NFL Week 2 Preview

Commanders at Lambeau Field, taking on the Packers, who just blitzed the Lions.

Jayden Daniels is going to have his work cut out for him because the Packers were really, really good in Week 1. Daniels is going to have this Micah Parsons-led defence bearing down on him for four quarters.

The Commanders made light work of the Giants, who, to say, were disappointing would be an understatement. (Get Jaxson Dart under centre!)

Jordan Love wasn’t crazy, but he executed well, which is all you can ask for in week 1. But the run game was good, the defence was good, and the Packers could be a top 5 team.

Don’t underestimate the Commanders though, they’ll be right there competing and wanting to prove last year wasn’t a fluke.

Deebo Samuel balled out with 77 yards on seven catches, one rush for 19 yards and a touchdown, great for my fantasy team and hopefully great for our punting. It seems like he’ll be getting opportunities and at least one designated run play a game. Yet his line is only at 6.5 yards.

While it’s low, I’ll be taking advantage of that.

I mentioned the Packers’ run game was huge with Josh Jacobs going to work. That means we can back Jordan Love’s under on his passing yards. The line is set at 226.5 and his last five games have all gone under, with the closest being 212 yards against the Eagles last season.

I said the Packers were much better than the Lions yet they only won by 14. I’d expect the Commanders to be better than that, but I’ll side with the Cheeseheads at home.

My Bets:

• Deebo Samuel Over 6.5 Rushing Yards @ $1.88
• Jordan Love Under 226.5 Passing Yards @ $1.88
• Packers Winning Margin 1-13 @ $2.50

If you’re taking all three as an SGM, that will give you $7.29

Okay, so the Bears threw away a fourth quarter lead, and Dan Campbell might just a your average coach with the bollocks to make big calls and nothing else.

Because what was that offence against the Packers in Week 1?

This game will be known for Ben Johnson’s return to Detroit. How will he go against his former team? Well, for three quarters against the Vikings, his side looked like it could be playoff-bound and then we know how that story ends.

They’ll learn and be better from that loss but do they have what it takes to beat the Lions in Week 2?

I don’t think so. The Lions have been one of the best sides at covering when coming off a loss. The line sits at -6, so I’m happy to take a touchdown there and ride with Jared Goff and his side.

The offence had a stinker against a good Packers defence, and I’d be expecting an uptick from the Lions in this one. Goff will be looking to force-feed his star receiver, especially around the end zone. I’ll be taking the Sun God for a touchdown.

As for the Bears’ offence, Caleb Williams looked better than last year, making throws on the run (he did miss a few) but also showing off his athleticism with a touchdown run for 9 yards.

I’m thinking he’ll have to use his legs to get out of some trouble again this week and clear his total rush yards.

My Bets:

• Lions -6 @ $1.90
• Amon-Ra St. Brown Anytime Touchdown @ $2.10
• Caleb Williams Over 28.5 Rushing Yards @ $1.88

If you’re taking all three as an SGM, that will give you $6.54

The later game on the morning slate is a Super Bowl rematch at Arrowhead Stadium.

The Eagles are only slight favourites in this one despite having a loaded roster on both sides of the ball.

Meanwhile, the Chiefs have a suspended WR1, an injured WR2, a 35-year-old Travis Kelce (who is still good btw) and a mediocre pass rush on defence.

So why is this tight in the betting odds? That is because Patrick Mahomes is still a magician. There was an obvious talent gap in the Super Bowl last year and you can say the same for this match-up.

However, I can’t count the Chiefs out. Kelce and Hollywood Brown are going to have to step up big time for their team, and Patrick Mahomes will look to get the ball in their hands.

We all know that Barkley and Hurts are going to have their say on how this game turns out. Scoring touchdowns come easy to the pair of them.

While they’re running amok, receiver will be out there A.J. Brown doing nothing! He had one catch on one target last week and I’m thinking he must’ve done something to piss Jalen Hurts off right?

Not what I was expecting and unfortunate for A.J. Brown fantasy owners… but we’re rocking with his under.

My Bets:

• Travis Kelce / Hollywood Brown to have 125+ Receiving Yards Combined @ $2.40
• Jalen Hurts / Saquon Barkley to have 2+ Touchdowns Combined @ $2.35
• A.J. Brown Under 65.5 Receiving Yards @ $1.88

If you’re taking all three as an SGM, that will give you $9.48

The Vikings got out of jail last week in Chicago after being outplayed for three quarters.

J.J. McCarthy looked like a deer in headlights, but turned up big for his team when it mattered. You forget that was his first competitive game of football since he left Michigan to a National Championship in January 2024.

The Falcons missed a field goal to tie it up against the Buccaneers, but Penix looked good, and Bijan Robinson looked like a guy. I have the Bucs teams going to the Super Bowl, so there’s no shame in losing that one for the Falcons.

Here’s how we’re playing this Sunday Night Football matchup:

If the Falcons are going to win football games, it’s because Bijan Robinson is making a case for offensive player of the year.

J.J. McCarthy didn’t throw the ball much, and it will probably stay that way until Jordan Addison comes back to the receiving core. Yes, he can rely on Jefferson but Jordan Mason as RB1 was exceptional and backed up by Aaron Jones, they’re sitting pretty.

Mason and Jefferson are the likely option to find the endzone for the Vikings but I think the tight end is a great option, especially for McCarthy who loves his short yardage passes.

My Bets:

• Bijan Robinson Anytime Touchdown @ $1.58
• J.J. McCarthy Under 212.5 Passing Yards @ $1.88
• T.J. Hockenson Anytime Touchdown @ $3.05

If you’re taking all three as an SGM, that will give you $11.95

The first of two Monday Night Football games, Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers head to NRG Stadium to take on the Texans.

The Texans fired a dud last weekend against the Rams and I can only assume the alarms are sounding over in Houston.

On the other end of the stick, the Buccaneers got the job done on the back of Baker’s three passing touchdowns and rookie Emeka Egbuka calling his number for the winning touchdown.

Two 25+ Yard catches for touchdowns by the rook is an unreal debut and can only boost the team’s offensive ability further. More eyes on Egbuka means fewer eyes on the veteran Mike Evans.

You can probably tell I’m not huge on the Texans at all. I’m happy to be proved wrong, but zero touchdowns, nine points and two turnovers is a woeful start to the season.

My Bets:

• Buccaneers to Win @ $2.20
• Mike Evans Anytime Touchdown @ $2.35
• Baker Mayfield 2+ Passing Touchdowns @ $2.05

aIf you’re taking all three as an SGM, that will give you $11.95

We talked about it last week, but the NFL does not care about scheduling these early divisional games.

Back-to-back divisional opponents for the Chargers is a tough start, but they look like they could be up to the task after beating the Chiefs in Brazil last year.

You can put this down to one of two things, and I’ll leave it up to you to decide.

Justin Herbert might be about to take over the league.

Or the Chiefs secondary was bang average.

The Raiders won as well against a rather vanilla-looking Patriots side. Drake May threw the rock around but could only manage 13 points against the Raiders’ defence.

Geno Smith threw for 362 yards, with Brock Bowers going for 103 yards. Jakobi Meyers also went for 97 yards as they did the damage through the air with them finishing moves off on the ground with Jeanty running in on debut.

Does this happen again? I don’t think so. The Charger defence was and we know it to be very good. Herbert and Ladd McConkey look like an elite pair

My Bets:

• Chargers -3.5 @ $1.94
• Ladd McConkey Over 75.5 Receiving Yards @ $1.88
• Brock Bowers to have 80+ Receiving Yards @ $3.25

If you’re taking all three as an SGM, that will give you $16.45