Week 1 is officially in the books and full credit to the script writers, it was another captivating and unpredictable week of NFL.
The Super Bowl Champs Kansas City getting upset by the Lions, the Cowboys running riot over the Giants and Jets’ marquee signing Aaron Rodgers only lasting four snaps was certainly not on my Week 1 bingo card.
The show goes on however and we are set for some blockbuster matchups in Week 2.
Are teams like the Lions, Dolphins and Cowboys legit this year or were their first up performances just a bit of an anomaly?
We’ll get to find out in the next few weeks.
I’ve run my eyes over each market, simulated each game in Madden and checked the waiver wire for fantasy studs.
Here is my preview of Week 2 of the NFL
I was very bullish on the NFC Champs last week against the Patriots.
I thought it was going to be a blowout and at 16-0 in the first quarter, I thought I was a genius and was ready to Irish up my coffee as a reward for having the biggest brain in all the land.
But it wasn’t to be, lead by Mac Jones, the Patriots rallied and potentially exposed a few problems the Eagles have.
Was it week 1 rust or is the Eagles’ D not as good as people are expecting?
I guess we’ll truly find out on Friday when Big Kirko and JJettas come to town.
Philly are $1.33 favourites to Minnesota’s $3.40 and should get this done comfortably in my eyes.
The Vikings gave up the second most yards and fourth most points in the league last year and if we’re going off last weeks loss to the Buccaneers, it appears like they haven’t resolved those massive issues.
The points line is set at 49 points this week and I think the Overs is calling my name. Both these offenses looked clunky in their openers and I see them getting both their WR1s more involved this week.
SGM $6.28
- Philadelphia Eagles H2H @ $1.33
- Over 49 Points @ $1.90
- Justin Jefferson to have 75+ Yards @ $1.28
- AJ Brown to have 75+ Yards @ $1.85
Anytime Touchdown Tips
- Justin Jefferson Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ $2.00
- AJ Brown Anytime Touchdown Scorer @ $2.00
Two of the first Quarterbacks off the board in this years draft will face off in week 2.
It’s an AFC South showdown that I have to admit, I am more excited about than I’m willing to let on.
Anthony Richardson looked good in his debut last week and I wouldn’t say Stroud looked bad but I’m keen to see him improve on his 242 Yards, 0 TD performance.
The Colts seem the value to me at $1.83, I think the Texans as $1.98 underdogs is too short for a team that didn’t score a touchdown last week and gave up 25 points to the Ravens.
Lamar had 38 rush yards against the Texans and the Ravens punched in 3 TDs on the ground. They had no answer for the rush and I think that’s where the Colts beat them in this one.
My Bets
- Indianapolis Colts -1 @ $1.87
- Zack Moss Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Anthony Richardson 50+ Rushing Yards
At $1.80, I feel like the bookies still aren’t giving the Packers enough credit here.
They looked great against the Bears last week and while it is an upgrade in opponents, I think the Packers should still get it done against the 1-0 Falcons.
Yes ATL won last week but there were some massive issues with that offense. Drake London caught zero catches on one target and Kyle Pitts finished with two catches on three targets for 44 yards.
A team like GB will do a better job of taking away the run game and if Ridder genuinely can’t throw the ball, this will be a long year for the Falcons despite having Bijan Robinson.
The RBs on both teams are who I like in this matchup. Bijan will get his and if Aaron Jones is good to go after tweaking his hamstring, he should continue to prop up Jordan Love.
My Bets
- Green Bay Packers H2H @ $1.80
- Aaron Jones Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Bijan Robinson 60+ Rushing Yards
Set your alarms, this could easily be the game of the round and a potential preview of the AFC Championship game.
The Jags looked red hot last week, 346 yards of total offense and 4 touchdowns against an Indianapolis side that were embarrassed.
This one screams game of the week potential.
The Chiefs open as $1.62 favourites but the value for me is the Jags +3. Hell I’m going to have a crack at a Jags upset as well.
At the time of writing, Kelce is still a massive chance of not playing and we saw just how poor the Chiefs pass catchers were without him.
On the other side, TLaw and Calvin Ridley looked incredible, 11 targets, 8 catches, 101 yards and a TD.
All signs are pointing to a shootout here.
My Bets
- Jaguars H2H @ $2.30
- Jaguars +3 @ $1.90
- Over 51 Points @ $1.90
- Trevor Lawrence Over 247.5 Passing Yards
- Travis Etienne Anytime TD Scorer
After upsetting the reigning Super Bowl champs, the Detroit Lions will take on the 0-1 Seahawks who struggled to really get going against the Rams.
Jared Goff and the Lions open as $1.40 favourites and with a -6 point handicap and if they managed to suffocate the Chiefs, this should be a fairly easy game for Detroit against an offense that only managed to throw for 112 yards.
