The disparity between the haves and have-nots was displayed in Week 6. In Week 7, there are a few more lopsided matchups. The defenses of two significant favorites are highlighted below. Further, the quarterback position is a one-man show, the running backs are whittled down to four picks, and the wide receivers and tight ends include a manageable six options for mixing and matching.
How to Make Money Betting on the USFL
Quarterbacks
Jordan Ta'amu and the Bandits lost a thrilling contest against the Stars in Week 6. However, the blame doesn't lay at the feet of Ta'amu. Yes, he had an ugly interception early. Regardless, Ta'amu more than made up for the single blunder by passing for 333 yards and four touchdowns. He also showed off his running ability, scampering for 61 yards. The dual-threat quarterback has rushed for 27 yards or more in five consecutive contests and had his two best passing efforts in the previous two games. Thus, he's in a class of his own, and the only quarterback gamers should lock into their lineups. There isn't a reason to get cute here.
Running Backs
Mark Thompson has been one of the league's few week-to-week bell-cow backs. In Week 6, according to Ian Hartitz's weekly recap for Pro Football Focus (PFF), Thompson played 70% of the snaps and had a 73% route participation rate. The bruising back is second in the USFL in rushing yards (422). In addition, he flashed receiving competence last week with three receptions for 25 yards and two touchdowns. Finally, the matchup is dreamy for him against the Stars this week. Philadelphia has allowed a USFL-high 178.5 rushing yards per game.
Speaking of Philadelphia, they flipped the script last week. The pass-first offense that's dead last in rushing yards per game (86.8) trounced the Bandits for 197 rushing yards on 29 attempts versus only 20 pass attempts. Matt Colburn did the bulk of the heavy lifting, rumbling for 140 yards and three touchdowns on 18 attempts, showcasing burst such as that exhibited on the following 44-yard touchdown run.
Philadelphia's backfield has a superb matchup on the ground this week, giving them an incentive to stick with the ground game more again in Week 7. The Gamblers have allowed the second-most rushing yards per game (138.7). Colburn is the best bet to lead the backfield this week.
However, if Paul Terry is inactive again, Darnell Holland is a worthwhile dart throw in GPPs for people multi-entering contests. Holland is a speedster who operated as a complement to Colburn in Week 6, rushing for 39 yards on seven attempts. It was his most extensive action since suffering an injury in Week 2 that sidelined him for Week 3 and Week 4. Still, Holland can score from anywhere, as displayed in the season opener, ripping off a 42-yard touchdown run.
Finally, Bo Scarbrough blew up with Week 5 star C.J. Marable inactive. The massive bulldozer rumbled for 105 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries, snagging both of his targets for 15 yards to boot. If Marable is out again, he's a no-brainer pick. However, even if Marable suits up, the double-digit favored Stallions could lean heavily enough on the backfield for Scarbrough to deliver on his modest salary in a two-headed situation.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
First, Cheyenne O'Grady and John Franklin are strictly stacking options with Ta'amu. Sadly, Tampa Bay splits up their receiving work across many players. Regardless, according to PFF, Franklin had a team-high 86% snap share and 88% route participation rate in Week 6. He also receives running work as a gadget player and wildcat quarterback occasionally. Meanwhile, O'Grady has had two outbursts on his ledger. In Week 1, he snared eight of 11 targets for 86 scoreless yards. Then, last week, he reeled in three of five targets for 45 yards and two touchdowns.
KaVontae Turpin is the top dog at receiver this week. The diminutive wideout has been dynamite, playing at a different speed than others sharing the field with him. After last week's 10 receptions for 106 yards and two touchdowns, he now leads the USFL with 341 receiving yards and is tied for second in receptions (29). Turpin has had exactly 106 receiving yards in back-to-back games, and he's a weapon on the ground, reaching double-digit rushing yards in five of six games.
Tre Walker is the top value wideout. In two games with Vad Lee starting at quarterback, Walker's been targeted a whopping 22 times, nabbing 12 receptions for 123 yards.
Bug Howard is another bargain option. He has had precisely six targets in all three games Case Cookus has started for the Stars. In addition to catching four passes for 36 yards and two touchdowns last week, he led the Stars in air yards with 90, per PFF.
Finally, Jonathan Adams has maintained a locked-in role in New Orleans' pass-catcher corps. He led the group in snap share (91%) and was tied for second in route participation (82%). The talented wideout has been targeted at least four times every week. Adams has scored 15.5 DraftKings points or more in half the games this year. Thus, Adams' boom potential is worth chasing at his modest salary.
Defense and Special Teams
The Stallions are huge 12.0-point favorites against the lifeless Maulers. Finally, as Hartitz pointed out in the Week 6 recap, Birmingham's 44% pressure rate on dropbacks is the highest by a wide margin, easily eclipsing the 36.2% rate in second place. They're the highest-priced defense, but their scoring potential is enormous.
The Breakers are also favored. They're laying 6.0-points to the one-win Panthers that waived starting quarterback Shea Patterson this week. So the Panthers are taking on water, and the Breakers are marching toward a playoff berth. New Orleans is tied for the fewest points per game allowed (16.5), has 12.0 sacks, and has forced nine turnovers.
USFL Week 7 Betting Odds, Previews, Picks
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Castbox | Stitcher | TuneIn | Breaker | RSS
If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant - which provides your optimal lineup, based on accurate consensus projections - to our Waiver Wire Assistant - that allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and by how much - we've got you covered this fantasy football season.
Josh Shepardson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Josh, check out his archive and follow him @BChad50.