This article is part of our NFL Game Previews series.
Sixteen teams (half the league, funny how that math works out) will try to avoid the dreaded 0-2 hole this week. Six will do so against another 0-1 team, guaranteeing one will start 0-2. Since 1990, the first year of the 12-team playoff format, a mere 11.7 percent (23 of 196) of teams to lose their first two games went on to make the playoffs. Just 23 have done so in the last 24 years and only one in the last five seasons (2013 Carolina Panthers). Oddly enough, three teams did so in 2008: Minnesota, San Diego and Miami. A number of franchises expected to be good in 2014 are 0-1, i.e. New Orleans, New England, Green Bay and Chicago. The odds of winning it all are even slimmer, as just four teams have won a championship after starting 0-2. The last Super Bowl Champion to lose twice to start the season was the 2007 New York Giants; the others were the 1993 Dallas Cowboys, 1996 New England Patriots and 2001 New England Patriots.
Pittsburgh (+2.5) at Baltimore, Thursday, 8:25 p.m. EST
Comments: Curious to see if the Ray Rice situation is a distraction for Baltimore. There was a time not too long ago when this matchup routinely decided the AFC North. After watching the Ravens' ugly loss to the Bengals and the Steelers nearly blow a 24-point lead to Cleveland, it's hard to imagine that being the case this year. In a brutal matchup vs. Cincinnati, Joe Flacco threw for 345 yards, but it took him 62 attempts to do so. Steve Smith had a wonderful Ravens debut with seven catches for 118 yards while Torrey Smith was limited to 50 yards on three receptions. Before overreacting, keep in mind Steve Smith had just six catches for 38 yards outside of the late, 80-yard TD. Justin Forsett outplayed Bernard Pierce last week, gaining 70 yards and a score on just 11 carries. Pierce was awful, getting benched after fumbling on his sixth carry. With the release of Ray Rice, Baltimore likely will rotate those two and rookie Lorenzo Taliaferro unless one grabs hold of the job. Dennis Pitta paced the Ravens with 10 catches, and serves as a great security blanket for Flacco. ... Giving up 183 yards on the ground to the Browns in the opener reiterated that this Steelers defense is not the formidable group to which we're accustomed. Le'Veon Bell had 197 total yards (109 rushing, 88 receiving) and a touchdown against a solid Browns defense. He looked more explosive than he did as a rookie. Maybe the foot injury that cost him the first three games of 2013 played a part in that 3.5-yard average. Bell needs Maurkice Pouncey to play well against mammoth DT Haloti Ngata if he is to have anywhere near that kind of success on the ground in week 2. Bell's ability as a receiver should come in handy again (Giovani Bernard had 62 yards receiving). Antonio Brown accounted for 116 of Ben Roethlisberger's 365 yards and his only TD. Brown remains a must-start. The opener confirmed that Markus Wheaton is Emmanuel Sanders' replacement as the second option in the passing game with 97 yards on seven targets. These teams have split their last four games, with each winning once at home and once on the road. You can almost throw out home-field advantage in this division rivalry.
Predictions:Joe Flacco turns the ball over twice finds Dennis Pitta in the end zone. The Ravens split carries almost evenly between all three backs, limiting the fantasy impact of each. Lorenzo Taliaferro scores and looks better than Pierce and Forsett. Antonio Brown slithers his way past Jimmy Smith on a quick screen for six during an 86-yard effort. Le'Veon Bell has a tough go of it on the ground but catches six passes for 94 total yards. Steelers win ugly on the road. Pittsburgh, 23-20.
Miami (-1) at Buffalo, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Comments: As expected, both teams are 1-0 entering the game ... yeah, right. Miami's revamped offensive line looked much better in a 191-yard rushing effort against the Patriots. The unit will be tested this week against a Buffalo front that registered 57 sacks a year ago, second in the NFL. Knowshon Moreno stole the show with 134 yards on 21 carries, including the game-clinching TD. Lamar Miller also played well with 78 total yards and a receiving touchdown. New OC Bill Lazor said Monday he will go with the hot hand. Ryan Tannehill hasn't shown enough to warrant more than QB2 consideration. Mike Wallace, despite facing Darrelle Revis, came up big with 81 yards and score. Charles Clay was quiet, but was targeted six times. ... C.J. Spiller (15) had twice as many carries as Fred Jackson (7) in the upset over the Bears. Spiller and Jackson will take on a Dolphins front that allowed just 89 yards on the ground to the Patriots. EJ Manuel also will be tested as Tom Brady completed just 51.8 percent of his passes with 4.4 YPA against Miami. Bills receivers could be inconsistent all year in one of the most run-heavy offenses in the league. Robert Woods led the team with six targets, gaining 78 yards on four receptions. Mike Williams, while quiet in week 1, remains their best red-zone target. The Buffalo defense gave up 163 total yards to Matt Forte last week, and the secondary doesn't scare anyone.
