NFL Game Previews: Saints-Raiders Matchup

New Orleans at Las Vegas (+5.5), o/u 49.5
Monday, 8:15 p.m. EDT

It was a costly win for the Saints in Week 1 as Michael Thomas suffered a high ankle sprain, but fortunately Drew Brees and company will get a fairly soft secondary to try and figure things out against in this one, and still have Alvin Kamara to carry the load if necessary. The Raiders were mostly terrible through the air last year and let Teddy Bridgewater post solid numbers against them in Week 1, and while having a healthy Johnathan Abram in action gives the unit a boost, there are still plenty of weak spots for Brees to exploit. The former Oakland/Los Angeles/Oakland club is going to be geared up for their home opener and first game in Las Vegas, though. Josh Jacobs won't be able to bully the New Orleans front seven the way he did the Panthers' run "defense," but the Saints aren't the same away from their own friendly confines, and Derek Carr is good for at least one inexplicably huge performance a year. What better time to have it than in prime time to christen the new arena? On the other hand, a banged-up offensive line may not give him the time he needs to find his targets, or give Jacobs the room he needs to keep Brees off the field and the score close.

The Skinny

NO injuries: WR Thomas (out, ankle) 

LV injuries: WR Henry Ruggs (questionable, knee), LG Richie Incognito (questionable, Achilles), RT Trent Brown (doubtful, calf), LB Nick Kwiatkowski (doubtful, pectoral)

NO DFS targets: Drew Brees $6,800 DK / $8,200 FD (LV 31st in QB rating against, 31st in YPA allowed, 29th in TD% allowed in 2019), Alvin Kamara $7,800 DK / $8,500 FD (LV 20th in rushing DVOA, 30th in passing DVOA vs. RB in 2019), Tre'Quan Smith $4,100 DK / $5,000 FD (LV 31st in DVOA vs. WR2 in 2019)

LV DFS targets: Hunter Renfrow $4,600 DK / $5,100 FD (NO 22nd in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019)

NO DFS fades: none

LV DFS fades: none

Key stat: NO was 11th in red-zone conversions in 2019 at 59.6 percent; LV was 30th in red-zone defense in 2019 at 67.3 percent

Weather forecast: dome

The Scoop Kamara zips for 120 combined yards and two TDs. Brees throws for 250 yards and touchdowns to Jared Cook and Smith. Jacobs runs for 80 yards and a score. Carr throws for 240 yards and a TD to Renfrow. Saints, 31-20

Jacksonville (+9) at Tennessee, o/u 42.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Last year's Minshew Mania may have just been a teaser for what's to come in 2020 if Week 1 was any indication. The second-year QB dissected the Colts' secondary en route to the upset win, but he gets a tougher test this week on the road against a Titans defense that held another second-year QB, Drew Lock, firmly in check in its opener. Unlike Lock, Gardner Minshew won't be without his top target, though. DJ Chark wasn't busy in the win over Indy, but he did find the end zone, as did Keelan Cole and rookie Laviska Shenault, and Minshew will have lots of options at his disposal with which to attack a battered Tennessee secondary. Ryan Tannehill, on the other hand, could be checking the backs of jerseys to figure out who he's throwing to Sunday. Both A.J. Brown and Corey Davis came out of the win over Denver at less than 100 percent, and while Davis at least will play, guys like Kalif Raymond and undrafted rookie Nick Westbrook-Ikhine could see a lot of snaps. Whether they see a lot of targets is a different question entirely, though — after the Jags' front seven had difficulty controlling the Colts' running game, the Titans could simply lean even more heavily on Derrick Henry than usual to keep the chains moving.

The Skinny

JAC injuries: RB Ryquell Armstead (out, COVID)

TEN injuries: RB Darrynton Evans (out, hamstring), WR Brown (out, knee), RT Isaiah Wilson (out, COVID), CB Adoree' Jackson (IR, knee), CB Malcolm Butler (questionable, quad)

JAC DFS targets: Laviska Shenault $4,200 DK / $4,900 FD (TEN 30th in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019), Jaguars DST $2,300 DK / $3,700 FD (fourth in sack rate in 2019, TEN 32nd in sack rate allowed in 2019)

TEN DFS targets: Derrick Henry $7,900 DK / $8,300 FD (JAC 31st in rushing DVOA, 31st in YPC allowed, 31st in rushing TDs allowed, 28th in passing DVOA vs. RB in 2019), Jonnu Smith $4,200 / $4,900 FD (JAC 30th in DVOA vs. TE in 2019)

JAC DFS fades: Keelan Cole $4,300 DK / $4,800 FD (TEN second in DVOA vs. WR2 in 2019)

TEN DFS fades: none

Key stat: JAC was 26th in third-down conversions in 2019 at 34.5 percent; TEN was eighth in third-down defense at 36.3 percent

Head-to-head record, last five years: 7-3 TEN, average score 25-20 TEN, average margin of victory 13 points. TEN has won six straight meetings at home in this rivalry by an average score of 30-19, scoring at least 30 points in four of the last five home wins

Weather forecast: clear, temperature in the mid-70s, less than 10 mph wind, zero percent chance of rain

