2021 USFL Week 4 Recap: At the First Turn
- USFL LIVES
- Dec 18, 2025
- 32 min read
Four weeks into the 2021 USFL season and what do we know? We know Tampa Bay, Michigan, Chicago and Atlanta are really good, but we suspected that already. We may know that Philadelphia is ready to hit us with an amazing rags to riches story as they too are unblemished one month into the year. We know Charlotte, St. Louis, and Jacksonville are struggling, the Bulls yet to win a game despite some very good play from rookie QB Trevor Lawrence. We know Josh Allen is taking it to a new level, that LeVeon Bell has some competition this year, as does Calais Campbell, and we know that the first quarter is not the entire season and a lot can change over the next 12 weeks. We will break it all down, and give you the latest news, including a season-ending injury for a QB who switched teams this offseason. We will also provide the quarterly Power Rankings and highlight some players you may want to add to your fantasy team. It’s all right here. Where else would you even look?
Ten 1st Quarter Surprises
Four weeks done, a quarter of the USFL season, and this year, like every year, has offered us some surprises already. Here are ten that we think have added some flavor (maybe even some spice) to the 2021 season already.
10—Charles Sims leading Chubb, Moreno, Lindsay and McCaffrey
Be honest. You did not see this coming. When you saw that San Diego’s HB room consisted of Charles Sims, David Wilson and Demetric Felton, you thought for sure that the Thunder would be among the worst rushing teams in the league. Well, you weren’t alone, but here they are with Sims close to 300 yards after 4 weeks and a pretty solid ranking as a rushing team. As we cited above, Sims has more yards than some big-name rushers, including Atlanta’s Nick Chubb and Seattle’s Knowshon Moreno. But don’t try to tell us you knew that would happen. Because you didn’t.
9—Ohio at 3-1 with a rookie QB
Another surprise has to be the early season success of the Ohio Glory and QB Justin Fields. Standard football logic says that Ohio might be better this year, but with a new coach, new quarterback, and new system, they would need time to come together, and the results would likely not come until the second half of the year. Apparently, no one told Justin Fields or Jay Gruden, who have the Glory sitting at 3-1 after 4 weeks.
8—San Diego’s Week 2 Anomaly Win
For a team that struggled to score 14, 17, and 13 points in 3 of 4 weeks this year, it is hard to figure out how they pulled off a 44-7 win against Ohio in Week 2. That result, including 3 rushing TDs and TD passes from both Christian Ponder and Case Keenum, feels very much like an episode of the Twilight Zone. The fact that they went right back to their low-scoring, sluggish offense the week after makes it feel even more surreal.
7—Russell Wilson struggling
With a QB Rating 20 points below his average of the past 3 years, it is clear that Russell Wilson is not cooking, he is burning the pancakes. With 5 picks to only 3 touchdowns and a per game average of only 206 yards, Wilson is struggling. He has some solid targets in Perriman, Maclin, and Njoku, he has an NFL Import at halfback in Chris Carson who should force teams to keep their coverage honest, but nothing is clicking for Wilson or for the 1-3 Renegades.
6—QB Injuries testing teams early
It has been one of the stories of the early season, with multiple All-USFL and locked-in starting quarterbacks missing action to injury. That includes David Carr (ARZ), Joe Flacco (SAN), Justin Herbert (DAL), Geno Smith (NOR), Dak Prescott (TBY) and Ryan Tannehill (NE). You can see it in the QB Rankings, where several of the league’s big stars don’t yet have enough attempts to even register in the rankings. So, what is the issue? We are seeing issues with concussions, but it has not been solely the head injury that has taken out the league’s QBs. Some are back already, others should be in play next week, but no one gets excited when the best in the game are not on the field, so we hope the trend fades quickly.
5—The Machine defense dominating
Chicago was improving on defense last year, but few saw the kind of dominance we have seen from the 4-0 Machine so far in 2021. In 4 games no team has topped 13 points, and the Machine currently find themselves in the top 10 in every major defensive statistic. And it is a true team effort, with no Chicago player in the Top 20 for tackles or sacks, and with only Josh Norman among the league leaders with 3 picks. It is true team defense, and it is proving very effective for a Machine club that has eyes on a division title and more.
4—Memphis mired at 1-3
Last year’s darlings, rising from mediocrity to a 13-3 record, have already matched their loss total from all of 2020 in just the first 4 weeks of 2021. Everything that worked for the Showboats last year is falling short this year. The defense is giving up over 23 points per game, the run game is not forcing teams to adjust their depth, and the passing game is only able to average 228 yards per game. Memphis has only a lone win against Houston on their resume. Can they turn it around? A back-to-back series with San Antonio may tell us if they are going to get this right or continue to struggle.
3—Henry on pace for 400 carries
No one is really shocked that the Stars are handing the ball off to Derrick Henry, but with 108 carries in the opening 4 games of the year, we are looking at very rare air here. Only 1 player in the 38-season history of the USFL has ever rushed the ball 400 times in a season, Michael Turner for the 2008 Chicago Machine. Not Herschel (396 in his league record-setting year), not MJD, Frank Gore, or Marshawn Lynch. LeVeon Bell hit 377 in 2015, and not again since then. But the Stars are 4-0 and Henry is leading the league in rushing despite a 3.5 YPC average, so maybe this is the way they get it done, assuming King Henry can stay healthy with such a heavy workload.
2—Josh Allen playing MVP ball for Denver.