Jahmyr Gibbs was held to a snap count but when he was on the field, he was electric. Amon-Ra St. Brown also showed why he is one of the best WRs in the league with his 71 yard, 1 TD performance.
The Seahawks only allowed 2.45 yards per carry to the Rams last week but Kyren Williams and Cam Akers aren’t the same RB as Gibbs. They also allowed 3 rushing touchdowns so all signs lead to a big game for not only Gibbs but David Montgomery who had 21 carries for 74 yards and a score against the Chiefs.
My Bets
- Detroit Lions 14+ @ $3.05
- Jahymr Gibbs Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- David Montgomery Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Amon-Ra St. Brown To Have 75+ Receiving Yards
The Bengals returned to their pre-Joe-Burrow-era Bungals form on Monday morning but there is no chance in hell I’m hitting the panic button on the Cincy just yet.
One of the more handsome members of the Neds’ content team pointed out to me that before Week 1, Burrow was 1-4 against Cleveland and are a bit of a nightmare team for him.
That proved to be the case again when they were essentially shut out in their season opener.
It doesn’t get any easier for Joe Shiesty this week, they’re in the most competitive division in football and take on a 1-0 Ravens side that look very exciting and have held Joe Shiesty to under 250 pass yards in his last two games against them.
The Ravens should get Mark Andrews back this week, combine that with rookie Zay Flowers who looked incredible last week and they have a pretty threatening pass attack.
For the sake of the preview, I think I’ve talked myself into Bengals 1-13. This one could truly go either way and I will be avoiding any result legs in my SGM this week.
My Bets
- Cincinnati Bengals 1-13 @ $2.25
- Over 46.5 Points @ $2.90
- Joe Mixon 60+ Rushing Yards
- Zay Flowers 70+ Receiving Yards
The Bills were horrendous against the Jets on MNF last week.
I expected the team that is fourth in the Super Bowl market to twist the knife in against New York after Aaron Rodgers went down but they start the season 0-1.
The should beat the Raiders in this one.
The Raiders fought hard against the Broncos last week but this match up should be different gravy, they’re $4.10 for a reason.
I really like how James Cook was used in the backfield vs The Jets and will be all over his receiving yard markets this week.
My Bets
- Bills 14+ @ $2.35
- James Cook 20+ Receiving Yards
- Stefon Diggs Anytime Touchdown Scorer
The Buccs are coming in red hot for this game against the Bears.
Baker lead Tampa Bay to an upset over the Vikings last week and now will try to pinch another win off an NFC North side.
The Bucs are $1.62 favourites in this side and the -3 line seems the value to me here.
Nothing about Chicago interested me last week, I thought it was ridiculous that they were favourites against Green Bay and I reckon they lose this one quite comfortably as well.
My Bets
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers -3 @ $1.94
- Baker Mayfield 2+ Passing TDs
- Rachaad White 50+ Rushing Yards
The Titans are a red hot mess plain and simple.
Their QB has a noodle arm, their WRs can’t get open and Derrick Henry, the only piece of that team that sparks joy was out snapped by rookie Tyjae Spears.
This is a team that has no idea what they’re trying to do any I want nothing to do with them.
The Chargers on the other hand, looked bloody schmick against the Dolphins, they’re 0-1 but still managed to score 34 points.
I went 14+ too many times last week but this is a matchup that screams 14+.
My Bets
- Los Angeles 14+ H2H @ $4.00
- Justin Herbert 300+ Passing Yards
- Keenan Allen Anytime Touchdown Scorer
Are the Rams good or did they just get a bit lucky against the Seahawks? Hard to tell this early in the year but do you know who is good? The 49ers.
Hands down still the best defence in the league (Yes I watched the Cowboys game) and I think that they will do naughty naughty things to this Rams team.
Give me 49ers -8, give me under 44.5 points and I may even add an Aiyuk touchdown to that for a bit of value
My Bets
- San Francisco 49ers -8 @ $1.90
- Under 44.5 Points @ $1.90
- Brandon Aiyuk Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Christian McCaffrey 70+ Rushing Yards
Didn’t think we’d see the Caleb Williams Bowl this early in the season but after what we saw from both of these sides last week, a win from either side here could see them out of the running for a bloody hot QB prospect.
Is that a bit harsh on the Giants who scored themselves a playoff win last season? Maybe, but they are the only team in the league who is yet to score a point this season.
The Cardinals stuck with the Commanders for a good chunk of their Week 1 game, Josh Dobbs made some really nice throws.
The Giants not only got pummeled but also made a heap of errors. Cardinals at home, paying $2.85 seems like the play here.
