One of the great things about the NFL – and professional sports in general – is its ability to meet our expectations and turn them on their heads. While I’m a big fan of summer, having the NFL back is pretty great. And this was just the beginning of the season.
I just started this column, but the boss asked for more. I’ll be evolving the timing. I like the ability to see how injuries are shaking out, so the end-of-the-week timing is attractive.
We’ll see how long Bizarro NFL sticks around. It’s not unusual for the annual Week 1 slate.
Lines below per DraftKings.
Be sure to check out the latest tools on Razzball.com: Slot vs. Wide PPG Allowed | WR Slot vs. Wide| DEF Targets Allowed | Home vs. Away | Wins vs. Losses | TD Tool | RB Zone vs. Gap Rushing | DEF Zone vs. Gap Rushing |
Want more data-driven stats and tools to help you win your fantasy league? Check out the Razzball Fantasy Football premium subscriptions for $0.00 upfront with our 3-day free trial!
As for the first game played this week:
I’m not going to borrow too heavily from my tight end column, but I will say that Ultimate Dalton Kincaid seems to have arrived. Figures the tight-end-premium Dynasty league where I had Kincaid and Trey McBride folded. I will, however, borrow from an answer I gave a reader this morning (tip of the hat to J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets): New HC Joe Brady seems to have taken the brakes off the offense and said, “What defense?” This may be partly because the Bills have a new stadium with a retractable roof, which can help take the sometimes brutal Buffalo weather out of the equation. I read a piece by a columnist at, of all places, The Weather Channel, decrying the rise of indoor stadiums in the NFL that take weather away as a factor in games. It was sentimental. The NFL is not sentimental; it is a corporation. More indoor stadiums give the league more potential Super Bowl sites.
As for the Lions, it may be reductive to say the Dan Campbell era is wearing thin. I’d rather believe that they can’t wait for safeties Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph to return from injury. After jumping out to a 21-0 lead at home in Week 1, they’re lucky they’re not 0-2.
What I’ll be most interested to see in the remaining Week 2 games:
Panthers at Falcons: A resistible force vs. a movable object. The Falcons put up a valiant effort against a good opponent, but Bijan Robinson is not enough. We’ll see how Cooper Rush can lead the team after getting first-team reps, but this was not the plan. And is the Panthers’ defense really bad? After surrendering 59 points to the Bears, it’s a fair question. They spent some money on the defense, but free agency doesn’t always yield a desired result. At least the Panthers’ offense looks game. Line: CAR -2.5, O/U 43.5
Vikings at Bears: Two of the streakiest teams in Week 1. Minnesota looked underwhelming in falling behind Green Bay 22-10 before reeling off 29 unanswered points. Vikings DC Brian Flores pressured the Packers all day. And welcome back, Justin Jefferson! Carson Wentz did yeoman’s work at QB after Kyler Murray left with a concussion, but he also got kicked around by the Packers. They had better work on their protections, or they need to start combing the want ads for QBs. The Bears found themselves in a 31-31 dogfight in Charlotte until turning the Panthers over twice to take a 21-point lead they didn’t relinquish. I was expecting the Bears to be an aerial circus, but they rushed for 291 yards and 6 TDs. Brian Flores will need a good game plan. This game could become a track meet. Line: CHI -4.5, O/U 47.5
Eagles at Titans: Is this game really going to be a dud? The Eagles jumped out to a 14-3 lead against the Commanders, but let Washington hang around until the clock ran out. Philly didn’t sustain drives, and big plays set up their scoring. The Titans will need to limit mistakes like they did against the Jets – the only turnover was on a fumbled kickoff by Chimere Dike – but the offense will have to be more lively than it was in Week 1: 195 total yards, 11 first downs, and 21:14 time of possession is not going to help against many teams. They abandoned the run when they got behind the sticks. I don’t think they can do that Sunday. Line: PHI -7.0, O/U 39.5
Steelers at Patriots: Offense. Both Pittsburgh and New England played solid defense in Week 1. The Steelers prevailed against a wounded opponent, but the offense only generated 264 yards, and their only TD came on a short field after Jaquan Brisker intercepted Cooper Rush. I’d say the Steelers have no chance, but they won in Foxboro last year with only 203 yards of offense by generating five turnovers. The Patriots are talented enough on both sides of the ball to win this game. They need to be patient and realize three points are better than a turnover. Line: NE -5.5, O/U 41.5
