NFL Week 2 Preview: Biggest Games, Injury News & Bold Predictions (Ep. 2200)

With Jordan Mason on IR, Aaron Jones is expected to take on a bell-cow role for the Vikings. Analysts point to his history of high-touch games when Mason is out and his strong production against the Bears as reasons to expect heavy usage and productivity.

Aaron Jones is expected to be hyper-focused in the Vikings' offense, particularly on checkdowns.

There is high enthusiasm for Bijan Robinson's potential workload against Carolina, with the suggestion that he could see up to 40 touches.

Blake Corum appeared unaffected by travel and time zone changes in Week 1, looking explosive every time he touched the ball.

Carson Wentz is credited with performing better than expected in his recent outing. Analysts suggest he is capable of providing stability and positive production for the Vikings' offense.

Colson Loveland was a non-factor in the previous game, but expectations are that he will see increased involvement in the upcoming Bears offense.

Colston Loveland is described as a 'nothing burger' in the Bears' offense after failing to make an impact in the opening game.

Pat Fitzmaurice predicts the Browns will bench Deshaun Watson following a poor performance against the Buccaneers, citing a lack of merit to keep the starting job.

Jadarian Price is highlighted as a preferred start for the upcoming week, with analysts favoring him despite the matchup difficulty.

Jaden Higgins suffered an ACL tear and will be out for the entire season, further depleting the Texans' wide receiver depth chart.

Jalen Waddle is coming off a disappointing 'nothing burger' performance in Week 1, leaving questions about his immediate outlook.

Joe Burrow is dealing with minor back tightness and soreness, but is expected to be fine for the upcoming game.

Jonathan Taylor shows significant home-road splits, with his rushing production falling off dramatically when playing away from home. He faces a tough road matchup against Kansas City.

The Colts are expected to lean on their running game in Week 2 to help mitigate quarterback rust and inconsistency, with a focus on getting their running backs involved early.

Jordan Addison was not involved in the Vikings' offense in Week 1 but remains part of the team's offensive core.

Jordan Mason has been placed on IR with a thumb injury. The analysts believe the injury is not long-term and he will be ready to return once the thumb heals.

The Chargers' offense looked stunted and vanilla in Week 1, raising concerns that Greg Roman's scheme might limit Justin Herbert's upside and turn him into a game-manager rather than the top-five quarterback previously projected.

Justin Jefferson consistently performs at a high level regardless of the quarterback, with the notable exception of J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosman.

Justin Jefferson is the primary target for Carson Wentz in the Vikings' offense.

Kenneth Walker is expected to be a focal point of the Chiefs' offense, with the team likely to lean heavily on his rushing ability against a vulnerable Colts run defense.

Ladd McConkey is questionable with a rib injury. Analysts believe the Chargers are more likely to push him to play than the Ravens are with Zay Flowers, making him a 50-50 proposition for Week 2.

The potential absence of Ladd McConkey for the Chargers adds further concern to an offense that already struggled with efficiency and play-calling in Week 1.

Malik Nabers is highlighted as a player who performed well in Week 1, contributing to the sentiment that the Giants are a legitimate team.

Marvin Harrison Jr. is being utilized primarily as a 'sacrificial X' running deep go routes, which does not align with his skill set and limits his fantasy breakout potential.

Matthew Stafford looked out of sync and poor in Week 1, with Pat Fitzmaurice noting he looked like 'Blake Bortles' and had several turnover-worthy throws, including a contested catch by Puka Nacua that was nearly intercepted.

Nico Collins is dealing with a midweek hamstring injury that puts his Week 2 availability in serious doubt. Given his history of lower-body soft tissue injuries and the typical recovery timeline for midweek hamstring issues, the analysts believe he is more likely to sit out than play. Even if he does suit up, there is significant concern regarding his effectiveness and the risk of re-aggravation.

Nico Collins is expected to miss the Week 2 game due to a grade one hamstring strain after failing to practice.

Pat Bryant was one of the few bright spots in the Denver Broncos' offense during their Week 1 performance.

Puka Nacua had a long completion in Week 1 that was nearly intercepted due to a contested catch where the defender was a split second late.

Quentin Johnston failed to see the deep-ball usage expected in the new Chargers offense, contributing to the team's overall vanilla and ineffective performance in Week 1.

Andrew Erickson is monitoring the Patriots' backfield deployment between Rhamondre Stevenson and Henderson.

RJ Harvey is dealing with a hamstring injury of unknown severity, which could open up an opportunity for Jonah Coleman if Harvey misses time.

Romeo Doubs' performance in Week 1 was disappointing despite the large contract he signed with the Patriots.

Pat Fitzmaurice predicts Shedeur Sanders will replace Deshaun Watson as the Browns' starting quarterback by Week 3.

Tank Dell is currently on the IR, which the analysts note is a major missed opportunity for him to have stepped up in the Texans' offense.

Trevor Lawrence has a history of success against the Denver Broncos, having recorded 279 yards and three touchdowns in their previous meeting in Denver.

With Nico Collins injured and Jaden Higgins out for the season, Xavier Hutchinson is projected to step into a top-two receiver role for the Texans, though the analysts express skepticism about his fantasy impact.

Zay Flowers is questionable for Week 2. Analysts doubt he will play, noting that the Ravens likely do not need him to beat the Saints and should avoid rushing him back from a soft tissue injury.