Predictions: In a coin-flip game, whichever team controls the line of scrimmage and avoids costly turnovers will come out on top. Both quarterbacks throw ill-advised picks, but the Bills offensive and defensive lines are the difference. Mike Wallace burns Leodis McKelvin for 66 of his 127 yards on a go route for a touchdown. Lamar Miller is the better back this week, out-gaining Knowshon Moreno 91-59. Doug Marrone reverts back to his old self, giving Fred Jackson twice as many carries as C.J. Spiller. Spiller is efficient on his 14 touches, Jackson scores on a 1-yard plunge. Sammy Watkins leads the team in targets (8), receptions (6) and yards (75). Bills make it three straight and four of five against their division foe. Buffalo, 24-21.
Jacksonville (+6) at Washington, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Comments: Jacksonville was poised to shock the world last week before the Eagles went on a 34-0 run to avoid the upset. Chad Henne didn't throw an interception during a 266-yard, two-touchdown day. Allen Hurns took full advantage of Cecil Shorts' absence with 110 yards and two touchdowns, scoring more fantasy points (23) than any receiver not named Calvin Johnson. Don't waste your whole FAAB budget, though; the rookie UDFA could be this year's Eddie Royal. Marqise Lee, despite most of his production coming in garbage time, is still the Jaguars receiver to own. Even when Shorts returns, Lee has the most upside. Toby Gerhart, forced out of action with an ankle sprain, disappointed with just 42 yards on 18 carries. Gerhart is expected to play this week and should rebound well against a Washington defense gave up more than 100 yards to Arian Foster last week, and volume won't be an issue for Gerhart all season as long as he's healthy. ... The Redskins left much to be desired offensively at Houston. Robert Griffin III looked better than in preseason, but he didn't throw a TD pass or do anything on the ground. Don't hit the panic button just yet -- the team is still learning Jay Gruden's offense and breaking in a wide receiver in DeSean Jackson. Jackson and Pierre Garcon combined for 18 receptions but just 139 yards. They likely will see more targets with the loss of Jordan Reed to a hamstring injury. Plan on seeing much more of Alfred Morris, particularly with a lead. Much of RG3's success as a rookie in 2012 was due to play-action. Both Griffin and Morris need to run more effectively to keep defenses honest and let the play-action work. Washington should have an easier time moving the ball this week than last week against a terrific Texan defense.
Predictions:Chad Henne throws two costly picks in plus-territory and waiver-wire sensation Allen Hurns goes catchless. Toby Gerhart delivers 88 yards and a TD on 22 carries. The Skins lean on Alfred Morris all day and he rewards them with 115 yards and a touchdown. Robert Griffin III hits Pierre Garcon on a slant in the endzone to seal it, capping off an efficient 239-yard day. Washington, 23-17.
Dallas (+3.5) at Tennessee, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Comments: Dallas looked awful in a home loss to San Francisco last week. Turnovers put the team in a 28-3 hole. Tony Romo, who three three INT, was in a three-way battle with Eli Manning and Alex Smith for the worst quarterbacking performance of opening weekend. On two of those picks Romo tried to force the ball to Dez Bryant despite multiple defenders in the area. Look for him to be "Good Romo" against the Titans in a much more favorable matchup. Dez Bryant gave fantasy owners quite a scare, exiting with a back injury after getting laid out while elevating for a poorly thrown pass. Bryant was in and out of the game with dehydration as well, limiting him to 55 yards. DeMarco Murray was the lone bright spot for Dallas, finishing fifth among RBs in fantasy points. Terrance Williams scored in garbage time during the futile comeback attempt, while Jason Witten was quiet throughout despite six targets. ... Tennessee is riding high after a 26-10 upset of the Chiefs in Arrowhead. Hard to say if that was more about how bad Kansas City was or if the Titans forced that poor play. Although the Titans gave up just 34 total yards to Jamaal Charles, that was a result of an inexplicable lack of usage, not shutting down a great runner. Bishop Sankey owners must be patient. He carried six times while Shonn Greene started and was effective on his 15 carries (71 yards). Sankey's role should expand in the coming weeks as Greene begins to resemble ... Shonn Greene. Jake Locker played surprisingly well and has a dream matchup this week. Locker could be ranked top 10 among quarterbacks for week 2 because of the opponent. That Cowboys defense is as bad as advertised -- start all Titans. Kendall Wright and Justin Hunter are the two notable receivers, but TE Delanie Walker scored a TD and goes against a Dallas defense that allowed two touchdowns to Vernon Davis.
Predictions:Dez Bryant makes the Titans wish they retained Alterraun Verner in free agency, abusing them for 139 yards and one of Romo's three touchdowns. Romo's others go to Jason Witten and Cole Beasley. DeMarco Murray musters 101 total yards despite Jason Garrett forgetting he exists for long stretches. Jake Locker throws for 257 yards and two TD in an eerily similar line to last week. Kendall Wright matches last year's TD total with his second score of the season, Justin Hunter catches the other. Carries are divided almost evenly between Shonn Greene and Bishop Sankey. Both are effective, but neither has a huge fantasy day because of the split. Dallas, 28-24.
