NFL Predictions Week 2: Final Odds Projections and Fantasy Stars to Watch

There’s no worse time than Week 2 for NFL fans and fantasy football players to form concrete conclusions.

Despite convincing Week 1 wins over mediocre opponents, the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers are not Super Bowl contenders. Alex Smith isn’t going to accumulate 5,000 passing yards.

Some results are significant, but others are just random noise that will subside with another week of action. Stars will also bounce back from one middling showing. Relax, and stay the course before reacting too harshly.

Let’s look at the Week 2 odds, courtesy of Odds Shark, before highlighting a few fantasy stars coming off noteworthy opening weekends.

Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

So much for missing Calvin Johnson.

Life without the retired superstar receiver started well for Matthew Stafford, who went 31-of-39 for 340 yards and three touchdowns in Week 1’s shootout against the Indianapolis Colts. This continues last year’s late tear, when he tossed 17 touchdowns to one pick over Detroit’s final six games.

Rotoworld’s Evan Silva tracked the passer’s improvement after last year’s bye week, right around when offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter assumed play-calling duties:

Matthew Stafford has a 71.1% completion rate, 22 TDs, only 2 INTs since Detroit’s Week 9 bye last year. #Lions are 7-2 during that stretch.

— Evan Silva (@evansilva) September 12, 2016

Last year, the Tennessee Titans yielded 34 passing touchdowns and 7.9 yards per pass attempt. Even Shaun Hill mustered 236 yards for the Minnesota Vikings, who didn’t rush the recently acquired Sam Bradford into starting duties. 

Stafford isn’t perfect, but he’s better than Shaun Hill. He’s also operating a scheme perfect for his abilities to move the chains on short strikes. Golden Tate, Marvin Jones, Theo Riddick, Ameer Abdullah and Eric Ebron give him plenty of targets to keep flourishing without Johnson, so expect another top-10 …

continue reading in source www.bleacherreport.com