One week into the 2021 NFL season and we've already seen some big surprises and exciting matchups — perhaps none more wild than Monday night's overtime ending in Las Vegas. As we move into Week 2, we asked ESPN insiders Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler for some insight into this week's slate. Which teams should we be concerned about after a disappointing performance in the opening matches and will we see improvement in their second innings? What were the biggest surprises of the first week, and are they sustainable? And yes, that includes a discussion about the sluggishness of Aaron Rodgers and the Packers on Sunday.
Our experts also share their favorite upset picks for Week 2, including one Super Bowl contender falling after a strong opener. And for fantasy managers looking to make all the right moves, the names Graziano and Fowler should start out sleepers and point to potential fantasy flops. They get into it all and kick it off with everything they've heard this week, from contract negotiations to injury situations.
Let's start with our top upset alerts, but you can move on to the other big questions of Week 2.
What's your top upset pick for Week 2?
Fowler: Let's go over the rams to the colts (+4). I feel confident after choosing to cover the Raiders in that tragic masterpiece of a game Monday night. So this is my attempt to take the absurd propaganda around Rama down a notch. The Colts have a good side and they didn't show it in the opener. The offensive line would improve, and Indy's defense would learn from the loss to Seattle when it allowed receivers to advance downfield. The Colts would try to end the big game and beat Matthew Stafford with a short pass, hoping to make a mistake or two.
Graziano: I was at his game on Sunday and was stunned by how bad the pass security was. The whole point for Carson Wentz was that he was going into this ideal scenario. It was anything but in Week 1, and was the main reason Seattle was able to generate pressure with their front four. I trust the Colts' coaching staff to fix it, but while they wait for the offensive tackle from Eric Fischer to come back, it could be a tough move against Aaron Donald & Co.
I'm going with the Bengals (+3) over the Bears. I am riding the wave. I think it's hard to overstate how big Sunday's win was for Cincinnati. The Bengals blew up late the game because it looked like they were in their pocket, and throughout the time, you thought they were going to Bengal somehow. But he didn't. The Vikings were the ones who pulled it off, and the Bengals unsurprisingly took advantage. QB Joe Burrow is a confidence vitamin for a franchise that has struggled to find reasons for confidence over the years.
Fowler: Yeah, Burrow didn't seem to be in the pocket with a knee injury, a great sign for a franchise that needs a strong start in the worst possible way. I can get off with it. That defense lighter looks better. The Bears will have to find a way to build explosive plays, or the cry for rookie quarterback Justin Fields will only increase.
Graziano: They're not going anywhere soon to cry. Matt Nagy thinks he can stop them, but I don't think he's right.
Graziano: The Green Bay Packers' flop was the biggest surprise for me, and I'm selling it. I think the Saints probably have a better defense than a lot of people thought, and I'm not going to write off Aaron Rodgers and the pack after one game. He started two rookies on the offensive line, which is an issue he needs to address. But at some point, offensive tackle David Bakhtiari will return, and I trust Rodgers and his coaching staff to figure out whatever went wrong with Sunday's offense.
Fowler: Yes, you have to think that the Packers will soon end Rust. But at the same time, that's what happens when the quarterback leaves off-season work for the first time in years and fights with the front office for months. It's hard to imagine a scenario in which bad vibes didn't at least bleed on the field, unintentionally or not.
To me, the biggest surprise was the Chicago Bears used a bit of Fields to complement Andy Dalton. Chicago kept it a secret for the most part. And there's no choice but to buy here, right? I'm not expecting to see less field at this point. Her role should only increase—the five pictures she saw on Sunday nights until every picture was hers. That could be week 13. That could be week 5 or 6. But that time will come.
Graziano: Yeah, I think it's a potentially interesting trend to watch. We saw the Niners do it with Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance. We saw the Raiders use Marcus Mariota for a play on Monday night. I'm curious to know how many of these coaches want to confuse defense with a different form and how many of them are just looking for an opportunity to get a rookie's feet wet without asking too much from him right out of the gate. . At some point, Fields and Lance will be their team's starting QBs. But the idea that they both might be able to contribute on the field in the meantime is a fresh one and worth monitoring.
Fowler: Yeah, so I think Fields could be a starter before Lance. The 49ers must contend, and Garoppolo has a reputation as a champ in San Francisco, having kept his $24.1 million salary on the books for this long. So Lance can do his bit in a complementary role as the good vibes roll in.
Who's a fringe fantasy player who should be started in Week 2?
