Unfortunately there were plenty of injuries last week that could shape the fantasy season. Let’s take a look at some we are monitoring this week.

Xavier Worthy (vs PHI) – I had high hopes for Worthy this season but he was knocked out early on Friday night due to some friendly fire. It’s a separated shoulder for the 2nd year wideout but the good news is he is considered day-to-day and might play on a brace. Still, I would be surprised if he suited up this week.

Brock Purdy (@ NO) – Purdy is dealing with a shoulder and toe injury that may see him miss Sunday’s matchup with the Saints. It’s unfortunate as the matchup couldn’t be any better for him and the passing game. If Purdy can’t go, Mac Jones would be in line for the start.

Brock Bowers (vs. LAC) – Bowers picked up a knee injury in Sunday’s game vs. the Patriots. As of now, it doesn’t look serious but owners will want to monitor his practice schedule this week.

The post 2025-26 Fantasy Football Rankings Week 2 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Seattle Seahawks 37, Detroit Lions 31

The Seattle Seahawks won 37-31 in walk-off fashion on the road in Detroit as Geno Smith found Tyler Lockett, who reached out for the pylon. Smith led Seattle to a turnover-free victory, going 32-for-41 with 328 yards and two touchdowns. Both passing touchdowns were to Lockett, who racked up eight catches for 59 yards. Seattle also found success on the ground, rushing for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Seahawks receiver D.K. Metcalf left the game in the first quarter with a rib injury, and headed to to the locker room. He returned shortly after, finishing the game with six receptions for 75 yards, as Geno Smith spread the targets around all game. Turnovers proved to be the downfall for Detroit. The Lions fumbled the ball away twice in a row, one to end the first half and another to begin the second half. Jared Goff then threw a pick-six to Seattle cornerback Tre Brown, who ran it back 40 yards to the house. Late in the fourth quarter, Goff led the Lions down the field for a game-tying field goal, forcing overtime with a score of 31-31. However it was not enough for the Lions, who fall to 1-1 after the loss. Meanwhile, Seattle also moves to 1-1 with the victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Buffalo Bills 38, Las Vegas Raiders 10

Josh Allen led the Buffalo Bills to a stress-free victory at home, going 31-for-37 with 274 yards and three touchdowns. Both the Bills and the Las Vegas Raiders move to 1-1 on the season.

The ball seemed to be in the hands of the Bills all game, as the Buffalo defense forced three turnovers. Linebackers Matt Milano and Terrel Bernard both intercepted Jimmy Garoppolo, and Taylor Rapp recovered a Zamir White fumble. Josh Allen spread the touches throughout the offense, finding Gabe Davis, Khalil Shakir, and Dawson Knox for touchdowns. The run game was unstoppable for the Bills, led by James Cook who ran for 123 yards, as Damien Harris and Latavius Murray ran in a touchdown each. Allen had no turnovers and looked comfortable in a bounce-back victory.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Baltimore Ravens 27, Cincinnati Bengals 24

Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens went on the road to Cincinnati and avoided a Bengals second half comeback, winning the game 27-24. The Ravens move to 2-0 on the year, as the Bengals fall to 0-2.

Jackson completed 24 passes on 33 attempts for 237 yards and two touchdowns. He added 54 yards on the ground, as the Ravens ran for 178 yards as a team, including a Gus Edwards touchdown. Safety Geno Stone intercepted Joe Burrow to begin the second half, and the Ravens turned it into a touchdown on the next drive.

Burrow and the Bengals made a late push in the second half, with a final drive consisting of 16 plays for 80 yards and a touchdown, making the score 27-24. The Cincinnati offense struggled, rushing for just 66 total yards as Burrow went 27-for-41 with 222 yards, two touchdowns and an interception.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Kansas City Chiefs 17, Jacksonville Jaguars 9

In a low scoring affair, the Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars by a score of 17-9. Both teams move to 1-1 on the season.