The Denver Gold have started the year with a surprising 3-1 mark, and every indication is that they are there thanks to the play of their 4th year QB, Josh Allen. Allen’s early season numbers have been eye-opening. He is on pace for 49 touchdowns and over 5,000 yards. He is averaging over 333 yards per game, and he is making far fewer errant throws and forced balls. If this is the level of play we can expect from the Wyoming product over the full season, this could be a very good year for the Gold.
1—The 4-0 Philadelphia Stars
Nothing has been a bigger surprise in 2021 so far as the 4-0 start by last year’s worst team. The 3-13 Stars already have topped their win total from 2020,and they seem poised to be a factor the entire year, with the league’s best run game, a new NFL import QB who boasts a 10:3 TD:INT ratio and a rating of 112.2 after 4 games, and a defense that is proving tough to throw against. The Stars could be the turnaround story of the year, much like when Tampa went from 3-13 in 2018 to 10-6 in 2019 and a title this year. We have seen rags to riches stories in this league before, so it is not unprecedented, but to say it was not expected in Coach Dan Quinn’s first year would be an understatement.
JACKSONVILLE BULLS 20 NEW ENGLAND STEAMROLLERS 22
A game that showcases the frustration in Jacksonville, where the Bulls fall to 0-4 and have lost their last 3 games by a combined 5 points (27-24 to Portland, 24-22 to Atlanta, and now 22-20 to New England.) For the Steamrollers, a 2nd consecutive win pulls them up to 2-2 in the Northeastern Division as C. J. Beathard successfully subs in for Ryan Tannehill.
The game was anyone’s to win throughout, with the game winning score not coming until the 59th minute of play. With 5 lead changes and some pretty good play by both teams, this game may not have been a highlighted matchup of the weekend, but it proved to be a highly entertaining and dramatic game for fans of both teams. For a second straight week the Steamrollers had a big crowd on hand, an estimated 51,028 in Gillette Stadium on a sunny April afternoon, and they got to watch their newest pro sports franchise notch a second win in dramatic fashion.
The game began well for the Steamroller defense, which held Trevor Lawrence and the Bulls to only 1 first down in the opening period. The New England offense fared a bit better, crossing into Jacksonville territory twice but coming away with 2 Brett Maher field goals. That advantage soon dissipated when Jacksonville found some lanes for HB Devin Singletary. The Bull back, who would finish the game with an impressive 147 yards on only 14 carries, had a 27-yard run and a 10-yard scoring run on Jacksonville’s first drive of the 2nd quarter and the Bulls would take that 7-6 advantage into the half.
The third quarter, however, belonged to New England. With the defense frustrating Trevor Lawrence, earning 4 of their 7 sacks for the game in that one quarter, the Steamrollers had two successful drives. The first saw Beathard connect with Will Fuller for a 23-yard scoring strike. New England tried to go up 7 with a 2-point play, but failed on the attempt, giving them a 12-7 advantage. That advantage increased to 12 points when the next Steamroller possession produced a 2nd TD toss from Beathard, this time finding Zay Jones on a short slant route in the red zone.
New England, which still has not been able to get Eddie Lacy much running room, managed to do enough to control possession in the 3rd quarter, but Jacksonville found their stride once again in the 4th. It began when Lawrence scrambled on a 3rd and 7, picking up a first down with a nice run to the sideline. He then found Tee Higgins for a 16-yard completion and finished the drive by finding Higgins a 2nd time, this time on a fade route in the endzone. The Bulls were now 5 points down at 19-14. After forcing a 3-and-out, Lawrence and the Bulls were back in business for a second drive.
The next Bulls drive was another strong one for Singletary, who ripped off runs of 7, 12, and 9 yards, all producing first downs. The threat of a Singletary run from the 2 led to TE Taysom Hill being uncovered in the endzone and Lawrence found him for his 2nd TD toss of the game. Again, Jacksonville went for 2, and again they failed, leaving them with only a 1-point lead with 1:27 left to play. The Bulls led 20-19, but New England had 2 time outs left and would need only a field goal to earn the win.
Taking the touchback on the kick, they were 75 yards from the endzone, but only 45 yards away from Brett Maher’s range. It would be on backup QB C. J. Beathard to get them there. Cheered on by the large Foxboro crowd, Beathard started strong, connecting with Zay Jones for a 1st play completion and moving the chains on the next play with a short completion to TE Dennis Pitta. Pitta would catch only his 2nd pass on the day on the very next play, a 13-yarder that produced another first down and got the Steamrollers out to midfield. After a nice run by T. J. Yeldon on a draw call, New England used their first time out, followed by a completion from Beathard to Will Fuller, taking the ball to the Jacksonville 39. They needed only 4 more yards to get in range for Maher, and with 31 seconds left and a time out to spare, they ran the ball. Lacy was stopped after a 2-yard gain. On 2nd down, Beathard missed on a sideline pass to Zay Jones, leaving 3rd and 8 on the 37.
New England, needing only 3 to win the game, had the advantage. They spread the Jacksonville defense out, with the Bulls needing to protect the whole field due to New England’s remaining timeout. The secondary had no choice but to cover the outside of the field, which made the draw a good call. Yeldon rushed for 4 yards, tripped up by DT Montravious Adams as he tried to split the gap. But those 4 yards meant it would be a 48-yard attempt by Brett Maher. Not automatic by any means, but this was within a comfortable range for the New England kicker.
