 16-4 on XFL ATS picks before the league suspended operations. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, he has locked in on Sea Dragons vs. Battlehawks and released a confident against-the-spread pick. You can head to SportsLine now to see White’s pick and analysis. Here are the XFL lines and trends for Battlehawks vs. Sea Dragons:

Sea Dragons vs. Battlehawks spread: Seattle -4
Sea Dragons vs. Battlehawks over/under: 38 points
Sea Dragons vs. Battlehawks money line: Seattle -190, St. Louis +158
SEA: Jahcour Pearson leads team in receiving (12 catches, 95 yards)
STL: Austin Proehl leads team in receiving (four catches, 49 yards and one touchdown)
Sea Dragons vs. Battlehawks picks: See picks here
Why the Sea Dragons can cover
Despite losing, Seattle arguably outplayed DC last week. The Sea Dragons outgained the Defenders 331-177 and had 20 first downs to DC’s 12. Seattle also had 35 minutes, 30 seconds of possession to the Defenders’ 24:30.

In addition, the Sea Dragons should prove to be a hard team to face on a short week. Offensive coordinator June Jones has brought his pass-happy Run-and-Shoot offense to Seattle, and the team attempted 56 passes last week. Meanwhile the Battlehawks faced just 36 pass attempts last week and don’t get the benefit of a full week to prepare for the Sea Dragons’ unique attack.

Why the Battlehawks can cover
St. Louis has a playmaking receiver in Austin Proehl. The son of former St. Louis Rams receiver and current Battlehawks assistant coach Ricky Proehl, the younger Proehl had four catches for 49 yards and the game-winning touchdown with 16 seconds remaining against the Brahmas last week. On the game-winner, Proehl made the catch despite being the target of three San Antonio defenders.

In addition, St. Louis faces a quarterback, Ben DiNucci, who had trouble taking care of the ball last week. The former Dallas Cowboys quarterback had three turnovers against the Defenders. One of those was a pick-six, which started the DC comeback, and the last was a fumble at the Defenders’ 1-yard line that thwarted the Battlehawks’ comeback attempt and ended the game.

How to make Sea Dragons vs. Battlehawks picks
White has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Under on the point total, he has discovered a crucial x-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He’s only sharing what it is and which side to back at SportsLine.

Week 2 of the 2023 XFL season is here and XFL daily Fantasy players are hoping to dial in their XFL DFS strategies based on what they saw in the first week of action. This is the second reboot of the league that lasted one season back in 2001 and there are plenty of former NFL players on these XFL rosters. However, making your XFL DFS selections based purely on name recognition might be a losing strategy with so many hungry young players eager to catch the eye of NFL scouts.

After posting a 1,000-yard season at USC in 2017, Deontay Burnett played for four different teams in the NFL but has been out of the league since 2020. However, the 25-year-old made an impression with eight catches for 90 yards and a score in Week 1 and could be a popular option for XFL DFS lineups in Week 2. Before making any XFL DFS picks on DraftKings for Week 2, be sure to check out the XFL DFS advice, strategy and projections from CBS Sports Fantasy and gambling editor R.J. White.

White, a Fantasy and gambling editor for CBS Sports, consistently crushes against-the-spread picks and went 535-450-30 on his ATS picks from 2017-22, which returned more than $3,500 to $100 players. He also closed the NFL season on an incredible 107-80-6 on his last 193 against-the-spread and total NFL picks during the 2022 NFL season, returning more than $1,800 for $100 bettors.

White has crushed not only the NFL but also the XFL during its abbreviated 2020 season, going 16-4 on XFL ATS picks before the league suspended operations as sportsbooks scrambled to correctly evaluate team quality in a league where little was known heading into the season. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, White has turned his attention to Week 2 XFL action and locked in his top daily Fantasy football picks. You can only see them by heading to SportsLine.

Top XFL DFS picks for Week 2
For Week 2 XFL DFS lineups, White is high on Orlando Guardians wide receiver Eli Rogers ($4,100 on DraftKings). The former Steelers receiver largely no-showed in the USFL, but he proved to be an integral part of the Orlando passing attack. He was targeted seven times and caught four passes for 40 yards.