My Bets
- Arizona Cardinals H2H @ $2.85
- James Conner Anytime Touchdown
- Saquon Barkley 20+ Receiving Yards
I was looking forward to this matchup, until the fourth snap of last week’s MNF game.
The Cowboys are coming off a 40-0 shut out of the other New York team and should make Zach Wilson’s life hell in this game.
I really like both Tony Pollard and Breece Hall in this game for a couple reasons.
Firstly I believe the game script should see the Cowboys running the ball a lot in the second half once they’ve secured a lead and Breece in his first game since tearing his ACL in Week 7 last year looked like he hadn’t lost a yard. At one point he had two carries for 107 yards.
Cowboys -9.5 and Overs on both RB yardage totals for me. I’ll take a Pollard TD too.
My Bets
- Dallas Cowboys -9.5 @ $1.90
- Tony Pollard Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Tony Pollard 60+ Rushing Yards
- Breece Hall 70+ Rushing Yards
And the winner of my stinky game of the week is… The Broncs vs The Commies!
Denver really struggled to get anything going against Vegas and the Commanders just scraped by against the Cardinals who have already been tipped by every talking head in the game to be the worst team in football.
I think it’s criminal that this game is on at a decent time for us Australians.
It’s a shame this game is in Denver because it makes it a 6:25am AEST kick for us Aussies, if they were playing in Washington it would have been buried in the 3:00am window where it belongs… damn American geography.
I need to preview it though and I think the Broncos defence is the difference maker for me. Broncs to cover.
My Bets
- Denver Broncos -3.5 @ $1.90
- Javonte Williams Anytime Touchdown Scorer
The Pats surprised me last week but wow didn’t the Dolphins surprise everyone.
I thought they’d be good but I didn’t expect Tua for 466 yards and Tyreek for 215 straight out of the gate.
Can the Patriots stop the most exciting offense in the league?
I’m not sure they can but I also thought they’d get pummeled by the Eagles.
My Bets
- Dolphins 14+ @ $4.75
- Tyreek Hill Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Tyreek Hill 90+ Receiving Yards
We’ve got two games to choose from on Tuesday, lets start with the NFC South clash.
The Saints looked dismal last week against the Titans and the Panthers really struggled to move the chains.
It had nothing to do with Bryce Young however, as expected the Panthers pass catchers just could not get any separation from the defence.
Despite only edging home, Derrick Carr still threw for 305 yards and I’d imagine that will be the difference maker in this clash.
The Panthers are going to experience some growing pains and the Saints have too many weapons not to win this game.
My Bets
- New Orleans Saints -3 @ $1.90
- Derrick Carr 2+ Passing Touchdowns
- Chris Olave Anytime Touchdown
- Michael Thomas 60+ Receiving Yards
The Steelers struggled last week but that was to be expected against the 49ers. To round out Week 2 they take on the Browns who are coming off a big upset win over their AFC North Rivals the Bengals.
It’s going to be an uphill battle for the Steelers without Diontae Johnson and potentially Pat Freiermuth. They threw the ball 46 times last week and may struggle without two of their best weapons.
The Browns ran the ball really well last week, the stats seem quite skewed to the run game but I think that wild weather in Cleveland is to blame.
Browns 1-13, Amari Cooper 60+ yards & a touchdown for me
My Bets
- Cleveland Browns 1-13 @ $2.25
- Amari Cooper 60+ Receiving Yards
- Amari Cooper Anytime Touchdown
Trevor Lawrence fell just 17 yards short of his over in week 1 and the injury to Aaron Rodgers saw Garrett Wilson go nowhere near his yardage totals.
The show goes on however and I’ve studied the match ups fairly closely this week to give you punters another fantasy team
Just to recap in week 1 we had:
- Quarterback: Trevor Lawrence Over 258.5 Pass Yards vs the Indianapolis Colts ($1.88) X
- Runningback: Bijan Robinson Over 66.5 Rush Yards vs Carolina Panthers ($1.88) ✓
- Runningback: Joe Mixon Over 54.5 Rush Yards vs Cleveland Browns ($1.88) ✓
- Wide Receiver: Chris Olave Over 66.5 Receiving Yards vs Tennessee Titans ($1.88) ✓
- Wide Receiver: Garrett Wilson Over 69.5 Receiving Yards vs Buffalo Bills ($1.88) X
- Multi: $23.48
Week 2’s Fantasy team looks like this:
- Quarterback: Josh Allen Over 250+ Passing Yards
- Runningback: Saquon Barkley 60+ Rushing Yards
- Runningback: Derrick Henry 60+ Rushing Yards
- Wide Receiver: Keenan Allen 60+ Receiving Yards
- Wide Receiver: Tyreek Hill 80+ Receiving Yards