Week 2 NFL takeaways hinge on resilience and depth: Browning steadies Cincinnati as Burrow’s turf toe looms, tapping a playoff-era floor. Dallas leans into culture, late-game kicking, and a stifling stop to edge the Giants. Philadelphia’s O-line dominance again threads the needle in a tight win over KC. Green Bay benefits from Parsons ramping up and a fearsome front, while Seattle shows growth behind Darnold and a productive run game. Arizona flashes youth with learning moments; Indianapolis showcases Jones in an aggressive, productive system.

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.

Steelers lose a pair of defensive anchors to high-ankle sprains, risking a two-week lull just before a bye. Loudermilk and Highsmith are sidelined, with Herbig back to stabilize the line and Black and Lee stepping in for Loudermilk. Harmon’s return remains uncertain, while the Steelers must navigate a road test at New England. Key early-game injuries and depth-chart shuffles define Pittsburgh’s short-term outlook as they chase depth and scheme tweaks.

Mac Jones shines in his firstSan Francisco start, going 26-of-39 for 279 yards and 3 TDs, easing concerns about Purdy’s toe injury. McCaffrey’s workload normalizes to 13 carries and 6 receptions for 107 yards and a score. Williams shows upside with 5 tackles and 2 TFL. Juszczyk exits with a concussion; Colby steps in with solid interior work as Bartch goes down. Warner forces Kamara fumble; Bosa sacks Rattler; Pineiro redeems after an early miss, SF dominates in third downs and red zone while Saints struggle.