Week 1 of the season is in the books and as we head into the second week of the NFL, there are plenty of questions on many fans minds.
Can the Packers survive while Jordan Love is out? Is Bryce Young a genuine bust? Can this revamped Kansas City offense actually win three Super Bowls in a row?
As we head into the second week of the season, I’ve run my eyes over every game and studied the markets so you don’t have to.
Here is my preview of Week 2 of the NFL.
Two 1-0 AFC East sides will do battle on Thursday Night Football in what should be one of the great offensive slugfests.
The Dolphins are $1.70 favourites after their come from behind win over the Jaguars on Monday morning but for me I think the value is with Buffalo at $2.15.
There are some question marks over Josh Allen who injured his hand against the Cardinals but every report I have found says that he’s been cleared to play.
Does Buffalo have an answer to every weapon Miami have defensively?
Probably not but when Josh Allen is under centre, he makes everyone around him play better.
Player markets wise, James Cook had 100 all purpose yards for Buffalo last week and while Dalton Kincaid bummed out, the tape shows how blanketed he was with double and triple teams.
They’re my two picks on that side of the ball.
Miami running back De’Von Achane had himself a day last week too but did majority of his work in the receiving game. A play on his all purpose yards is probably the go just to stay safe.
My Bets
- Buffalo Bills H2H @ $2.15
- De’Von Achane Over 80+ Rushing & Receiving Yards
- James Cook Over 80+ Rushing & Receiving Yards
- Dalton Kincaid Over 40+ Receiving Yards
Anytime Touchdown Tips
- Tyreek Hill Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Keon Coleman Anytime Touchdown Scorer
The Titans defence was pretty hard to get through last week against the Bears. So much so that it was the other sides of the ball that somehow conceded all the points in their loss to Chicago.
In their first game at home this year the Titans are $2.60 underdogs and that makes a hell of a lot of sense to me.
Levis was deep fried ass last week and that photo on his hands and knees after throwing the pick 6 has stuck with me as one of the funniest moments of Week 1.
The Jets looked rusty last week on offense but their defence should cook Levis, I like NY to cover.
My Bets
- New York Jets -3.5 @ $1.90
- Breece Hall Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Breece Hall 75+ Rushing Yards
The Vikings and Sam Darnold in particular played incredibly well last week but they were up against the Giants and we could very easily see a different performance this week against a 49ers side that actually deserves to be in the league.
The 9ers are fat favourites at $1.33 and I don’t see a world were the Vikes don’t come crashing back to earth here.
It was a convincing win for San Fran against the Jets in Week 1 and I still don’t think they played to their full potential.
One thing we did learn was that while CMC is out.
Shanahan is going to run backup RB Jordan Mason till he can’t run no mo.
Mason had 30+ touches of the ball last week and will more than likely see the same sort of action in this game, especially if the 49ers are up early and they are trying to run the clock out in the second half.
I love Justin Jefferson but 49ers 14+ looks too good here.
My Bets
- San Francisco 49ers 14+ @ $3.05
- Jordan Mason Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Jordan Mason 80+ Rushing Yards
The Pats pulled off the upset of the week against Cincy in week 1 but similar to the Vikings above, I’m expecting this to be a bit of an adjustment game against Seattle.
Sure on paper the Bengals are a better team but Seattle actually played to their expectations last week against Denver and should roll into this game with a lot of confidence.
Kenneth Walker the Seahawks RB is my pick to put this offense on his back once again in Week 2.
The Patriots have a solid defence and matchups like Christian Gonzales v DK Metcalf should make the pass game challenging here.
Hand the ball off to Kenny and Seattle should cover in this one.
My Bets
- Seattle Seahawks -3.5 @ $1.94
- Kenneth Walker Over 60+ Rushing Yards
- Kenneth Walker Anytime TD Scorer
Dallas were somehow underdogs last week, I hope you followed my bets last week because we smashed them at $2.20.
This week should be a similar sort of game for Dallas but the bookies have clued on with Dak and the boys at $1.30 here and even though the Saints almost scored 50 on the Panthers last week.
I don’t think they keep up with the Cowboys.
The Cowboys RB room looks like a mess of a committee so I want a few more weeks of data on them before backing Elliot/Dowdle.
CeeDee Lamb should bounce back in this matchup however. I like him to return to the level of play we all expect from him.
