The best teams from the USFL and XFL merged to form one big spring league in January, and the 2024 UFL season begins on Saturday at 1 p.m. ET. The inaugural season includes teams across two conferences, with defending USFL champion Birmingham Stallions and defending XFL champion Arlington Renegades headlining their respective conferences. There are notable players in both conferences, including former third-round NFL Draft selection Amari Rodgers. He had a successful college career at Clemson, and he will be one of the top UFL DFS picks as he tries to revive his career in Birmingham.
Other players were not as high profile entering their professional careers, but they are still in line to make major impacts in UFL DFS contests this weekend. Memphis Showboats running back Darius Victor had more than 1,100 yards and 13 touchdowns with the USFL's New Jersey Generals, and he adds power to a Showboats offense that struggled to run the ball last season. Before making any UFL DFS picks on DraftKings for Week 1, be sure to check out the UFL 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. What's more, he emerged as SportsLine's top NFL expert again last season, posting a documented record of 97-76-4 on all of his NFL picks to net his followers a profit of more than $2,000. Anyone who has followed him is way up.
Now, White has turned his attention to Week 1 UFL action and locked in his top daily Fantasy football picks. You can only see them by heading to SportsLine.
Top UFL DFS picks for Week 1
White is high on St. Louis Battlehawks quarterback St. Louis Battlehawks quarterback AJ McCarron ($11,000 on DraftKings). The former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback is back in St. Louis after dominating the XFL last season, throwing an XFL-record 24 touchdown passes. He won two national championships as Alabama's starting quarterback, becoming the first signal caller to win consecutive BCS title games.
McCarron then spent four seasons as Cincinnati's backup before spending the next four seasons as a backup with the Raiders, Texans and Falcons. He completed 28 of 35 passes for 420 yards and six touchdowns in the final game of the 2023 XFL season, setting single-game records for passing yards and passing touchdowns. Battlehawks coach Anthony Becht reserved a roster spot for McCarron, who re-joined the team after a short return to the Bengals last year, and he is in line to make a major impact in UFL DFS lineups again this season.
White is stacking McCarron with Battlehawks wide receiver Hakeem Butler ($8,600 on DraftKings). The fourth-round NFL draft pick from 2019 is getting set for his second stint with the Battlehawks after earning all-XFL honors last season. He tallied 51 receptions for 599 yards and eight touchdowns before spending four months back in the NFL with the Steelers.
Butler re-signed with the Battlehawks in December, and he is looking for another huge season after recording the second-most receptions in the entire league last year. He was also tied for the league-lead in plays over 20 yards, so his explosiveness makes him an elite DFS pick. Butler and McCarron have proven themselves to be a reliable DFS stack, which is why White is backing them in Week 1 of the UFL season. See the rest of White's picks here.
How to set UFL 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.
So who is R.J. White putting in his optimal UFL DFS lineups for the UFL Week 1? Visit SportsLine now to see optimal UFL DFS picks, rankings, advice, and stacks, all from a Fantasy expert with a history of success predicting alternative football leagues, and find out.