Arizona (-2) at NY Giants, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Comments: Whichever quarterback can avoid what RotoWire colleague Jeff Erickson would call the "drive-killing, soul-killing interception" that Eli Manning and Carson Palmer have mastered over the years will come out on top. Both teams have just six prep days as each played Monday night. John Abraham suffered a concussion and left the team in another blow to a Cardinals defense that lost Daryl Washington (one-year suspension) and Karlos Dansby (free agency) this offseason and Darnell Dockett (ACL) in training camp. On top of that, Tyrann Mathieu is still recovering from a Week 14 ACL tear. Still, the defense made stop after stop as the Cardinals rallied from a 17-6 deficit late, stopping the Chargers on a 4th-and-2 to seal it. Palmer finished as a top-five QB. If you punted QB in a deep league, target Palmer. Much to his father's chagrin, Larry Fitzgerald recorded just one reception for 22 yards on only four targets. Michael Floyd was clearly Palmer's top target, at least for that game, as he collected 119 yards on five catches. Don't be surprised if Bruce Arians overreacts, though, by feeding Fitz early and often in N.Y. Andre Ellington perhaps surprised by playing after suffering a minor foot injury in practice last Thursday but looked no worse for the wear. ... If it was possible, the G-Men looked even worse than in the preseason. The offense continues to look out of sync, still struggling to master OC Ben McAdoo's system. Things won't get any easier against a Cardinals defense that kept Philip Rivers in check. Victor Cruz dropped two of his six targets, finishing with 24 yards, and then complained about a lack of targets. And now Cruz will have to contend with Patrick Peterson? Rueben Randle, if Tom Coughlin doesn't bench him, will draw Antonio Cromartie a week after that stellar 1-yard effort. That's not a misprint: Two catches, ONE YARD. Rashad Jennings was the lone bright spot against Detroit with 96 total yards and a score. This week, though, he gets the top-ranked run defense from a year ago. (Ryan Mathews managed 40 yards in week 1.) The sooner Odell Beckham Jr. returns from his hamstring injury the better. This offense needs a difference-maker that can create. Facing Fitzgerald and Floyd will serve as a measuring stick for New York's improved secondary. That will be the matchup to watch Sunday, as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Prince Amukamara and Walter Thurmond III form one of the league's more talented CB groups. After being torched by Calvin Johnson, they will be motivated in this one.
Predictions:Larry Fitzgerald Sr. is pleased after Arians force-feeds his son 12 targets. Fitzgerald secures eight of those for 102 yards and a score. Andre Ellington and Rashad Jennings both exceed 80 yards from scrimmage, but much of that comes through the air. Jason Pierre-Paul (neck) plays, and well. JPP and Mathias Kiwanuka harass Carson Palmer all day, recording two sacks each. Because of that constant pressure, Palmer reverts back to his old ways with two ill-advised interceptions and a costly fumble. One of those turnovers goes the other way for six, the difference in the game. Giants win in a minor upset, ending Arizona's 7-1-1 run ATS against the NFC East. Just because I refuse to believe that group of players can be this bad. New York, 17-16.
New England (-3) at Minnesota, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Comments: Oddly enough, Minnesota is the 1-0 team in this matchup. The Vikings shocked many with a dominating 34-6 victory at St. Louis while New England is coming off its first opening-day loss since 2003. Silver lining for Pats fans: the Patriots won the Super Bowl that year. The Patriots were shut out and limited to less than 70 total yards after halftime by Miami last week. The defense wasn't much better, surrendering 191 rushing yards. And now that group will see a whole lot of arguably the best running back in football, Adrian Peterson. Expect N.E. to stack the box. Look for Tom Brady to rebound from a putrid performance (4.4 YPA). Rob Gronkowski, who scored but caught only four of 11 targets, should improve as he knocks the rust off. Look for more double-tight formations as Tim Wright has more time to learn the offense. Targets will be well spread, making it difficult to trust anyone but Gronk and Shane Vereen (8 targets) each week. Julian Edelman is the most reliable fantasy option even if he's not a consistent scoring threat. Aaron Dobson, Brandon LaFell, Danny Amendola and Kenbrell Thompkins are just too unpredictable. Keep Stevan Ridley on the bench until Bill Belichick proves he wants to hand him the ball. Shane Vereen is essentially Darren Sproles with games like last week now the norm. One Week 1 oddity was Vereen being used at the goal line instead of Ridley. Keep an eye on that. ... This is where Cordarelle Patterson needs to emerge as a legitimate go-to guy on the outside. Last week Patterson had 128 total yards but 102 came on the ground, 67 on one play. The long TD's are fun to watch, but someone has to keep opposing defenses honest when they load up to stop Peterson. Contrary to what the contract says, Greg Jennings is not that guy. Jennings is a nice No. 2 but doesn't scare defensive coordinators. Kyle Rudolph is still entirely touchdown-dependent for fantasy success. Despite allowing just six points to the Rams, that Vikings defense is largely the same as last year's 31st-ranked unit.
Predictions:Tom Brady gives the Vikings a reality check, bringing the defense back down to earth with 332 yards and three TDs. Rob Gronkowski looks more like himself with seven grabs for 87 yards. Danny Amendola and Stevan Ridley each find the end zone. Adrian Peterson is bottled up the majority of the day, posting a line similar to last week's. Cordarelle Patterson has a rough outing, contributing just 46 total yards. Patriots bounce back from the disappointing loss. New England, 31-20.