Maher was iced by the Bulls but came out after the timeout to win the game, and when his kick went right down the middle, the fans in Gillette Stadium let out a roar. Their Steamrollers had won both home games on the season and now sat at 2-2. Sure, a win over a now 0-4 Bulls team was not exactly proof that the Steamrollers were ready to compete in the Northeast Division, but sitting at 2-2 after 4 weeks was a good start. For the Bulls it was another heartbreaking defeat and another long trip home after being close, but not good enough to pull out the win.
TAMPA BAY 38 ORLANDO 9
A very bad outing for the Renegades as Tampa Bay dominated their in-state rival from the opening drive. It was 21-0 before the Renegades put their first points on the board, and they never got closer than 18 points after that. Dak Prescott returned to action, throwing 2 TD passes while Dalvin Cook rushed for 107 and both Bobby Rainey and Matt Breida had TD runs. The only Renegade to have a good day was DE Montez Sweat, who sacked Prescott twice and B. J. Daniels once (in garbage time) to claim the lead on the sack totals for the year.
POTG: Bandit QB Dak Prescott: 14/19, 225 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int
HOUSTON 20 ARIZONA 44
David Carr returned to action and guided the Wranglers to a dominant win over the Gamblers, throwing 2 TDs and completing 73% of his passes. The Wrangles also had success on the ground, where Ka’Deem Carey went 18 for 100 and a TD, while Isaiah Crowell contributed two short TD runs. Houston’s Colt McCoy was picked off twice and Carlos Hyde managed only 47 yards on 14 carries as the Wranglers flexed their muscle and reached .500 for the first time all season.
POTG: Wrangler HB Ka’Deem Carey: 18 Att, 100 Yds, 1 TD
CHARLOTTE 17 ATLANTA 25
Charlotte played better but still fell to 0-4 thanks largely to a 19-0 scoring run by the Fire in the 1st and 2nd quarters. It began with a safety when William Gholston caught Jimmy Garoppolo in the endzone, then included a Murray to Benjamin TD pass, a John Bounds field goal, and a Shaquile Griffin pick-six of the beleaguered Garoppolo. A. J. Green also had a big day, catching 8 Murray passes for 120 yards and a score as Atlanta improved to 4-0.
POTG: Atlanta QB Aaron Murray: 29/43, 346 Yds, 2 TD, 2 Int
OHIO 48 PITTSBURGH 10
A huge divisional win for the Glory as Justin Fields earned POTW honors with a true dual-threat attack. Fields passed for 147 and 2 scores, but also rushed for the same numbers, 147 and 2 scores. The Ohio D also had a strong game, holding the Mauler run game to only 47 total yards, while Fields and Pead combined for 234 for the Glory. Ohio is now 3-1 and one of the early season surprises in the league while the Maulers drop to 1-3 and have to be seen as a first quarter disappointment.
POTG: Glory QB Justin Fields: 8/14, 147 Yds, 2 TD, 0 Int, 14 Att, 147 Yds, 2 TD
DENVER 28 DALLAS 31
The Gold looked to have this one after a safety of Justin Herbert put them up 28-24, but the Roughnecks rallied in the final 2 minutes, with Herbert finding Pharaoh Brown for a 31-yard TD strike to grab back the lead and the win in this battle of Southwest contenders. Allen had another huge game, throwing for 385 and 2 scores for Denver, but Herbert one-upped him with 375 yards and 4 scoring tosses as Denver falls from the ranks of the unbeaten, with both teams now sitting at 3-1.
POTG: Dallas QB Justin Herbert: 17/32, 375 Yds, 4 TD, 1 Int
SAN ANTONIO 24 NEW ORLEANS 21
The Gunslingers reach .500 at the ¼ mark of the season with an upset win in New Orleans. Joe Flacco threw for 3 scores and NFL import Melvin Gordon had his first USFL 100-yard gain as he rushed for 106 on 18 carries to help San Antonio pull off the upset. Breaker QB Tajh Boyd threw for 3 scores but could not rally the Breakers in the 4th after San Antonio used a Brandon LaFell TD to take the lead for the first time in the game.
POTG: Gunslinger QB Joe Flacco: 31/47, 254 Yds, 3 TD, 1 Int
BIRMINGHAM 35 MEMPHIS 23
The Stallions move to 3-1, downing their archrival and sending Memphis to a 1-3 start, thanks largely to Cam Newton’s 343-yard, 5-TD outing. Both Henry Ruggs and Dontrell Inman went over 100 yards receiving with 2 TDs each as the Memphis defense looked completely out of position all game. Newton only rushed for 5 yards but picked apart the Showboat secondary all game long in the big divisional win.
POTG: Stallion QB Cam Newton: 16/22, 343 Yds, 5 TD, 0 Int
PORTLAND 14 OAKLAND 37
Oakland got a statement win to improve to 3-1 as Christian McCaffrey rushed for 117 and Tom Brady threw for 3 scores against a beleaguered Portland defense. The Stags only recorded one sack, 6 short of Oakland’s total of 7 against Marcus Mariota. DE Michael Bennett was all over Mariota all game, recording 3 sacks and multiple hits and hurries. TDs from Taylor Gabriel (2) and Zach Ertz helped Portland build a 27-7 lead after 3 and they did not take the foot off the gas even with rookie Davis Mills coming in for his first pro action in the 4th.
