by Nic Hoover

Share

Published On: September 14th, 2024

Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season has come and gone, and NFL Week 2 action is upon us.  Some franchises were left with aspirations of raising that Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season, whereas others are “licking their wounds” right now.

Jordan Love drafters weren’t the only ones down badly after Week 1 when the first installment of “Storyline, Storytime” failed to live up to expectations. The Optimus team and I unanimously believe that Week 1 is always hard to indicate how offenses will be called and how the momentum will start going into the season for some of these teams. We are ready to correct our mistakes from Week 1 in Week 2’s installment of “Storyline, Storytime.”

All these compelling NFL Week 2 storylines will be analyzed and dissected in our latest series, “Storyline, Storytime,” which will bring you exclusive insights crafted by @hoovtube on X.

While not every game may offer an enticing opportunity for betting on the outright winner, the Optimus team is devoted to delivering comprehensive betting analysis for every NFL regular season game, ensuring that our audience is well-informed and prepared as they engage with the series.

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

~ Check out our Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings LIVE NOW ~


NFL Week 2 Schedule & Predictions

Las Vegas Raiders @ Baltimore Ravens

Raiders (+8) Ravens (-8)

Last week, it was clear that Zay Flowers is the main target in the Ravens’ receiving room as he becomes more involved in the offense during his sophomore season. After a disappointing Week 1 loss to the Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, I anticipate the Ravens’ offense to be at its best when they face the Raiders.

While we may not know if it will be a night for Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely from week to week, we can be confident that every night is a Zay Flowers night.

Hoov’s Pick: Zay Flowers Over 4.5 Receptions O/U (-120)

 


New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans

Jets (-3.5) Titans (+3.5)

I’m keeping an eye on the Jets vs Titans game in Week 2. In Week 1, I bet on both teams, with Tennessee meeting expectations and the Jets failing to deliver. As an intelligent sports bettor, it would make sense to stick with the team that met expectations. However, I still believe in Aaron Rodgers as my dark horse MVP candidate, so I’m betting on him to bounce back from his Week 1 performance.

In Week 1, Rodgers looked panicked facing a tough 49ers defense. His offensive line needs improvement, and he needs better protection. I think in Week 2, Aaron will take his own advice to “relax,” and as a result, New York will get its first win of the season.

Hoov’s Pick: New York Jets (Moneyline) (+180)

 


Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions

Buccaneers (+7.5) Lions (-7.5)

As someone who’s recently fallen in love with sports gambling, I’ve always shied away from betting against Detroit, as they have been one of the most electric teams in the NFL recently. Although I’m not one to shy away from giving Detroit the respect they rightfully deserve, I’m also not afraid to show respect to one of the NFL’s most underrated quarterbacks—Baker Mayfield.

With an abundance of weapons still surrounding Mayfield in Tampa Bay, betting on Baker going against Detroit in an electrifying matchup feels like my favorite pick of the week.

Hoov’s Pick: Baker Mayfield Passing Completions O/U: Over 263.5 (-1o5)

 


New York Giants @ Washington Commanders

Giants (-1.5) Commanders (+1.5)

Believing in New York to pull off the unlikely victory in Week 1 was most definitely not my finest moment of the week, but I also advised others to be cautious about the small likelihood of that. I can’t beat myself up too much over believing in the Giants, as Wan’Dale Robinson did deliver in Week 1’s predictions via “Storyline, Storytime.”

Since the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, I’m going to regain my sanity in Week 2, inevitably betting on Washington to have a strong performance and get the win.

For those who drafted McLaurin in fantasy, like me, Week 1 was a big eye-opener after his forgettable performance. With week 1 being a complex indicator for what’s to come the rest of the season, Terry McLaurin not being a focal point of Washington’s offense felt like the most significant outlier of the weekend. I don’t expect this to be a common outcome and see McLaurin hitting his receptions over/under odds favorably in Week 2.

Hoov’s Pick: Terry McLaurin Receptions O/U: Over 3.5 (-155)

 


Indianapolis Colts @ Green Bay Packers

 Colts (-3) Packers (+3)

Betting on Anthony Richardson and the Colts to win favorably over the Packers without Jordan Love feels like a bet every sports gambler runs to the sportsbook to make. This ultimately leads me to believe that this is the biggest trap bet of the weekend.

