What D/ST play to make for the XFL’s Defenders-Guardians matchup

The DC Defenders and New York Guardians both won their XFL season debut last weekend and will face off in Week 2 on Saturday. Both teams were able to stop the opposition from scoring at critical moments, and that was a big part of why they won. We saw both high and low-scoring games in Week 1, and we’ve had a chance to dissect the defensive and special teams performances of every team in the league. We broke down who has the edge between the Defenders and Guardians here:

Fantasy football analysis:

DC faced the Seattle Dragons’ erratic Brandon Silvers in Week 1, but still managed to give up 19 points. The only recorded one sack, but the two defensive touchdowns they scored helped them tally 22 DKFP. However, it’s not likely that DC will get another pick six and blocked punt. Those anomalies make picking the Defenders questionable. New York, on the other hand, fielded what looked like a top-notch pass rush and recorded five sacks in Week 1. They also picked off two passes and recovered a fumble. Holding the Tampa Bay Vipers to a league low 3 points is no easy feat, and New York’s physicality shouldn’t be overlooked.

DFS Recommendation

Start the Guardians and sit the Defenders. New York was dominant from start to finish in the season opener.