POTG: Invader HB Christian McCaffrey: 19 Att, 117 Yds, 1 TD
PHILADELPHIA 33 WASHINGTON 20
The Stars finish the first quarter of the year perfect at 4-0 after outpacing the Federals 23-7 in the second half to pull away and capture the division win. Carson Wentz had a huge game, completing 28 of 38 passing for 333 yards and 4 TDs, despite suffering 4 sacks in the game. TE Travis Kelce brought in 2 of those touchdowns as part of his 6-reception, 111-yard day. The Stars’ D also picked off Ryan Nassib twice and held Travis Etienne to only 37 yards on 16 carries as Philly stays unbeaten.
POTG: Stars QB Carson Wentz: 28/38, 333 Yds, 4 TD, 0 Int
NEW JERSEY 18 ST. LOUIS 9
The Generals win the battle of winless 0-3 clubs but pay a price in doing so. QB Teddy Bridgewater suffered a nasty leg injury, his knee all but reversing directions, on a scramble in the 2nd quarter. Carted off the field, Bridgewater’s season is now over after an MCL/ACL, and Quad tear was diagnosed. That injury put Nick Foles back under center, where he struggled, but the New Jersey defense came up big, shutting down the Skyhawk offense and knocking Lamar Jackson out of the game with a possible concussion. A win, but a costly one for the Generals.
POTG: New Jersey DE Kony Ealy: 4 Tck, 1 Sck, 1 Sfty
OKLAHOMA 17 LAS VEGAS 20
A good win for the Vipers to pull them to 2-2, but a rough loss for an Oklahoma team that did not expect to be 1-3 after a season opening win against Arizona. Outlaw QB Jalen Hurts completed only 9 of 21 and was sacked 7 times by the Vipers, including 2 from DE Matthew Judon. Matt Jones led the way for the Vipers on offense, rushing for 66 yards on 15 touches, while Matt McGloin connected with Aaron Dobson for a TD as Las Vegas held off the Outlaws late to reach .500 after 4 weeks.
POTG: Viper DE Matthew Judon: 6 Tck, 4 TFL, 2 Sck
SAN DIEGO 13 CHICAGO 45
The “new look” Machine ran away with this one thanks to 3 Marion Mack TD runs and a defense that picked off Christian Ponder 3 times on the day. Chicago improves to 4-0 by outscoring Las Vegas 38-7 after a tight first quarter. Even backup Mike Kafka got into the act, playing most of the 4th quarter and finding Jermaine Kearse for a score as Chicago continues to impress.
POTG: Chicago CB Josh Norman: 5 Tck, 5 PDef, 2 Int
LOS ANGELES 10 SEATTLE 17
The 2020 Pacific Champions drop to 1-3 after falling to the Dragons at a rainy Lumen Field. The Express struggled to reach the red zone or the endzone, keeping Seattle in the game 10-9 beofre a Khalil Mack pick-six and a 2-point conversion put the Dragons on top. Mack tipped a Murray pass straight up, snatched it on the rebound and ran it back 31 yards in what could be an early play of the year. With the win, Seattle moves to 2-2 and knocks LA into a 3-way tie at the bottom of the division at 1-3.
POTG: Seattle LB Khalil Mack: 7 Tck, 1 Int, 1 Def TD, 1 FF, 1 FR
MICHIGAN 27 BALTIMORE 17
The Panthers stay unbeaten and send Baltimore to 2-2 after 4 weeks by slowing down Josh Jacobs and playing solid zone coverage against Jake Locker. A DeVonte Hollman pick-six of Locker and a strong 109-yard day from LeVeon Bell helped Michigan pull ahead early and stay ahead, never giving up the lead once they established it. Jake Locker attempted 51 passes and did gain 317 yards, but he could not get Baltimore into the endzone when it counted and the Blitz drop back to 2-2, now 2 games behind the surprising Philadelphia Stars in the division.
POTG: Michigan HB LeVeon Bell: 19 Att, 109 Yds, 1 TD
Watt, Wentz, and Darby Lead NFL Import Success Stories
Over the years we have gotten used to the NFL Transfer Window providing pretty mixed results. The physical and psychological strain of playing back-to-back seasons, following an NFL season with the USFL season with only about 6-8 weeks between the two (less for players from NFL playoff teams) just does not give players a lot of recovery time after a grueling season. As a result, we have seen a fair share of injuries, and a good number of players who just wear down. Many USFL GMs insist that their NFL imports are kept off active status for 2-4 weeks, but it is very much a case-by-case situation.
This year, we have seen several big name NFL imports not only start right away, but find immediate success. It does not take long to see that QB Carson Wentz has had a huge impact on the Philadelphia Stars. After a 3-13 season in 2020, they have raced out to a 4-0 start in 2021, with Wentz accounting for over 1,000 yards passing and 10 TDs in the opening month of the season. But Wentz is not the only early success story out of the inter-league transfers. In Memphis a 1-3 start has dampened the enthusiasm for the team, but certainly not for their new defensive end, former Houston Oiler J. J. Watt. The former Wisconsin Badger has 7 sacks in his first 4 USFL games and has already become a vocal member of the defensive squad. Following a major injury in 2019, Watt returned strong in 2020 and now in the USFL he is continuing that impressive recovery.