The first five possessions resulted in punts, before Jacksonville finally took a 3-0 lead on a field goal. The Chiefs fumbled the ball away on the following possession, before Patrick Mahomes was picked off by Jaguars safety Andre Cisco. Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars offense struggled to move the ball all day, as the third year quarterback went 22-for-41 for 216 yards and no touchdowns. The ground game was no better, producing just 74 yards as the Jaguars failed to find the endzone. Kicker Brandon McManus was the lone scorer for Jacksonville, going 3-for-3. Mahomes finished the game 29-for-41 with 305 yards and two touchdowns, finding Travis Kelce on one of them.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tennessee Titans 27, Los Angeles Chargers 24

The Tennessee Titans beat the Los Angeles Chargers 27-24 in an overtime thriller, as Nick Folk kicked the game-winning 41 yard field goal. The Titans move to 1-1 on the season, as the Chargers fall to 0-2.

Los Angeles got out to an early 11-0 lead after a Keenan Allen touchdown and a converted two-point conversion. Ryan Tannehill came back with a 70-yard pass to Treylon Burks, as Derrick Henry finished the drive with a touchdown, making the score 11-7. Both teams went back and forth all game, with impressive outings from both quarterbacks. Justin Herbert found Keenan Allen and Mike Williams consistently, with both receivers finishing the game with 8 receptions and a combined 194 yards. Allen brought in two touchdown passes, as the Chargers marched down the field for a field goal to send the game to overtime with a score of 24-24. The Chargers won the coin toss and got the ball first in overtime, but went three and out and punted the ball back to the Titans offense. Tannehill led them down the field for an 8 play, 37 yard drive to give Nick Folk a 41 yard field goal for the win, which he put down the middle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 25, Green Bay Packers 24

The Atlanta Falcons squeaked by the Green Bay Packers by a score of 25-24, including an electric fourth quarter comeback by the Falcons. Green Bay falls to 1-1 on the season as Atlanta goes to 2-0.

The Packers got out to a 24-12 lead in the third quarter after Jordan Love found Jayden Reed in the endzone for his second touchdown of the game. Desmond Ridder and the Falcons ground-and-pound offense put together an eight play, 75 yard drive for a touchdown of their own, as Ridder ran it in himself to make the score 24-19. The Falcons defense forced a punt and drove down the field for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 24-22. After forcing yet another punt, Atlanta went 12 plays for 66 yards, setting up a 25 yard field goal for Younghoe Koo. The made field goal put the Falcons ahead 25-24, ultimately winning them the game. Jordan Love finished the game 14-for-25 with 151 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the Falcons.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27, Chicago Bears 17

Baker Mayfield shined, leading the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to a 27-17 victory over the Chicago Bears. The Buccaneers move to 2-0 on the season, as the Bears fall to 0-2.

Although the Bears scored on their first possession, it was all Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers for the rest of the afternoon. Mayfield found Mike Evans wide open on a deep pass that Evans took 70 yards downfield, inside the 10 yard line. The big play setup for a Rachaad White touchdown run, giving the Buccaneers a 10-7 lead. Mayfield connected with Evans again in the third quarter for a 32 yard touchdown, making the score 20-10.

The Buccaneers defense gave Justin Fields fits all game, sacking him six times. In the fourth quarter, Fields connected with Chase Claypool for a 20 yard touchdown, making the score 20-17. The bears got the ball back after forcing a punt, beginning the drive on their own seven yard line. After a couple penalties, Justin Fields dropped back and had his pass tipped and intercepted by Shaquil Barrett, who brought it just a few steps into the endzone, giving the Buccaneers a convincing 27-17 victory at home.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Indianapolis Colts 31, Houston Texans 20

The Indianapolis Colts stole a game on the road in a divisional matchup as they beat the Houston Texans 31-20. The Colts move to 1-1 on the season as the Texans fall to 0-2.

Anthony Richardson ran it in for a touchdown on the Colts’ first two drives of the game, making it 14-0. On the second touchdown, he took a shot causing his head to bounce off the turf, forcing the fourth overall draft pick to be evaluated for a concussion. The rookie quarterback was ruled out for the rest of the game, leaving the Colts with backup quarterback Gardner Minshew. Minshew took over and went 19-of-23 for 171 yards and a touchdown, maintaining the lead. The new acquisition at running back Zack Moss contributed 18 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, as the Texans couldn’t stop the Indianapolis offense.

Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud had an impressive outing in the loss, going 30-for-47 with 384 yards and two touchdowns. Stroud connected with Nico Collins and fellow rookie Tank Dell seven times each, for a combined 218 yards. Each of the receivers brought in a touchdown, as the Colts bounced back from their week one home loss.

NFL Week 2 Recap: New York Giants 31, Arizona Cardinals 28

The New York Giants rallied for a 21 point comeback on the road against the Arizona Cardinals, the third comeback that size in Giants history. With a 20-0 lead at halftime, and a 28-7 lead in the third quarter, Arizona allowed 24 unanswered points to fall to 0-2 on the season. Meanwhile, the Giants move to 1-1 on the season following the rollercoaster of a week two game.

The Giants went scoreless for the first six quarters of the season, the first time since 1934. Cardinals quarterback Joshua Dobbs showed his athleticism all first half, using his legs to gain yards along with scrambling out of the pocket to make throws on the run. On Arizona’s third possession, Dobbs dropped back to pass and found an opening up the middle, taking it 23 yards for a touchdown, trucking a giants defender just before falling into the endzone. The play gave Arizona an early 14-0 lead, which would quickly grow before the half ended. 

Daniel Jones and the Giants offense came storming back in the third quarter, with help from Saquon Barkley, who scored both a receiving and rushing touchdown before leaving the field with an ankle injury towards the end of the game. The injury took away from the stunning comeback, as the Giants await the information on his ankle.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: San Francisco 49ers 30, Los Angeles Rams 23

The San Francisco 49ers went on the road to SoFi Stadium, pulling away with a 30-23 win over the Los Angeles Rams. San Francisco elevates to 2-0 on the season as Los Angeles falls to 1-1 following the divisional matchup.

Two interceptions thrown by Matt Stafford proved to be the difference Sunday afternoon. With just under five minutes remaining in the game and the Rams trailing 27-20, Stafford looked across the middle for Van Jefferson but was picked off by Deommodore Lenoir.

Christian McCaffrey was in mid-season form, rushing for 116 yards on 20 carries to go with a touchdown. Brock Purdy missed some throws on big plays throughout the game, but was sufficient, going 17-for-25 for 206 yards, along with a rushing touchdown of his own. All three of the 49ers touchdowns came on the ground and the Rams defense had no answer. 

With Cooper Kupp sidelined, Puka Nacua was the focus once again for the Rams offense. He racked up 15 receptions for 147 yards, making him the first player in NFL history to record at least 10 receptions and 100 receiving yards in his first two games of his career. Meanwhile running back Kyren Williams got 20 total touches with both a receiving and rushing touchdown, proving why he should replace Cam Akers in the backfield.

NFL Week 2 Recap: Washington Commanders 35, Denver Broncos 33

The Washington Commanders completed the thriller comeback on the Denver Broncos, holding off a late game hail mary to win by a score of 35-33. Denver completed a hail mary as time expired, but couldn’t convert the two point conversion to force overtime. The Commanders move to 2-0 on the season as the Broncos fall to 0-2.

The Broncos jumped out to a 21-3 lead early into the first half, including a Marvin Mims Jr. one-play, 60 yard touchdown pass from Russel Wilson. The Commanders cut the lead to 21-14 before halftime, and continued into the second half as the defense immediately forced a punt. The offense took over and scored a touchdown on its first drive as Sam Howell found Terry McLaurin in the middle of the endzone for a 30 yard touchdown, tying the game 21-21.

Denver eventually got the ball back with a chance to tie the game. After moving the ball to midfield, Russel Wilson and company had one last chance to force overtime. The deep hail mary pass was tipped around before being brought in by Brandon Johnson for his second touchdown of the game, making the score 35-33. The two point conversion, a pass intended for Courtland Sutton was incomplete as the Broncos looked for a pass-interference call but didn’t get it.

Sam Howell finished the game with an impressive 27 completions on 39 attempts for 299 yards and two touchdown passes. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. also ran in for a pair of touchdowns himself.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Dallas Cowboys 30, New York Jets 10

The Dallas Cowboys beat the New York Jets handedly by a score of 30-10 as the Cowboys defense dominated for the second week in a row. Dallas moves to 2-0 on the season as the Jets fall to 1-1.