I want to point out that the Colts offense with Richardson involved has limited game tape for defenses to prepare for. However, despite the lack of game tape, the Green Bay defense is loaded with talent to challenge the Colts. The fact that the Colts should be favored by 7+ in most people’s opinions when comparing a Richardson-led offense to a Malik Willis-led offense, yet Indy is only favored by 3, is very telling for what could be to come.

This situation reminds me of when Drew Brees went down, and Taysom Hill stepped in, keeping the team within contention until Brees returned to the field. I am not expecting Willis to show something that hasn’t been there before, but I also wouldn’t bet on this Green Bay defense stepping up until the offense is back to one hundred percent.

Hoov’s Pick: Indianapolis Colts: Total Team Points (Over 12.5) (-700)


This article analyzed 5 NFL matchups for Week 2 and identified the most enticing bet. Although we didn’t cover all the matchups, there are still many more bets available on DraftKings Sportsbook that you should consider.

Some of the other various bets I’m considering are:

  • Gardner Minshew Over 19.5 Passing Completions (-115) vs Baltimore Ravens

  • Philadelphia Eagles *Moneyline* (-290) vs Atlanta Falcons

  • Breece Hall Receptions O/U: Over 4.5 Receptions (+110) vs Tennessee Titans

  • Kansas City Chiefs *Moneyline* (-270) vs Cincinnati Bengals

Thank you all for reading through the second installment of “Storyline, Storytime” on Optimus Fantasy.

Initially, the team and I decided to make this series available to the public on Wednesdays. Unfortunately, I realized that some betting odds aren’t available until Wednesdays, making that task hard to accomplish. I sincerely hope you all found this first piece enjoyable, and I eagerly anticipate your feedback after Week 2.

Don’t forget to explore further NFL, sports betting, and fantasy football content at @hoovtube on X.

September 14th, 2024

by Nic Hoover

Share

Leave A Comment

Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season has come and gone, and NFL Week 2 action is upon us.  Some franchises were left with aspirations of raising that Lombardi Trophy at the end of the season, whereas others are “licking their wounds” right now.

Jordan Love drafters weren’t the only ones down badly after Week 1 when the first installment of “Storyline, Storytime” failed to live up to expectations. The Optimus team and I unanimously believe that Week 1 is always hard to indicate how offenses will be called and how the momentum will start going into the season for some of these teams. We are ready to correct our mistakes from Week 1 in Week 2’s installment of “Storyline, Storytime.”

All these compelling NFL Week 2 storylines will be analyzed and dissected in our latest series, “Storyline, Storytime,” which will bring you exclusive insights crafted by @hoovtube on X.

While not every game may offer an enticing opportunity for betting on the outright winner, the Optimus team is devoted to delivering comprehensive betting analysis for every NFL regular season game, ensuring that our audience is well-informed and prepared as they engage with the series.

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

~ Check out our Fantasy Football Week 2 Rankings LIVE NOW ~


NFL Week 2 Schedule & Predictions

Las Vegas Raiders @ Baltimore Ravens

Raiders (+8) Ravens (-8)

Last week, it was clear that Zay Flowers is the main target in the Ravens’ receiving room as he becomes more involved in the offense during his sophomore season. After a disappointing Week 1 loss to the Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, I anticipate the Ravens’ offense to be at its best when they face the Raiders.

While we may not know if it will be a night for Mark Andrews or Isaiah Likely from week to week, we can be confident that every night is a Zay Flowers night.

Hoov’s Pick: Zay Flowers Over 4.5 Receptions O/U (-120)

 


New York Jets @ Tennessee Titans

Jets (-3.5) Titans (+3.5)

I’m keeping an eye on the Jets vs Titans game in Week 2. In Week 1, I bet on both teams, with Tennessee meeting expectations and the Jets failing to deliver. As an intelligent sports bettor, it would make sense to stick with the team that met expectations. However, I still believe in Aaron Rodgers as my dark horse MVP candidate, so I’m betting on him to bounce back from his Week 1 performance.

In Week 1, Rodgers looked panicked facing a tough 49ers defense. His offensive line needs improvement, and he needs better protection. I think in Week 2, Aaron will take his own advice to “relax,” and as a result, New York will get its first win of the season.