The third highly successful NFL import was not a big-name player in the NFL but is proving he has some big skills in his first month as a USFL player. The former Bill, Eagle, and Redskin has taken over the CB2 spot, allowing KeiVarae Rusell to return to a more natural role as a nickel corner. In his new role, opposite Dre Kirkpatrick, Darby has already snagged his first USFL pick and has also accounted for 21 tackles and 5 pass defenses and a forced fumble. Not too bad considering he has had such a short turnaround from his time in D.C. The same could be said for all 3 players, each of them proving that it is not impossible for an NFL import to have an immediate impact.
Missed Games Creates Surprising QB Leaderboard
With so many high caliber USFL QBs sidelined by injury, mostly short term, but still game absences, we have seen some interesting names atop the USFL stat boards. While no one is shocked to see Josh Allen atop the QBR leaderboard, not with the way he has performed this season, few expected the board to highlight 2nd year QB Jalen Hurts, rookie Trevor Lawrence, or NFL import Carson Wentz, and yet, there they are among the top QB ratings in the league.
Part of this, of course, is the result of some All-USFL quarterbacks currently under the league minimum of 70 pass attempts needed to be ranked after 4 weeks. That includes Dak Prescott, after missing Week 3 (and a chunk of Week 2); David Carr, who missed 2 full games and half of a third; and Geno Smith, who also missed more than 2 games due to his injury. Justin Herbert is in the same boat, as is Ryan Tannehill, both having missed significant action already this season. And so, we have a leaderboard that could change quite a bit with the return of several starters to action. It may take a few weeks, and maybe some of the newcomers will hold their positions if they continue to play well, but we suspect the Week 16 final rankings will have far more familiar names atop the QB Ratings.
Jackson Frustrated by Skyhawk Offensive Issues
It is quite understandable that Lamar Jackson would be expressing frustration with his team’s offensive production. After 4 weeks, the Skyhawks are not only 0-4, but are ranked near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories. HB James Conner, another NFL import, has yet to top 65 yards in any game, and is averaging only 3.8 YPC. Jackson’s top receiver, Deionte Johnson, has only topped 80 yards once, and 1st round rookie pick, TE Kyle Pitts, has not even eclipsed 40 yards and to date has no touchdowns since joining the team.
The lack of production is clearly bothering Jackson, who tried to do it all himself back in Week 2, rushing for 126 yards but still losing to the Philadelphia Stars. Since then, his number has been called less frequently, particularly after Michigan showed how you can shadow the dual threat QB with a nickel corner, holding Jackson to only 5 yards on 12 rushes (9 of them designed plays). Jackson cannot do it all himself, and while we see flashes of his potential, there are real doubts that St. Louis has done enough to surround Jackson with an offense that can complement his unique talents or which can lead the way if Jackson needs more support. With Jackson coming up on a contract year in 2022, the continued frustration of his situation in St. Louis could well be a factor as he looks at options that would be available to him in little over a year’s time.
Generals Lose Bridgewater to Shoulder Injury
After 4 consecutive playoff seasons, 2020 left New Jersey fans feeling snakebit, and if that is the feeling they brought to the season, the recent injury to their newly signed QB Teddy Bridgewater, certainly helped reinforce their sense of neurotic worry. Bridgewater was named the starter for Week 3, after two lackluster starts for Nick Foles, the incumbent. Bridgewater struggled a bit in his first action for the Generals, throwing 2 picks and falling to expansion San Antonio 19-10. He started the game well against St. Louis this week, finding Pharaoh Cooper for a 24-yard score in the first quarter and going 5 of 9 to open the game, but then it all came to a crashing halt.
It happened on a Delone Carter run. The back started off heading to the left of the line but cut back towards the right. Bridgewater tried to take on LB Trey Henderson, providing a block for his back, but in so doing, he took the hit with his throwing shoulder, not a good choice for a QB, but certainly not what you want your newly crowned starter to do. The hit by Hendrickson produced immediate results. The New Jersey QB went to the sideline, his arm hanging limply at his side. He would soon be escorted to the locker room, and then to the local hospital, where imagine showed what the QB and his new team clearly did not want to see, a shoulder separation that would require season-ending surgery.
This is the first major injury of Bridgewater’s short USFL career. He was quite resilient and steady in Jacksonville, starting 25 of 28 games the past two years and throwing for over 3,000 yards in each, but he gets 2 games into a new start in New Jersey, and he is now lost for the year. The Generals, who spent a good bit of energy trying to find a possible competitor with, or replacement for, 2020 starter Nick Foles, now find themselves back to their much-maligned incumbent QB. The team also has young 2nd year QB Brett Rypien on the roster, and will likely look to sign a veteran backup, but for now, it looks like Foles is the starter once again, and fans in New Jersey are already gearing up to boo as soon as games start going south.
A bad week across the league, with 5 new players added to injured reserve, including NJ quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. San Diego loses one of their leaders on defense as LB Kyle Van Noy suffered a back injury, as did Birmingham OT Greg Robinson. Ohio CB Kevin Seymour is also out for the year after breaking his tibia, while Oklahoma DE Jordan Willis suffered a significant tear to his hamstring, costing him the rest of 2021.
