Jevon Holland stepped into a vocal leadership role for a Giants secondary that has struggled through an 0-2 start, insisting the room will rebound and that the defense will be better and more successful. After a 40-37 overtime loss to Dallas, discipline and stamina were cited as issues even as the pass rush showed improvement. With the Chiefs looming at MetLife, the pressure is on coordinator Shane Bowen and the unit to translate potential into performance and tighten the gaps exposed in Week 2.

New York’s defense remains a concern after an 0-2 start, with Week 2 exposing gaps in the back end and a leaky middle of the field. Dallas carved through the Giants’ coverage, piling explosive plays and yardage that dragged the game into overtime.

Prescott delivered 350+ passing yards on 52 attempts, Ferguson hauled in nine catches, and Pickens supplied a late 27-yard connection before Aubrey’s 64-yard winner. The loss tightens the schedule for New York, which now welcomes Kansas City in primetime as it tries to regroup and salvage its season.

Dallas has owned New York in recent history, and the week ahead centers on how the Cowboys plan to stay dominant. Prescott’s command anchors a versatile attack: a motivated Lamb, a seam-friendly connection with Ferguson, and a varied run game under Adams that keeps defenses guessing. Steward steps in at slot with Bland out, while the door remains open for a likely Clowney addition to sharpen the rush. It all factors into a fantasy-ready formula: attack the seams, threaten the middle, and lean on a smart, adaptable game plan.

Week 2 brings targeted WR matchups that fantasy managers crave. George Pickens faces Giants perimeter cornerbacks with a favorable spotlight, highlighted by a matchup against Paulson Adebo. Pickens should see plenty of chances as Dallas sits as a solid home favorite, with Adebo and fellow Giants corners showing mixed coverage metrics. Dak Prescott’s offense projects efficiency, boosting Pickens as a mid-range WR3 play and a potential value contraints window if game flow tilts.

Michael Pittman Jr. enters Week 2 under the microscope against Pat Surtain II, a tough cover option who could cap Pittman’s ceiling. The piece cautions against banking on a ceiling game for Pittman if Surtain locks him down. The analysis underscores six WRs with clear environmental factors, naming three to target and three to avoid for Week 2, and leans on in-season tools and projections to sharpen lineup decisions and bets.