The first week of the NFL is in the books and football is officially back. Week 2 is set to kick off with a bang in an AFC East showdown between the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins. Both teams are coming off a Week 1 victory. The Dolphins produced an impressive come-from-behind win over the Jaguars while the Bills defeated the Cardinals 34-28.
Miami is the home team and enters the game as a 2.5-point favorite. Buffalo is +114 underdogs on the moneyline while the game total is 48.5 points on DraftKings Sportsbook.
There are far more ways to get involved in the action than just traditional betting. One of the more unique features on DraftKings this year is Pick6 Fantasy Football!
Dolphins vs. Bills Pick6 Plays
The biggest storyline to monitor leading up to the matchup is the status of Josh Allen. The two-time Pro Bowl quarterback is expected to play but finished the opening week game with his left hand heavily wrapped up. X-rays are officially negative and this is Allen’s non-throwing hand, but if it needs to be wrapped to the same extent it was last week, this could impact the quarterback’s ability to receive snaps.
The Dolphins also have some injury news to monitor. Running back Raheem Mostert has officially been ruled out with a chest injury while De’Von Achane is expected to be a game-time decision with his ankle injury. Third-string running back Jeff Wilson Jr. will likely see an expanded opportunity- especially if Achane cannot suit up.
Both teams are coming off second-half comeback victories in the opening week. Buffalo was down 17-10 to the Cardinals before outscoring them 14-0 in the third to get the victory. Miami trailed 17-7 at halftime before Tyreek Hill and the offense woke up in the second half. This will be a tougher matchup for both sides and one that could play a significant role in the divisional race moving forward.
With the stage fully set, here are my picks for Week 2’s Thursday Night Football Pick6 slate.
Tyreek Hill More Than 96.5 Receiving Yards
It was a hectic lead-up to the opening game for Tyreek Hill. The star wide receiver is still dealing with the aftermath of being detained by police after reportedly speeding on his way to the arena. There is still plenty to be sorted out regarding the situation, but Hill did not let this slow down his production on the field. He tallied seven receptions for 130 yards and a touchdown. This also comes after he led the NFL in receiving yards last season with 1,799 total, or 112.4 receiving yards per game.
Especially with the uncertainty in the status of their running backs, look for the Dolphins to lean on their screen game often. Hill will be one of the primary beneficiaries of this and have an additional opportunity in this matchup. The eight-time Pro Bowl WR will continue to be the most dynamic offensive player on the field and the Dolphins will look to put the ball in his hands as often as possible. Expect him to eclipse 97 receiving yards and make his impact felt throughout the matchup.
Josh Allen More Than 38.5 Rushing Yards
There has been plenty of attention paid to the Bills’ wide receiving group. Stefon Diggs was traded away this offseason, leaving Allen with an unproven group of pass catchers. The early signs of this have not been overly promising, with no wide receiver tallying more than 51 yards in the opening game. Ultimately, Allen threw for 232 yards and a pair of touchdowns, connecting on 18 of his 23 pass attempts. He also added 39 yards and two touchdowns on the ground.
The hand issue seems to be a bit of a bigger deal than Allen and the Bills are letting on. But he has been one of the most durable quarterbacks in the league and there are no doubts about his toughness at this point in Allen’s career. Expect him to be out there and playing as if nothing is wrong in Week 2. There is still a growing chemistry between Allen and his wide receivers that should not be expected to take a massive leap in the four-day break between games. Expect him to find a way to make an impact one way or another and for Allen to rely on his legs once again. The Wyoming product had nine rush attempts last week and tallied at least five rush attempts in 11 games last season. He is set to get this type of opportunity once again, so look for Allen to eclipse the 38.5 rushing yard margin as a result.
Tua Tagovailoa More Than 1.5 Passing Touchdowns
It was not the ideal start to the NFL season for the Miami Dolphins offense. They tallied just seven points in the opening half and were held in check by the Jacksonville Jaguars. While they cleaned things up in the second half, the Dolphins still did not reach the lengths they were expected to. This is the same Dolphins core that led the NFL in total yards and was second in scoring just last season.
