Week 2 came and went a lot like Week 1, and now we can actually start to have debates about just how good some of these 2-0 teams are, and how bad some of these 0-2 teams are. Consistency for some of these teams has yet to be seen, but that’ll show up as the season progresses to give us a better picture. Speaking of consistency, I once again went 10-6 on my pick ems last week. That’s not too shabby, but slightly above average won’t fly forever. So let’s get into the Week 3 Pick Ems, and maybe I’ll be a little bold and go 11-5 this week instead…
Carolina Panthers at Houston Texans
Winner: Carolina Panthers
Score: 28-14
Summary: Is this Carolina team for real? They have a great chance to go 3-0 here against a weak Houston team without Tyrod Taylor under center. Darnold and McCaffrey are going to take advantage of a weak defense, and the Carolina defense shuts down Davis Mills to coast to an easy win. Look for over 150 yards and 2 touchdowns for McCaffrey in this one.
Los Angeles Chargers at Kansas City Chiefs
Winner: Kansas City Chiefs
Score: 31-27
Summary: This will be a great division matchup between two talented teams. The Chargers are not playing as well as they should, but that’ll change this week. Herbert will go for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns, but he’ll get outdueled by Mahomes with a late game heroic touchdown to bring the Chiefs to 2-1. A great QB matchup to watch in this one.
Arizona Cardinals at Jacksonville Jaguars
Winner: Arizona Cardinals
Score: 34-17
Summary: This is the easiest game of the week to pick for me. Kyler Murray looks like an MVP, and there are so many great receivers on this team. Murray will throw for 300 yards and have 4 touchdowns in this one. He will find De’Andre Hopkins, Rondale Moore, and Christian Kirk in this one. He’ll use his legs for the other. Trevor Lawrence and the Jags won’t be able to keep up.
Chicago Bears at Cleveland Browns
Winner: Cleveland Browns
Score: 27-17
Summary: This Bears team is just weird. This Browns team is shaky but talented. Fields will get his first start, but it won’t be a heroic start to his NFL career. The Browns will utilize the run game in this one, with Chubb and Hunt each scoring. Mayfield will find Peoples-Jones on a long touchdown as well. David Montgomery scores twice, but the Bears lose without much of a fight against this solid Browns team.
Washington Football Team at Buffalo Bills
Winner: Buffalo Bills
Score: 24-21
Summary: Josh Allen continues to go up against very talented defenses in this one, and the casuals are probably panicking. Do not worry. Allen will find plenty of success in this one regardless, with 300 yards and 3 scores. Taylor Heinicke will lead a comeback to push this game into overtime, but the Bills pull it out in the end and move to 2-1, a very battle tested 2-1 as well.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
Winner: Tennessee Titans
Score: 38-28
Summary: Man I love division matchups. This one will be great. The Titans looking to stay hot, the Colts looking to right the ship after two close losses to good teams. Derrick Henry will push the Titans over the edge with 150 yards and 2 scores. Tannehill will find Julio Jones and A.J. Brown for touchdowns as well. Carson Wentz will show his most promise yet, but Derrick Henry’s run game will give the Titans too much clock control late, and move them to 2-1 while the Colts fall to a scary 0-3.
New Orleans Saints at New England Patriots
Winner: New England Patriots
Score: 21-17
Summary: This was a very hard game to pick. The Patriots are boring and I don’t buy into them too heavy. The Saints are unpredictable and we don’t know which Jameis Winston is here to stay. I’m going to say that this will be a defensive battle. The injury ridden Saints won’t be able to keep up, as Mac Jones throws for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns to secure the win. Alvin Kamara bounced back with 100 all purpose yards and 2 scores, but the Saints will fall to 1-2 with a lot to work on away from home still.
Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants
Winner: New York Giants
Score: 30-20
Summary: Is it time to slow down on the Daniel Jones slander? He looks like the only Giants player that wants to win right now. He gets a gift of a matchup here, and he’ll take advantage with a huge game through the air and on the ground. Saquon Barkley also has a great game as he adjusts to the lead back role coming off his torn ACL. The Falcons continue to be awful, but start Calvin Ridley in fantasy I guess, that’s about all I got for this team.