Hoov’s Pick: New York Jets (Moneyline) (+180)

 


Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions

Buccaneers (+7.5) Lions (-7.5)

As someone who’s recently fallen in love with sports gambling, I’ve always shied away from betting against Detroit, as they have been one of the most electric teams in the NFL recently. Although I’m not one to shy away from giving Detroit the respect they rightfully deserve, I’m also not afraid to show respect to one of the NFL’s most underrated quarterbacks—Baker Mayfield.

With an abundance of weapons still surrounding Mayfield in Tampa Bay, betting on Baker going against Detroit in an electrifying matchup feels like my favorite pick of the week.

Hoov’s Pick: Baker Mayfield Passing Completions O/U: Over 263.5 (-1o5)

 


New York Giants @ Washington Commanders

Giants (-1.5) Commanders (+1.5)

Believing in New York to pull off the unlikely victory in Week 1 was most definitely not my finest moment of the week, but I also advised others to be cautious about the small likelihood of that. I can’t beat myself up too much over believing in the Giants, as Wan’Dale Robinson did deliver in Week 1’s predictions via “Storyline, Storytime.”

Since the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, I’m going to regain my sanity in Week 2, inevitably betting on Washington to have a strong performance and get the win.

For those who drafted McLaurin in fantasy, like me, Week 1 was a big eye-opener after his forgettable performance. With week 1 being a complex indicator for what’s to come the rest of the season, Terry McLaurin not being a focal point of Washington’s offense felt like the most significant outlier of the weekend. I don’t expect this to be a common outcome and see McLaurin hitting his receptions over/under odds favorably in Week 2.

Hoov’s Pick: Terry McLaurin Receptions O/U: Over 3.5 (-155)

 


Indianapolis Colts @ Green Bay Packers

 Colts (-3) Packers (+3)

Betting on Anthony Richardson and the Colts to win favorably over the Packers without Jordan Love feels like a bet every sports gambler runs to the sportsbook to make. This ultimately leads me to believe that this is the biggest trap bet of the weekend.

I want to point out that the Colts offense with Richardson involved has limited game tape for defenses to prepare for. However, despite the lack of game tape, the Green Bay defense is loaded with talent to challenge the Colts. The fact that the Colts should be favored by 7+ in most people’s opinions when comparing a Richardson-led offense to a Malik Willis-led offense, yet Indy is only favored by 3, is very telling for what could be to come.

This situation reminds me of when Drew Brees went down, and Taysom Hill stepped in, keeping the team within contention until Brees returned to the field. I am not expecting Willis to show something that hasn’t been there before, but I also wouldn’t bet on this Green Bay defense stepping up until the offense is back to one hundred percent.

Hoov’s Pick: Indianapolis Colts: Total Team Points (Over 12.5) (-700)


This article analyzed 5 NFL matchups for Week 2 and identified the most enticing bet. Although we didn’t cover all the matchups, there are still many more bets available on DraftKings Sportsbook that you should consider.

Some of the other various bets I’m considering are:

  • Gardner Minshew Over 19.5 Passing Completions (-115) vs Baltimore Ravens

  • Philadelphia Eagles *Moneyline* (-290) vs Atlanta Falcons

  • Breece Hall Receptions O/U: Over 4.5 Receptions (+110) vs Tennessee Titans

  • Kansas City Chiefs *Moneyline* (-270) vs Cincinnati Bengals

Thank you all for reading through the second installment of “Storyline, Storytime” on Optimus Fantasy.

Initially, the team and I decided to make this series available to the public on Wednesdays. Unfortunately, I realized that some betting odds aren’t available until Wednesdays, making that task hard to accomplish. I sincerely hope you all found this first piece enjoyable, and I eagerly anticipate your feedback after Week 2.

Don’t forget to explore further NFL, sports betting, and fantasy football content at @hoovtube on X.

