The 2026 NFL season is officially underway, and Week 1 delivered no shortage of surprises, statement performances and dramatic finishes. Now attention turns to Week 2, where another full slate of games offers plenty of opportunities for bettors.
The USA TODAY Sports NFL staff is back to break down the best bets for Sunday. After going 2-3 in Week 1, our experts are looking to bounce back with a stronger showing in Week 2.
With 14 games on Sunday’s Week 2 slate, bettors have plenty of markets to choose from. Our team of NFL experts has narrowed down the best opportunities across spreads, totals, player props and anytime touchdown markets.
Each pick comes with an in-depth breakdown of the matchup and the reasoning behind the bet. Whether you're looking
for a side, total or player prop, our experts have you covered.
Here are our best NFL bets for Sunday's Week 2 games. Best of luck if you tail!
Best bets NFL Week 2
All odds listed are provided by DraftKings Sportsbook. Access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a complete list.
Participating analysts: Nick Brinkerhoff, Jack McKessy, Jacob Camenker, Adam Kaufman, Tom Viera
Vikings WR Justin Jefferson anytime TD vs. Bears (+160)
Nick Brinkerhoff: It’s a tale as old as time. Screw up, then overcorrect to make things right. Forget to take the chicken out of the freezer? That won’t happen next time. Your boss has an attitude in a meeting and ticks everyone off? There’s a 100% chance they show up to the next one pretending everything is all sunshine and rainbows. Forget a gift? Time to buy extra.
The same is true of Jefferson with the Vikings, who was saddled with horrific quarterback play in 2025. To keep arguably the best receiver in the sport happy, the Vikings tossed him a pair of touchdowns in Week 1. And that was after Kyler Murray exited with a concussion. Eight catches for 92 yards isn’t a bad day at the office and it just goes to show how quarterback-proof Jefferson is when Minnesota is actually playing one – sorry, J.J. McCarthy.
Chicago turned out to be a bettor’s dream in opening week, cleaning up the anytime touchdown board in a way that we haven’t seen since the famous Rams-Chiefs contest on “Monday Night Football” in 2018. Jefferson should be plenty busy against the Bears, who would rather score points on offense than attempt to prevent them on defense. We’re getting a nice price for that overcorrection to continue from Kevin O’Connell. And we’ll be “Griddying” all the way to the bank when it does.
Chiefs RB Kenneth Walker III to finish with 100+ rushing yards (+216)
Jack McKessy: The Chiefs made it very apparent in Week 1 that their new offensive identity – at least to start the season – in 2026 is built around quarterback Patrick Mahomes lining up under center and handing the ball to the reigning Super Bowl MVP. Kansas City pounded the rock against the Broncos in Week 1, letting Walker cook to the tune of a career-best 173 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries – averaging 7.5 yards per carry.
The Colts' defense is a (much) worse unit than the Broncos' on paper. Last week, Indianapolis allowed Ravens veteran running back Derrick Henry to rush for 144 yards and three scores on 24 carries (6.0 yards per carry) in a home loss. The Colts lack the defensive personnel to succeed up front against the Chiefs' hog-mollies, nor do they have the second-level defenders to reliably take down Walker if he breaks one open. Add in Mahomes' early-season rustiness in returning from his knee injury, and Week 2's "Sunday Night Football" game seems a recipe for a second straight huge game from the Chiefs' new lead back.
Browns RB Quinshon Judkins UNDER 48.5 rushing yards (-114)
Jacob Camenker: Look, I know it's never fun to bet the under, but backing Judkins seems impossible as long as Deshaun Watson remains Cleveland's starter. Teams will likely key in on stopping the run and forcing Watson, who has an 81.3 passer rating since joining the Browns in 2022, to beat them, which doesn't bode well for Judkins despite his high-volume role in Cleveland's thin backfield.
Further dampening Judkins' upside is his matchup with the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay has long been good against the run thanks to Vita Vea, and the team's 60 rushing yards allowed to running backs in Week 1 against the Bengals were the seventh-fewest league-wide. Maybe Judkins will break one long run to render this moot, but his 3.6 career yards-per-carry average makes that unlikely to happen.
Buccaneers QB Baker Mayfield OVER 204.5 passing yards (-114)
Adam Kaufman: I don't get it. Is this a first-half line?
Baker Mayfield's had this game circled on his calendar, probably for years. The former Browns' No. 1 pick had some success in Cleveland - at least by that organization's standards - and then ownership quit on its QB in favor of embattled then-star Deshaun Watson to the tune of $230 million guaranteed.
Just like that, bye-bye Baker. Then came the Panthers. And Rams.
Finally, the journeyman found a new home in Tampa as the Buccaneers' franchise quarterback, winning multiple division titles and earning Pro Bowler honors twice.
One known to hold a grudge, Mayfield now gets to face his old team, with a chance to beat the Browns for the first time. With Watson on the other side.
This one's personal. Mayfield will leave it all on the field. We're just along for the ride.
49ers WR Mike Evans anytime TD vs Dolphins (+130)
Tom Viera: Unfortunately, Omarion Hampton let us down to open the season; after scoring once in the first quarter, the Chargers' offense forgot they had three more quarters to play. Fortunately, we have 17 more weeks to get our lick back, and the touchdown train is going to an ole' reliable for Week 2.
Mike Evans gets a Miami Dolphins defense next and Kyle Shanahan and co. must be licking their chops. The veteran immediately established himself as a focal point of San Francisco's passing game, leading the 49ers in targets with seven in his debut. Evans caught six of those for 49 yards and found the end zone on a two-yard touchdown from Brock Purdy, showing the quarterback already trusts him down in the red zone.
The matchup should only add to the appeal. Miami's young, inexperienced secondary struggled against Las Vegas in Week 1, allowing Kirk Cousins to throw three touchdown passes. Cousins was working with a collection of weapons that doesn't compare to Evans' combination of size, experience, red-zone dominance and sheer track record.
San Francisco has also ranked among the NFL's most productive red-zone passing offenses in recent seasons (third in the NFL in red-zone passing touchdowns), while Evans has consistently been among the league leaders in end-zone targets. Five of Evans' six catches against the Rams came on third down, another encouraging sign of the trust already developing between him and Purdy. Against Miami, expect that connection to produce another trip to the end zone.
Best bets overall records:
- Nick Brinkerhoff: 0-1 (-1.0 Unit)
- Jack McKessy: 1-0 (+1.0 Units)
- Jacob Camenker: 1-0 (+2.45 Units)
- Adam Kaufman: 0-1 (-1.0 Unit)
- Tom Viera: 0-1 (-1.0 Unit)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL best bets for Week 2: Our experts give their top predictions, player props
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