Cincinnati Bengals at Pittsburgh Steelers
Winner: Pittsburgh Steelers
Score: 20-14
Summary: Every time these teams play, it makes highlight reels for all the wrong reasons. Whether it’s one team finding a new way to lose, or Juju Smith-Schuster finding new ways to be extremely annoying, it’s always something. This should be a low scorer, as these two defenses have looked solid so far. Najee Harris will finally start to produce, with 100 yards and a score. Joe Burrow will try and lead the Bengals back from a 20-0 deficit and come up just short to end the game. This rivalry is always weird, rarely fun, and this will be no exception.
Baltimore Ravens at Detroit Lions
Winner: Baltimore Ravens
Score: 34-21
Summary: Is Lamar Jackson a top 5 QB? I don’t think so. Is T.J. Hockensen a top 5 TE? I do think so. Maybe that’s bold, I don’t care though. I’m not changing my mind. That won’t matter in this one though. The Ravens walk all over the Lions, with 3 rushing scores from 3 different people. T.J. Hockensen scores once, and D’Andre Swift scores twice for this weak Lions team. The Ravens keep rolling, and the Lions are, uh, well they are the Lions. For better or for worse.
New York Jets at Denver Broncos
Winner: Denver Broncos
Score: 27-14
Summary: Start your Broncos in fantasy. I shouldn’t have to say much else but that’s kinda the point of this article so I’ll go into it more. Teddy Bridgewater finds Courtland Sutton and Noah Fant for scores, while both Javonte Williams and Melvin Gordon score on the ground. Zach Wilson only has two interceptions, and he builds some chemistry with Corey Davis, who finishes with 100 yards and a score. The Jets lose still. Obviously.
Miami Dolphins at Las Vegas Raiders
Winner: Las Vegas Raiders
Score: 31-20
Summary: What’s up with the Raiders? Will they collapse at the end of the season again? Probably. The Dolphins suck for some reason. Tua Tagovailoa doesn’t look good, and now he’s out. It’s not getting any better. Myles Gaskin and Jaylen Waddle score for the Fins, but Derek Care suits up and throws for 300 yards and 3 touchdowns to move the Raiders to 3-0. An unexpected start, but one I’m sure is very encouraging for Raiders fans.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Los Angeles Rams
Winner: Los Angeles Rams
Score: 38-35
Summary: Wow, this game will be good. The two best teams in the NFC by far battling it out. If you can only watch one game this weekend, make sure it’s this one. Matt Stafford and Tom Brady each throw for 4 touchdowns in this one, and Stafford leads a game winning drive late in the 4th quarter to take down this Brady-led Bucs team. It’ll be a great game filled with stats that could swing either way. I’m a certified Rams stan this season though, and a lot of people will be too after this game.
Seattle Seahawks at Minnesota Vikings
Winner: Seattle Seahawks
Score: 34-28
Summary: This will be a surprisingly good game. The Vikings are 2 field goals away from being 2-0. One from their kicker’s leg missing, one from the Bengals kicker’s leg not missing. Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson will explode in this one, but Russell Wilson and D.K. Metcalf match them step for step. Russ leads a game winning drive in overtime with a long touchdown to break Vikings fans hearts again and move them to 0-3. The Seahawks move to 2-1.
Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers
Winner: Green Bay Packers
Score: 27-21
Summary: What Packers team will show up in this one? How much of a distraction is Aaron Rodgers becoming for a Packers team trying to not lose in the NFC championship again? How many running backs are going to get hurt for the Niners in this one? So many questions. Davante Adams gets a score in this one, and Aaron Jones gets two himself. The 49ers get scores from Debo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk, and Elijah Mitchell, but it’s not enough. This drama filled Packers team moves to 2-1, while the 49ers get a gut check with a tough loss to fall to 2-1 as well.
Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys
Winner: Dallas Cowboys
Score: 31-24
Summary: Did I mention that I love divisional matchups? Because I do. This will be a fun one. Dak Prescott and Jalen Hurts will duel in Jerry Jones’ house, with Dak having the last laugh. Both QBs throw for 3 scores in this game. Dak will find Ceedee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Tony Pollard through the air, while Jalen Hurts find Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Miles Sanders to match him. It’ll be Ezekiel Elliott at the goal line late to win this thing for Dallas, as they move to 2-1. The Eagles impress, but fall to 1-2 in a bitter loss to a division rival.