Micah Parsons and the Cowboys defense looked unstoppable in week two, intercepting Jets quarterback Zach Wilson three times. Parsons recorded two sacks and four hits on Wilson, as Jayron Kearse, Malik Hooker, and Trevon Diggs each intercepted a pass.

Ceedee Lamb showed he didn’t need the help of Brandin Cooks, who missed the game due to a sprained knee. Lamb recorded 11 catches for 143 yards, with big plays setting up for multiple scores for Dallas. Kicker Brandon Aubrey went five-for-five on field goals, as Dak Prescott found tight ends Jake Ferguson and Luke Schoonmaker for a touchdown each. 

The lone touchdown for the Jets came from star receiver Garret Wilson, who caught a pass across the middle and took it 68 yards to the house, marking his longest touchdown of his career thus far. Other than that, there wasn’t much going for Zach Wilson and the Jets offense, who recorded 215 total yards. Parsons along with the rest of the ruthless Dallas front four pressured Wilson all game, showing why they are one of the best defenses in the NFL.

NFL Week 2 Game Recap: Miami Dolphins 24, New England Patriots 17

The Miami Dolphins held off a late comeback by the New England Patriots, winning the game 24-17 as a lateral to Cole Strange came up short on fourth down. 

Tua Tagovailoa took what the defense gave him for most of the night, finding Jaylen Waddle five times for 86 yards. The Dolphins had plenty of success on the ground as well, as Raheem Mostert took 18 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

Rookie Cornerback Christian Gonzalez kept Tyreek Hill in check for the most part, holding the star receiver to four receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown, with the touchdown coming on a play where Gonzalez was not covering Hill.

Mac Jones finished the game 31-for-42 with 231 yards, one touchdown and one interception. The interception came at the end of the third quarter after the Patriots drove down the field into the redzone. Xavien Howard picked off the pass intended for DeVante Parker on the sideline at the Miami three yard line, putting an end to New Englands’ drive and keeping the score at 17-3.

The Patriots cut the lead down in the fourth quarter following a Mac Jones scramble for 18 yards, the longest run of the night for New England. Jones found Hunter Henry on the run for a six yard touchdown pass, making the score 17-10.

On the next Miami possession, Tagovailoa threw it deep down the left side of the field to Tyreek Hill as the pass was intercepted by Christian Gonzalez. The rookie first round pick made a leaping catch over Hill, giving the Patriots the ball back.

The Dolphins forced a three and out, getting the ball back on the New England 43 yard line. On the first play of the drive, Raheem Mostert took a handoff up the middle 43 yards untouched to the endzone, extending the lead to 24-10.

Mac Jones led the Patriots to a 9 play 75 yard drive ending with a Rhamondre Stevenson touchdown run to cut the lead down to 24-17.

The Dolphins took the ball and drove it into Patriots territory, before the snap was fumbled on third and one. Tua recovered the fumble, but the mistake forced Miami to kick a 55 yard field goal. With concern for Brenden Schooler, who blocked the previous field goal, Jason Sanders missed the field goal, giving the Patriots an opportunity to tie or win the game.

After finding Kendrick Bourne for a pair of completions, Mac Jones was sacked by Bradley Chubb for a loss of 8 yards. New England was faced with a fourth and four, where Mac Jones completed a pass to Mike Gesicki short of the first down line. Gesicki threw a lateral to offensive lineman Cole Strange, who was stopped short of the marker, ending the comeback for the Patriots.

The win brings the Dolphins to 2-0 on the season, as the Patriots fall to 0-2.

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The Good

In today’s NFL, you have to be able to get after the quarterback. For instance, the 2022 Eagles had a whopping 70 team sacks and it was one of the reasons they made a Super Bowl run. Like the Eagles, the Giants have invested in their defensive line and it’s now one of the strengths of the team.

One of those investments was linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux who they drafted with the 5th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Thibodeaux had an impressive rookie season where he had 4 sacks and 49 combined tackles. His impact could be seen almost immediately as he was able to free up space for Dexter Lawrence and Leonard Williams on the inside. Thibodeaux will only continue to get better and could get close to the double-digit sack mark this season.

