The NFL Week 2 odds are on the board and as we get closer to kickoff, those betting menus will explode with options beyond just the NFL spreads and totals. We dive into the best bets and picks for Week 2 – from team and player props to value derivative predictions.
LACKLUSTER AT LAMBEAU
The Minnesota Vikings showed off their running game versus the Atlanta Falcons last week. The Vikes ran it early and often as they jumped out to a comfortable 21-point lead after 30 minutes and passed just 10 times while controlling the ball for roughly 50 percent of the game.
It seems Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer has a game plan with the lead: slow it down. In total, the Vikings had just 48 offensive plays and ran the ball successfully — 4.5 yards per carry — 38 times.
They will struggle to find that same success versus the Green Bay Packers in Wisconsin Sunday. The Pack’s defense allowed just 46 yards on 15 carries with a long of eight against the Chicago Bears on Thursday.
With both teams possibly looking to establish the run and manage the clock early in what could be a cold, wet day at Lambeau Field, take the first-half Under at 22.5
ON CROWDER NINE
Although Sam Darnold put up just 175 passing yards versus a solid Bills defense, he has found his new chain-moving target in Jamison Crowder. The first-year Jet played the third most snaps by a New York receiver but converted that into a league-high 17 targets, catching 14 of Darnold’s 28 completions.
The Jets will face off against the Cleveland Browns on Monday, as the Browns will want to play to their strengths in the passing game after getting embarrassed at home last week. We don’t expect Crowder to see another 17 targets but are willing to put our money on him hauling in a minimum of five or six balls playing primarily out of the slot and avoiding Browns DB Denzel Ward.
Take the Over on Crowder’s total receptions on any number below seven, depending where you play.
CAPITAL GAINS
Since the Amari Cooper trade last season, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott is averaging 287.3 yards passing per game. He’s also coming off a four-hundred yard, four-TD performance over the New York Giants.
Facing the Cowboys this week is Washington Redskins QB Case Keenum, who’s also coming in hot, having made 30 completions for 380 yards last week. The Reskins may be forced to throw even more with the injury to starting running back Derrius Guice. Even with Guice, Washington rushed the ball on just 23 percent of its offensive snaps in the second-half collapse to the Philadelphia Eagles.
With the Cowboys getting chunks of yardage by using play-action or R.P.O on 46.6 percent of their offensive plays last week, expect another high-scoring affair in Washington. The Over is 6-1 in the last seven matchups between these classic rivals and after an opening of 44, the total sits at 46.5.
There’s still value here so feel comfortable taking the Over 46.5 in a game that may see 80 pass attempts.
NO JOSHING AROUND
Oakland Raiders rookie running back Josh Jacobs will head into his first matchup with divisional rivals Kansas City Chiefs on the heels of a 23-carry, 85-yard, one-TD performance.
Jacobs played 40 of 55 snaps in the Week 1 win over Denver Monday while fellow RB Jalen Richard received just one touch. Coach Jon Gruden and the Raiders are going to lean heavily on the former first-round pick.
Gruden told the media that he wants to see Jacobs get a similar workload in Week 2, meaning last week’s performance was no outlier.
Game flow may be a problem for the Raiders’ running attack versus MVP and the boys. It’s tough to run the ball that much when you’re down on the scoreboard and, according to the current spread (Kansas City -7.5), Oakland will be down on the scoreboard. But, we like the Jacobs’ anytime touchdown prop as opposed to the total yards Over/Under.
