My picks for the Bears and Packers game flopped harder than the Bears did on Sunday, but my picks elsewhere around the NFL went 3-1 in Week 1! Fewer homer Bears picks, more objective thinking.
Let’s get to some Week 2 NFL Picks & Props.
Commanders at Broncos Under 39.5 (FanDuel)
Two incredibly “meh” offenses going up against two pretty solid defenses. The Commanders snuck by the tanking Cardinals in Week 1, but they allowed six sacks in the process against nowhere near the defense they’ll be up against this week. On the other hand, Denver’s offense couldn’t really get going against a Vegas defense that isn’t all that great. Russell Wilson didn’t look much better than the version of him we saw last year. Two bad offenses and two solid defenses; let’s take the under between these teams in Week 2.
Pick: Under 39.5
Colts +1.5 at Texans (DraftKings)
Both teams will be trotting out highly drafted QBs in this one, and of the two, I was more impressed with Anthony Richardson last week. Stroud didn’t turn the ball over, but the Texans were held without a touchdown against a Ravens defense that had a lot of questions entering 2023. Anthony Richardson, granted, while at home, had the Colts battling against a Jaguars team that should be very good this season. He did throw an INT, but he accounted for two TDs. I loved the way Shane Steichen used him. It should be a pretty bad game, but I like the Colts here.
Pick: Colts +1.5
Bills -8.5 vs. Raiders (Caesars)
I was very high on the Bills coming into this season, and I still am. I think they recover in a big way from a tough loss and a game they should have won on the road. They go up against a 1-0 Raiders team that wasn’t really able to run the ball at all in Denver last week. I don’t think that will fly in Buffalo this week. Give me Josh Allen and the Bills big in a bounce-back effort against a bad Raiders team. Too many weapons on Buffalo for the Raiders to contain.
Pick: Bills -8.5
Aaron Jones Anytime TD Scorer vs. Falcons (+140, DraftKings)
The Packers offense was stalling for a lot of the first half last week against the Bears, and then Aaron Jones rejoined the gameplan. Jones averaged just under five yards per carry against the Bears and obviously got involved in the passing game too with the long TD reception. Matt LaFleur, in the second half, made a big effort to get Jones involved, and that’s when the Pack’s offense started clicking. Look for that to happen again this week.
**UPDATE**
Aaron Jones was ruled inactive today, so let’s make a new pick
Brandon Aiyuk Anytime TD Scorer vs Rams (+165)
Aiyuk was Brock Purdy’s favorite target in the blowout win over the Steelers last week. He caught eight passes on eight targets for 129 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams’ defense played a great second half in Seattle, but I think that the 49ers’ offensive line holds up much better than Seattle’s did last week. With so much focus on Christian McCaffrey coming out of the backfield and having to be aware of where Deebo Samuel is on the field, Aiyuk can get lost in the shuffle a bit by opposing defenses, and he’s way too good to let that happen.