Related Posts

  • If you like winning, come back every week for under-the-radar fantasy waiver wire pickups to keep you in contention until the final contest. We leave no stone unturned to ensure we give you the BEST chance to win week in and week out. Let’s get to it with our Week 3 waiver wire pickups. ~ Check […]

  • Hey folks! We cannot understate the importance of being in on Week 3 waiver wire players early while the FAAB price is cheapest (or free!), so you can add them to your roster. This is not just for adding them to your roster so your league mates don’t get them first but also so you […]

  • Bo McBrayer brings the spice with his fantasy football Week 2 advice, giving you the musings and information you need to keep your lineups hot-n-ready. Have you ever watched football for 11 consecutive hours on a leather couch? I have. My current couch is cloth, but I remember back when I was sticking and peeling […]

  • Week 1 always has a way of taking the wind out of our sails. Sure, it's lovely having football back. What's not wonderful is when a wide receiver goes down with an injury and has to miss time.

    Puka Nacua should be heading to the injured reserve with a sprained PCL. There is no timetable for how long Nacua will be shelved. Fantasy managers are now sprinting to find a decent replacement.

    In this week's WR2 Radar, I look at some of the more notable wide receiver injuries to monitor this and future weeks.

    I will examine wide receivers that are readily available and that you can use to bolster your squad this week (or in the near future). Plus, find out what WR1s are pulling the wool over our eyes. Make sure to check out the Optimus Fantasy Rankings.

  • But fear not, folks. It’s early in the season, and there is plenty of time to fill those holes and right the ship. Here are players at every position that can help you get on your way to victory in Week 2 of fantasy football action and beyond. 

  • Wide receivers are so nice; I had to do this twice! Welcome to Week 1, Part 2 of The WR2 Radar, where I dive into wide receivers who may not be the top option on their teams or at the top of the weekly fantasy WR rankings but have the potential to post WR1 numbers this season. Week 1 offers opportunities for these players to step into the spotlight.

  • Each week, I'll provide five players as look-ahead players for the next week, who could be THE waiver wire claims for the following week. But they won't be available in your league because you already have them. We haven't even played a snap of regular-season football yet, but we're already looking ahead to Week 2's players.

    Note: If these players get hurt in Week 1, I cannot be held responsible, so please don't tweet me @ktompkinsii if that happens.

  • Which teams are at risk of facing an unexpected upset and commencing the season with a disappointing loss? Furthermore, which resilient teams are poised to learn from past setbacks and aggressively pursue their Super Bowl aspirations? The spotlight will be on a few promising rookie players aiming to showcase their talent right from the start. Will they walk into the tunnel after Week 1, leaving a significant mark on the league?

    All these compelling NFL Week 1 storylines will be analyzed and dissected in our latest series, "Storyline, Storytime," which will bring you exclusive insights crafted by @hoovtube on X.

  • Keeping your fantasy football rosters in tip-top shape is no small task; it requires a level of almost psychotic tinkering that only a few in this world are capable of. It can drive some to madness and others to championship glory. We prefer to help you do the latter.

  • Should I give out bad advice, I’m not really the sentimental type. Being apologetic for failing to predict the future seems disingenuous, anyway. The fine folks at Optimus want me to contribute the stuff that spills from my eyes, ears, and nose, so this column will put just that at your fingertips. Should it aid you in a redraft or dynasty league victory, or even a DFS lineup, that’s cool beans. I aim to win in an entertaining way, so they don’t ever sack me for being boring. Bring on the rush, I’ll stand tall (or scramble) the only way I know: with pizzazz.

  • Last year, several wideouts surprised us by putting up WR1 numbers when they were WR2 (or WR3) on their teams. DeVonta Smith, Gabe Davis, and Tee Higgins each had four games as a top-12 WR in points per reception (PPR) scoring.

    Rashid Shaheed, Jakobi Meyers, and Noah Brown all had three. Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., Jordan Addison, Joshua Palmer, and Cooper Kupp tallied two.

  • In my series this season, I'll examine weekly matchups to determine if an NFL WR2 can outperform a WR1 on another team. It is important to look beyond the label of "WR1." Considering factors such as matchups, injuries, and team dynamics, I'll find what No. 2 options are worth putting in your lineup.

  • This series is focused on helping you to learn how to play fantasy football.

    In this article, we'll focus on the basics of what you need to start your own league. We will discuss how to decide what league format you want to play in, a few of the different platforms you can play on, and how to create your league settings.

    First and foremost, let's discuss deciding who you will be playing with.