New Orleans (-6.5) at Cleveland, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Comments: The Browns have now lost 10 consecutive regular season openers, most in NFL history. Put simply, the Browns are overmatched here. Many survivor pools will use the Saints this week, even outdoors on the road where that offense tends to struggle. Cleveland just doesn't have the firepower to hang with Drew Brees and his crew. Joe Haden can only cover one man, after all. The Browns would be wise to assign Haden to Jimmy Graham (a la the way Belichick used Aqib Talib on him last year) to neutralize his impact. Look for Brees to test rookie corner Justin Gilbert early and often. Brandin Cooks, who hauled in seven of eight targets for 77 yards in his first pro outing, could be on the receiving end of many of those looks. Marques Colston won't repeat last week's 110-yard effort if he draws Haden in coverage for a good portion of the day. Mark Ingram was a pleasant surprise against Atlanta, gaining 60 yards and scoring twice on 13 rushes, and could finally be the early-down back the Saints thought they drafted in the first round. However, Khiry Robinson and Travaris Cadet (12 snaps each) will limit his fantasy value. As expected, Pierre Thomas was deployed primarily as a receiver. ... Ben Tate (knee) and Jordan Cameron (shoulder) exited Cleveland's game early against Pittsburgh. Tate is out 2-4 weeks, but if both of Cleveland's two best offensive players are unable to go, this game goes from mismatch to bloodbath in a hurry. Rookies Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell will both see time in the backfield with Tate sidelined, with West being the primary ballcarrier. Andrew Hawkins ended up as the Browns' leading receiver against as Miles Austin was non-existent. Hawkins really only has value in PPR formats, and Austin is not a starting-caliber NFL, yet. Saints DC Rob Ryan will take away the run and force Brian Hoyer and company to beat them through the air. Matt Ryan blistered N.O. for 448 yards, but the Browns passing game isn't in the same stratosphere as the Falcons'.
Predictions:Drew Brees gets the Saints back to .500 by throwing for 312 yards and three touchdowns. Jimmy Graham tops the century mark and scores for the first time this season. Pierre Thomas and Marques Colston catch the other two. Mark Ingram continues to impress with 73 yards. Terrance West and Isaiah Crowell find few running lanes as New Orleans stacks the box to take away the run, forcing Brian Hoyer to put it up 50 times. The results aren't pretty. New Orleans, 30-16.
Atlanta (+5) at Cincinnati, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Comments:Matt Ryan was the top Week 1 fantasy scorer in Atlanta's 34-31 victory over the Saints. Ryan set a franchise record with 448 passing yards. His top four wideouts had 7-9 targets and at least 69 yards each. However, Cincinnati poses a much tougher challenge than he faced a week ago. Steven Jackson's yards were mediocre, but he averaged 4.3 YPC. Perhaps most important, he didn't aggravate that hamstring injury that's nagged him the last 12 months. MLB Vontaze Burfict exited with a concussion. If unable to play, that would be a huge loss in the middle as the tackling machine is the heart of the defense. The most intriguing matchup will be the Falcons' receivers against the Bengals' secondary. Cincinnati is five-deep at cornerback with Leon Hall, Terence Newman, Adam Jones, Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard. Harry Douglas and Devin Hester can certainly take advantage if the Bengals choose to double Julio Jones or Roddy White. Devin Hester can take one to the house if Adam Jones misses another tackle on the back end. ... Andy Dalton had a solid outing in a 23-16 win over the Ravens. Of course, A.J. Green's 77-yard TD helped matters, but not turning the ball over is what Marvin Lewis needs out of Dalton. With an elite defense and a strong running game, their quarterback doesn't have to be great -- he just can't lose it for them. Giovani Bernard totaled 100 yards against a much tougher defense than he will face this week. His usage was reassuring as he had 20 touches to Jeremy Hill's four. This game has breakout potential for the second-year back, as Atlanta gave up 139 rushing yards to a pass-oriented Saints team. New Orleans operates under a RBBC approach, but all three backs averaged 4.4 YPC or better. Tyler Eifert will miss the next few weeks with an elbow injury, meaning Jermaine Gresham will see full-time duties at tight end. With Marvin Jones sidelined, the Bengals are having a tough time finding an adequate complement to A.J. Green. Both Brandon Tate and Mohamed Sanu received five-plus targets, but neither managed more than 36 yards.
Predictions:Matt Ryan goes from hero to zero in a week's time, pressured relentlessly by Cincy's front four. Steven Jackson scores in double-digits for the first time this season by virtue of a touchdown in the first half. A.J. Green and Julio Jones engage in a sensational back-and-forth battle of "can you top this?" to state their case as the second-best receiver in the game. Jones proves to be too much for any of the Bengal corners, finishing with 141 yards and a score. Green wins the battle, however, scorching the Falcons for 156 yards and two TD. Giovani Bernard busts out 134 yards for the first 100-yard rushing game of his career. Tempting to pick the Falcons here, but they do cover the spread in one of the best games of week 2. Home team wins it. Cincinnati, 27-24.