OUT
OT Greg Robinson BIR Back IR
DE Jordan Willis OKL Hamstring IR
QB Teddy Bridgewater NJ Shoulder IR
LB Kyle Van Noy SD Back IR
CB Kevin Seymour OHI Leg IR
TE Rob Housler WSH Ribs 6-8 Weeks
FS Deion Bush NE Hand 1-2 Weeks
G Larry Warford DEN Neck 1-2 Weeks
DE Adrian Clayborn JAX Covid Protocol 1 Week
DOUBTFUL
G Trevor Canfield PHI Neck
TE Jonnu Smith NJ Pinched Nerve
HB Rhamondre Stevenson SAN Concussion
HB Samaje Perine DAL Pinched Nerve
QUESTIONABLE
FS Nate Allen ARZ Foot
DE Calais Campbell BAL Shoulder
DT Dontari Poe MGN Concussion
HB Rico Dowdle PIT Toe
QB Lamar Jackson STL Deep Thigh Bruise
Ten Players to Add to your USFL Fantasy Roster
OK, Fantasy players, you are 4 weeks into your season, you need to make some changes. Who are some players that may not have been valued very highly in the draft, who may even be free agents now, and who are good value additions to your team? We are giving you 10 players who you need to either trade to add or sign from the pool. They aren’t the superstars who are going to form the core of your team, but these are players who are putting up enough points, yards, and big plays to help you get over the hump.
Blitz QB Jake Locker
With so many QBs missing games, Locker’s 1,108 yards and 8 TDs is better than many of the league’s preseason QB picks.
Stags QB Marcus Mariota
If your league is about yards, without penalties for picks, Mariota is a good choice (1,154 yards), but if you lose points for picks, his 6 in 4 games is not what you want.
Thunder HB Charles Sims
We doubt anyone drafted Sims before the 10th round, but right now, with 297 yards and 3 scores, if you can get him, do it. He is proving to be a value signing for the Thunder.
Express HB Paul Perkins
He has only 1 TD so far, for an anemic scoring offense in LA, but if your league lives and dies with yards, his 290 in 4 games is not nothing.
Bulls HB Devin Singletary
He has had a pair of very nice games, including going over 140 yards this week. He may be a hot-and-cold player, but when he is on, he can help you win some games.
Blitz WR Michael Pittman Jr
A top 8 receiver in targets and receptions, Pittman is your perfect PPR selection. Expect him to be regularly in the 7-10 reception range, a poor man’s Aaron Dobson.
Glory WR Terry McLaurin
Few people invested in the Glory offense, but rookie Justin Fields is proving a quick learner, which puts McLaurin in a position to be a solid guy, especially if YPC is a factor for you.
Gold WR Darnell Mooney
With 5 TDs in 4 games, Mooney has come out of nowhere to become a major factor in the Denver offense. He won’t have the PPR impact of Golden Tate, but in leagues where TDs produce big points, he is a guy to add to your lineup.
Bulls TE Taysom Hill
Hill, a former QB himself, has become a real safety valve for Trevor Lawrence. And, with coach Moss giving him time in the backfield as well, the potential is there for rushing and passing yards too.
Stags TE Trey Burton
Surprisingly ahead of Julius Thomas, Martellus Bennett, and Brandon Pettigrew in both targets and catches, Trey Burton could be a nice sleeper if your league has a mandated TE slot.
First Quarter Power Rankings
1—Tampa Bay (4-0)
No Surprise Here, the Bandits are looking every bit like a league champion once again. In the Top 5 in points, yards, points allowed, and yardage allowed, it is hard to find a flaw they need to address. Their punt average is pretty poor (28th), but they so rarely punt.
2—Michigan (4-0)
Another very much anticipated strong start as Michigan combines a strong run game (110.5 YPG) and a very solid overall defense (286.5 YPG) to stay unbeaten. If they want to improve on their current performance, it would be finding a true number two receiver. Calvin Ridley has only 15 receptions after 4 weeks, well behind both Cody Latimer and TE Martellus Bennett.
3—Atlanta (4-0)
Ready to give Tampa Bay a run for their money, Atlanta is averaging 377.5 YPG on offense, and their D is keeping teams under 18 points per game. They could improve on their middle-of-the-pack average of 86.8 YPG rushing, and that means giving Nick Chubb more touches and more lanes to run through.
4—Chicago (4-0)
With a pretty easy opening schedule (Pittsburgh, Las Vegas, Portland, and San Diego so far), few are surprised that the Machine are 4-0, but that defense has looked even better than expected. 1st in points per game (10.0) and 2nd in yards (263.8) is pretty strong. To improve, they need to do more in the run game, helping Sam Bradford avoid big hits when he drops back.
5—Philadelphia (4-0)
The biggest surprise of the entire season, the 4-0 Stars are light years from where they were last year. They have the league’s top rushing attack, despite a pretty mediocre per carry average for “King” Henry. They are also surprisingly strong against the pass on defense. To stay atop the Northeast, they are going to need to tighten up against the run however, after giving up 114 yards per game over the opening quarter.
6—Dallas (3-1)
The Roughnecks have started strong, ranked 5th in points per game and 6th in passing behind Justin Herbert. Where do they need to be concerned even at 3-1? How about the 21st rated scoring defense or giving up 304 yards per game through the air, or even more troubling, averaging only 75.2 yards per game on the ground. If they can tighten up their pass coverage and get some production from the backfield, they have a chance to go far, but those issues worry us right now and should worry Coach Kingsbury as well.
7—Denver (3-1)
Yes, we are surprised to see Denver at 3-1, and that win over Arizona was impressive, but they cannot be happy that it has almost entirely been on Josh Allen to get them there. He is averaging 333 yards per game passing, but with the run game stuck in neutral, he has to. The Gold need to get more than 74.2 yards per game out of their backs, and they need that defense to hold leads when they get them.