Fowler: I'm going with Rondell Moore, WR, the Cardinals (vs. Min.). Keeping the rookie off the field will be difficult, and the Cardinals are already planning to get him the ball. He caught four passes for 68 yards on five goals in Week 1, but he's also dangerous as a run-game option when coach Cliff Kingsbury wants to think outside the box with playcalling. Arizona's receiving room is crowded, but without the ball-dominant running back, Moore's hybrid position should be used frequently.
Graziano: That's a good one. Moore is the kind of player that coaches would like to find ways to use. Those can be hard to count from a fantasy perspective, and I'm not sure how much to trust Kingsbury to make good use of her every week. But when they give Moore the ball, it's fun to watch.
my choice? Mack Jones, QB, Patriots (in NYJ). Jones looked ready after losing to Miami on Sunday, and now he goes up against the Jets secondary. The Jets won't put up the same kind of resistance on defense, and I think this is the week we start to get some real clarity about the pass-catcher pecking order in New England as well.
Fowler: Jones had the rookie quarterback's best start ever, and his decisiveness is perfect for that offense. So, he will get the yard. However, New England's faltering issues were concerning. I'm not sure how many points per game to expect from this offense, and when it gets to the red zone, Damien Harris and the running game can take Jones' touchdown away.
Which team should be most worried after Week 1?
Graziano: The Baltimore Ravens don't worry, but I think it's okay if we worry about them. John Harbaugh is the kind of coach who can get his team out of tough times, and I'm sure he will. But handling the loss of personnel is becoming too much. When the Raiders detected the zero-blitz, they sensed the absence of Marcus Peters at the back end of the defence. Running back young, Tyson Williams (nine carries, 65 yards), ran the ball well, but there was a problem with the safety of the pass. Another offensive lineman - left guard Tyre Phillips - went down with an injury. The Ravens are a deep team and a well-mannered organization, but that depth is being tested much earlier in the season than they certainly expected to be.
Fowler: This season feels a little bit 2020 San Francisco to them. Just when you think the injuries will stop, another injury follows. Baltimore players have touted the potential of this defense as an all-time, but the Ravens looked far from championship level last night. QB Lamar Jackson will keep Baltimore in every game, and you're right, Harbaugh's steady presence will help. But clearly the Ravens have work to do.
I'm going with the Tennessee Titans here. It was a lifeless week 1 performance that I didn't expect. The Titans are a team that usually thrives on the expansive, ferocity of coach Mike Wrabel. But I didn't see much of that, and after many years of shuffling on defense, I'm still not convinced they can hold off the persistent attacks. And receiver Julio Jones looks rusty after not practicing much for the preseason.
Graziano: When I spoke with him at the Titans' camp last month, this was Vrubel's main concern: His veterans didn't have enough time together on the practice field because many of them were suffering from nursing injuries. Tennessee has a real opportunity to take control of the AFC South and claim it for themselves, while the Colts work to bring things together at the start of the season, and losing and looking bad in Week 1 makes up for potentially missed opportunities Huh.
I think Vrubel wants his team to feel a sense of urgency right out of the gate and he's not satisfied with what he's seeing in that department. I'm watching that team closely in a tough Week 2 matchup in Seattle. A 0-2 start is certainly not out of the question, and considering how many expectations are in store for this team this year, it will be tough.
Who's your pick to be the biggest fantasy flop for Week 2?
Fowler: My pick is Antonio Brown, WR, Buccaneers (vs ATL). This isn't a knock on Brown, whose game is still humming at age 33. The Books' fantasy approach can be a bumpy ride from week to week as game depth and production depend on matchups. Mike Evans, who started off slowly in Week 1, has four career 100-yard games against Atlanta, so maybe this is his week.
Graziano: Yeah, maybe, but I still think Brown has a good chance of being the most productive Tampa Bay wide receiver this year. Brady is in love with the guy who inspired the Patriots to sign him a few years ago and convinces coach Bruce Arian to bring him in, even though Arian didn't want to. Brady sees a wide receiver version of himself in Brown, how he sees his craft and the way his preparation leads to on-field credibility. You may be right about this week, and Brady may well be spreading it week-to-week, but the connection between him and Abby is real. He can be an all-year fantasy sleeper.