One of the more underrated signings this offseason was Bobby Okereke. The Giants signed Okereke to a 4-year $40 million dollar contract back in March. Somehow Okereke has flown under that radar but he is a top-tier linebacker. He is coming off of his best season in Indy where he totaled 151 combined tackles and 6 TFLs. Okereke will help bolster the Giants impressive front seven and the defense will finish in the top 10.

The Bad

Daniel Jones looks to be more than comfortable in Brian Daboll’s system. So it would make sense to surround Jones with more weapons. The Giants did bring in Darren Waller this offseason and if he stays healthy that will certainly help. Outside of Waller though there are questions at the receiver position.

Isaiah Hodgins has shown flashes but needs to be more consistent. Darius Slayton has also had his moments but injuries have hampered his production. The Giants brought in Parris Campbell and drafted Jalin Hyatt this offseason. I could see Hyatt making an impact but I would’ve liked to see the Giants sign a veteran receiver for Jones.

The Prediction

I see the Giants taking a slight step backward this year. I have concerns about the Saquon Barkley situation spilling into the season. Even though the Giants were able to bump up incentives for the star RB, it’s not the contract he ultimately wants. Their schedule is tough and the NFC East is always a gauntlet.

2023 Record: (7-10 4th in the Division)

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The Giants had a difficult decision to make this offseason. Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley were both in line for a new contract but they couldn’t afford to sign both to mega deals. They decided to pay their young quarterback instead of Barkley and signed him to a 4-year $160 million dollar deal. While you can argue if that was the right move or not the Giants knew one of their stars would not be happy. Now they must deal with the fallout from that situation and find a resolution with Barkley.

The Le’Veon Bell Effect

Sitting out an entire NFL season is not unprecedented. In 2018, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell sat out the entire season when he refused to sign his 2nd franchise tag. It was a gamble by Bell that ended up working in his favor. The following year Bell signed a 4-year $52.5 million dollar contract with the New York Jets. This made Bell the 2nd highest-paid running back at the time. Although Bell made his money, he wasn’t the same player we saw in Pittsburgh and never could replicate that success.

Standing His Ground

Saquon Barkley and the Giants have until July 17th to come to terms on a new deal. If they can’t, Barkley will either have to play the year under the franchise tag or not play at all. Barkley has stated all along he is not looking to be the top paid running back in the NFL. He just wants a respectable contract that pays him what he’s worth. At 26, Barkley is still in his prime and has shown he can be a difference-maker on the field. He finished his 2022-23 campaign with 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. Most importantly he didn’t miss any games due to injury.

When the season opens in the Fall, I expect Saquon Barkley to be on the field. In order for that to happen the Giants must budge and up their contract offer. There are rumors that Barkley turned down a $14 million per year contract offer from the Giants. Will Barkley accept if they up the offer to $15 million per year? Possibly, but the Giants may wait and call Barkley’s bluff.

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Dallas Cowboys: Can The Cowboys Overtake The Eagles?

Dallas was a little quiet in the offseason, after how their season ended. They’re coming in as not the favorite from the NFC East and are looking up at the Eagles. They added pieces in Brandin Cooks and Stephon Gilmore. However, they cut Ezekiel Elliot and let Dalton Schultz walk away in free agency. The Cowboys have a lot of talent, however on paper, the Eagles look much better than the Cowboys. One stat that the Cowboys can hold on to is that it’s been forever since an NFC East team repeated as the division winner.

New York Giants: How Will Daniel Jones Perform With The New Extension?

Daniel Jones got the bag with a $160M extension, $92M guaranteed. People were outraged with the size of this contract but HC Brian Daboll has helped in the leap of Jones. This was most seen in the Wild Card Round against the Vikings where Jones threw for 300+ yards, two passing TDs, and ran for 70+ yards. He comes into the offseason with new weapons such as Darren Waller, Jalin Hyatt, and a full year of Isaiah Hodgins. With Brian Daboll in the helm, another leap is possible for Jones as they hope to make this consistent.