Detroit (+3) at Carolina, Sunday, 1 p.m. EST
Comments: So ... Calvin Johnson. That guy is ridiculous, maybe the best player in football. Johnson and Matthew Stafford are perhaps the league's best broken-play QB/WR combo, and I'm not sure it's close. Stafford, he was uncharacteristically efficient against the Giants. The week's second-leading scorer, he was 7-of-8 passing for 149 yards and two TD in the first 10 minutes Monday night. We predicted a more efficient, explosive offense under new OC Joe Lombardi, but that performance exceeded even the highest expectations. The backfield rotation will be interesting to watch each week. Joique Bell out-touched Reggie Bush 16-15 in Week 1, but much of that was in clock-killing mode in the fourth quarter. Look for Jim Caldwell to deploy them differently based on the opponent and game flow. Golden Tate had a 93-yard debut for his new team. Expect the offense to usually revolve around those four. ... The Panthers need Greg Hardy and Charles Johnson to get constant pressure on Stafford before he can get the ball to those weapons in space. Surprisingly, Carolina won without franchise quarterback Cam Newton in fairly dominant fashion on the road. A swarming defense was the primary reason, but the offense did just enough to get the job done. However, the Panthers need much more production from the group if they hope to beat the high-scoring Lions. Getting Cam back for the game would be a step in the right direction. Kelvin Benjamin was a pleasant surprise against Tampa Bay, reeling in six of eight targets for 92 yards and a touchdown. He seems poised to emerge as the No. 1 receiver in Carolina. Consistency is not always a rookie's greatest attribute, but that was a promising NFL debut. Greg Olsen delivered 16 fantasy points and truly is either 1a or 1b in the passing game. DeAngelo Williams was more effective than backfield mate Jonathan Stewart but neither touches the ball enough to be anything more than a bench stash, particularly with bowling ball Mike Tolbert continuing to steal 5-10 touches per game. J-Stew is the most talented and has the highest upside, but it would take an injury to get him into fantasy lineups. The Carolina running game will have its hands full against a Detroit front that allowed just 46 yards on 16 carries to Rashad Jennings last week. Cam Newton's presence certainly helps matters, as the Lions are forced to stay home out of respect for his rushing ability.
Predictions:Joique Bell, more of a "banger," is the primary back in this matchup over Reggie Bush due to his straight-ahead style. Playing a fierce defensive line for a second consecutive week, Detroit again fails to get much going on the ground. Fortunately, the Lions have a dynamic passing attack to move the chains. Stafford is less efficient but has a solid fantasy day nonetheless with 21 points. Calvin Johnson abuses Carolina's corners for 123 yards and a touchdown. In his 2014 debut, Cam Newton is forced to throw often with the Lions' front seven controlling Carolina's revamped O-line. Greg Olsen leads the team in targets again. Mike Tolbert vultures a TD. A Panthers comeback comes up short. Detroit, 24-20.
St. Louis (+5.5) at Tampa Bay, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST
Comments: This one figures to be a defensive struggle as both teams feature strong defensive units and played very poorly on the offensive side of the ball in their openers. Start either D/ST. Doug Martin struggled mightily (just nine yards on nine carries) against Carolina, and was in and out with a minor knee injury. Despite not practicing, Martin is expected to start Sunday. Whether it's Martin or Bobby Rainey, they won't find much room to run -- St. Louis kept Adrian Peterson to less than four yards per carry (21 for 75). Both Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans were held to less than 40 yards, but that won't happen often. Josh McCown is by no means an elite quarterback, but we saw last year in Chicago he can find talented receivers when given time. If Logan Mankins is unable to go with that hyperextended knee, the Rams D-line could give McCown fits all day. Even if Mankins plays it could be a rough day for McCown facing the best pass rush in the league even though the Rams are without the injured Chris Long. ... There was some confusion last week as to whether Shaun Hill was benched or injured. Jeff Fisher cleared it up by saying Hill is the starter if he's healthy enough to play (quad). However, after putting just six points on the board against a poor Vikings defense, there isn't a Rams receiver worth starting until the team gets improved QB play. Tavon Austin is a remarkable talent, but the team can't figure out how to use him in space. Kenny Britt and Jared Cook are also irrelevant without a better QB. Brian Quick led the way with 99 yards in week 1 but, given his history, that was likely just a blip on the radar. Without the threat of the pass, the running game could have trouble against Tampa Bay. LaVonte David and Mason Foster headline one of the league's better linebacker groups. Those two and Gerald McCoy, one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL, will weak havoc on Zac Stacy and the Rams backfield. Without a doubt, this figures to be one of the ugliest games of the weekend.
Predictions: Tampa Bay attempts to keep the St. Louis defensive line in check by running the ball, to little avail. Doug Martin is better than last week, but how could he not be? McCown connects with rookie Mike Evans for a third-quarter scoring strike and finds Vincent Jackson six times for 89 yards. Zac Stacy is held in check by the Bucs' front seven, gaining just 52 yards. The Buccaneers defense is the start of the day, scoring on a pick-six and allowing just 248 total yards. With both teams trying to avoid the dreaded 0-2 hole, Buccaneers win a real barn-burner ... Tampa Bay, 16-13.
