Well, that sure was one way to kick off the new NFL season. Teams averaged over 25 points this past week. Geno Smith avoided completing a pass to the opposite team. The Cardinals are now only three wins away from their preseason win total after besting the Chargers on the road. Week 2 is on the horizon, and a few early advantages stand out among the rest. Let's dive into our top NFL Week 2 picks and our favorite parlays.
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Best Early NFL Week 2 Picks & Parlays
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
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Early NFL Week 1 Parlay #1
Leg #1: Jameson Williams 50+ Yards (-105)
Jameson Williams fell just short of 50+ yards in the first contest for the Detroit Lions, hauling in four passes for 45 yards. The projected total for Lions-Bills is currently 53.5 points.
We expect both offenses to have their way in this contest. Detroit elected to go with a heavy dose of Jahmyr Gibbs and Amon-Ra St. Brown on Sunday. It would not surprise anyone if Williams saw a few more looks against Buffalo.
The total for this contest suggests the possibility of tremendous offensive production. Williams recorded 50+ yards in 10 out of 17 games last season, including five of the last six road games.
This is a fantastic opportunity to ladder the yards from anywhere to 80-100, if you feel so inclined. For our purposes, it's a solid way to kick off the parlay without having to drop the yards for an alt line.
Leg #2: Buccaneers Moneyline (-375)
Baker Mayfield against the Browns, after getting a large contract, should be an interesting contest, to say the least. Mayfield is coming off an underwhelming performance on Sunday, failing to reach 220 yards in a loss to Cincinnati. We expect a profound bounce-back game, with the Buccaneers well ahead for most of the contest.
There's a partial likelihood that Deshaun Watson may not even be the starting quarterback after only one game. While that could be an improvement for Cleveland in the long term, it makes things much more difficult for the Browns on Sunday. Tampa Bay turned the ball over on four occasions against Cincinnati. We doubt Cleveland is capable of repeating that type of success on the defensive end.
Leg #3: Raiders +7 (-115)
Once Ladd McConkey suffered a rib injury on a Sunday that caused the young receiver to exit the game, the wheels came completely off for the Los Angeles Chargers.
The Raiders’ defense looked quite dominant in their first contest against Miami. Los Angeles is certainly a much more formidable opponent. However, the Chargers looked completely lost in the second half against a Cardinals team projected to finish with four wins this season.
Las Vegas bolstered their defense in the offseason and could create a ton of problems for the Chargers’ offense.
The Raiders managed to reach the quarterback for five sacks on Sunday, with seven tackles for a loss. Las Vegas is getting seven points based on preseason projections, not the fact that the team had one of the strongest defensive showings in the league the first week.
It's likely the points regress at some point. Getting the seven points early could be a steal by the time the Chargers and Raiders kick off.
Parlay Odds: +356
Early NFL Week 1 Parlay #2
Leg #1: Panthers Moneyline (-125)
Carolina hung in there for a while with Chicago before the Bears ultimately pulled away. The Panthers scored 37 points in the first week, proving they have the offensive firepower to set them apart in the NFC South.
Week 2 sets up a matchup against a fellow division rival. The Atlanta Falcons have more than their share of issues going into this contest. All teams in the NFC South were on the losing side of their Week 1 matchups. A win on Sunday gives Carolina an early advantage in their division.
Bryce Young looked aggressive and much improved last week, as the Panthers opened up the contest with the first score against Chicago. Young threw for over 360 yards on 23 completions, with three touchdowns.
That desire to move the ball upfield should serve the Panthers well against a Falcons team that failed to score any touchdowns after the first quarter and passed for 118 yards. Carolina is on the road. Yet, this appears to be a good spot to get in on a Moneyline that hasn't been juiced up yet.
Leg #2: Steelers-Patriots Over 41.5 Points (-115)
The Patriots took a massive loss, with A.J. Brown set to miss at least four weeks with a high-ankle sprain. New England lost the services of Stefon Diggs in free agency and traded away Kayshon Boutte. It will be up to Romeo Doubs, Mack Hollins, DeMario Douglas and Hunter Henry to capitalize on the extra opportunities against a Pittsburgh defense that allowed only 13 points in its first game.
When you add Rhamondre Stevenson's pass-catching prowess into the mix, it makes much more sense why we are on the over in this contest. The Patriots came out flat in their first matchup, and Brown’s injury did New England no favors. The Patriots will be looking to turn things around in their first home game of the season, and we feel they do a much better job of scoring on Sunday.
The Steelers seemed poised and deliberate in their opening contest against a struggling Atlanta team. Pittsburgh's defense chipped in seven points off a pick-six, and Aaron Rodgers looked relatively sharp, completing 60% of his passes. This could turn into an absolute shootout late, and if that's to be the case, this contest is certainly clearing 41.5 points.
Leg #3: Chiefs Moneyline (-310)
The Chiefs put on a run game masterclass in Week 1, with three of their four touchdowns coming on the ground. Kansas City scored over 30 points, while Patrick Mahomes showed that an ACL injury just nine months ago wouldn't keep him off the field.
Mahomes scored the first touchdown of the game on a run and rushed for 23 yards on seven carries. Kansas City obviously has major issues to work out in the passing game. However, Kenneth Walker III may be one of the best signings in all of free agency, and makes the Chiefs a serious contender going forward.
The Colts looked completely devoid of any offense beyond Jonathan Taylor against Baltimore on Sunday. Daniel Jones threw for 166 yards on 31 attempts. Jones had one touchdown, one interception and was sacked twice.
Indianapolis lost by 18 points on their home field to start the season, and a road game at Arrowhead Stadium is not the way you want to follow that up. The Colts are in a tough spot against a fired-up Chiefs team that will be on national television for the second time in as many weeks.
Parlay Odds: +342
