Betting odds taken from Bet365

Bills 31 – Dolphins 10

So Thursday night came and went with Josh Allen’s Buffalo Bills earning a comfortable win on the road in Miami. The biggest story however, was the concussion suffered by Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, the third diagnosed concussion of his career.

It’s really difficult to imagine the dilemma facing the fifth-year man. Many are calling for him to retire from the game, with Dez Bryant and Antonio Brown among those voicing their concern. I lean towards him taking that advice this time, having admitted to considering it after previous concussions. As sad as it is, it always seemed like a matter of time before we found ourselves here again with Tua.

Looking Ahead To Sunday

It’s a bit early to be looking ahead to next year, but one thing I fully expect is to see more starters playing in pre-season. I know those games are primarily used for back-up players, and I still think that they will be, but starters were nowhere to be seen this year and it absolutely showed in week one.

Whilst there were a few teams shaking off some rust last week, there were plenty of trends that I expect to carry over into week two, along with some bounce backs. Whether it’s fantasy football or betting, here are four players I’m backing for big games this week, as well as a four-team parlay against the spread.

Cooper Kupp (L.A Rams)

Photo Credit: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

With Puka Nacua leaving early in the Rams’ opening game against Detroit, Kupp put on a performance that saw his Offensive Player Of The Year odds plummet, leaving him fifth favorite for this years award (14/1). Kupp finished with fourteen receptions for a hundred and ten yards and a touchdown, with an extra ten yards on the ground.

This week, you can back him to make ten or more receptions and more than treble your money (43/20). I’m taking this all day, and in what should be a high scoring game, I’m adding in a touchdown for both starting running backs.

Cooper Kupp 10+ receptions, James Conner and Kyren Williams to both score 1+ touchdown 10/1

Mark Andrews (Baltimore)

Photo Credit: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

Week one saw Andrews’ tight-end partner Isaiah Likely break out in a big way, coming within an inch or two of defeating the Chiefs in the 2024 curtain raiser. He’d produced plenty of times before, but this time, it was with NFL fans worldwide watching on.

One big reason for Likely’s big game however, is that Mark Andrews was double-covered by the Chiefs on a higher percentage of his routes than in any game over the previous three seasons. In week two, at home, I firmly expect Andrews to get back to his old ways against the Raiders.

Andrews found the end-zone six times in nine games (playing over 50% of offensive snaps) and you can back him to open his account for the year at 12/5. He’s actually longer odds than Likely already, after one game of 2024, so I’m leveraging the overreaction.

I’m coupling this up with a very modest yardage total, leaving me with:

Andrews anytime touchdown and 25+ receiving yards 11/4

Malik Nabers (New York Giants)

Photo Credit: Adam Hunger/AP Photo

Hidden among the wreckage and burning debris of the Giants’ opening weekend showing at home to the Vikings, was a very respectable debut performance from Malik Nabers. But this isn’t a Malik Nabers bet, this is a Washington defense bet.

Last week vs the Commanders, Baker Mayfield was fifteenth in pass attempts, but fifth in passing yards. Mayfield also had the highest completion rate in the league as the Washington pass defense just failed at every level.

To be very clear, I’m no more “in” on Daniel Jones than anyone else, but this Commanders defense is just dreadful, and Nabers is one of the most explosive receivers they’re going to face all year. In a break-out week, I’m backing the rookie to light up Washington and finish as a WR1, along with Kupp, in fantasy.

Malik Nabers 100+ yards and a touchdown 5/1

Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis)

Photo Credit: USA Today

Look out Green Bay! The Packers had every reason to feel hopeful heading into the 2024 season, but now face an uphill task this Sunday to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2006.

The headline heading into this game has understandably been the injury picked up by Jordan Love in Brazil last Friday, but Green Bay’s worries don’t end there.

Despite making a much-needed defensive coordinator change this off-season, the Packers struggled to slow the Eagles run game last week, let alone stop it. Saquon Barkley managed a hundred and nine yards and two touchdowns on the ground in week one, adding a receiving touchdown to finish as the clear RB1 on his Eagles debut.

With this in mind, and what I expect to be a positive game script with plenty of time in possession, I really struggle to see Taylor finishing with anything less than monster numbers in week two.

You can get odds of 4/1 for Taylor to run for a hundred yards or more with a touchdown. I’m also backing the Colts to cover the spread in this one.

Taylor 100+ rushing yards and a touchdown, Colts -2.5 6/1

Against The Spread

Photo Credit: Justin K.Aller/Getty Images

This week I’m backing the Colts (-2.5), Bucs (+7.5), Chargers (-5) and Steelers (-2.5) to cover their spreads, parlaying all four teams for odds of 11.23/1.

That’s all from me until next week. Enjoy the rest of week 2 and remember to gamble responsibly.