Week 2 of the NFL season has been nothing short of interesting. The Kansas City Chiefs are struggling early, launching fans and analysts alike into a panic. Playoff contenders are losing quarterbacks left and right. And the Green Bay Packers are returning to their former glory on the back of two commanding victories.
Are the Chiefs in trouble?
Scripted or not, the Kansas City Chiefs have been one of the most dominant teams in the league over the last five seasons. Tides seem to have shifted this season with the Chiefs starting 0-2. Is this the sign of a new “era” in Kansas City?
The answer is no. It is too early to predict what will happen just two weeks into the season.
The Chiefs started the year against the extremely talented Los Angeles Chargers. In his second season at the helm, veteran coach Jim Harbaugh knows the ins and outs of his team. Quarterback Justin Herbert is living up to expectations by connecting with receivers and finding open pockets to run. Then, in a highly anticipated Super Bowl rematch, Kansas City played the Philadelphia Eagles to a three-point game Sept. 14, losing on a missed catch by tight end Travis Kelce.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes already ranks in the top five in his position. All he needs are a few star receivers. Wide receiver Xavier Worthy could return this week after suffering a shoulder injury during a collision with Kelce in Week 1. Wide receiver Rashee Rice returns Week 7 after serving a six-week suspension for violating NFL player conduct standards. When these players return, expect to see a strong Chiefs offense.
Injury struggles for mid-tier quarterbacks
Many mid-tier teams will fight for playoff contention this season, all with an equal chance to qualify. However, having your best players available is an absolute necessity to achieve this.
This week, three starting quarterbacks on playoff contender teams went out with injuries.
Cincinnati Bengals star Joe Burrow is out for three months with a turf toe injury. Sophomore Minnesota Viking J.J. McCarthy is out with a high ankle sprain and the Washington Commanders lost Jayden Daniels to a knee sprain.
If a starting quarterback is unavailable for multiple weeks or months, it will be difficult for these teams to win games. Receivers are unable to pick up yards without a good eye to see them and strong arm to pass the ball.
So long as the top five quarterbacks are healthy, expect to see the gap between first and second place in these divisions widen.
Go Pack Go
The Green Bay Packers have come out as one of the strongest teams so far this season.
Despite clinching a playoff berth last season, Green Bay only went 1-5 against division opponents. Although still early in the season, the team put on an impressive performance against the Detroit Lions in Week 1. Quarterback Jordan Love appears to be settling into the position in his second year as a starter and is on track to surpass many of his personal stats from last year. On Sept. 11, Love threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns in a 27-18 win over the Commanders.
In a blockbuster trade with the Dallas Cowboys, acquiring defensive end Micah Parsons gave the Packers an undeniable asset. Parsons is one of, if not the best, defensive players in the league. A strong defense is needed in a difficult NFC North division, and Parsons is just the player to provide that.
If this Green Bay team stays on form, it will be a major threat to the rest of the NFL.
Week 3 Predictions: Who should you start and sit?
Week 3 of the NFL season is shaping up to be a big week for fantasy managers, with many exciting and exploitable matchups to look forward to.
Start
Isiah Pacheco (RB, KC) (Away vs. NYG)
On Sept. 21, the Kansas City Chiefs will be in New Jersey playing the New York Giants, where head coach Andy Reid and offensive coordinator Matt Nagy will be hoping that running back Isiah Pacheco will finally hit his stride. The Giants’ defense is the worst in the league at defending the run, conceding 355 rush yards against the Dallas Cowboys and Washington Commanders combined.
So far this season, Pacheco carried 15 times and rushed 47 yards. While these stats are discouraging, Pacheco and the Chiefs opened the season against tough defenses with the No. 8 Chargers and the Eagles, who had star defensive tackle Jalen Carter back in the lineup after an ejection in Week 1.
Pacheco might be working more this week due to the lack of receivers the team has available. With Worthy injured and Rice suspended, Reid and Nagy may rely on the run game heavily against a leaky defense in New York. This could give Pacheco a chance to gain more carries, becoming a complementary asset to Patrick Mahomes in the Chiefs’ backfield.
De’Von Achane (RB, MIA) (Home vs. BUF)
While De’Von Achane and most of the Miami Dolphins offense haven’t started off the 2025 season on a bright note, a divisional game against the Bills might be a chance for the speedster out of Texas A&M to break out and give the Dolphins offense the spark it so desperately needs. Currently, the Buffalo Bills’ defense ranks 31st in the league in run defense, eclipsed only by a torrid Giants defensive line.
