The early weeks of the NFL season can be some daunting waters to navigate.

Hot narratives, new coaches, players on new teams, preseason expectations that don't go as planned (you fantasy players know this all too well) - it's a collision course of countless factors and our job is to cut through the noise and bet smartly to beat the sportsbooks.

Betting on the NFL becomes second nature when you have Dimers Pro in your pocket - from our weekly Best NFL Bets and NFL Props, brand-new Player Projections Hub, Super Bowl Futures and NFL Game Predictions, there's no shortage of resources available with Dimers Pro, now 50% for an NFL season pass with our exclusive FOOTBALL promo code.

To help set you up for the second of the NFL season, we're touching on how to bet the major storylines, looking at our best value bets and which matchups offer strong plays for your Survivor and Pick 'Em contests.

Week 2's Biggest NFL Storylines

The Super Bowl Rematch: Chiefs vs. Eagles

The Eagles-Chiefs matchup is being billed as a true clash of Titans, but one team looks more the part than the other.

This game serves as a rematch of last year’s Super Bowl, where the Eagles steamrolled the Chiefs en route to their second Super Bowl victory in franchise history.

The current projection gives Philadelphia nearly a 60% probability of winning at -116 odds, signaling not just solid value but also a clear betting advantage. With a 7.3% edge identified, the model suggests that this isn’t just another rematch, but one where the numbers lean decisively toward the Eagles on the moneyline.

With the Chiefs missing both Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy, Hollywood Brown projects as their top wideout with a 69-yard, 33% TD projection, followed by Travis Kelce with 48 receiving yards and the same chance to score.

On the Eagles side, much of the attention will be on whether or not WR A.J. Brown bounces back after a single late-game target. fortunately, the model does predict a turnaround with a projection of 76 yards and a 35% Anytime TD probability, which could go even higher if TE Dallas Goedert is officially ruled out.

Full game preview for Eagles-Chiefs.

DK Metcalf's Revenge Game vs. Seattle

When the Steelers host the Seahawks in Week 2, all eyes are on DK Metcalf as he faces his former team in just his second game in the Pittsburgh Black and Gold.

Unlike players who move on by choice, Metcalf was traded away, making this matchup more personal. Now with the Steelers, he delivered a solid debut, hauling in four of seven targets for 83 yards, including a big 31-yard grab, though he didn’t find the end zone.

Pittsburgh leaned on the passing game in a competitive opener, while Seattle’s defense allowed over 270 passing yards to Brock Purdy who was without George Kittle fora  significant portion of the contest.

The Dimers model projects Metcalf for 69 receiving yards, 35% touchdown probability and 6.8% chance to score 2+ TDs in Week 2, setting him up as a key playmaker in a high-emotion matchup

Full game preview for Steelers vs. Seahawks.

Who is RB1 in Minnesota?

The Vikings have completely overhauled their backfield over the past two seasons, first bringing in Aaron Jones from their rivals in Green Bay, before adding Jordan Mason from the 49ers this past offseason.

Now a true two-headed backfield for the first time in years, both bettors and fantasy managers are wondering who is the lead back, if one exists.

Week 1 revealed a lot in this situation - Mason outcarried Jones 15 to 8 for a total of 68 yards, outrushing him in yards per attempt at 4.5 to 2.9, while Jones also hauled in all three of his targets for 44 yards including a 27-yard TD reception.

The efficiency of Mason suggests he'll likely be the go-to RB while Jones will get his traditional passing game work and mix in some carries, but if he doesn't become more efficient as a runner, Mason could sap even more of his touches.

Here's how we project each of them in their Sunday Night Football matchup with the Falcons:

Jordan Mason: 64.8 Rush Yds | 9.6 Rec Yds | 44.9% Anytime TD

Aaron Jones: 43.0 Rush Yds | 20.5 Rec Yds | 35.6% Anytime TD

MORE: The Dimers Sports Betting Podcast: Episode 03 - NFL Week 2 Preview

Week 2 Best Bets

Week 1's picks went 2-0 and earlier this week, we broke down these two bets on the Dimers Sports Betting Podcast.

Bet: Eagles ML vs. Chiefs (-116 FanDuel Sportsbook)

The Eagles travel to face the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium with their Super Bowl victory over the AFC's reigning champs fresh in their minds.

The Dimers model has the Eagles as a clear favorite with nearly a 60% probability to win, giving us a 6.0% edge against odds of -116 on FanDuel.

Fair odds for the Eagles Moneyline would be -148. With the Chiefs banged up and missing their top two WRs, they may have difficulty keeping pace with the Eagles in this game in which we project a final score of 24-21 in favor of Philly.

Full Eagles-Chiefs preview.

Bet: Buccaneers +2.5 vs. Texans (-105 BetMGM Sportsbook)

After a win over the Falcons in Week 1 and cashing one of our best bets, we're going back to the Bucs on the road vs. the Texans as 2.5-point underdogs on a Monday Night Football doubleheader.

Our model's top overall pick to cover the spread in Week 2, the Bucs will face a Texans team that was held without a touchdown in Week 1.

Ata  58.2% probability and 7.0% edge, this is our best value of the week. The Dimers model projects a narrow 21-20 victory for Houston, putting the Bucs in play.

Full Buccaneers vs. Texans game preview.

Week 2 Survivor Targets and Pick 'Em Plays

Finally, we'll close out our guide to Week 2 with a couple looks at which teams could make strong picks for your Survivor or Pick 'em leagues.

You'll need to deploy your own season-long strategy when making survivor picks, but this should give you some insight into Week 2.

To find these predictions for every game, every week, use our NFL Picks page.

Most likely ML Winners (Survivor targets)

• Ravens 86% vs. Browns
• Lions 74% vs. Bears
• Cardinals 72% vs. Panthers
• Rams 70% vs. Titans
• Bills 68% vs. Jets

Editor's pick: I'll take the Rams out of this crop of teams and get them out of the way in case they get bit by the injury bug later this season.

Last week's pick: Cardinals ✅

Highest Spread Probabilities (Pick 'Em targets)

• Buccaneers +2.5 vs. Texans (58.2%)
• Broncos -1 vs. Colts (58.2%)
• Dolphins -1.5 vs. Patriots (58.0%)
• Giants +5.5 vs. Cowboys (57.7%)
• Jets +6.5 vs. Bills (57.0%)

Editor's pick: Bucs as a road dog in a game that projects very close in the Dimers model and is one of our best bets this week.

Last week's pick: Chargers +3.5 ✅

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Dimers' 2025 NFL Season Betting Resources

• NFL Predictions: Our data-backed previews for every game, every day
• NFL Best Bets: Our Top Picks for every individual matchup
• Best NFL Props: Player edges and projections from our predictive analytics model
• NFL Futures Odds: Who will win Super Bowl LX?
• NFL Betting News: The latest promos, storylines and more around the league

Responsible Gambling

Remember to please gamble responsibly. If you sense that you're taking your luck too far, know when to call it quits and don't be afraid to seek assistance. Keep in mind that gambling is all about having a fantastic experience! If you or someone you know is grappling with gambling issues, reach out to 1-800-GAMBLER for crisis counseling and support.