In week 1 I gave you four games to avoid and four picks to consider for your survivor pool. Of those four games to avoid, three could have swung either way and the fourth would have had you taking either Sam Darnold or Daniel Jones.

Of the four teams I gave to consider, three of them won. I of course chose the lone loser as my champion. Oopsie. We’ll look to rebound in week 2 after hitting the buyback a little earlier than anticipated.

Games to Avoid

Buffalo Bills +2.5 at Miami Dolphins -2.5
Best to avoid two teams that look to be pretty good especially in an interdivisional game. Josh Allen looked exactly like Josh Allen even without Stefon Diggs last week and Tyreek Hill has what Gus Johnson may call “that running from the cops speed.” Best to sit this one out and enjoy the watching the game.

New Orleans Saints +6 at Dallas Cowboys -6
The Saints absolutely dismantled the Panthers on Sunday. That of course is not saying much. This game will give us a better indication of where the Saints stack up among the top teams in the league. If they can hang with Dallas they’ll be dangerous going forward. If they get blown out they’ll be relegated to that middle of the pack fringe playoff status.

Cincinnati Bengals +5.5 at Kansas City Chiefs -5.5
The Bengals looked sloppy in their home loss to New Orleans. They had (made for themselves) some bad fumble luck losing fumbles on both a potential touchdown and having another forced by the long snapper on a punt. They also weren’t able to recover a fumble they forced on New England late in the game. Still had their TE completed a catch or their other TE not had the worst ball security I’ve ever seen going into the end zone on the very next play they might win that game. They play the Chiefs tough at Arrowhead and they’ll have full participation from Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins so we’ll see how they come out to play in week 2.

Seattle Seahawks -3.5 at New England Patriots +3.5
Speaking of the New England Patriots they seem like they’re going to be one of those teams that has a defense that keeps them in games. They might lack firepower to score much, but if they keep other teams out of the end zone and get the right bounces they can walk away with wins. Plus Seattle travels across the country.

Games to Consider

Las Vegas Raiders +8.5 at Baltimore Ravens -8.5
Baltimore was the tip of a toe away from tying the Chiefs on the final play of NFL opening night. They’ll look to get into the win column in week 2. The Raiders meanwhile got run all over by former Ravens J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards to the tune of 161 yards. That’s not Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry and that Chargers offense isn’t the Chiefs. Give me Baltimore in the battle of 0-1 teams.

What could go wrong?
Maxx Crosby going Chris Jones and disrupting the Ravens offense enough to keep it close late where anything can happen.

Cleveland Browns +3 at Jacksonville Jaguars -3
The Jaguars held their own in Miami losing 20-17. They had a chance to ice the game and go up 24-7 but Travis Etienne Jr. fumbled into the end zone. Deshaun Watson meanwhile looks bad and the Browns offense doesn’t look nearly as potent as the Dolphins offense the Jaguars held to 20 points.

What could go wrong?
Deshaun Watson’s latest allegations sideline him. If Jameis starts I might flip this pick.

San Francisco 49ers -5.5 at Minnesota Vikings +5.5
The 49ers didn’t hit the post Super Bowl slump in week 1 handling the Jets and spoiling Aaron Rodgers return without Christian McCaffrey. Sam Darnold had a hell of a game. It was against the Giants.

What could go wrong?
The Sam Darnold reconnaissance continues and the Vikings do enough on defense to limit the 49ers.

Los Angeles Chargers -6 at Carolina Panthers +6
You can always just fade the Panthers.

What could go wrong?
Probably not much. Herbert injury or something. Carolina suddenly becoming an actual NFL team. 🤷‍♂️

My Pick

Don’t let me down Lamar. Ravens over the Raiders in Baltimore. I waffled between this and the Chargers. Going with the home (and better) team.