Bolstering Achane’s case is head coach Mike McDaniel’s understanding and usage of the run game. McDaniel used to be the run game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers between 2017 and 2021, where he was part of the team that went to the Super Bowl. Under McDaniels’ guidance, the 49ers rushed for an average of 1,984.8 yards per season and were the second highest rushing team in 2019 with the most touchdowns in the entire league. Furthermore, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has endured a rough start to the 2025 season, throwing three interceptions with a passer rating of 22.5 (ranked 31st in the league). This, combined with Tagovailoa suggesting he is “rebuilding” chemistry with star receiver Tyreek Hill, means that Achane could get an extended workload this week.
DK Metcalf (WR, PIT) (Away vs. NE)
Does Aaron Rodgers not trust DK Metcalf? This was the question raised by viewers as they watched the veteran quarterback target the former Seahawks receiver only six times, with Metcalf catching three passes for 20 yards — hardly a matchup winning performance. However, faith in Metcalf may be restored as he faces a weakened Patriots defense that conceded 27 points to the 24th-ranked Dolphins offense. Currently, the New England Patriots are the worst defense against passing, conceding 630 yards in two games against the Las Vegas Raiders and Miami Dolphins.
To further the agenda, the Steelers are 30th in the league when it comes to running the ball, forcing four-time MVP Rodgers to throw the ball on a majority of the downs played. This opens up the possibility of him being targeted more on quick routes to avoid the Patriots’ pass rush.
There is also a high chance that the Patriots will still be without star cornerback and 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez due to a hamstring injury, improving Metcalf’s matchups against the Patriots’ defense. While it may not be wise to gamble everything on Metcalf, keeping him as a volatile WR2 against a weak passing defense could be beneficial.
Mac Jones (QB, SF) (Home v. ARI)
With serious doubts over franchise quarterback Brock Purdy’s fitness and readiness for Week 3, it can be expected that backup Mac Jones will take the starting mantle again after his impressive showing in New Orleans. Jones scored 27.8 fantasy points in Week 2. He and the rest of his crew are going up against the 27th ranked pass defense in the NFL, which just conceded 27.3 fantasy points to Bryce Young in Week 2.
The Cardinals suffered numerous injuries to their secondary in a win over the Carolina Panthers on the 14th of Spetember, with cornerbacks Max Melton (knee), Garrett Williams (knee) and Will Johnson (groin) all leaving due to injuries. The Cardinals have also failed to generate pressure this season, with only four sacks in both games, thus setting the perfect stage for Jones to have another standout performance in a system for which he is perfectly suited.
Sit
Bryce Young (QB, CAR) (Home v. ATL)
Former first-round draft pick quarterback Bryce Young is having an up-and-down year. Young was expected to step up in a big way after showing flashes of his college self toward the end of last season. However, in 2025 so far, Young has a quarterback rating of 36.3 and a completion percentage of 58.9%, along with three interceptions on the season. He also comes up against a tough Atlanta Falcons defense, which is second in the league against passing offenses, fourth in the league in quarterback pressure rate (46.3%) and in sack rate (10.4%). Meanwhile, the Falcons defense is coming off a six-sack game against the Minnesota Vikings.
It will be tough for Young to get comfortable and make tough throws.
A.J. Brown (WR, PHI) (Home vs. LA)
If there is one drawback in having a team with a two-pronged rushing attack, it’s the fact that the receivers become obsolete and are only used for blocking. Eagles receiver A.J. Brown is the latest victim of this phenomenon. In the 2025 season so far, Brown has had only six catches for 35 yards in two games, garnering 9.5 fantasy points total. His confidence will not be helped by the prospect of facing a Los Angeles Rams team that is strong against the pass (ranked fourth in the league) and relatively weaker against the run (ranked 18th in the league).
Brown is not being helped by having to share targets with DeVonta Smith — both players have nine targets so far. Thus, it can be expected that Eagles coach Nick Siriani and new offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo will stick to their run-first philosophy, deserting Brown and the other receivers for another week.
Trey McBride (TE, ARI) (Away v. SF)
Don’t let the 2-0 record fool you. The Arizona Cardinals have been favored by the luck of the draw, playing the New Orleans Saints and the Carolina Panthers On the 7th and 14th of September . However, this week, they come up against a stronger team in the 49ers. The Cardinals’ tight end will have a tough game, being matched up against All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, ably assisted by outside linebacker Dee Winters in coverage.
Additionally, the Cardinals have the 25th ranked passing offense in the league and are coming up against a stingy San Francisco defense that has forced three fumbles and ranks sixth in the league in total defense. Thus, McBride will struggle against a strong defense and a lack of targets and passing threats from the Cardinals.