Packers at Jets: The Packers’ pass protection and the Jets’ running game. Green Bay looked a little lost without Josh Jacobs in Week 1. The Vikings certainly didn’t respect the running game and went after Jordan Love, blitzing on 40 of Love’s 46 dropbacks. Love was under pressure on 25 of the 46 dropbacks, and Love was sacked four times in the fourth quarter, with a fumble that he recovered and an interception. Green Bay also turned the ball over on downs. The Jets ran 39 times in a game they were comfortably ahead in the second half, and both of their TDs came on the ground. The Packers held the Vikings to 107 yards on 34 rushes. The good news for the Jets is the players most likely to miss the game for Green Bay are all on the defensive front seven. Geno Smith may have to do more in Week 2. Line: GB -3.5, O/U 44.5
Browns at Buccaneers: Which team will shoot off more of their toes? The Browns’ dismantling at the hands of the Jaguars might have been worse if Jacksonville didn’t take their foot off the pedal after building a 31-0 lead in the first 33 minutes of the game. The Browns’ first drive ended with an interception. Then it was two 3-and-outs, a lost fumble, a punt, then a drive to end the half where they had four penalties in five plays. Their first “scoring drive” was set up by a Raheim Sanders’ 74-yard kickoff return to the Jacksonville 23; 7 plays and 15 yards later, they kicked a field goal that closed the gap to 31-3. The Browns managed a garbage-time TD with 1:52 left. The Buccaneers, not to be outdone, suffered fumbles on three consecutive first-half drives that contributed directly to the Bengals building a 21-3 lead. They capped off the day by fumbling a fourth time in the fourth quarter, giving the Bengals a short field again. The Bengals scored 24 points on turnovers. Something has to give here. Line: TB -8.5, O/U 41.5
Saints at Ravens: If there are any receivers left. I was hoping for a track meet, but Chris Olave is questionable with a hamstring injury, and Zay Flowers is doubtful with a – wait for it – hamstring injury. The two combined for 15 receptions and 332 yards receiving in Week 1. It certainly hamstrings (excuse the pun) the Saints’ ability to repeat the furious comeback they had in Week 1 in Detroit. And who set up this schedule? Week 1 in Detroit, then Week 2 in Baltimore? Kellen Moore better be a wizard. New Ravens HC Jesse Minter certainly had a soft landing with a healthy Lamar Jackson in the backfield. And Derrick Henry has to be licking his chops after seeing the Saints give up 156 yards rushing to Jahmyr Gibbs. On paper, this looks foregone. I’m thankful we don’t play on paper. Line: BAL -8.5, O/U 46.5
Bengals at Texans: The Bengals DST: A fantasy dream? Or too good to be true? Judging by the lack of claims in fantasy, we seem to think the latter. But they were opportunistic against the Bucs, and imports Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen made an impact: each had a sack, and Mafe forced and recovered a fumble. Seeing Joe Burrow on the injury report already is a little nerve-wracking, but he logged a full practice on Friday. The Texans played one of the best games in Week 1. It was odd seeing their defense falter at the end, but seeing Buffalo this first two weeks, the Bills offense could be a problem for anyone. C.J. Stroud is going to need to do a better job of securing the football after losing two fumbles to the Bills, or he may play right into the Bengals’ wheelhouse. The Texans will be missing WR Nico Collins and DE Jadeveon Clowney. Line: HOU -2.5, O/U 45.5
Jaguars at Broncos: Will the Broncos test the Jaguars? Year 2 of the Liam Coen era started with a bang. The Broncos are going to have to show more acumen on offense than they did in Kansas City. I expect the Broncos to be a better test for the Jags than the Browns were, but part of that assumption is based on the Broncos being better at keeping the ball out of the hands of the Jags’ offense. Bo Nix struggled against in-division opponents in 2025, and Davis Webb had the misfortune of having one of the best DCs ever on the opposite sideline for Webb’s first game as playcaller, so we’ll see. None of the Jaguars carry an injury designation, although WRs Jakobi Meyers and Brian Thomas were limited in practice all week. The Broncos will be without WR Marvin Mims, and RB RJ Harvey is questionable. Line: DEN -2.5, O/U 45.5
Raiders at Chargers: Some reality. If I had been asked five times which of these teams would be 0-1 after Week 1, I would have gotten it wrong six times. The Raiders winning at home against the Dolphins wasn’t a surprise; I think the Dolphins will have a strong shot at being on the clock for the 2027 NFL Draft as soon as the final whistle is blown on the regular season. Klint Kubiak has already shown a talent for obfuscation by holding the Brock Bowers injury news as long as he did and doubling down by saying Bowers had a shot at playing in Week 2 in an early Week 2 presser. Pinocchio has nothing on you, Klint. But the Raiders offense looked good against the Dolphins, and new DE Kwity Paye made life miserable for Malik Willis. Meanwhile, the Chargers lost at home to the sportsbooks’ favorite for the 2027 1.01 pick by being unable to sustain drives. This was costly, starting late in the third quarter. Their last five drives went punt, blocked punt, interception, turnover on downs, turnover on downs. Those five drives totaled 21 plays for 65 yards with a time of possession of 7:21. They also lost a fumble and turned the ball over on downs in the second quarter. The Cardinals’ win was no fluke: the Chargers had their asses kicked. If this is reality, the Chargers are in for a long season. WR Ladd McConkey has a rib injury although Stephania Bell noted on Friday that he appears to have good rotation on film. Line: LAC -6.5, O/U 43.5