The Scoop James Robinson gains 70 yards and his first NFL touchdown. Minshew throws for 240 yards and two scores, finding Chark and Shenault again. Henry gallops for 140 yards and two TDs. Tannehill throws for 270 yards and a touchdown to Smith, while Stephen Gostkowski rebounds from his shaky Tennessee debut. Titans, 33-21

Carolina (+9) at Tampa Bay, o/u 47.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

The Panthers put up a fight against the Raiders in their opener, but the end result was what most people expected. The offense wasn't the problem — Christian McCaffrey is still money, and Teddy Bridgewater and Robby Anderson both had solid debuts for Carolina — but the defense actually seems to have gotten worse in the offseason. That's a problem heading into a tilt with Tom Brady when he suddenly has something to prove. His Bucs debut did not go at all according to script, as the passing game looked disjointed and the defense had trouble keeping Alvin Kamara out of the end zone, but there were extenuating circumstances beyond the lack of prep time as Mike Evans wasn't 100 percent healthy last week. It could be Chris Godwin's turn to be sidelined this week, but Brady still has plenty of weapons left over to attack the Panthers with, if another week of practice has the team closer to being on the same page.

The Skinny

CAR injuries: LG Dennis Daley (out, ankle), DT Kawann Short (out, foot), DE Yetur Gross-Matos (out, concussion)

TB injuries: WR Godwin (doubtful, concussion)

CAR DFS targets: Robby Anderson $5,200 DK / $5,900 FD (TB 29th in DVOA vs. deep throws in 2019) 

TB DFS targets: Ronald Jones $5,200 DK / $5,900 FD (CAR 32nd in rushing DVOA, 32nd in YPC allowed, 32nd in rushing TDs allowed in 2019)

CAR DFS fades: Christian McCaffrey $10,000 DK / $10,500 FD (TB first in passing DVOA vs. RB in 2019), Ian Thomas $3,200 DK / $5,000 FD (TB second in DVOA vs. TE in 2019)

TB DFS fades: Scotty Miller $4,100 DK / $5,200 FD (CAR fourth in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019)

Key stat: TB was fourth in red-zone conversions in 2019 at 64.8 percent; CAR was 29th in red-zone defense in 2019 at 64.1 percent

Head-to-head record, last five years: 6-4 CAR, average score 25-19 CAR, average margin of victory 10 points. The four TB wins have all been by a single score.

Weather forecast: cloudy, temperature in the high 80s, 17-18 mph wind, 5-15 percent chance of rain

The Scoop McCaffrey puts together 90 scrimmage yards and a score. Bridgewater throws for 220 yards and a TD to Ian Thomas. Jones impresses with 120 combined yards and two touchdowns. Brady throws for 240 yards and a score to Rob Gronkowski. Buccaneers, 21-20

Denver (+7.5) at Pittsburgh, o/u 41.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

The Broncos came close to an upset in Week 1, but the best player on the field for them might have been Stephen Gostkowski, as his three missed FGs from inside 50 yards were the only reason the game was particularly close. The young offense has some talent, but Drew Lock may not have much of it available as Courtland Sutton continues to nurse a shoulder injury and now Phillip Lindsay is limping, nor much time to find the options he does have available with one starting tackle (Ja'Wuan James) at home and the other at less than 100 percent healthy. The Steelers' defense didn't look completely air tight against the Giants, allowing Darius Slayton to get behind it twice, but when your focus is on shutting down Saquon Barkley there's bound to be a leak somewhere. It's likely to be the same approach against Denver — keep Melvin Gordon from doing damage, and if Jerry Jeudy or somebody hauls in a couple long passes so be it — and with Ben Roethlisberger and the Pittsburgh passing game looking back to their 2018 form, this one could get away from the Broncos early.

The Skinny

DEN injuries: RB Lindsay (out, toe), WR Sutton (questionable. shoulder), LT Garret Boles (questionable, elbow), LB Von Miller (IR, ankle), LB Mark Barron (out, hamstring), CB A.J. Bouye (IR, shoulder)

PIT injuries: RG David DeCastro (out, knee)

DEN DFS targets: Tim Patrick $3,800 DK / $4,600 FD (PIT 26th in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019)

PIT DFS targets: Steelers DST $3,800 DK / $4,600 FD (second in INT%, first in sack rate in 2019)

DEN DFS fades: Melvin Gordon $5,200 DK / $6,700 FD (PIT fourth in rushing DVOA, third in YPC allowed, t-first in rushing TDs allowed, third in passing DVOA vs. RB in 2019), Noah Fant $4,400 DK / $5,300 FD (PIT third in DVOA vs. TE in 2019)

PIT DFS fades: James Washington $4,100 DK / $4,900 FD (DEN fifth in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019)

Key stat: DEN was 28th in red-zone conversions in 2019 at 47.6 percent; PIT was t-sixth in red-zone defense in 2019 at 50.0 percent

Weather forecast: clear, temperature in the mid-60s, less than 10 mph wind, zero percent chance of rain

The Scoop Gordon gets held to 50 yards. Lock throws for 220 yards and finds Jeudy for his first NFL touchdown. James Conner starts and gains 80 yards but Benny Snell adds 60 yards and a score. Roethlisberger throws for 250 yards and TDs to JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson. Steelers, 24-13

