3 Must Bet Props for NFL Week 2: Running Backs Primed to Feast

The weekend is in full swing, the vibes are high and NFL Sunday is back. Cheers to you for getting here once again. You made it!

NFL Week 2 kicked off on Thursday, as the Miami Dolphins were dominated once again by Josh Allen and the now 2-0 Buffalo Bills. Seems like the Bills, despite a completely revamped offense and defense, are poised to be right back in the mix with the best of the best in the AFC.

Looks like I may have been very wrong about this team. But there is a long way to go in the season so I will hold off on giving myself a massive L on that one until later in the season.

But Sunday is here and Week 2 kicks off with lots of fantastic matchups to take in. If you are looking for breakdowns in each game on the slate this week, our kickass team has you covered.

NFL Week 2 Staff Picks
Colts vs Packers Prediction
Steelers vs Broncos Prediction
Buccaneers vs Lions Prediction
49ers vs Vikings Prediction
Bengals vs Chiefs Prediction
Browns vs Jaguars Prediction
Seahawks vs Patriots Prediction
Jets vs Titans Prediction
Bears vs Texans Prediction
Saints vs Cowboys Prediction

But you came here for my favorite prop bets for Week 2 and I have found 3 that I absolutely love. So let’s jump in to my props of the week, 3 ground warriors in elite matchups!

Let’s dance!

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Prop #1: Tony Pollard o50.5 Rushing Yards (-110) BetOnline

Tony Pollard looks to build on a big Week 1 on the Ground

This is by far my favorite prop this week and I wrote about it in our NFL WEEK 2 STAFF PICKS article as well. Here is what I said there…

Tony Pollard got off to a fantastic start to the season.

In his new threads, he carried the ball 16 times for 82 yards and found the end zone. The Titans were dominating the line of scrimmage on the ground in the game against the Bears before it all fell apart in the last 20 minutes in historic fashion.

I expect a similar performance again this week from the Titans and from Pollard on the ground. Tony looked explosive and very decisive in Week 1, finding nice holes in the defense and exploiting the good blocking schemes from the young Titans offensive line.

Carrying that momentum into week 2 at home against the Jets should instill confidence in this ground game but the cherry on top is how poor the Jets Rush defense looked last week in San Fransisco against the Niners on Monday Night Football.

Jordan Mason in Week 1 vs NYJ:
29 touches, 152 total yards, 1 TD
22.2 PPR fantasy points
RB5 overall
Where will he rank in Week 2 of fantasy football with Christian McCaffrey being placed on IR? pic.twitter.com/yPhdCSsgW7
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) September 14, 2024

The Jets got pounded by the 49ers, allowing 180 yards on the ground, with 147 of those coming from running back Jordan Mason. Now, I am not saying the Titans have anywhere close to as good of a rushing attack as the 49ers.

Not many in football do.

But the Jets go bullied at the point of attack and were dominated up front all game long, as evident by the 5.3 yards per Rush allowed.

Can the Jet’s Bounce Back and Stop the Run?

This trend could be a theme for this Jets defense in Week 2 in Nashville and quite possibly all season long. That question may linger all season but regardless, I expect another nice game from the Titans on the ground and Pollard should be the biggest beneficiary.

I took this prop in Week 1 and it cashed in the 2nd Quarter. Let’s hope for the same result again this week.

Prop #2: Josh Jacobs o64.5 Rushing yards (-115) BetOnline

Josh Jacobs looks to build on his week 1 success on the ground

Next up, we have another back making his presence felt in new threads (there might be a theme here), with new Green Bay running back Josh Jacobs. squaring off with the Indianapolis Colts. Jacobs looked very good in the season opener in Sao Paolo in the Packers loss against the Eagles, racking up 84 yards on 16 carries.

I loved the pick up by the Packers in the offseason to bring in Jacobs to replace Aaron Jones, and he hit the ground running (pun intended) in Week 1. I expect a similar performance in Week 2, for a couple of reasons.

First, and foremost, because the Packers are going to HAVE to lean on the run game maybe a bit more than usual.

The #Packers have downgraded QB Jordan Love to doubtful and he won’t play tomorrow. Malik Willis is expected to start, while Sean Clifford was elevated to be the backup. pic.twitter.com/4MxFsoku78
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 14, 2024

Starting Quarterback Jordan Love will miss this game, and quite possibly more time.

In steps 2nd Stringer Malik Willis, who will be charged with leading the Green Bay offense. Willis came over from the Titans at the end of the preseason to back up Love and is thrust into action way before any Packer fan would have ever wanted.

After watching Malik Willis for the past 2 seasons in Tennessee, I can assure you, the Packers will not be relying on Willis to deliver the ball down the field consistently as the main game plan for success.

Feeding Josh Jacobs Will Help Willis Succeed

Matt LeFleur and company Will, Should and MUST feed Josh Jacobs to give Willis easy throws and advantageous downs and distances. That will ensure the Packers have a chance to walk away from the game with a much needed victory.

Luckily, against Indy, that is the best recipe to be successful. The Colts defense is subpar at best, and really struggled stopping the run in Week 1.

Joe Mixon and the Houston Texans (more on him shortly ;)) absolutely GASHED the Colts on the ground in week 1 to the tune of 30 carries and 159 yards.

I expect the Packers to look to have the same recipe with Jacobs. Run the Damn Ball.

Prop #3: Joe Mixon o70.5 Rushing Yards (-115) BetOnline

Joe Mixon dominated in Week 1 against the Colts

Let’s cap things off on Sunday Night Football as the Texans and Bears square off in Prime time.

We are taking our last running back on yet another new team. I loved Joe Mixon going into Week 1 last week and boy he did not disappoint. I mentioned it above when talking about Jacobs against the Colts but man, Mixon ate Indianapolis for lunch last Sunday.

Mixon exploded for 30 carries and 159 yards on the ground. The Texans utilized him in every way possible and he rewarded them handsomely.

Joe Mixon vs Colts
30 carries, 159 yards, 5.3 ypc, 1 TD
178 total yards pic.twitter.com/MF5QMdKW9S
— TexansMuse (@TexansMuse) September 8, 2024

If this is the type of production the Texans are going to get from the former Bengal, then this team could very well be a legit Super Bowl contender.

And I don’t think week 1 was a fluke. You don’t give your back the ball 30 times by accident. It was very clear that the Texans coaching staff were making it a point to pound the rock on the ground. I expect a similar strategy on primetime against the Bears.

While the Bears Focus on Stroud, Mixon Should Feast

The Bears had the best defense in the NFL in the 2023-24 season against the run on paper. However, in Week 1 against the Titans (as I laid out above), we found out that may not be the case this season.

If the Bears are smart, they are going to use most of their defensive resources to make sure that CJ Stroud and the lethal pass catchers in Houston don’t take over the game.

That should leave plenty of room for Mixon to dominate on the ground.

Another big time performance could be in store for Joe and I want to cash in on it once again.

Ok that’s it! Enjoy NFL Week 2! Thanks for stopping by! I will be doing this article every week throughout the NFL Season so if you liked what you read, follow me @SweatpantJesus on Twitter/X for more NFL content & come back to this page every week!

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