Seattle (-6) at San Diego, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EST
Comments: San Diego had a stiff test in Arizona, and things won't get any easier in week 2 as it playshost to the defending champs. Moreover, the Chargers are on short rest coming off the late game Monday night while the Seahawks have 10 days to prepare. The Seahawks stomped Green Bay as the the Seattle D/ST continues to be matchup-proof. Marshawn Lynch went Beast Mode with 110 yards and two scores. If the Chargers choose to stack the box to minimize Lynch's damage, Russell Wilson can find the open man to take advantage. Wilson is one of only two players in league history with 50-plus TD passes and 1,000-plus rushing yards in any two-year span (Randall Cunningham). OC Darrell Bevell kept Percy Harvin heavily involved in a variety of ways. ... Philip Rivers will face arguably the two best defenses in football in a seven-day span. He wasn't great against the Cardinals with just 12 fantasy points; don't expect much against Seattle. Between the Legion of Boom and a fierce pass rush, Rivers isn't exactly set up for success. Keenan Allen was held to 37 yards against Patrick Peterson and now has to contend with Richard Sherman. Fortunately for him, Sherman won't follow him around the entire game. Green Bay didn't throw once to Sherman's side of the field, which left Jordy Nelson to work over Byron Maxwell on the other side. It will be interesting to see how the Chargers attack it. The Chargers' use of their tight ends was shockingly awful Monday, targeting a gimpy Antonio Gates 10 times and Ladarius Green just twice. Ryan Mathews might improve on his 40-yard night, but not by much. Seattle held a much better back in Eddie Lacy to 34 yards on 12 carries (2.8 YPC). Danny Woodhead received just seven touches last week, but that may have been a product of game flow as San Diego led much of the game. Malcom Floyd returned from a career-threatening neck injury suffered last season. Rivers clearly trusts Floyd and, largely because of his 6-5 frame, will look his way in the red zone.
Predictions:Russell Wilson is characteristically efficient with 256 yards and two scores. Marshawn Lynch builds on his hot start with 104 yards and a touchdown. Philip Rivers faces the LOB's wrath, having only slightly more success than Rodgers. Richard Sherman is finally targeted, but makes Rivers pay with a pick. Keenan Allen has another rough day. The Chargers tight ends combine for 111 yards and a TD. Seahawks continue to look like the best team in football. Seattle, 28-17.
Houston (-3) at Oakland, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
Comments:Rashad Jennings rushed for 150 yards in a Week 11 win against the Texans last year. Houston is coming off a dominating defensive performance, but will be without No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney for 4-6 weeks after tearing his meniscus. They'll miss Clowney in the coming weeks, but not much against the Raiders. Oakland rushed for just 25 yards as a team Sunday, albeit in a brutal matchup facing the Jets' front. Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren McFadden combined for 26 yards on 13 carries. They'll do better than 2.0 yards a clip, but J.J. Watt and the Texans' front seven are no slouch, either. Derek Carr didn't throw a pick in his first career start -- look for that to change this week. Two touchdowns were nice, but 4.7 YPA needs to improve. Rod Streater and James Jones both salvaged poor yardage totals with TD catches. ... Houston handed off to Arian Foster 27 times against the Redskins, a great sign considering his offseason health concerns. With a lead this week, the Texans will lean on Foster again to control the game. Ryan Fitzpatrick was unspectacular in his Texans debut, but managed the game well and avoided the costly turnover. DeAndre Hopkins accounted for 76 of his 89 yards on the long TD, while Andre Johnson finished with six grabs for 93 yards in the opener. Johnson and Hopkins combined for 182 of Fitzpatrick's 201 yards. Those two will have an advantage over the cornerbacks in almost every game they play, and this week against Oakland will be no different. Garrett Graham is expected to play Sunday after missing last week with a back injury.
Predictions: In a game that closely resembles last week's HOU-WAS contest, Houston jumps out to an early lead and salts the game away with Arian Foster. Foster finishes with 24 carries for 112 yards and seals it with a late touchdown run. Andre Johnson has another productive day with eight receptions for 98 yards. The Raiders running backs are better than last week, but that isn't saying much. DMC outplays MJD, warranting closer to a 50/50 workload. Derek Carr throws his first career INT but hits Denarius Moore for a third-quarter scoring strike on a post. Houston, 20-13
NY Jets (+8) at Green Bay, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
Comments: Green Bay needs a "get well game" like this to rebound from a disappointing season-opening loss at Seattle. Aaron Rodgers' 189 yards last week may end up being his season low. Eddie Lacy will have extra time to recover from a concussion. However, the thought of facing monster DT's Sheldon Richardson and Muhammad Wilkerson won't make him feel any better, as the Jets front allowed a mere 25 yards rushing in Week 1. If Lacy is unable to go, James Starks will start. Even facing a tough opponent, Starks would be flex-worthy. Jordy Nelson had a solid outing with nine grabs for 83 yards against Seattle and should have little trouble with New York's secondary Sunday. Randall Cobb found the end zone late to save his day, but should exceed his 58-yard week 1 total. ... Darrin Walls and Antonio Allen (if Dee Milliner is unable to play again) will struggle mightily against the pair unless the Jets can pressure Rodgers throughout. They played adequately against the Raiders, but this week will be a whole different story against Rodgers and company. Chris Johnson and Chris Ivory have a tasty matchup against a Packers front seven that allowed Marshawn Lynch to rumble for 110 yards and two touchdowns last week. Those two combined for 170 of the team's league-high 212 yards on the ground versus the Raiders. Sam Shields and Tramon Williams will take turns shadowing Eric Decker. Decker had a solid, 74-yard debut for his new squad. Expect similar numbers from him on a weekly basis, as there is next to nothing else to throw to in New York.