L.A. Rams at Philadelphia (PK), o/u 46.0 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

The line was sitting around PHI -3.5 last weekend, but clearly there's been some seismic shifts since — it was actually Rams -1 when the Staff Picks crew submitted their slates, but as I write this it's settled back in at Eagles -1. Normally that's the kind of movement you'd see when one or both team's quarterbacks are on the injury report, but in this case it might be just be fallout from Philly's awful second half in Week 1. Of course, the Rams deserve a little credit too, as they looked pretty good against the Cowboys, using quick passes and hard yards from Malcolm Brown to compensate for an offensive line that still needs a lot of work. It's an approach that could work again, though coach Sean McVay might need more from Jared Goff and the passing game if the Eagles front seven is its usual stout self. The big question is which version of Carson Wentz will show up, the one who built a 17-0 lead in the first half or the one who fell apart late against the Washington pass rush. Philly's offensive line has issues too, and if it can't keep Aaron Donald out of the backfield, Wentz could be headed for another long afternoon.

The Skinny

LAR injuries: TE Gerald Everett (questionable, back)

PHI injuries: WR Alshon Jeffery (out, foot), RG Brandon Brooks (out, Achilles), DE Derek Barnett (questionable, hamstring), DE Brandon Graham (questionable, concussion)

LAR DFS targets: Jared Goff $5,800 DK / $7,300 FD (PHI 21st in TD% allowed, 19th in passing yards per game allowed in 2019)

PHI DFS targets: Dallas Goedert $5,000 DK / $5,500 FD (LAR 21st in DVOA vs. TE)

LAR DFS fades: Malcolm Brown $5,700 DK / $5,200 FD (PHI third in rushing DVOA in 2019)

PHI DFS fades: none

Key stat: PHI was third in red-zone conversions in 2019 at 66.7 percent; LAR were 28th in red-zone defense in 2019 at 63.5 percent

Weather forecast: clear, temperature in the low 60s, 10 mph wind, zero percent chance of rain

The Scoop Brown gets bottled up for 40 yards, while Cam Akers does a little better with 50. Goff throws for 280 yards and three TDs, hitting Cooper Kupp twice and Tyler Higbee once, while Micah Kiser scoops up a Greg Ward fumble and returns it to the house. Miles Sanders busts out for 110 yards and two TDs, one rushing and one receiving. Wentz throws for 300 yards and two more scores, finding Goedert and Jalen Reagor for his first NFL touchdown. Eagles, 31-28

San Francisco at N.Y. Jets (+7), o/u 42.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

The Niners got Kyler'ed last week, something they may have to start getting used to, but it's going to give Joey Bosa and company a lot of frustration to take out on the next poor sap they face who isn't able to escape the pocket quite as smoothly. Oh, hi, Sam Darnold, I didn't see you there. San Francisco could struggle to score points on offense, with George Kittle sidelined and a patchwork receiving corps that just picked up Mohamed Sanu from the scrap heap, but Jimmy Garoppolo will at least get to see what first-round pick Brandon Aiyuk can do. You really have to feel for Darnold in this spot, though. No Le'Veon Bell, no Jamison Crowder... his options will be limited even if coach Adam Gase does scheme up some quick passes to blunt the 49ers' pass rush, though given Gase's track record, he's more likely to simply leave his QB to fend for himself and then throw Darnold under the bus afterward. You can find paths to a potential upset if you look hard enough — a Super Bowl hangover, a cross-country trip under less than ideal circumstances — but they're all variations on the same theme: the Niners would have to play way, way down to the Jets' level for it to happen.

The Skinny

SF injuries: WR Deebo Samuel (IR, foot), TE Kittle (out, knee), C Weston Richburg (out, knee), DE Dee Ford (questionable, neck, CB Richard Sherman (IR, calf)

NYJ injuries: RB Bell (IR, hamstring), WR Crowder (out, hamstring), WR Denzel Mims (IR, hamstring), LB Avery Williamson (questionable, hamstring)

SF DFS targets: 49ers DST $4,000 DK / $5,000 FD (third in sack rate in 2019, NYJ 30th in sack rate allowed in 2019)

NYJ DFS targets: none

SF DFS fades: Raheem Mostert $6,400 DK / $6,500 FD (NYJ second in rushing DVOA, first in YPC allowed in 2019)

NYJ DFS fades: Chris Herndon $3,400 DK / $5,100 FD (SF second in DVOA vs. TE in 2019)

Key stat: NYJ were 31st in third-down conversions in 2019 at 30.7 percent; SF was t-second in third-down defense at 33.3 percent

Weather forecast: clear, temperature in the low 60s, 9-10 mph wind, 0-10 percent chance of rain

The Scoop Mostert leads the SF backfield with 70 combined yards. Garoppolo throws for 260 yards and two scores, hitting Kendrick Bourne and Aiyuk for his first NFL touchdown. Frank Gore plods ahead for 50 yards. Darnold throws for 220 yards and a TD to Chris Hogan while getting sacked five times. 49ers, 23-10