Commanders at Cowboys: A return of a great rivalry. Both teams lost in Week 1, but I see reasons for optimism for both teams. Washington getting back Jayden Daniels and adding Stefon Diggs may not make them contenders, but I don’t think anyone will overlook them. They did a good job controlling the ball. The one knock on their defense was the big plays they allowed, including a 64-yard pass play to Dontayvion Wicks that led to the Eagles’ first TD and a 42-yard run by Saquon Barkley that led to a 14-3 Eagles lead. On paper, the Giants outplayed Dallas significantly, but to me the game turned on three possessions: after Dallas recovered a fumble with 1:50 left until halftime, they were intercepted six plays later, and the Giants scored before halftime and then again on the opening possession of the third quarter; and the Giants being able to hold the ball for the final 5:21. This could be the Game of the Week. Line: DAL -3.5, O/U 50.5
Seahawks at Cardinals: A defensive battle? Don’t laugh. I’m pretty sure that the Seahawks will bring the wood on D, but if the Cards’ defensive performance in Week 1 is real, this game could be an offensive snoozeroo, and Sam Darnold being out doesn’t help. We’ll see if Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Trey McBride can get theirs. Looking at the line, bettors may be feeling this as well. Line: SEA -3.5, O/U 40.5
Dolphins at 49ers: A way for the Dolphins to win. It starts with getting DeVon Achane more than 15 touches. That may lead to more than 50 offensive plays and fewer than 5 sacks. Malik Willis is a good running QB, but I don’t want him to lead my team in rush yards. The Dolphins will be missing two front-seven defenders, which won’t make stopping the 49ers running attack any easier. The Niners avoiding mistakes should lead to a win. Kaelon Black was added to the injury report on Thursday and is questionable; Eddie Pineiro is battling an illness; and De’Zhaun Stribling will go on IR soon. Line: SF -13.5, O/U 44.5
Colts at Chiefs: The state of the Colts. The 41-23 score against the Ravens was deceptively close, because the Colts got blown out of their own building. Two first-half turnovers (one on downs on the Colts’ 3-yard line) by the Ravens kept it closer, but the Ravens had over 500 yards of offense. Daniel Jones will presumably have better days, but going to face Steve Spagnuolo’s defense in their building is not a recipe for one of those. The Colts will need a low-to-no-error game to win. Patrick Mahomes looked amazingly well in his return from ACL reconstruction, and how happy are the Chiefs with Kenneth Walker III? Walker had 191 scrimmage yards and 2 TDs on 26 touches in Week 1. Walker only had that many touches six times in a game in Seattle, and half of those were in his rookie year (2022). I still see issues in the Chiefs receiving corps, but the defense is hitting, and only Bo Nix’s mobility saved him from further punishment. The Colts will be missing Ashton Dulin. The Chiefs will be without LT Josh Simmons and strong safety Chamarri Conner. Line: KC -6.5, O/U 46.5
Giants at Rams: Reality, the sequel. Are the Giants this good? Are the Rams this bad? For the Giants, playing a sound football game where they erased their only turnover by creating a turnover, then scoring on bookmarking drives around halftime was refreshing. Those are hallmarks of their better teams from the Parcells and Coughlin eras. The comparison may be early, but we’ve starved for 15 years. Crumbs are welcome. Not being sloppy is welcome. For the Rams, I’m throwing the Melbourne game out the window. I’m not writing off a Super Bowl favorite after one week. WRs Puka Nacua and Jordan Whittington popped up on the injury report on Friday. Designations for the game will be Saturday. Line: LAR -7.0, O/U 48.5
Week 2 is here! Let’s get it!
While you’re here, check out more fantasy goodness at Razzball. Follow me on Twitter/X and BlueSky @crewser128.
Like and subscribe for more fantasy football content on YouTube @RazzballFantasy. Join us for our weekly Sunday start/sit shows, where we take questions during the Fantasy Football season for two hours starting at 11:00 a.m. EST. The “we” is (name/Twitter handle) Sky Guasco/@SkyGuasco, Derek Favret/@Derek_Favret, Matt Stiles/@stiles08, Jeff Kezar/Jefferson__21, and me.
Don’t forget to drop a comment or question down below. We always try to answer.