An undrafted free agent out of Louisville, Rogers spent all of his rookie season in 2015 on injured reserve but debuted in 2016 and became a regular target for Ben Roethlisberger. He caught 48 passes for 594 yards and three touchdowns that season and finished his three-year NFL career with 78 catches for 822 yards and four scores.

White also likes Houston Roughnecks quarterback Brandon Silvers ($8,600 on DraftKings). The Roughnecks looked like the most prolific offense in the league during Week 1, putting up 33 points in a dominant win over the Orlando Guardians. Silvers has a trio of quality receivers at his disposal, with Travell Harris, Jontre Kirklin and Deontay Burnett all catching at least five passes for 48 yards.

“Silvers paid off in Week 1 by throwing for 272 yards and two TDs on 42 attempts in the only blowout of the weekend. He and Ben DiNucci appear to be the QBs with the highest floor week in and week out based on the offenses they play in, but you’ll still get a nice discount on Silvers for at least the next few weeks,” White said.

How to set Week 2 XFL DFS lineups
White is also targeting an undervalued player who is set to explode for huge numbers this weekend. This pick could be the difference between winning your tournaments and cash games or going home with nothing. You can only see who it is here

State rivals square off in the XFL on Sunday when the Arlington Renegades visit TDECU Stadium to take on the Houston Roughnecks in the Texas Throwdown. Both teams aim to start 2-0 after opening the season with home victories in Week 1. Houston has yet to lose an XFL game after going 5-0 during the abbreviated 2020 season. That included a 27-20 road victory against the Renegades, who finished 2-3 that season. Both teams dominated with defense in Week 1, as the Roughnecks cruised to a 33-12 victory against the Orlando Guardians and Arlington edged the Vegas Vipers 22-20.

Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. ET on Sunday. Caesars Sportsbook lists Houston as a 4.5-point favorite in the latest Renegades vs. Roughnecks odds, and the over/under for total points scored is set at 39. Before making any Roughnecks vs. Renegades picks, be sure to see the XFL predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s R.J. White.

White, a Fantasy and gambling editor for CBS Sports, consistently crushes against-the-spread picks and went 535-450-30 on his ATS picks from 2017-22, which returned more than $3,500 to $100 players. He also closed the NFL season on an incredible 107-80-6 on his last 193 against-the-spread and total NFL picks during the 2022 NFL season, returning more than $1,800 for $100 bettors.

White has crushed not only the NFL but also the XFL during its abbreviated 2020 season, going 16-4 on XFL ATS picks before the league suspended operations. Anyone who has followed him is way up.

Now, he has locked in on Roughnecks vs. Renegades and released a confident against-the-spread pick. You can head to SportsLine now to see White’s pick and analysis. Here are the XFL lines and trends for Renegades vs. Roughnecks:

Roughnecks vs. Renegades spread: Houston -4.5
Roughnecks vs. Renegades over/under: 39 points
Roughnecks vs. Renegades money line: Houston -205, Arlington +170
Roughnecks: It scored two touchdowns longer than 25 yards last week
Renegades: Four players had receptions of at least 15 yards in Week 1
Roughnecks vs. Renegades picks: See picks at SportsLine
Why the Roughnecks can cover
Houston’s defense should be trouble for an Arlington offense that struggled most of last week. The Roughnecks had seven sacks and forced four turnovers as the Roughnecks took a 21-6 lead by halftime and cruised to victory. The Renegades averaged just 2.7 yards per rush, so Houston should be able to focus on getting after Drew Plitt, who was sacked three times in Week 1. Trent Harris was named the XFL Defensive Player of the Week after posting four sacks.

The Roughnecks also were strong on offense and had the Player of the Week on that side of the ball as well. Receiver Deontay Burnett earned that honor with eight catches for 90 yards, including a 46-yard touchdown. That helped quarterback Brandon Silvers throw for 272 yards and two scores, and Jontre Kirklin had 71 yards on just five receptions. The Renegades allowed 10.7 yards per pass against the Vipers, while Houston averaged just under 10 last week.

Why the Renegades can cover
Arlington’s defense was opportunistic last week, and the offense should be able to move the ball. The offense got off to a slow start, but quarterback Drew Plitt and tight end Sal Cannella had an efficient day. Plitt went 19-of-25 for 172 yards, with Cannella catching seven passes for 70 yards. The Auburn product was named to the All-USFL team last season after catching 46 passes for New Orleans. Tyler Vaughns and Brandon Arconado combined for 70 receiving yards.