Buffalo at Miami (+5.5), o/u 41.0 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Week 1 brought the full Josh Allen Experience for Buffalo — some great throws, great mobility, but also two fumbles and an absolutely atrocious overthrow on what should have been a touchdown to a wide open John Brown. That, plus a strong defensive effort, was enough for a win, and it should be enough for a 2-0 start. Miami got beaten in its opener by a New England squad using essentially the same formula, as coach Josh McDaniels answered the question of how well Cam Newton would fit his offensive scheme by changing the scheme to fit Cam. The Dolphins had to watch Newton trot into the end zone twice, while Ryan Fitzpatrick was busy reminding everyone why he hasn't lasted more than two seasons with any club since he was a Bill in the early 2010s. It may not be Tua Time quite yet, but the clock is ticking. If Miami has a shot in this one, the offense will need to take advantage of Buffalo's battered linebacking corps — which could mean Myles Gaskin's moment in the spotlight might not be over quite yet. Unless it's Matt Breida's turn instead.

The Skinny

BUF injuries: LB Tremaine Edmunds (out, shoulder), LB Matt Milano (out, hamstring)

MIA injuries: WR DeVante Parker (questionable, hamstring)

BUF DFS targets: Josh Allen $6,700 DK / $8,200 FD (MIA 29th in QB rating, 29th in YPA allowed, 32nd in TD% allowed in 2019), Zack Moss $4,800 DK / $5,200 FD (MIA 29th in rushing DVOA, 32nd in passing DVOA vs. RB in 2019), Stefon Diggs $6,500 DK / $6,800 FD (MIA 31st in DVOA vs. WR1 in 2019), John Brown $6,000 DK / $6,400 FD (MIA 28th in DVOA vs. WR2, 26th in DVOA vs. deep throws in 2019)

MIA DFS targets: Myles Gaskin $4,300 DK / $4,900 FD (BUF 22nd in rushing DVOA in 2019)

BUF DFS fades: none

MIA DFS fades: Ryan Fitzpatrick $5,200 DK / $6,500 FD (BUF third in QB rating, third in YPA allowed, second in TD% allowed in 2019), DeVante Parker $5,900 DK / $6,500 FD (BUF second in DVOA vs. WR1, second in DVOA vs. deep throws in 2019), Preston Williams $4,800 DK / $5,400 FD (BUF fourth in DVOA vs. WR2 in 2019)

Key stat: MIA was 28th in third-down conversions in 2019 at 34.3 percent; BUF was seventh in third-down defense at 35.8 percent

Head-to-head record, last five years: 7-3 BUF, average score 30-20 BUF, average margin of victory 12 points. BUF has won three straight meetings by an average score of 37-19

Weather forecast: clear, temperature in the low 90s, less than 10 mph wind, 0-10 percent chance of rain

The Scoop Devin Singletary runs for 80 yards and a score, while Moss adds 60 yards and a TD. Allen runs one in as well while throwing for 210 yards and a touchdown to Diggs, but he also tosses a pick-six to Xavien Howard. Gaskin manages 80 yards. Fitzpatrick throws for 240 yards and hits Mike Gesicki for a score but gets intercepted twice. Bills, 31-20

Minnesota (+3) at Indianapolis, o/u 48.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

So, here's the game where my cobbled-together formula for figuring out game results is probably going to fail me the hardest. We don't have enough 2020 stats for me to trust, but no team seemed further from its 2019 performance than the Vikings did in Week 1, as their defense got absolutely wrecked by Aaron Rodgers. Minnesota still has Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen and can put up some points, but winning shootouts is not what Mike Zimmer signed up for. The Colts also lost their opener, getting burned in Jacksonville yet again, but they at least have a clear grasp on their identity. The backfield will be the engine of the offense and shouldn't miss a beat with Marlon Mack out of the picture, as Jonathan Taylor might actually be an improvement on those early-down touches. The more the running backs can do, the less the team will have to rely on Philip Rivers to win games, which is probably a good thing for everyone involved.

The Skinny

MIN injuries: RG Pat Elflein (IR, thumb)

IND injuries: RB Mack (IR, Achilles), WR Zach Pascal (questionable, ankle), WR Michael Pittman (questionable, toe), TE Jack Doyle (out, ankle), DE Justin Houston (questionable, calf)

MIN DFS targets: Bisi Johnson $3,900 DK / $4,900 FD (IND 29th in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019)

IND DFS targets: Zach Pascal $3,700 DK / $5,000 FD (MIN 24th in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019)

MIN DFS fades: none

IND DFS fades: Mo Alie-Cox $3,000 DK / $4,000 FD (MIN first in DVOA vs. TE in 2019)

Key stat: IND was sixth in red-zone conversions in 2019 at 64.3 percent; MIN was second in red-zone defense in 2019 at 43.8 percent

Weather forecast: indoors

The Scoop Cook picks up 80 yards and a TD. Kirk Cousins throws for 280 yards and two touchdowns, hitting Thielen and Johnson. Taylor erupts for 130 yards and two scores. Rivers throws for 240 yards and a TD to T.Y. Hilton, but a late pick proves costly. Vikings, 27-24

Detroit (+6) at Green Bay, o/u 49.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Poor D'Andre Swift. If you haven't seen it yet, it's a brutal drop, and how he responds in this game — assuming coach Matt Patricia even gives him a chance to respond, rather than just giving Adrian Peterson more carries — will go a long way toward determining what Swift's future in Detroit is going to look like. The Lions might need the rookie to put it behind him too, as Matthew Stafford and the passing game will still be missing Kenny Golladay, though Marvin Jones has played like a No. 1 receiver in his career against the Packers (28 catches for 532 yards and seven TDs in seven games, and that's with being held in check in Green Bay last year). Even then, that might not be enough to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers, who looked like a spry 30-year-old as he tore apart the Vikings secondary in Week 1. The back end of the Lions defense isn't in great shape — third overall pick Jeff Okudah is healthy enough to make his debut, but Desmond Trufant is sidelined — so Rodgers could once again have his pick of open targets.