For this week, I'm going to be in a single game: Mike Davis, RB, Falcons (in TB). I can pick up the opening race against the Books all year long in this space. (I picked Dallas' Ezekiel Elliott last week—he had 11 carries for 33 yards—and it worked.) Teams don't even try to run the ball against Tampa Bay, and they shouldn't, it Given how ferocious defensive tackle Vita V and the interior of that defensive line are against opposing run games. I think better days are ahead for Arthur Smith's offense, but I don't expect Sunday to be one of them.
Fowler: Yeah, that Dallas game was an eye-opener. The Cowboys had friendly matchups against the Tampa Bay cornerback and ran completely in the middle despite being back in the top-10. Davis's climb is a climb.
One more for you on the RB front: There are still concerns about when Saxon Barkley will break up. That legendary offensive line needed reconciliation, and Barkley was running too far east-west in Week 1 (10 carries, 26 yards).
Let's empty your notebooks. What else are you hearing this week?
Brown receiver Odell Beckham Jr.'s inactive status for Week 1 was at least a mild surprise to some in Cleveland. He has looked tremendous on the practice field, and has exploded in the lower part of the body. If he's in Week 2, it won't be shocking, although coach Kevin Stefansky is expected to make that call later in the week.
Legendary Washington quarterback Taylor Heinke isn't sleeping over, and Washington coach Ron Rivera isn't either. A team source said that although Ryan Fitzpatrick was always the favorite for Washington's starting job in the preseason, Henki gave Rivera "something to think about" when it came to deciding on a starter based on performance. Henicki has a multigame runway to prove that he can start in the NFL. He's on a $4.75 million deal, two years ahead, and while that may be his limit, Washington is concerned with his game-making and wants to see where it goes.
The Saints secured cornerback Marson Latimore for a five-year extension, but another contract issue has emerged: left tackle Taron Armstead, a 2022 free agent. I hear he is set to play the final year of his deal and will hit the open market in March. Armstead is still a key left tackle at age 30, and cannot be tagged the franchise as the recent contract restructuring includes zero years. So unless the Saints come up with a massive offer to suit the top tackle in their age and price range, they will need to find a new edge guard next season.
A veteran with a better chance of re-signing with his team is Chief Safety Tyron Mathews. Kansas City has wanted to keep Matthew in the locker room for a long time, but the problem is it's still tight against Cap ($3.2 million in space as of this week). With Matthews set to hit free agency in March, it could heat up later in the season or soon thereafter. But there is an understanding on both sides that a long-term settlement is possible. Matthews has emerged as one of Kansas City's premier leaders on and off the field.
You know who never worried about precision drops from Bengal receiver Jammer Chase? Who is bad The second-year quarterback went to his LSU friend on Sunday in the key spots — five catches, 101 yards, 1 TD — but when I spoke to Burrow a few weeks ago, he was clear that he had any concerns about catching Chase. was not. ball. I also asked him what kind of input he had in the decision to draft Chase with a total of 5, and he said this: "It wasn't my decision. I wasn't pushing it at all. But what? They made me feel involved in the process. They were keeping me updated about what they were thinking, and that's really all you can ask. You see a lot of people in the league are getting frustrated, You know, not feeling involved, and I was really appreciative of how they handled it." What did Burrow tell his front office when asked for his opinion on Chase? "I told him it would be a home run, obviously. He's a great, great player, a great friend who really understands the game and is going to work really hard to get where he wants to go. "
As of Tuesday, the NFL was not concerned about the Saints' COVID-19 situation affecting Sunday's game at New Orleans in Carolina. As a result of half a dozen coaches testing positive, the Saints entered the league's advanced mitigation protocol, which means virtual meetings, mask requirements and increased testing of vaccinated players and staff. (The Saints players were out on Tuesday but still had to report for testing.) All coaches who tested positive have been vaccinated, which actually means they can return in time for Sunday's game. . Vaccinated players and personnel who test positive, if they are asymptomatic, can test negative twice with 24 hours between the test and the league and team's medical personnel can sign off on their return. Obviously, this is a situation worth watching. If we start seeing a handful test positive over the next few days, there is a chance the league could reschedule the game. However, as of now, not too worried about doing so.
Fantasy managers who took on Saxon Barkley in the first round could face another week of disappointing production. From what I've been told, I expect Barkley to play Thursday night against Washington - the Giants are listing him as a limited practice participant - but with only three days off since his first game from a torn ACL. Plus, he isn't expected to get the full workload in this game either. Perhaps the extended time between their Week 2 and 3 games will help Barkley ramp up the remainder to return to their old self. More likely, we'll take a few weeks to remember Barkley from his electric rookie year.