Philadelphia Eagles: Can They Go Back To The Superbowl?

The Philadelphia Eagles were one holding call away from the Superbowl. It hurts to watch it but on to the new season. The Eagles secured Jalen Hurts with a long-term extension that made him the highest-paid player at that point. They beefed up the run game with D’Andre Swift and Rashaad Penny. They drafted a lot of Georgia players to shore up their defense. Jalen Carter was stolen with the ninth pick of the draft and Nolan Smith was available at 30. They’re adding youth to this experienced team for the future. They will have a tougher road in the regular season as they will face Mahomes, Allen, the 49ers, and many tougher opponents from last season. This team has the talent but it will be a tougher road in my opinion.

Washington Commanders: Will The Change In Ownership Bring New Life To The Team?

The toxic ownership of the Washington Commanders is finally over. Dan Snyder, who has been in the front of a lot of controversy, sold the team to ownership led by Josh Harris. New ownership usually comes with new changes from the front office to the field. In the first year, it will be interesting to see what the front office will look like. Changes are easier there compared to the product on the field. I hope it brings new life to the Commanders fans as they deserve better after all the scandals. For a rebuild, that will have to be discussed another time.

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Michael Mayer TE Las Vegas Raiders

The Raiders stole the top TE prospect in multiple draft boards in Michael Mayer in the second round. The tight end from Notre Dame was expected to go in the first round but fell to the early part of the second rounder. With the Raiders trading away Darren Waller, they get a pass-catching TE that will be able to start right away for the Raiders. Jimmy Garoppolo will enjoy having a reliable tight end in day one.

Tank Dell WR Houston Texans

CJ Stroud’s wish came true when the Texans used their third round pick on Tank Dell. A WR out of the University of Houston, he is the perfect slot receiver who will help Stroud. He had 1254 yards and 15 TDs in his last season in college, however his size pushed him to the third round. Being in the QB of the future’s wishlist does make Dell someone worth monitoring. With no established names in the wide receiving corp, Tank Dell can surprise everyone in training camp.

Jalin Hyatt WR New York Giants

The Giants did their job off giving more help to Daniel Jones when they selected Jalin Hyatt in the third round. A lot projected him to be selected higher but this is a steal for the Giants. A deep threat, he will help stretch the field and hope to catch deep passes from Jones. If all goes well, the Giants hope to make the playoffs again next season.

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PRESEASON EXPECTATIONS

Isaiah Hodgins did not do much in order to get into Buffalo’s good behaviors as he barely played as a Bill. With such a deep WR core, it would be an uphill battle for him to even get reps.

DRAFT EXPECTATIONS

There were no draft expectations for Hodgins as his ADP was 999 or undrafted. I don’t blame owners as WRs are deep in fantasy football. However…

OVERALL SEASON PRODUCTION

It all changed when the Giants claimed Hodgins off waivers. Isaiah became a favorite target of Daniel Jones and he resigned for another year in New York. He ended the year with 37 catches for 392 yards and four TDs. He had those TDs in the last six games of the season Keeping Hodgins was a good move for the Giants who look at Daniel Jones as the guy at QB.

CRITICAL MOMENTS DURING THE SEASON

Week 16 vs Minnesota Vikings

Isaiah Hodgins had the best game of his career so far against the Vikings in Week 16. He connected for eight catches and 89 yards and a TD. The hype was getting louder for Hodgins as he caught his third TD in four games at the time. He had a season-high 22.90 FP, good for WR 7.

Special Edition: Wildcard vs Minnesota Vikings

There’s something about the Vikings that makes Isaiah unstoppable. In the Wild Card Round, the Giants faced the Vikings on the road. Hodgins dominated with eight catches for 105 yards and a 14-yard TD in the first quarter. He saved the best game of his career for this and it worked out for New York.

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Jones’ Case for a Big Payday

Daniel Jones has had his ups and downs during his time with the Giants, but he has also shown flashes of potential that have caught the attention of fans and analysts alike. In his rookie year, he threw for 3,027 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. He also showed impressive mobility, rushing for 279 yards and two touchdowns. Jones’ second year was marred by injuries, but he still managed to throw for 2,943 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in just 14 games. He also improved his completion percentage and passer rating, both of which are key metrics for evaluating quarterbacks.