The Skinny

DET injuries: WR Golladay (out, hamstring), LG Joe Dahl (out, groin), RT Halapoulivaati Vaitai (questionable, foot), CB Trufant (out, hamstring), CB Justin Coleman (IR, hamstring)

GB injuries: RG Lucas Patrick (questionable, shoulder), RT Billy Turner (questionable, knee), DT Kenny Clark (out, groin)

DET DFS targets: T.J. Hockenson $5,200 DK / $5,600 FD (GB 26th in DVOA vs. TE in 2019)

GB DFS targets: Allen Lazard $5,300 DK / $5,600 FD (DET 29th in DVOA vs. WR2 in 2019)

DET DFS fades: none

GB DFS fades: none

Key stat: GB was eighth in red-zone conversions in 2019 at 64.0 percent; DET was 18th in red-zone defense in 2019 at 57.9 percent

Head-to-head record, last five years: 5-5, average score 26-21 DET, average margin of victory 10 points. None of GB's five wins have been by more than a single score, but they swept last year's season series.

Weather forecast: clear, temperature in the high 60s, 13-15 mph wind, zero percent chance of rain

The Scoop Swift leads the DET backfield with 80 combined yards, but Peterson runs in a touchdown. Stafford throws for 250 yards and a TD to Hockenson. Aaron Jones runs for 100 yards and a score. Rodgers doesn't match last week's display but still throws for 270 yards and TDs to Davante Adams and Lazard. Packers, 27-20

Atlanta (+4.5) at Dallas, o/u 52.5 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

Dang, Matt Ryan, save some bullets for the rest of the year. The Falcons managed the rare feat of having three 100-yard receivers in their opener, but that still didn't get them into the win column on home turf against the Seahawks. Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley having big games isn't news, but Russell Gage's 114-yard effort probably woke up some folks who may have been sleeping on him even after his strong finish to 2019. The defense was still up to its old tricks, though, and good as Ryan was last Sunday, Russell Wilson was better. That bodes well for Dak Prescott, who had a somewhat lackluster performance against the Rams in Week 1 despite all the weapons at his disposal. The Cowboys' offense is better than it showed in that loss, but it's an ominous sign that left tackle Tyron Smith isn't 100 percent healthy. The last time Prescott faced the Falcons without Smith protecting his flank, journeyman edge rusher Adrian Clayborn had a career season in one game with six sacks — and now Atlanta has Dante Fowler to track down QBs instead.

The Skinny

ATL injuries: LT Jake Matthews (questionable, knee)

DAL injuries: TE Blake Jarwin (IR, knee), LT Smith (questionable, neck), T Cameron Erving (IR, knee), LB Leighton Vander Esch (IR, collarbone)

ATL DFS targets: Hayden Hurst $4,600 DK / $5,700 FD (DAL 23rd in DVOA vs. TE in 2019)

DAL DFS targets: Dak Prescott $6,800 DK / $8,300 FD (ATL 24th in QB rating against, t-31st in rushing TDs allowed to QB in 2019), Michael Gallup $5,600 DK / $6,000 FD (ATL 30th in DVOA vs. WR2 in 2019), CeeDee Lamb $4,700 DK / $5,200 FD (ATL 27th in DVOA vs. WR3)

ATL DFS fades: none

DAL DFS fades: none

Key stat: DAL was t-second in third-down conversions in 2019 at 47.1 percent; ATL was t-21st in third-down defense at 39.9 percent

Weather forecast: indoors

The Scoop Todd Gurley picks up 70 scrimmage yards and a score. Ryan throws for 280 yards and two TDs, finding Ridley and Hurst. Ezekiel Elliott rumbles for 100 combined yards and a touchdown. Prescott throws for 260 yards and scores to Gallup and Lamb (for his first NFL touchdown) and runs one in as well. Cowboys, 33-27 

N.Y. Giants (+5.5) at Chicago, o/u 42.0 – Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT

I've seen a lot of chatter about Daniel Jones' terrible red-zone interception against the Steelers, but nobody seems to be blaming offensive coordinator Jason Garrett for asking an inexperienced right-handed QB to roll out to his left, and thus forcing him to turn his entire body to try and throw a pass. If the Giants run that play to the other side of the field, Jones would have been able to get the ball away before the pass rusher got a hand on him to disrupt the throw. Then again, there didn't seem to be anyone open, so Jones shouldn't have been trying to throw in the first place, and Saquon Barkley whiffed on a block on Bud Dupree at the line ... there's plenty of blame to go around, really. Still, the Giants do have the makings of a solid offense, especially if Darius Slayton continues to emerge as a legit No. 1 WR, and the Bears shouldn't pose as big a problem for their offensive line with both Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn banged up. In fact, given the state of both defenses, there's some shootout potential despite the game having one of the lowest over/unders on the slate. Mitchell Trubisky put together a big fourth-quarter comeback against the Lions in Week 1, and given how Pittsburgh's Benny Snell ran roughshod over the Giants' front seven, David Montgomery could have some success too. Of course with these two QBs, a 12-9 kicker battle seems equally plausible.

