I lost my fantasy football matchup this week by 0.96 points. And then, after a stat correction, I won by .04 points! And then, after another stat correction, I lost by 0.96 points.
I hope Week 3 fairs better. š
As always, we are using the Vegas Insider Consensus lines.
Last Week
- Lauren: 3-2
- Scott: 2-3
- Nolan: 2-3
Season
- Lauren: 6-4
- Scott: 4-5-1
- Nolan: 3-7
Lauren’s Picks
Tennessee -5 vs. Indianapolis
Ankles, Iām talking about ankles. Sorry, I had to.. but seriously if the Titans canāt beat Carson Ankles and the Colts by five points or more at home, this team has a long way to go.
Chicago +7.5 at Cleveland
I canāt imagine the Bears losing by a touchdown or more with Justin Fields in the backfield. The Dawg Pound is a tough place to begin the Fields era; however, I think Chicago plays hard for the young, upcoming QB who shouldāve started in the first place.
Las Vegas -3.5 vs. Miami
The Raiders are playing out of their minds right now. Derek Carr is questionable for this one, so if he goes down and Nathan Peterman finishing the game then Iāll shoulder this one. But otherwise, the Raiders win more than three behind Carr and versus Jacoby Brissett.
L.A. Rams +1 vs. Tampa Bay
Tom Brady is playing like heās 28 again, but give me the Rams in a close one in LA. Donāt forget Matthew Stafford is good, too. This could potentially be a preview of a NFC playoff game.
Seattle -2 at Minnesota
I still canāt fathom that the Titans came back and defeated the Seahawks last week. Iām sure Seattle hasnāt forgotten about it, and itāll show in a thump of the Vikings today. Thereās no way the Seahawks lose in back-to-back weeks, especially with Dalvin Cook banged up.
Scott’s Picks
Buffalo -7 vs. Washington
This has all the makings of a total blowout. The pundits are still questioning the Bills AFC contender status after a lackluster performance in week one. But itās apparent that Washington doesnāt have the same defensive prowess from a season ago, and Taylor Heinicke isnāt that guy. Iāll lay the points on the Bills.
Las Vegas -4 vs. MiamiĀ
What am I missing here? Vegas has looked great through the first two weeks and Miami will be starting Jacoby Brissett today, though I am honestly not sure if he gives the Dolphins a significantly worse chance to win than Tua does. Still, this line feels low.
Arizona -7.5 at Jacksonville
Betting Arizona is a tad nerve-wracking to say the least. However, I will continue to bet against the Jags until they give me a reason not to or the bookies adjust and make this line as high as it needs to be.
Kansas City -7 vs. L.A. ChargersĀ
This line might be a bit high, but Iām banking on the Chiefs to bounce back after a disappointing loss to the Ravens. It feels like the Chiefs could decide to lay the smack down, but I also really worry about the KC defense. This is really a bet on Mahomes, which always feels smart and good.
Seattle -2 at Minnesota
I donāt really trust either of these teams. However, the Seahawks are due to bounce back after a devastating and glorious loss to my beloved Titans. Also, the Vikings defense is absolutely pathetic. Iāll take the Seahawks by a field goal.
Nolan’s Picks
Baltimore -7.5 at Detroit
Lamar Jackson is good; the Lions are not. This is a lot of points to sacrifice for a road favorite, but thereās a definitive talent gap between these squads.
N.Y. Giants -2.5 vs. Atlanta
To paraphrase The Athleticās Sheil Kapadia: āAnytime you have the chance to pick Daniel Jones and Jason Garrett as favorites, you have to take it.ā This is as much a pick against the Falcons as is it for the G-Men. Atlantaās offensive line is atrocious and their defense is nonexistent. Surely Garrett can manage to call a good offense against a nonexistent defense!
Las Vegas -3.5 vs. Miami
This is a square pick for sure. The Raiders value is sky high after two wins over the Ravens and Steelers. The Dolphins value is in the tank, following a 35-0 drubbing at the hands of the Bills.
But 3.5 points feels more than reasonable? Iām betting on the Raiders revamped pass rush against the Dolphins porous offensive line. It bears mentioning Jacoby Brissett is starting at QB, who is sure to take a few sacks.
Green Bay +3 at San Francisco
Kyle Shanahan appears to be playing a game in which he sees how many games he can win while starting his worst quarterback. The Packers havenāt looked particularly impressive through two weeks, and their defense remains āgooeyā, but Iāll roll with the team that features its best players.
Dallas -3.5 vs. Philadelphia
My heart is with Jalen Hurts and the birds, but Phillyās overmatched in this one. They are down two starters on the OL (LT Jordan Mailata and star OG Brandon Brooks), pass rusher Brandon Graham and safety Rodney McLeod. Those guys arenāt exactly replaceable, let alone on short notice.
Kellen Mooreās usage of Tony Pollard tells me that his priorities are on scoring points and winning games, not playing favorites. Thatās a new trend in Dallas and one that Iām buying in on.
Five Things To Watch
JUSTIN FIELDS JUSTIN FIELDS JUSTIN FIELDS
Where else is there to start? Fields presents a sense of hope that hasnāt existed in Chicago sinceā¦ well, ever. Heāll face a stiff test in Cleveland, but the Bears faithful donāt need a win: They just want a taste of something special. I think he’s going to make one splash play that steals the show, much like REDACTED’s run on TNF or Baker Mayfield’s two-point conversion.
Odell Beckham Jr. makes his return to action in this one, too. Tune the fuck in.
I may have to bring back the Josh/Jaheim scale
The Bills offense and Washington defense were billed as top-five units entering the season. Neither has lived up to the hype. Iāll be interested to see which unit impresses more, though Iām not sure it decides the game — Buffaloās defense against Washingtonās offense is a bit of a mismatch.
Saints-Patriots
New Orleans and New England are almost stylistic mirror images of each other, aside from one key difference. One teamās quarterback is The Dragster at Cedar Point; the otherās QB is like the kiddy coasters I used to ride. Neither team trusts their quarterback. We know what Mac Jones is going to give us: nothing. This game comes down to Jameis Winston and which team he completes more passes to.Ā
I donāt actually want to watch this game, but itāll be on the big screen where Iām watching the games, so I have to drum up some interest for myself.
Chiefs-Chargers
After a Chargers athletic trainer stabbed Tyrod Taylor in the lungs — a storyline that doesnāt get enough credit for its bizarreness — Justin Herbert was thrown into the fire against the Chiefs. And he almost upset the defending champs. Patrick Mahomes didnāt play in the Week 17 matchup, so this is Mahomes-Herbert II. Sequels often disappoint, but they puts butts in seats.
Bradyās Debut in Hollywood
Tom Brady and the Bucs are the definitive favorites in the NFC; they are facing perhaps their greatest challenger in the new-look Rams. Sometimes these things arenāt hard to write.