Predictions:Eddie Lacy's slow start continues as New York's defensive line yields few holes. Aaron Rodgers shreds a poor Jet secondary for 347 yards and three touchdowns. Jordy Nelson scores on a back shoulder fade while Randall Cobb provides 91 yards. Eric Decker scores in a comeback effort for Geno Smith's only touchdown. Johnson and Ivory have minimal impact as opportunities are few and far between with New York trailing throughout. Green Bay, 31-17.
Kansas City (+13) at Denver, Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EST
Comments:Peyton Manning has now defeated all 32 teams after beating his former team, avenging last year's loss in Indianapolis. If Manning has time to throw, he will pick K.C. apart just as he did a year ago when he averaged 363 yards and three touchdowns in their two contests. Losing Derrick Johnson (torn Achilles) for the season will make it difficult to contain Julius Thomas, even with an athlete like Eric Berry at the safety position. Thomas, the AFC Offensive Player of the Week, was an absolute monster against Indy with three of his seven receptions going for touchdowns, totaling 104 yards in the process. Demaryius Thomas, while quiet in the opener, should shred the Chiefs. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder has topped 100 yards three straight times against Kansas City. Emmanuel Sanders was solid in his debut and is the third option in that Denver passing attack. Denver nearly lost a big lead Sunday night against Indianapolis, look for them to keep the foot on the accelerator with the passing game. Plus, with DT Dontari Poe up front, Montee Ball won't see any gaping holes to run through. ... Watching week 1, it's hard to believe Kansas City was a playoff team in 2013; the Chiefs looked like one of the worst teams in football during a 26-10 home loss to the Titans. Alex Smith was particularly awful and Jamaal Charles, the top pick in many leagues, severely disappointed with just 34 total yards (at least 72 in every game last season). Charles didn't have fewer than 16 touches in any game in 2013, but inexplicably touched the ball just 11 times against Tennessee. Andy Reid expressed regret over not giving No. 25 more touches and only playing Travis Kelce 20 snaps, so count on seeing both considerably more involved in Week 2. Dwayne Bowe returns to the lineup this week after serving his one-game suspension. While not the difference maker he once was, his presence should help that offense sustain drives and free Charles up to some extent. Alex Smith also just needs to be better -- Kansas City didn't pay him all that money for a three-INT, 5.8-YPA performances. Tamba Hali and Justin Houston will need to get after Manning on a regular basis to protect the Chiefs secondary from another Broncos aerial assault.
Predictions:Peyton Manning throws three touchdowns and notches another 300-yard game, extending his NFL record to 85. Demaryius Thomas tops the century mark for a fourth consecutive game against the division rivals, reeling in eight for 137 yards and a score. Montee Ball is more efficient (2.9 YPC last week) in delivering double-digit fantasy points for a second straight game. Jamaal Charles looks more like the top pick we expected to see out of the gate with 112 total yards and a touchdown. Denver, 31-21.
Chicago (+7) at San Francisco, Sunday, 8:30 p.m. EST
Comments: San Francisco will open Levi's Stadium in a marquee NFC tilt. Chicago gave up 193 yards rushing to the Bills in week 1; not encouraging for a team that was dead last against the run a year ago ... by 410 yards. That doesn't bode well for Sunday night facing a 49ers power running game that was third in the NFL in 2013 with 137.6 YPG. Based on their opponent, one can make the case for both Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde being must-start options this week. Colin Kaepernick could have been the top scorer of the week against Dallas if the game had been competitive. Undersized cornerbacks Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings will have their hands full with San Francisco's big, physical receivers. Count on Michael Crabtree rebounding from a 25-yard showing in Dallas; Crabtree has consistently been Kaepernick's go-to guy in the passing game. Vernon Davis continues to be touchdown-dependent for fantasy production with two scores on just four catches (44 yards). Davis has now accounted for 15 of Colin Kaepernick's 23 passing touchdowns the last two years. There is obvious sell-high potential here, nobody can continue to catch 65 percent of their team's TD passes. Anquan Boldin somehow manages to keep producing in spite of being the slowest receiver in football. The 33-year-old may have a low fantasy ceiling, but he's reliable and knows how to get open. ... Jay Cutler ripped the heart out of Bears fans once again with two terrible interceptions in a 23-20 OT loss to the Bills. The 49ers should capitalize on Cutler's poor decisions just as they did in week 1 intercepting three Tony Romo passes. Alshon Jeffrey (hamstring) is iffy for this game and Brandon Marshall is nursing a sore knee. Marshall was able to return to the Buffalo game and should play Sunday. Keep an eye on Jeffrey's status throughout the week as he missed practice Wednesday. If unable to go, Santonio Holmes would slide outside to play the Z in Jeffrey's absence. Brandon Marshall is still clearly Jay Cutler's favorite option, receiving twice as many targets as Jeffrey in the opener. From a talent standpoint, those two are about equal; but the Marshall-Cutler connection is much stronger given the time they've had with each other. Matt Forte was actually the leading receiver in their first game, adding eight grabs for 87 yards to go along with 82 yards rushing. With a 15-touchdown season, Forte could easily lead all running backs in fantasy points -- he's right up there with LeSean McCoy and Jamaal Charles from a total yards standpoint. While their defense played better than many expected in light of playing without Aldon Smith and NaVorro Bowman, the 49ers gave up 118 yards on the ground to DeMarco Murray last Sunday. Martellus Bennett proved he still deserves to be in the weekly TE1 consideration.