The Skinny

NYG injuries: WR Golden Tate (questionable, hamstring)

CHI injuries: OLB Mack (questionable, knee), OLB Quinn (questionable, ankle)

NYG DFS targets: Darius Slayton $5,000 DK / $5,300 FD (CHI 17th in DVOA vs. WR2, 22nd in DVOA vs. deep throws in 2019)

CHI DFS targets: Mitchell Trubisky $5,500 DK / $7,200 FD (NYG 28th in QB rating, 30th in YPA allowed, 32nd in rushing TDs allowed to QB in 2019), Allen Robinson $6,400 DK / $7,000 FD (NYG 32nd in DVOA vs. WR1), Ted Ginn $3,300 DK / $4,800 FD (NYG 32nd in DVOA vs. WR3, 31st in DVOA vs. deep throws in 2019)

NYG DFS fades: Golden Tate $4,900 DK / $5,500 FD (CHI third in DVOA vs. WR3)

CHI DFS fades: none

Key stat: NYG were 19th in third-down conversions in 2019 at 37.3 percent; CHI was t-ninth in third-down defense at 36.4 percent

Weather forecast: clear, temperature in the mid-60s, 10 mph wind, zero percent chance of rain

The Scoop Barkley rebounds with 80 yards and a TD. Jones throws for 230 yards and a touchdown to Evan Engram. Montgomery gains 70 yards and a score. Trubisky throws for 260 yards and TDs to Robinson and Ginn, while also running in a score of his own. Bears, 28-20

Washington (+6.5) at Arizona, o/u 47.5 – Sunday, 4:05 p.m. EDT

I refuse to call them "The Football Team." I don't care how many games they win; this isn't like The Band, where every guy in the group was talented enough to tour with Bob Dylan and they could get away with a name that arrogant. No squad with Dwayne Haskins under center and Peyton Barber in a prominent role deserves to be called "The Football Team" like they're the prototype for one. Now, if you want to call the WFT defensive line "The Pass Rush" or something, then maybe we can talk. The Cards also pulled off an upset in their opener, and the DeAndre Hopkins deal already looks (more) like a steal. A 43 percent target share is a little much to ask for every week, but he'll need to keep shining — the defense is still shaky, and eighth overall pick Isaiah Simmons wasn't an immediate solution as he barely saw the field after a couple of early blunders against the Niners. For Arizona to win games this season, Kyler Murray is going to have to outscore the opposition, but that should be a bit easier Sunday with every carry Barber gets.

The Skinny

WAS injuries: LB Thomas Davis (questionable, calf), CB Kendall Fuller (questionable, knee)

ARI injuries: C Mason Cole (out, hamstring)

WAS DFS targets: Dwayne Haskins $5,100 DK / $6,500 FD (ARI 32nd in QB rating against, 28th in YPA allowed, 30th in TD% allowed in 2019), Dontrelle Inman $3,500 DK / $4,600 FD (ARI 31st in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019), Logan Thomas $3,600 DK / $4,700 FD (ARI 32nd in DVOA vs. TE in 2019)

ARI DFS targets: Kyler Murray $6,100 DK / $8,000 FD (WAS 30th in QB rating against, 31st in TD% allowed in 2019), Christian Kirk $4,300 DK / $5,700 FD (WAS 32nd in DVOA vs. WR2), Dan Arnold $3,300 DK / $4,400 FD (WAS 31st in DVOA vs. TE in 2019)

WAS DFS fades: none

ARI DFS fades: none

Key stat: WAS was 32nd in both third-down conversions (29.1 percent) and third-down defense (48.9 percent) in 2019; ARI was t-21st in conversions (36.0 percent) and 30th in defense (46.7 percent)

Weather forecast: indoors

The Scoop: Antonio Gibson leads the WAS backfield with 70 yards, but Barber vultures a short TD. Haskins throws for 260 yards and a touchdown to Terry McLaurin. Kenyan Drake scampers for 90 scrimmage yards and a score. Murray throws for 240 yards and runs for 50 more, tossing TD passes to Kirk and Larry Fitzgerald. Cardinals, 24-23

Kansas City at L.A. Chargers (+8.5), o/u 47.5
Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT

Just about everything went according to script for Kansas City as it began its title defense. Patrick Mahomes was sharp, Sammy Watkins had his usual big Week 1, and first-round pick Clyde Edwards-Helaire was as advertised. The defense also carried over its stout play from the second half of 2019, holding Deshaun Watson to seven points until he put together a fourth-quarter flurry once the game was out of reach. Now they get to play spoiler for the home opener in a new stadium against a divisional foe they have utterly dominated for the last six years — the Bolts have won only once in this rivalry since 2014, and that was by a single point. Tyrod Taylor did little with his arms or his legs in what by all rights should have been an upset loss to the Bengals, mostly leaving the offense to Austin Ekeler and rookie Joshua Kelley. That's not a formula that's going to allow the Chargers to keep up with Mahomes and company, unless Joey Bosa and the pass rush do something special to break in the new digs.

