PFF has you covered for all offseason leagues, in addition to grades and analysis for the NFL and college football. We'll be diving into every USFL team's highest-graded players each week. Let's get into the numbers ahead of Week 6.
Be sure to also check out our XFL highest-graded players.
Birmingham Stallions
- QB Alex McGough (84.4)
- DI Khalil Davis (80.2)
- EDGE Dondrea Tillman (79.6)
- LB Quentin Poling (75.7)
- TE Jace Sternberger (74.3)
Alex McGough earned an 81.1 overall grade in Week 5 to further boost his season-long mark and jump into the top spot for Birmingham. He is also the USFL's top-graded quarterback under pressure (73.7 passing grade), completing 21 of his 40 attempts while under duress.
Khalil Davis is one of five USFL interior defenders to earn 70.0-plus grades as both a pass rusher and a run defender. He posted a season-high 80.4 grade in Week 5 after recording two quarterback pressures — one hit and one hurry.
A 28-yard run for Alex McGough! 🐎 pic.twitter.com/mO1VZB11dm
— B2B2B CHAMPION STALLIONS 🏆🏆🏆 (@USFLStallions) May 13, 2023
Houston Gamblers
- WR Justin Hall (90.0)
- RB Mark Thompson (85.5)
- EDGE Ronheen Bingham (83.4)
- S Andrew Soroh (75.4)
- WR Anthony Ratliff-Williams (74.5)
The USFL's highest-graded wide receiver, Justin Hall leads the position in yards after the catch (191), touchdowns (4), missed tackles forced (15) and yards per route run (2.79). He has now earned four straight 75.0-plus game grades.
Ronheen Bingham added three more quarterback pressures in Week 5 to his 2023 total, continuing his reign as the USFL leader in that category. He has a sack in every game this season and boasts a 75.0-plus run-defense grade to boot.
Memphis Showboats
- S Kyree Woods (90.9)
- WR Vinny Papale (80.4)
- EDGE Jeff McCulloch (80.4)
- S Lamont McPhatter (74.6)
- RB Kerrith Whyte Jr. (74.3)
Kyree Woods has skyrocketed up the Showboats leaderboard after earning three 80.0-plus overall grades in three games, finally qualifying for the minimum snap threshold ahead of Week 6. Eight targets into his coverage have resulted in just 29 yards combined, and he snagged a tipped interception in Week 5. His 91.6 coverage grade is the top mark in the USFL.
We highlighted Vinny Papale in last week's edition as a contested-catch master, and he made another tough grab on fourth-and-2 in Week 5. Papale has yet to earn a receiving game grade below 70.0.
Kyree Woods with the INT!!! pic.twitter.com/shu3HtgYWg
— Memphis Showboats (@USFLShowboats) May 14, 2023
Michigan Panthers
- EDGE Breeland Speaks (90.6)
- RB Reggie Corbin (77.3)
- CB Josh Butler (73.9)
- OT Brodarious Hamm (73.4)
- EDGE Tre Williams (72.6)
One of the early frontrunners for Defensive Player of the Year, Breeland Speaks, to put it simply, cannot be stopped. While he went quiet by his standards in Weeks 3 and 4, he recorded three pressures — including two sacks — in Week 5. Speaks is one of four USFL defenders with a 90.0-plus overall grade and ranks fourth in pass-rush win rate (19.7%).
It was a week to forget for Reggie Corbin, who managed just 11 rushing yards on nine carries and lost a fumble. His sub-40.0 game grade reflects that, but his body of work over the season keeps him in the No. 2 spot. He has forced .25 missed tackles per attempt, the third-best rate among USFL running backs this season.
Another day, another sack for your league leader @Bspeaks9! 😤
🎥: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/OQYbRBcvRa
— Michigan Panthers (@USFLPanthers) May 13, 2023
New Jersey Generals
- LB Chris Orr (91.0)
- DI Kenneth Randall (86.1)
- DI Toby Johnson (82.9)
- EDGE Hercules Mata'afa (80.7)
- CB Christian Tutt (80.0)
Chris Orr is the highest-graded player in the USFL, regardless of position. Among linebackers who have played at least 50 coverage snaps, none have allowed fewer yards per snap than Orr (.41). He is also tied for first at the position in run stops (14).
Kenneth Randall's 80.8 run-defense grade is the top mark among interior defenders, and his 78.1 pass-rushing grade ranks second. He recorded a season-high four pressures in the Generals' Week 5 loss to the Stars.
New Orleans Breakers
- RB Wes Hills (84.0)
- EDGE Anree Saint-Amour (83.2)
- CB Nevelle Clarke (78.0)
- TE Sage Surratt (77.7)
- LB Vontae Diggs (77.1)
The first-place Breakers rode Hills' dominance in establishing a 4-0 record, but they suffered their first loss of the year in Week 5 amid a down performance from the USFL's top running back. Even so, he leads the league in forced missed tackles (20), first-down runs (29) and yards after contact (293).
With a season-high 85.9 game grade in Week 5, Anree Saint-Amour vaulted himself into the Breakers' No. 2 spot. He racked up an impressive seven pressures — tied for the most of any USFL player in a single game this season. That brings his season total to 19, the third most in the league.
Sack.
Sealed.
Delivered.
Anree Saint-Amour 😤🎥: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/UkglCscIAR
— New Orleans Breakers (@USFLBreakers) April 29, 2023
Philadelphia Stars
- OG Shamarious Gilmore (80.6)
- EDGE Ali Fayad (78.0)
- EDGE Adam Rodriguez (76.3)
- S Cody Brown (76.2)
- WR Chris Rowland (72.9)
Shamarious Gilmore holds onto his top spot, although he did surrender two pressures against the Generals in Week 5. His 82.6 pass-blocking grade ranks second in the USFL, and his 74.8 run-blocking grade also places second among offensive linemen.
Ali Fayad missed Week 5 due to injury. Here's what we wrote about him last week:
A 91.2 game grade in Week 3 boosted Fayad into the top five, and he remains there after four weeks of action. His five run stops rank second among all USFL edge defenders.
Pittsburgh Maulers
- LB Reuben Foster (90.1)
- DI Olive Sagapolu (81.1)
- DI Boogie Roberts (78.3)
- WR Bailey Gaither (76.6)
- CB Mark Gilbert (75.7)
One can quantify Reuben Foster's impact through any number of statistics. While he hasn't played since Week 3, he remains the USFL's highest-graded linebacker in run defense (93.7). His stat line in that facet includes four tackles for loss or no gain and a forced fumble.
The USFL's highest-graded wide receiver in Week 5, Bailey Gaither flexed his muscles with a one-handed catch down the sideline — easily his best play of the season in the Maulers' 23-7 win over the Panthers.
Catch of the Year?! @BaileyGaither__
🎥: @USANetwork pic.twitter.com/1BlEigMulp
— Pittsburgh Maulers (@USFLMaulers) May 13, 2023
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