My Bets
- Dallas Cowboys -6.5 @ $1.90
- CeeDee Lamb Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- CeeDee Lamb To Have 75+ Receiving Yards
I talked myself into the Panthers last week and boy was I wrong.
God they look bad and while I hope they do turn it around, I don’t want to tip you punters into them anytime soon.
The Chargers new playstyle should absolutely shred this Panthers’ defence, I’m willing to back both JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards to score rushing touchdowns in this game.
The Panthers’ secondary were on their heels the entire game last week too, could we see a Ladd McConkey breakout here?
My Bets
- Los Angeles Chargers 14+ @ $3.05
- JK Dobbins Anytime Touchdown
- Gus Edwards Anytime Touchdown
- Ladd McConkey Over 60+ Receiving Yards
Baltimore were one toenail away from beating the Chiefs last week and now score themselves a tune up game against a Raiders team I don’t have any faith in at all.
There’s lots of players on Baltimore’s side of the ball I like this week.
Isaiah Likely should continue as a productive tight end in this game and Lamar Jackson force fed Zay Flowers a lot of receptions last week, even if he wasn’t very productive with them.
Temper your expectations on Derrick Henry being that 20+ bellcow RB, I’m not sure he’s going to have that roll in this Ravens team.
Ravens 14+
My Bets
- Baltimore Ravens 14+ @ $2.40
- Isaiah Likely Over 60+ Receiving Yards
- Zay Flowers 6+ Receptions
- Lamar Jackson 60+ Rushing Yards
Not all 0-1 teams are the same and that is certainly the case with the Jags and the Browns.
A couple of silly errors by Jacksonville saw them blow the game against Miami but the Browns are very very bad and as long as Deshaun Watson is their QB I wish them nothing but the worst.
Trevor Lawrence’s chemistry with rookie WR Brian Thomas Jr should continue to grow here.
BTJ only had 4 targets last week but I think we could see a true breakout from the LSU WR here.
Poor playcalling in the second half saw Trevor only attempt seven throws, that all gets fixed up here.
Smash Brian Thomas, Jags to cover.
My Bets
- Jacksonville Jaguars -3 @ $1.87
- Brian Thomas Jr 75+ Receiving Yards
- Brian Thomas Jr Anytime Touchdown Scorer
It’s the Commies turn to embarrass the Giants.
The Commanders look to be on the way up this year and it looks like another year of pain for Giants fans (me).
The line is mad short and I think that’s the bookies giving the Giants too much credit, a play on the Commies 14+ might be worth a couple of bones. I’m taking them to cover though.
My Bets
- Washington Commanders -1.5 @ $1.87
- Jayden Daniels 60+ Rushing Yards
- Brian Robinson Anytime Touchdown Scorer
The Lions were incredibly run heavy last week which shocked a lot of punters.
Meanwhile Tampa Bay really impressed me, I don’t think they’ll win this game but the Buccs look like a team that should score a lot of points this year.
There’s plenty of pass options for Baker Mayfield in this offense and with the line at 7 points. I like TB to cover.
Are we going to get another run heavy playbook from Detroit this week?
The Buccs gave up 138 rush yards to the Commanders last week, that could be something the Lions exploit with Montgomery and Gibbs.
My Bets
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers +7 @ $1.90
- David Montgomery Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- David Montgomery 50+ Rushing Yards
- Jahmyr Gibbs 50+ Rushing Yards
- Mike Evans 60+ Receiving Yards
With the greatest respect to Green Bay, they don’t have a chance in hell of winning this game with Malik Willis as their starting QB.
Which is a damn shame because they have so many exciting players to bet on but there’s no chance they stay on the field long enough to give any of their WRs the ball.
The Colts are a bit fun with AR15 chucking long bombs too. I think Josh Downs could be the receiver to back this week.
If you want a Packer to back, Josh Jacobs will be called on a lot to get some yardage, will the Colts scheme for that, absolutely so temper your expectations but we could be on.
My Bets
- Indianapolis Colts -3.5 @ $1.94
- Josh Downs Anytime Touchdown
- Josh Downs 60+ Receiving Yards
- Josh Jacobs 20+ Carries
The Cardinals impressed me a lot in their first few drives against Buffalo last week but ran out of gas when it mattered most.
They should learn a lot from that game and should hopefully actually use Marvin Harrison Jr.
Meanwhile the Rams might be hindered a little bit now that second year WR Puka Nacua has been put on IR.
I’m backing the Cardinals here but expect Cooper Kupp to have a very impressive box score.
