XFL Power Rankings, Week 1: Dallas Renegades start as top dogs

The 2020 XFL season kicks off on Saturday as the league launches and the Dallas Renegades open the year as favorites in our power rankings.

You’re not stuck in a time loop that took you back to 2001 — the XFL is set to give it another go as Vince McMahon has launched the professional football league once again. And on Saturday, Feb. 9 and Sunday, Feb. 10, the league will officially kick off with the 2020 season, a 10-game slate for the XFL as they hope to avoid the same fate as the AAF.

Frankly, they seem on track to, at the very least, finish out their first full season. And with many former NFL players in the mix — many of whom are trying to get back into the ranks of the league that just wrapped up the year — that could help bolster the XFL well too.

But more importantly, with Super Bowl LIV just concluding, there is now a football-shaped void in our minds and in our hearts. The XFL is here to fix that. But how do the eight teams in the new league stack up on paper as we enter Week 1 of the league?

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Let’s try and figure that out, knowing that it could all be turned on its head after this weekend, with our XFL power rankings entering Week 1 of the inaugural 2020 season.

8. Seattle Dragons (at DC, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. ET)

Could the Seattle Dragons climb out of this early cellar and not be the worst team in the XFL this season? Absolutely. They have some pieces that we’ve seen flash, specifically quarterback Brandon Silvers and tight end Evan Rodriguez, both of whom were standouts in the AAF. Moreover, the defense has plenty of NFL experience, even if they don’t have stars.

Outside of Rodriguez though, the weapons on offense for the Dragons are lacking quite a bit, even if they have some upside. Furthermore, Jim Zorn just doesn’t inspire a ton of confidence as a head coach against some of the guys he’ll be up against in this league. Maybe they’ll be the plucky underdogs but I don’t see it happening.

7. St. Louis Battlehawks (at DAL, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. ET)

There are reasons to believe that the Battlehawks could make a move up these power rankings because there are things they should be able to do well. Christine Michael and Matt Jones comprise a multi-faceted and dangerous backfield duo that can do some damage behind one of the better offensive lines in the XFL. And with a defense that boasts AAF standout Terrence Garvin, a deep secondary and some potential up front, they should succeed there.

While all that is true, St. Louis gives me some trepidation because of the passing offense. Not only do they have a young, inexperienced wide receiver corps but they also have a young, inexperienced quarterback in Jordan Ta’amu, just one year removed from playing at Ole Miss to mixed results. That could be their undoing and, unless he shocks some people, that’ll limit the Battlehawks’ ceiling.

6. New York Guardians (vs. TB, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. ET)

Guardians wide receiver Mekale McKay has garnered a lot of attention in the XFL offseason workouts and preseason and the 6-5 pass-catcher has breakout star potential that could land him an NFL tryout this offseason.

But outside of McKay and head coach Kevin Gilbride, New York really doesn’t impress me a ton. Matt McGloin has some NFL backup experience at quarterback but never showed me much to make me believe in what he can do against this type of competition. Furthermore, their offensive line is a real concern as they have very little high-level experience up front.

Taking that into account along with a defense that we really don’t know what to make of this group outside of maybe a few pieces in the front seven, this Guardians team has some potential but not as much as many others in the league.

5. Houston Roughnecks (vs. LA, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. ET)

Honestly, the only reason that the Houston Roughnecks aren’t ranked in the top-half of the XFL entering the season is the indecision and, frankly, the less than stellar options at quarterback. Head coach June Jones has proven to be a fantastic disciple of the Run-n-Shoot offense but with Connor Cook and Phillip Walker as his options, it’s hard to say what that will look like, even if the wide receivers and offensive line are ready.

Jones’ group is great on defense as well, boasting perhaps the biggest defensive name in the league with Kony Ealy but also having Marqueston Huff and Charles James in the secondary with some high-level experience.

If the Roughnecks are able to figure out the Cook-Walker debacle and get a guy they can trust consistently in the offense, this team could be a quick riser.

4. Los Angeles Wildcats (at HOU, Feb. 9 at 5 p.m. ET)

It’s hard for me to say whether or not head coach Winston Moss’ Wildcats are going to be great but they should be one of the most entertaining teams in the XFL this season. With 33-year old veteran Josh Johnson at quarterback and surrounded by elite speed at wide receiver and with Norm Chow scheming up the offense, this team could be a firecracker when they have the ball.

Shawn Oakman and Devin Taylor, two behemoths on the defensive line, will anchor the unit on that side of the ball. And though there is some NFL experience throughout this league with the offensive linemen, those two could be huge problems to deal with. Whether or not the secondary can hold up, however, remains to be seen.

3. Tampa Bay Vipers (at NY, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. ET)

Losing former Browns wide receiver Antonio Callaway to injury does sting and makes the Vipers a little bit difficult to place in these XFL power rankings but I’m still high on what they can accomplish. Marc Trestman may not have been a success with the Chicago Bears but his CFL track record speaks well for what he can do with former Georgia standout Aaron Murray and the running back duo of De’Veon Smith and Quinton Flowers.

Furthermore, I love the Tampa Bay secondary and what they bring to the table. Given that the quarterbacks in the XFL aren’t exactly world-beaters, having a bevy of former NFL starters like Demontre Hurst and Corey Moore in the mix could be their trump card and propel them to success in the 2020 season.

2. D.C. Defenders (vs. SEA, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. ET)

Though Cardale Jones never materialized into anything in the NFL but he certainly had some magic at Ohio State and head coach Pep Hamilton will try and bring that out of him. If that happens, look out for the Defenders this season.

Moreover, D.C. has some great weapons for Jones to work with as they landed former Indiana Hoosiers standout Simmie Cobbs Jr. and the breakout offensive player of the AAF, Rashaad Ross. And let’s not forget about Eli Rogers, a former Steeler with plenty of experience. The defense has former NFL talent as well with Scooby Wright III, Matt Elam and Rahim Moore, which bodes well for them.

The offensive line could be an undoing for the Defenders but, if they can figure things out there, this team has immense potential.

1. Dallas Renegades (vs. STL, Feb.10 at 5 p.m. ET)

With Bob Stoops at the helm and the pedigree he brings with him from his time with the Oklahoma Sooners, the Renegades were going to be in focus for many people. But now that he’s reunited with his former quarterback in Norman, Landry Jones, that’s a great marriage for the offense, even if Jones isn’t all that exciting.

The weapons around Jones in Dallas are recognizable as well with former Panther Cameron Artis-Payne and former Cowboy Lance Dunbar in the backfield and a high-upside receiver in Jazz Ferguson. If a defense filled with solid yet unspectacular players can come up and perform well enough, the Renegades should be the favorites to take home the title in 2020.