Tua Tagovailoa will also become increasingly important this week considering the injuries at running back. Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane combined for 26 rushing touchdowns last year and 32 including receiving. Expect head coach Mike McDaniel to lean on his quarterback more around the goal line and scheme up some easy touchdown opportunities. Look for Tagovailoa to tally at least two passing touchdowns and for the Week 1 rust to be fully kicked off.
Dalton Kincaid Less Than 4.5 Receptions
Dalton Kincaid is still looking to crack the list of top tight ends in the NFL. The second-year standout tallied 73 receptions for 673 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a rookie. He then kicked off this season with just one reception for 11 yards.
The biggest reason for pessimism regarding his outlook is the presence of fellow tight end Dawson Knox. The sixth-year Bills tight end also recorded one reception in the opening game, which he took for 23 yards. He appeared in 58% of offensive snaps in the opening week compared to the 84% that Kincaid logged.
Expect both Kincaid and Knox to be relevant in a way that is great for the Bills, but eats into each of their production. Kincaid will be on the field and involved at times, but the 4.5 reception line is too high for him at this point.
Keon Coleman More Than 43.5 Receiving Yards
The pecking order of the Bills wide receivers is still being established, but there were some nice flashes from Keon Coleman in the opening week. The 33rd overall pick led all Bills receivers with four receptions for 51 yards. Coleman had five targets in the game, with no other Bills wide receiver recording more than three. He also led all Bills wide receivers with a 72.4% snap percentage, with no other Buffalo pass catcher being on the field for more than 60.3%.
There has been plenty of praise for Coleman throughout training camp. He flashed some impressive body control along the sideline in Week 1 and will continue to gain the trust of Josh Allen throughout the season. The Florida State product has big-play potential every time he touches the ball. Expect him to exceed 43.5 yards through the air once again and for Coleman to gradually grow into the number one option in Buffalo.
James Cook More Than 85.5 Rush & Receiving Yards
There was some growing concern for how large of a role rookie Ray Davis would play. After the opening week, it is clear James Cook is the unquestioned number one back. He lined up in 60% of the offensive snaps in the victory, recording 19 carries and running 14 routes. Cook produced 71 rushing yards and 32 receiving yards in these opportunities. In contrast, Davis had three carries for 13 yards and one catch for 14 yards.
Expect Cook to be involved in both the rushing and passing game and for him to make his impact felt in the Thursday Night matchup. He tallied 1,567 yards from scrimmage last season and has another gear that he did not reach in the opening game. Look for him to be a key part of the Bills offense from start to finish and eclipse 85.5 yards from scrimmage.
What is DraftKings Pick6?
Pick6 is a peer-to-peer fantasy variant where you build a lineup (your “Pick Set”) of two to six players and select whether you believe each will outperform their listed stat projection. Enter your Pick Set in Pick6 contests to compete against other users. Get enough picks correct and win a share of cash prizes.
How to Play DraftKings Pick6
Create a Pick Set
Create a Pick Set by choosing between 2-6 players from the same sport and Pick Group (a set of picks available from a group of set competitions). For each player, simply select if you think they’ll have more or less than their listed stat projection. In each Pick Set, you cannot pick the same player twice and you must pick players from at least two different teams.
Enter an Amount
Once you finalize your Pick Set, choose your entry fee amount. Your entries will be automatically distributed into available contests, subject to your confirmation.
Sweat Your Picks
When the games go live, use the My Picks tab to follow your picks in real time to track how your players are performing against their projections and how they stack up against other users.
Compete for Prizes
Make enough correct picks and win a share of the contests’ guaranteed prizes. Any prizes won will be credited to your DraftKings account after contests are finalized.
Play at DraftKings Pick6 or by downloading the DraftKings Pick6 app on Apple or Google!
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I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is seanbarnard) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
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