Week 2 expands the sample to reveal who’s real and who’s not in the NFL, with the defending champs Eagles proving depth and consistency as other contenders mix high highs with worrying lulls. The Packers, Bills, 49ers and Ravens show dominant floors, while the Chiefs stumble to a rough start that tests every facet of their title window. Surprises abound from the Colts and Cardinals to the Jaguars and Raiders, shaping early fantasy value through balanced offenses, emerging playmakers, and defensive clamps. Injuries and scheme shifts ride shotgun to the narrative, nudging rosters and weekly projections in real-time.

Jets visit the Buccaneers as 6.5-point underdogs after a 30-10 loss to the Bills drops them to 0-2. Justin Fields struggled before a fourth-quarter head injury, while Buffalo leaned on a strong ground game to overwhelm New York. Tampa Bay, boosted by Baker Mayfield’s steady offense and a receiving duo of Mike Evans and rookie Emeka Egbuka, survived a tough opener and sits as a clear test for the Jets. The over/under sits at 44.5 with TB favored on the moneyline, offering potential fantasy angles as injuries loom.

Troy Franklin is emerging as Denver’s top target, with Tuten stepping up in Jacksonville after Bigsby’s trade. Penix shows rest‑of‑season upside for Atlanta despite Week 2 hiccups, while Browning could be a Week 3 streamer for Cincinnati if Burrow misses more time. The piece maps waiver targets by league size and time frame, and highlights Panthers, Commanders, Bills, 49ers, and Vikings as key upcoming matchups to leverage.

Two-0 starts dramatically tilt playoff odds: since 1970 about 64% of 2-0 teams reach the postseason, and 2024 saw 7 of 8 2-0 squads make the playoffs (Seattle was the outlier). Conversely, 0-2 teams survive only about 10% of the time. The piece tags 2-0 contenders (Philadelphia, Green Bay, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco, Arizona) and 0-2 pretenders (chiefly Kansas City) with notes on schedule risk and quarterback health. For fantasy managers, early momentum matters—target players from hot-start teams, monitor Burrow’s health, Stafford’s rhythm with new targets, and Purdy’s system strength as the season unfolds.