8—Oakland (3-1)
The Invaders have been a bit of a surprise as well, though, when you have Tom Brady at QB, maybe we should expect more from them, not less. But make no mistake about it, this team is lead by their 2nd ranked scoring defense, best in the league against the run, allowing only 53 yards per game. To improve they need more out of their run game, and that means more pressure on Christian McCaffrey.
9—Ohio (3-1)
That blow out loss, their only one so far, was ugly, and it was to San Diego, who has not shown that quality in any other game. So, what do we make of the Glory. We love the big play ability of Justin Fields, who leads the team in both passing and rushing, but is that a sustainable model. The Glory need more out of their backs, especially Isaiah Pead. They also need to tighten up against the run, currently 23rd in the league.
10—Birmingham (3-1)
After an opening week loss to Houston, the Stallions have rattled off three quality wins and have scored 34 or more points in each. That is impressive, but also necessary for a team that ranks 27th in points allowed and gives up over 400 yards per game. Coach Haley needs some defensive help if the Stallions are going to keep winning.
11—Arizona (2-2)
After back-to-back division losses to Oklahoma and Denver, they have come back with two solid outings, knocking out the Outlaws in OKC and then crushing the Houston Gamblers this week. To stay at or above .500 they need to keep their offense balanced (4th in passing, 6th in rushing after 4 weeks) and they need to create more takeaways and more QB pressure.
12—Seattle (2-2)
Another team that started slowly but turned it around with 2 straight wins. They are doing it with defense (giving up only 14.2 PPG) and when they can run the ball, their offense can be very solid, but that run game has not been strong enough. They need more 1st down runs to set up easier 2nd and 3rd down options for Brett Hundley.
13—Baltimore (2-2)
The Blitz won their first two games by a combined 51-7 score but have since lost both matchups against Central Division teams (Ohio & Michigan). The defense is still ranked 2nd for yards allowed and 3rd for points allowed, but the offense has struggled for consistency. The Blitz need to focus more on Josh Jacobs and allow Jake Locker to play off of the run game.
14—New Orleans (2-2)
The Breakers, like Baltimore, started out 2-0, but have not looked right the past two weeks. We can blame that on Geno Smith being out, but we should also look to that 24th ranked run defense. They have a tough run at Houston and home to Denver before their bye, but the Breakers have too much talent to stay at .500 all year.
15—Houston (2-2)
Averaging 430 yards of offense per game (2nd in the league) and 330 per game passing (also 2nd) it has been the offense carrying the Gamblers. They need more out of their 29th ranked defense, which gave up 30 to Memphis and 44 to Arizona the past 2 weeks. Coach Phillips is not going to be happy about that, but if anyone can fix it, it will be Phillips.
16—New England (2-2)
A nice 2-game stretch for the Steamrollers, both at home, have them at .500. They are struggling to put points up (28th in the league at 14.8 PPG) but the defense has been solid, especially against the pass. With their next 3 games against teams with a combined 2-10 record (NJ, STL, NJ), the Steamrollers need to make a push before their Week 8 bye.
17—San Antonio (2-2)
Our other 2020 expansion team also sits at .500, thanks to a very nice win in New Orleans this week. Melvin Gordon had his first 100-yard game in that matchup, and the Gunslingers certainly need him to do that regularly. Getting Gordon on track will help Joe Flacco stay upright and keep the offense balanced.
18—Las Vegas (2-2)
The Vipers have two good home wins (Memphis and Oklahoma) but also two big losses, on the road to Denver and Chicago. You won’t make the playoffs without road wins, so the Vipers need to figure out how to do that. They will have a chance when they visit Oklahoma and Arizona in weeks 6 and 7.
19—Memphis (1-3)
Not the start that Rex Ryan and the Showboat Navy wanted or expected this year. What worked for them last year is not working this year, with their passing game ranked 20th in the league and their pass defense equally troubled. They have to wait until Week 11 before they get the bye, so they need to start making changes on the fly, and quickly before the season gets away from them.
20—Los Angeles (1-3)
Another 2020 division winner who is not looking like they have the same juice this year. No surprise for Coach Lewis that it is the offense causing issues. LA is dead last in the league in yards per game at only 272. They are 29th in passing yards, and many are saying that the time to bench Kyler Murray has more than arrived. Will LA fare better if they bring in former Stars’ QB Matt Gutierrez. Ask Philly fans and they will laugh at that idea.
21—Portland (1-3)
It seems pretty simple to diagnose the issues in Portland. Their one win was their lone game above 20 points. Their three losses saw them score 11, 10, and 14. No points, no W’s. It’s a pretty simple formula. This is a team that is gaining yards, 14th overall, 11th in passing, but they are only averaging 15.5 points per game. That needs to improve.
22—Washington (1-3)
The Feds love what they are getting from rookie Travis Etienne, and their run game is Top 10 in the league, but the defense, oh, that defense. They average 30.2 points allowed and 433 yards allowed after 4 weeks and have yet to hold a team below 20 points in any game. That has to improve if Washington is going to compete in a very hard division to figure out.
23—Oklahoma (1-3)
The Outlaws opened the season with a statement win in Arizona, but since then the wheels have fallen off, giving up 40 to Dallas, losing to the Wranglers in the rematch, and this week to Las Vegas. If you are looking for what the issue is, how about a defense that is ranked 28th against the run and 24th against the pass. Hard to hold the score down when teams just march up and down the field against your D.