The Skinny

KC injuries: CB Charvarius Ward (out, hand)

LAC injuries: RB Justin Jackson (doubtful, quad), C Mike Pouncey (IR, hip)

KC DFS targets: Tyreek Hill $7,500 DK / $8,000 FD (LAC 23rd in DVOA vs. WR1, 24th in DVOA vs. deep throws in 2019)

LAC DFS targets: Austin Ekeler $6,500 DK / $6,900 FD (KC 26th in rushing DVOA, 18th in passing DVOA vs. RB in 2019)

KC DFS fades: none

LAC DFS fades: Keenan Allen $5,700 DK / $6,900 FD (KC third in DVOA vs. WR1 in 2019)

Key stat: 

Head-to-head record, last five years: 9-1 KC, average score 29-18 KC, average margin of victory 11 points. KC swept the season series last year and has won 11 of the last 12 meetings.

Weather forecast: dome

The Scoop Edwards-Helaire pops for another 110 yards and a touchdown. Mahomes throws for 310 yards and three scores, one to Travis Kelce and two to Hill, who tops 100 yards. Ekeler picks up 100 combined yards and two TDs, one rushing and one receiving. Taylor throws for less than 200 yards. Kansas City, 31-17 

Baltimore at Houston (+7), o/u 51.5 – Sunday, 4:25 p.m. EDT

It's pretty clear already that the Ravens got better in the offseason. Last week's shellacking of the Browns included big contributions from rookies J.K. Dobbins and Patrick Queen, while the development of Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown makes it impossible for defenses to decide whether they want Lamar Jackson to beat them on the ground or through the air. Baltimore plays host to Kansas City in Week 3, and if that isn't a preview of the AFC championship then something weird is going to happen the next few months. (But then, doesn't something weird always happen every year in the NFL?) The Texans, on the other hand, could be getting a rude awakening right out of the gate as to how big a gap there is between them and those two elite clubs. You can't blame Deshaun Watson, as he's more than capable of leading his team to wins, but between coach Bill O'Brien and Father Time, the rest of the roster has been systematically stripped of impact talent. There are a lot of good, useful players around Watson and on the defense, but none is DeAndre Hopkins, and none is peak J.J. Watt. Without those kinds of difference makers, Watson's going to get sick of seeing a game script much like the one he had to deal with last week, where Houston digs a hole early and then asks their $40 million man to try to put the team on his back and climb out of it.

The Skinny

BAL injuries: LT Ronnie Stanley (questionable, ankle), CB Jimmy Smith (questionable, hip)

HOU injuries: RB Duke Johnson (questionable, ankle), WR Brandin Cooks (questionable, quad), RT Tytus Howard (questionable, ankle)

BAL DFS targets: Lamar Jackson $8,200 DK / $9,500 FD (HOU 25th in QB rating against, 24th in YPA allowed, 28th in TD% allowed, 26th in rushing yards allowed to QB in 2019)

HOU DFS targets: Randall Cobb $4,400 DK / $4,900 FD (BAL 19th in DVOA vs. WR2 in 2019)

BAL DFS fades: none

HOU DFS fades: Deshaun Watson $6,400 DK / $7,900 FD (BAL third in QB rating, third in TD% allowed, third in rushing yards allowed to QB in 2019), Brandin Cooks $4,900 DK / $5,600 FD (BAL second in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019)

Key stat: BAL was t-second in third-down conversions in 2019 at 47.1 percent; HOU was 31st in third-down defense in 2019 at 48.5 percent

Weather forecast: overcast, temperature in the low 70s, 15 mph wind, 40-45 percent chance of rain

The Scoop Mark Ingram bangs out 80 yards and two scores, one rushing and one receiving. Jackson throws for 250 yards and a second touchdown to Miles Boykin while also running for 50 yards and a TD. David Johnson picks up 60 yards. Watson throws for 270 yards and two scores, hitting Cobb and Darren Fells. Ravens, 31-14

New England (+4) at Seattle, o/u 45.0 – Sunday, 8:20 p.m. EDT

Funny how Tom Brady didn't quite look like Tom Brady for Tampa Bay, but Cam Newton looked an awful lot like Cam Newton for New England. The Patriots took full advantage of a healthy Cam's running ability in their opener, but the flip side of that coin was that Julian Edelman and the receivers didn't get much work. Whether that's the new normal for coach Bill Belichick's squad or just a one-game exploit of a perceived weakness in the Dolphins defense remains to be seen, but scoring 21 points might not be enough in this Super Bowl XLIX rematch. Russell Wilson got to cook in Week 1, and the Michelin Guide people swooned trying to figure out how many stars to give him. Wilson even made Chris Carson look like a three-down back. New England's defense was up for every challenge in the first half of 2019, so this will be a true test of whether last week's stifling of Ryan Fitzpatrick was a return to that elite form, or whether it was just in the audience for the final countdown on Fitzmagic in Miami.