My Bets
- Arizona Cardinals -1.5 @ $1.90
- Kyler Murray Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Marvin Harrison Jr Over 60+ Receiving Yards
- Cooper Kupp 80+ Receiving Yards
This Steelers defence will absolutely slaughter Bo Nix.
Nix was a candidate for preseason darling, but looked like a deer in headlights when it actually mattered last week against the Seahawks.
It’s hard to get a good read on the Steelers offense while Russell Wilson is 50/50 with injury but this is the game this week where I’m willing to back a defensive touchdown.
Steelers to cover, Steelers D/ST TD.
Joey Porter Jr if you want me to get specific.
My Bets
- Pittsburgh Steelers -3 @ $1.90
- Najee Harris 60+ Rushing Yards
- Pittsburgh D/ST Anytime Touchdown Scorer
The Bengals will need to be a lot better if they want to be a chance of beating this Chiefs team here.
They looked completely lost out there last week, Ja’Marr Chase was walking on plays and it’s abundantly clear that his contract disputes are becoming a distraction.
Meanwhile, KC’s offense looks way more dynamic this year and we should see Mahomes return to those 350+ yard games we have grown to expect from him.
Rashee Rice looks like the clear #1 in that pass catching room but Xavier Worthy looks like he can score anytime he touches the ball.
66.67% of Worthy’s touches in the NFL have been TDs.
Rashee for yards, Worthy for a TD and the Chiefs to cover here.
My Bets
- Chiefs -6 @ $1.90
- Xavier Worthy Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Rashee Rice 80+ Receiving Yards
CJ Stroud and the Texans looked incredibly menacing last week.
They can beat a team anyway they want there are clearly some growing pains in Chicago while Caleb Williams finds his feet in the league.
Chicago were lucky to get the win last week and suffered from a lot of silly errors from almost every member of the offense.
The O-Line missed block or straight up got belted on plays, Caleb despite claiming he doesn’t get nervous looked over excited on multiple throws and a couple of big drops from his receivers made for a miserable day for this Bears attack.
Will they iron out those issues? Seems pretty easy for a group of professional footballers but I think the Texans will be too good here.
My Bets
- Houston Texans -7 @ $1.90
- CJ Stroud 2+ Passing Touchdowns
- Tank Dell Anytime Touchdown
- Joe Mixon 60+ Rushing Yards
- Caleb Williams 200+ Passing Yards
BIRD BOWL ALERT, BIRD BOWL ON PRIME TIME ALERT.
It’s their first game in the northern hemisphere this season and the Eagles are phat favourites against a Falcons team that looks to have a lot of growing pains.
Kirk Cousins looks like he doesn’t fully trust his achilles yet and made some very poor and uncharacteristically bad throws against the Steelers.
Saquon looks like a new man in this Philly offense too and I like him to rip ATL to shreds here.
He already has 3 TDs on the year and will at least get one this week.
My Bets
- Philadelphia Eagles 14+ @ $2.95
- Saquon Barkley Anytime Touchdown Scorer
- Saquon Barkley 120+ Rushing & Receiving Yards
- AJ Brown 75+ Receiving Yards
A couple of bad beats on our multi last week. Josh Allen finished a handful of yards short of the magic 250 and Justin Jefferson put his feet up on the bench with 59 yards. Sickening.
The show goes on and I’ve put together another fantasy team with players with great matchups this week.
Just to recap in week 1 we had:
- Quarterback: Josh Allen 250+ Passing Yards vs the Arizona Cardinals ($1.92) X
- Runningback: Travis Etienne 60+ Rushing Yards vs Miami Dolphins ($1.94) X
- Runningback: Kenneth Walker 60+ Rushing Yards vs Denver Broncos ($1.57) ✓
- Wide Receiver: Mike Evans 60+ Receiving Yards vs Washinton Commanders ($1.46) ✓
- Wide Receiver: Justin Jefferson 60+ Receiving Yards vs New York Giants ($1.24) X
- Multi: $10.58
Week 2’s Fantasy team looks like this:
- Quarterback: Patrick Mahomes Over 250+ Passing Yards
- Runningback: Saquon Barkley 60+ Rushing Yards
- Runningback: Jordan Mason 60+ Rushing Yards
- Wide Receiver: CeeDee Lamb 60+ Receiving Yards
- Wide Receiver: Cooper Kupp 60+ Receiving Yards