Wide receiver rankings for XFL Week 1

Welcome to the XFL wide receiver rankings for Week 1. As with any Week 1 of any league, we are behind the eight-ball, but with a new league like the XFL, we also have the pool table sitting on our chest. But, we do have enough information to tentatively rank players. The Week 1 depth chart, injury report, offensive play-calling tendencies and quarterback experience and skill level, give us some clues. How teams and players gel offensively and defensively is something we will need to wait to see.

DraftKings joins wide receivers and tight ends into one big wide receiver pool, so for the most part, tight ends don’t have much value. Nick Truesdell in Tampa Bay is the one exception at the moment. He was a first round pick by the Vipers and should get good usage in a Marc Trestman offense. But, until we see another tight end emerge from the rubble, I’ll be wary of the position.

The Week 1 depth chart kind of hurt my love for Rashad Ross and Eli Rogers in D.C., but their depth chart only had two wide receiver spots, with DeAndre Thompkins as a starter, then Ross and Rogers behind him while Malachi Dupre was listed as the starter on the other side with Tyler Palka and Simmie Cobbs behind him. Thompkins is out this week, so Ross should move up to the starting spot while Rogers is the best slot receiver on the team and I expect he will take that job. I’m still high on both.

Jazz Ferguson was also listed as a backup, but he has been hurt this week. His upside remains high due to his size and speed but hopefully we will know more about his status before committing to him.

I expect the Vipers/Guardians matchup to be a good one with good scoring, so I like the Guardian’s No. 1 receiver Mekale McKay. He should be the No. 1 red zone target due to his size and touchdown production in the AAF.

Landry Jones may not play, but I still like Jeff Badet as a strong play at home under Bob Stoops and Hal Mumme’s Air Raid offense.

Houston, coached by June Jones, will also be an extreme passing offense so Sammie Coates is a player I want some exposure to. The Roughnecks will have four starting receivers (one a converted running back), so targets could be distributed in ways we don’t always love, but Coates played plenty in the NFL and has the chops to be the lead target in a pass happy offense.

Tre McBride is questionable, so keep any eye on his status. For Week 1, I’d likely just play it safe and fade him if you can.