Predictions:Jay Cutler pulls a Cutler, looking great at times but turning the ball over twice. Brandon Marshall posts 117 yards and a touchdown. Matt Forte scores and finishes with 108 yards from scrimmage. Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde are both near the century mark on the ground. Colin Kaepernick's 24 fantasy points are good enough to finish top-five this week. Chicago is too good on off.nse to be 0-2, but San Fran is too good on both sides of the ball to lose to the Bears. Niners open up the "Field of Jeans" with a win. San Francisco, 27-23
Philadelphia (+3) at Indianapolis, Monday, 8:30 p.m. EST
Comments: Philadelphia gave surviror pools a scare last week. Nick Foles overcame a slow start to have a useful fantasy day. LeSean McCoy was fairly quiet in week 1, though he finished with 115 total yards. Darren Sproles was spectacular in his Eagles debut, registering double-digit carries for the first time since week 7 of 2011. The 31-year old looked explosive as ever on his 49-yard TD, a big part of his 85-yard day. ... Jeremy Maclin caught just four of 10 targets in his first game since tearing his ACL, but his 66-yard touchdown was a key play in the Eagles' win and his 97-yard effort. Maclin should see a lot of Vontae Davis Sunday night. Both Riley Cooper and Jordan Matthews were quiet with neither topping 37 yards. Zach Ertz looks like the high-upside TE1 we drafted in the middle rounds. Continue to keep an eye on the distribution of Foles' targets to see who will emerge as the second option in the passing game. ... Indianapolis is facing a 2013 playoff team in primetime for the second straight week coming off a 31-24 loss at Denver on Sunday night. Indy was much better in the second half, but gave up three Peyton Manning-Julius Thomas touchdowns in the first half. The Colts held Montee Ball under three yards a carry YPC but are far from an elite defense and likely overmatched against the best rushing attack in football. Andrew Luck finished third at the position with 25 fantasy points. This is a plus-matchup against a below-average Philly pass defense that Chad Henne picked apart last week. Dating to last season, T.Y. Hilton has scored five fantasy points or less in eight consecutive games played outdoors. The only road game where Hilton scored or had more than 52 yards was against Houston (played indoors at Reliant Stadium) in week 9 of 2013. Fortunately for Hilton owners, this game is inside Lucas Oil Stadium. Reggie Wayne, like Maclin, looked solid in his first action since tearing his ACL with nine catches for 98 yards. Luck clearly looks in Wayne's direction when he needs a play, but don't expect many scores (6 or fewer in five of his last six seasons). Hakeem Nicks scored once and nearly had another in his Colts debut. As for the tight ends, Dwayne Allen drastically out-produced his Coby Fleener despite three fewer targets. That should be a common theme all year. Oh, Trent Richardson. Everyone is calling for him to be benched already after a six-carry, 20-yard performance. Richardson did add 31 yards receiving on three catches, but Ahmad Bradshaw looked like the better player against Denver -- certainly more explosive and decisive. Bradshaw finished with 85 total yards (70 receiving), and was a top waiver wire priority this week as many anticipate he will steal the job from T-Rich sooner rather than later. Before you panic on Richardson, just remember the Broncos are not an easy team to run on and Indy was trailing throughout. Philadelphia held Toby Gerhart to just 42 yards on 18 carries in Week 1 and was top-10 against the run a year ago. Not exactly an ideal spot for the Colts run game to get on track.
Predictions: This Monday night showdown should be one of the best-played games of the week. Philadelphia starts much stronger than last week with an early LeSean McCoy scoring plunge. McCoy gains 97 hard-earned yards and scores twice. Nick Foles throws another INT to match his 2013 season total after just two games. Riley Cooper hauls in a touchdown goal-line fade. Andrew Luck scores 25 points again, throwing for 324 yards and three touchdowns. Reggie Wayne, T.Y. Hilton and Coby Fleener are on the receiving end of those scores. Trent Richardson finishes off a drive from the 3-yard line and is surpasses 4.0 YPC, lightening his hate mail for one week. Can't see Andrew Luck allowing his team to start 0-2. Colts win in a shootout. Indianapolis, 30-27.
