XFL midseason review

After another quiet day on the free agency front, it's a good time to recap the XFL season so far from the Jets' perspective. The 10-week regular season reaches it's mid-point tonight.

Let's recap how some ex-Jets have fared and which players could be of interest to NFL teams once the season is over.

Ex-Jets recap

With Houston currently 4-1, their quarterback Brandon Silvers - who was briefly with the Jets in the 2019 offseason - might have a shot at the league's MVP award. Silvers is second in the league for passing yards at just under 240 per game and tied for the league lead with 11 touchdown passes. He has completed 62 percent of his passes and shown more big-play abilities than any other passer with six 40+ yard completions. No other quarterback has more than two.

Silvers' favorite targets have included another ex-Jet, Deontay Burnett, who has 17 catches for 222 yards and three scores.

Running back Kalen Ballage is third in the league in carries but has struggled badly as he averages less than three yards per carry. He also has six catches for 40 yards.

Other offensive contributors include tight end Brandon Dillon (five catches, 66 yards) and wideout George Campbell (two catches, 16 yards).

On defense, a 2021 Jet - Tim Ward - is off to a great start with five sacks in the first five games. He has 19 tackles and seven tackles for loss in all.

Another pass rusher, John Daka, has also made an impact with 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. He leads the league in pressure percentages. Aaron Adeoye also has 1.5 sacks.

Defensive lineman TJ Barnes has seven tackles, a tackle for loss and a game-clinching sack on a two-point conversion and linebacker Edmond Robinson has six tackles, a tackle for loss and a forced fumble.

Finally, defensive back Luq Barcoo has made a good impact with 16 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack and an interception. He also leads the league with seven pass breakups.

Possible NFL targets

Other than guys like Silvers and Ward from the above list, here are some standouts from the first half of a season, who could get another look at the NFL level:

Return men could be in demand after KaVontae Turpin was such a success coming out of the USFL last year. The current punt return average leader, Will Likely, could be worth a look. He also scored a touchdown on a fumble return.

Pass catchers could also be in demand. Jahcour Pearson leads the league easily with 430 yards on 36 receptions, Jeff Badet is the touchdown leader with five and Josh Gordon has the best yards per catch average of anyone with at least 15 catches.

Someone else worth watching is a former receiver. Cody Latimer is giving the tight end position a try and has been the most dominant tight end in the league as he is third in yards and receptions.

On defense, Trent Harris leads the league with six sacks, although four of those did come in the first game. Defensive backs Ajene Harris (five interceptions) and Michael Joseph (four interceptions, including two pick-sixes) have showcased some playmaking abilities.