24—Pittsburgh (1-3)
The Maulers are averaging only 11.5 points per game, dead last in the league. They are struggling to run the ball (only 70.2 YPG) and to pass it (208.8 YPG), which basically means they cannot get into range to put points on the board. But, you say, they have the top-rated pass defense in all of the USFL. Yes, because they have the 30th ranked run defense. When you give up nearly 160 yards per game on the ground, your opponent does not need to pass.
25—Orlando (1-3)
Three straight losses show us a team that is struggling on both sides of the ball, giving up 26.2 YPG and scoring only 16.2, that’s a 10-point margin of defeat, not a sign of a team ready to make a run. They face two winless teams in the next two weeks (JAX & CHA), but we are not sure they can beat either of them if they don’t start to figure some things out.
26—New Jersey (1-3)
Week 4 got the Generals their first win of the season but cost them QB Teddy Bridgewater. That is a problem, especially with 4 division games in the next 5 weeks (NE and unbeaten Philly twice each), oh and the 5th game, how about the 4-0 Bandits. This season is feeling lost already for the Generals.
27—San Diego (1-3)
We are still trying to figure out the Thunder’s 44-7 win over Ohio. Why? Well, because in their other 3 games they have scored 14, 17, and 13 points. How can they recapture the magic of that one win? Keep giving the ball to Charles Sims, an early season breakout player for the Thunder.
28—Jacksonville (0-4)
The Bulls feel like a team that should be 2-2, not 0-4. They need to find a way to close out games, but they also need to get off the field on 3rd down. They are dead last in the league in 3rd down stops and in yards allowed, two factors that explain their current status as an 0-4 club.
29—St. Louis (0-4)
Don’t blame Lamar Jackson. He leads the Skyhawks in both passing and rushing. And for a change, we probably should not blame the D. They are not half bad, allowing only 74.2 on the ground each week (12th in the league) and 259.2 through the air (18th), but the offense, despite Jackson’s efforts, is putting up only 15 points per game. That is not going to win you a lot of games.
30—Charlotte (0-4)
When you are dead last in the league at stopping your opponent from scoring, giving up 31.5 PPG, and your offense averages only 15.5 PPG, you are not only losing a lot of games, but you are also losing them big. Their 4 losses to open the year include 10 points to Atlanta, 22 to Oakland, 24 to Tampa Bay, and a reasonable 8 to Atlanta the 2nd time around. A lot of issues to address in Charlotte, and not much time to do so before the Monarchs are running out a very rough string.
Wow, we are getting a lot of divisional games early this season. It makes me wonder what will be left for the playoff stretch. That said, it is great for viewing this week once again, with 12 divisional games all in the same week. Despite that, Friday’s best game is likely to be one of the non-divisional games, when the Oakland Invaders, sitting at 3-1 with one of the league’s best defenses, hosts the unbeaten Atlanta Fire, and their powerful offense.
On Saturday there are wall-to-wall divisional games, kicking off at noon with Tampa Bay-Charlotte, and a really key game in the Northeast when Baltimore travels to the 4-0 Philadelphia Stars. Can the Blitz get back in the hunt and take down the upstart Stars? At 4pm it is Denver v. Oklahoma in the Southwest and New Orleans heading to Houston in the South, with the loser dropping below .500. The night games on Saturday include Seattle visiting Portland in a Cascade Clash on NBC and the winless Bulls hoping to get that first W against in-state rival Orlando.
Sunday gives us 5 more divisional games, including Memphis at San Antonio, Pittsburgh at Michigan, San Diego at Los Angeles, and St. Louis at Chicago, but the one we are most psyched about is definitely 3-1 Dallas heading to Glendale to face the Arizona Wranglers, sitting at 2-2 and hoping to get into the mix in the division they have dominated. We also have Birmingham hoping they can move to 4-1 with a win in Washington, a game that will feature two of the best rookie backs in the league, Travis Etienne for the Feds and Najee Harris for the Stallions. Finally, we have two surprising clubs as the 3-1 Ohio Glory head to Las Vegas, where the Vipers have yet to lose a game.
FRI @ 8pm ET New Jersey (1-3) @ New England (2-2) NBC
FRI @ 8pm ET Atlanta (4-0) @ Oakland (3-1) ESPN/EFN
SAT @ 12pm ET Tampa Bay (4-0) @ Charlotte (0-4) ABC
SAT @ 12pm ET Baltimore (2-2) @ Philadelphia (4-0) FOX
SAT @ 4pm ET Denver (3-1) @ Oklahoma (1-3) ABC
SAT @ 4pm ET New Orleans (2-2) @ Houston (2-2) FOX
SAT @ 8pm ET Seattle (2-2) @ Portland (1-3) NBC
SAT @ 8pm ET Jacksonville (0-4) @ Orlando (1-3) ESPN/EFN
SUN @ 12pm ET Birmingham (3-1) @ Washington (1-3) ABC
SUN @ 12pm ET Memphis (1-3) @ San Antonio (2-2) FOX Regional
SUN @ 12pm ET Pittsburgh (1-3) @ Michigan (4-0) FOX Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Ohio (3-1) @ Las Vegas (2-2) ABC Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET San Diego (1-3) @ Los Angeles (1-3) ABC Regional
SUN @ 4pm ET Dallas (3-1) @ Arizona (2-2) FOX
SUN @ 8pm ET St. Louis (0-4) @ Chicago (4-0) ESPN/EFN
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