Furthermore, Jones has been dealing with a less than ideal supporting cast. The Giants offensive line has been one of the worst in the league until recently, and the team has struggled to find consistent weapons for Jones to throw to. Despite these challenges, Jones has managed to put up respectable numbers and has shown the potential to be a franchise quarterback. Jones took great strides forward this past season under the tutelage of Brian Daboll as he led the Giants to a playoff upset over the Vikings. His poise and mobility were on full display during the game and it’s something that cannot be ignored.

Another argument for paying Jones a big contract is the current state of the quarterback market. In recent years, quarterbacks have been signing massive deals, with players like Patrick Mahomes, Dak Prescott, and Deshaun Watson all signing contracts worth over $40 million per year. The salary cap is also expected to increase in the coming years, which means that quarterback salaries will likely continue to rise. With that in mind it may not be that far fetched to pay Jones in the 40 million range.

Against Paying Jones $45 Million Per Year

While Jones has shown potential, there are also several reasons why he may not be worth $45 million per year. For one, he has struggled with consistency, both in terms of his performance from game to game, and his ability to stay healthy. Jones missed significant time due to injuries in his first three seasons, and his turnover-prone play has also been a cause for concern. In fact, Jones has thrown many untimely interceptions and has had fumbling issues.

Another argument against paying Jones $45 million per year is the opportunity cost. The Giants have several other areas of need, including the offensive line, wide receiver, and of course free agent to be Saquon Barkley. If the team were to invest so much money in Jones, they may not be able to address these other needs, which could hurt the team in the long run.

At the end of the day it’s hard to justify paying Daniel Jones that much money if you’re the Giants. Ownership may well view Jones as the next Eli Manning and there are some similarities there but the price tag is just too high. If I am the Giants I am paying Barkley what he’s worth and letting Jones test the free agent market.

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Jacksonville Jaguars at Kansas City Chiefs (-9)

I for one did not pick the Jaguars to win last week. And for the most part I was almost right seeing that they were down 27-0. But the Jaguars led by Doug Pederson found a way to win in front of their home crowd. The Jaguars are playing with house money in this game but I think the Chiefs at home, led by Patrick Mahomes will be too much for the surging Jaguars. This game may be close for awhile before the Chiefs step on the gas peddle. For the Jaguars, a very successful season with their bright young stars

Chiefs 37 Jaguars 21

New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles (-7.5)

I really want to pick the Giants in this one, they have all the momentum and they are also playing with house money. Jalen Hurts isn’t 100% and the Eagles are not riding tons of momentum. Giants would need a few turnovers on defense to win this game, but I don’t think they do. This game will be close but the Eagles at home with a great regular season will find a way to win. For the Eagles it’s simple, stop Barkley and force Daniel Jones to step back and pass against a undermanned receiver corps. On offense, the Eagles need to do what they’ve done all year. Miles Sanders and AJ Brown will have big games in this one.

Eagles 28 Giants 23

Cincinnati Bengals at Buffalo Bills (-5.5)

The Bills are riding a high right now of adversity, playing good football and playing at home. The Ravens easily could’ve beat the Bengals last week if it wasn’t for some timely errors. Playing in Buffalo is not easy, and Cincinnati will keep it close but I got the Bills by 10 in this one. Look for Josh Allen to throw 4 TD’s in the game.

Bills 34 Bengals 28

Dallas Cowboys at San Francisco 49ers (-4)

Can Brock Purdy win again? There’s no reason to believe he can’t, Kyle Shanahan calls the perfect game for him to succeed. Their defense is unstoppable, and they have multiple weapons on offense. Dallas got over the hump last week and won a playoff game led by Dak Prescott. I know the 49ers is the team to beat, there playing at home, and Dallas is on a short week. I believe Dallas finds a way to win on a last second field goal by Brett Maher. Yes Brett Maher, the guy that missed 4 extra points, will kick a field goal with no time on the clock to give the Cowboys an upset win. Dallas when playing well can be very tough to beat. Let’s not forget about Micah Parsons in this game. He will wreck havoc on the San Fran offensive line, and Brock Purdy. Let’s also not forget Purdy has been playing amazing, but he’s still a rookie. Does the pressure get to him in a tough test? We shall see!