The Skinny

NE injuries: WR Edelman (questionable, knee), WR N'Keal Harry (questionable, shoulder)

SEA injuries: WR Phillip Dorsett (questionable, foot)

NE DFS targets: Cam Newton $6,400 DK / $7,800 FD (SEA 29th in rushing yards allowed to QB in 2019), Patriots DST $2,900 DK / $4,600 FD (first in points allowed, sixth in sack rate, first in INT% in 2019)

SEA DFS targets: Travis Homer $4,000 DK / $4,500 FD (NE 21st in passing DVOA vs. RB in 2019)

NE DFS fades: none

SEA DFS fades: Russell Wilson $6,500 DK / $8,100 FD (NE first in QB rating against, second in YPA allowed, first in TD% allowed in 2019), DK Metcalf $6,000 DK / $6,500 FD (NE first in DVOA vs. WR1 in 2019), Tyler Lockett $6,300 DK / $6,800 FD (NE first in DVOA vs. WR2 in 2019), David Moore $3,500 DK / $4,600 FD (NE first in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019)

Key stat: SEA was ninth in red-zone conversions in 2019 at 63.3 percent; NE was fourth in red-zone defense at 48.3 percent

Weather forecast: cloudy, temperature in the mid-60s, less than 10 mph wind, 0-10 percent chance of rain

The Scoop: Sony Michel leads the NE running backs with 60 yards and a TD. Newton throws for 220 yards and a score to Ryan Izzo while running for 50 yards. Carson also grinds out 60 yards and a touchdown, while Homer catches a TD pass. Wilson throws for 270 yards and a second score to Tyler Lockett. Seahawks, 21-20

Cincinnati (+6) at Cleveland, o/u 43.5 – Thursday, 8:20 p.m. EDT

Joe Burrow's debut had a doubly disappointing ending, but he still looked like he belonged against Joey Bosa and the Chargers, even if the refs and Randy Bullock denied him a game-winning, or at least game-tying, final drive. The same can't be said for Burrow's offensive line, which did neither him nor Joe Mixon any favors, and the unit just lost its starting right guard. Cincy's overall performance was still miles better than what Cleveland coughed up on the rug in Week 1, though. The ground game held its own, but Baker Mayfield looked lost and the defense had no answer for Lamar Jackson — which, to be fair, happens to a lot of defenses. On paper, there's a huge talent discrepancy in this matchup, but Cleveland might be the more banged-up squad, and with most of the key Bengals (QB excepted) used to coach Zac Taylor's scheme and the Browns still adapting to Kevin Stefanki's, that lack of a normal preseason may be affecting one team more than the other.

The Skinny

CIN injuries: RG Xavier Su'a-Filo (IR, ankle), DT Geno Atkins (out, shoulder), CB Trae Waynes (IR, pectoral), S Shawn Williams (out, calf)

CLE injuries: WR Jarvis Landry (questionable, hip), LT Jedrick Wills (questionable, shin), C JC Tretter (questionable, knee), RT Jack Conklin (questionable, ankle), DE Olivier Vernon (questionable, abdomen), LB Mack Wilson (out, knee), CB Greedy Williams (out, shoulder)

CIN DFS targets: Joe Mixon $6,100 DK / $7,000 FD (CLE 30th in rushing DVOA, 30th in YPC allowed, t-29th in rushing TDs allowed in 2019)

CLE DFS targets: Kareem Hunt $5,600 DK / $5,800 FD (CIN 31st in passing DVOA vs. RB in 2019), Odell Beckham $5,600 DK / $6,700 FD (CIN 30th in DVOA vs. WR1 in 2019), KhaDarel Hodge $3,000 DK / $4,500 FD (CIN 28th in DVOA vs. WR3 in 2019)

CIN DFS fades: none

CLE DFS fades: none

Key stat: CIN was 30th in red-zone conversions at 43.8 percent in 2019; CLE was 25th in red-zone defense at 61.4 percent

Head-to-head record, last five years: 7-3 CIN, average score 27-17 CIN, average margin of victory 16 points. CLE had won three consecutive meetings before a 33-23 loss in Week 17 last year.

Weather forecast: cloudy, temperature in the mid-60s, 12-14 mph wind, 0-10 percent chance of rain

The Scoop Mixon bangs out 100 yards and a score. Burrow throws for 210 yards and a TD to Tyler Boyd and runs in another touchdown of his own. Nick Chubb picks up 70 yards while Hunt adds 70 scrimmage yards and a receiving score. Mayfield throws for 230 yards and a second touchdown to Beckham but gets picked off twice and comes up short on a game-tying two-point conversion attempt on the Browns' final drive. Bengals, 24-22
 

Last week's record: 10-6, 10-5-1 ATS, 7-9 o/u
2019 regular-season record: 116-75-1, 91-98-3 ATS, 96-91-5 o/u
2018 regular-season record: 160-94-2, 112-134-10 ATS, 113-139-4 o/u
Lifetime record: 752-459-5, 561-610-45 ATS, 462-480-18 o/u (o/u not tracked in 2015)