The Roughnecks defense allowed 4.9 yards per carry against Orlando, so De’Veon Smith and Keith Ford should find openings. They combined for 66 yards on 24 carries in Week 1. If the offense struggles, the defense could bail them out. The unit scored two touchdowns last week, with De’Vante Bausby and Tomasi Laulile returning interceptions for scores. Arlington had seven tackles for loss, including 1.5 sacks from Aaron Adeyoe, and held the Vipers to 1.7 yards per rush.

How to make Renegades vs. Roughnecks picks
White has analyzed this matchup and while we can tell you he’s leaning Over on the point total, he has discovered a crucial x-factor that makes one side of the spread a must-back. He’s only sharing what it is and which side to back at SportsLine.

Welcome to Week 2 of the XFL, and I gotta say, Week 1 was more entertaining than I thought it would be. Out of the four games, three incuded second-half comebacks that ended in thrilling fashion. You can’t make up what happened in the St. Louis Battlehawks vs. San Antonio Brahmas matchup, as A.J. McCarron’s offense scored 15 straight points in the final 1:30 to come back and win. They even converted that fourth-and-15 onside kick to keep the ball and score the game-winning touchdown!

Since CBS Sports pays me the big bucks, it should surprise no one that I went 4-0 ATS. Just kidding, I can’t believe I went 4-0 ATS — especially considering how wild the games ended up being. I know that gambling on Week 2 in the NFL is sometimes very difficult because it’s easy to overreact to what happened in the season openers. I bet that’s even more true for a league like the XFL. Let’s jump in.

ATS record: 4-0
Straight up record: 3-1

XFL Favorites ATS: 2-2

All odds are via Caesars Sportsbook

Arlington Renegades at Houston Roughnecks (-4.5)
Sunday, 7 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

The Renegades’ defense landed them in the win column last weekend. It certainly wasn’t because of the offense. Drew Plitt completed 19 of 25 passes for 172 yards and one interception, while the run game averaged 2.7 yards per carry.

As for Houston, the Roughnecks appear to be the best team in the league. Brandon Silvers threw for 272 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, while Jontre Kirklin caught five passes for 71 yards and a touchdown, and Deontay Burnett caught eight passes for 90 yards and a score. Four-and-a-half points feels like a lot given that we are one week into this thing, but I’m going to take the home favorite.

Paxton Lynch’s XFL experience has not gone as he had hoped. The former NFL first-round pick has been benched in each of his first two starts with the Orlando Guardians, who fell to 0-2 after dropping a 30-12 decision to the San Antonio Brahmas on Sunday.

Things started well enough for Lynch, who was the Broncos’ first-round pick (26th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft. In his XFL debut, he threw a touchdown pass on the game’s opening drive against the Houston Roughnecks. He was pulled, however, after throwing a costly interception late in the third quarter of Week 1 with his team trailing by double digits. The Guardians ultimately fell, 33-12.

Sunday’s Week 2 game followed a similar script. Lynch started the game with a touchdown pass but was benched after the Guardians gained a total of one yard on their next two possessions. Lynch was relieved in both games by Deondre Francois, who was unable to provide enough spark to Orlando’s sleepy offense.

In the Week 1 loss, Lynch threw for 136 yards with a touchdown and a pick on 15 of 21 passing. In Week 2, he was just 9 of 19 for 79 yards and a score in three series of work. He was sacked a total of six times in those two games.

The XFL struggles are the latest in a series of on-field setbacks for Lynch, who went 1-3 during his brief stint as the Broncos’ starting quarterback. After parting with Denver after the 2017 season, Lynch spent an entire year as a free agent before failing to make Seattle and Pittsburgh’s regular season rosters the following two summers.

Lynch spent the 2021 season as a third-string quarterback in the Canadian Football League before getting injured during his lone season with the USFL’s Michigan Panthers.

Lynch’s pro career has obviously failed to live up to what he accomplished at Memphis, where his success (he threw 59 touchdowns against 23 interceptions in three seasons) led to him being the NFL’s 26th overall pick.