Cowboys 27 49ers 24

Last Week’s Record 4-2

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They shocked everyone when they beat the New England Patriots to Super Bowl 42 and 46, the latter being the last time they had won a playoff game until their win over the Minnesota Vikings last weekend.

Facing the number one seed is never easy, but the Giants will go into this game confident they can cause an upset.

Can they do it again?

Taking Their Chances

If the Giants are to advance, they have to capitalize and make the most of any opponent flaws.

Philadelphia’s quarterback Jalen Hurts and offensive lineman Lane Johnson have been injury doubts and will likely go into this game not 100% healthy.

This is where the Giants can capitalize, between the trenches. With a defensive line featuring studs such as Dexter Lawrence, Leonard Williams, Jaylon Smith, and Kayvon Thibodeaux, they can get to the Eagles.

This is not going to be a pretty win, and the Giants are likely going to have to grind out a hard-fought win, but if they can win this battle between the trenches, then they have every chance. If they do this, they will need their offense to also perform lights out.

Is Daniel Jones Eli 2.0?

This was one of the feel-good stories of Wildcard Weekend.

Jones became the first quarterback in playoff history to throw for 300+ passing yards and have over 75 rushing yards during their 31-24 win over Minnesota.

Some players have a clutch gene in them when it comes to playoff football, and there was not a more recent example than Nick Foles as he guided the Eagles to their one and only Super Bowl.

Eli Manning was another player, and like Jones, he was never elite in the regular season. However, in the postseason, he turned into a different animal.

Who can forget his pass to David Tyree in Super Bowl 42 and catch to Mario Manningham in Super Bowl 46. These are not exactly elite receivers who helped these plays happen.

Manningham never had a season with 1,000 yards receiving and only once did he catch more than five touchdowns in a regular season. He only had 51 receptions and one touchdown in the two seasons that followed Super Bowl 46 before retiring.

Tyree never had more than 211 yards in any regular season and had four touchdowns all throughout his career. He had just four receptions from eight targets and one touchdown in their Super Bowl winning postseason run in the 2007 season. He never had a career reception after getting his ring.

There is a sense of familiarity with the current players Jones has around him. Barkley is the one exception, an elite running back, a contender for Comeback Player of the Year and someone with three 1,000-yard seasons in his five years in the league.

Wide receiver Isaiah Hodgins and rookie tight end Daniel Bellinger both scored in Sunday’s win. Bellinger only had 268 yards in 12 games this season and Hodgins has just 392 career yards in three seasons. Darius Slayton also came up big despite never having a season with more than 800 yards. His 88 yards went a long way to helping the Giants beat the Vikings..

In Barkley, Bellinger, and Hodgins, these are three weapons that will be a big help to Jones if they are to beat the Eagles.

If They Were To Win…

A road game against either the San Francisco 49ers or Dallas Cowboys would follow should Brian Daboll’s men advance. Whilst they would once again be underdogs, they will fill confident after beating Philadelphia.

As great as Brock Purdy has been, the rookie QB has yet to be tested at the highest level, with a favorable regular season schedule and a game against the seventh seed Seattle Seahawks. Purdy looked nervous at times in the Wildcard Round.

Earlier, there was discussion about quarterbacks such as Nick Foles and Eli Manning who turn it on in the postseason. Other quarterbacks such as Kyler Murray (2021 season) and Jared Goff (Super Bowl 53) proved to be the other way around. If Purdy struggles, whilst there is an argument that their defense could bail them out. With an offense that scored 31 points on Sunday, there is no guarantee that this 49ers defense will automatically be the same as they have been all season.

If they are to face the Cowboys, this is a Cowboys team that has perennially struggled since their 1995 success. They have choked in recent seasons when it matters, and despite his brilliant performance against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday Night Football, Dak Prescott has yet to deliver when it really counts.

It is a longshot that the Giants win one game, let along two or three more, but there have been crazier playoff moments. This is why NFL fans love the playoffs. Anything can happen.

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