If you’re only checking the box scores for week 2 nfl preseason action, you’re basically lying to yourself. You see a 38-0 blowout like the Bears over the Bills and think, "Wow, Chicago is back," but that’s not really what happened. The preseason is a fever dream where second-rounders look like Hall of Famers against guys who will be selling insurance in three weeks.
Honestly, Week 2 is the sweet spot. It's when the "starters" actually break a sweat before getting wrapped in bubble wrap for the regular season.
The QB Battles Nobody Expected to Be This Messy
In Indianapolis, the situation is getting kinda weird. Everyone assumed Anthony Richardson was the guy because, well, he’s Anthony Richardson. But Daniel Jones—yes, that Daniel Jones—is making it a conversation. During their clash with the Packers, Jones actually looked... efficient? He connected with rookie Tyler Warren on a sideline beauty that had the Indy crowd actually cheering.
Meanwhile, Richardson is still doing Richardson things. He’s got the "wow" factor, like that gorgeous deep ball to Anthony Gould that got wiped out by a penalty. But he also struggles to stay on the field for long drives. It's frustratingly close. Shane Steichen probably isn't sleeping much right now trying to figure out who gets the nod for Week 1.
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Then there’s Seattle. The Sam Darnold era (if we’re calling it that) started with a bang against the Chiefs. He went 4-for-4. Perfect. It’s exactly what the Seahawks needed to see after all the off-season chatter. He looked comfortable in Klint Kubiak’s system, and while it was only one 81-yard drive ending in a Zach Charbonnet touchdown, it felt like a statement.
The Giants’ New Hope?
Look, I know it's just the Jets, but Jaxson Dart is making people in New York very, very nervous about their current depth chart. He was 14 of 16. At one point, he hit 13 straight completions. The kid has this command of the offense that makes you forget he’s a rookie. When he found Greg Dulcich up the seam for a 20-yard score, the stadium got quiet because people realized the "project" QB might be ready way sooner than advertised.
Why week 2 nfl preseason Overreactions Can Kill Your Fantasy Draft
We have to talk about the running backs. TreVeyon Henderson is currently flying up draft boards, and honestly, it might be a trap. He looked dynamic for the Patriots, sure. He had a nifty touchdown run against the Vikings. But he’s still playing behind Antonio Gibson for now, and the injury history is there. If you’re taking him in the 4th round, you’re betting on a miracle.
On the flip side, Ashton Jeanty is looking like a total steal. For the Raiders, he’s been the engine. Against the 49ers, he was bouncing off tackles and showing the kind of vision that you usually don't see in August.
- Bucky Irving: Showing serious pass-catching chops for the Bucs.
- Kendre Miller: Reminiscent of Alvin Kamara on a 13-yard scramble, but the dude just needs to stay healthy.
- Nick Chubb: Got the start for the Texans, which is a massive sigh of relief for anyone worried about his recovery.
The Penalty Problem
Green Bay had more penalties (11) than first downs (6) in the first half against the Colts. It was ugly. Ben Sims had a touchdown wiped out because of an illegal formation, then committed the exact same penalty two plays later. Matt LaFleur looked like he wanted to teleport out of the stadium. If the Packers don't clean up the sloppiness, their Week 1 is going to be a disaster regardless of how much talent they have on the roster.
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Injuries That Actually Matter
Preseason is great until someone gets carted off. The Chargers are feeling the burn right now. Quentin Johnston took a massive hit against the Rams and didn't come back. With the Chargers' WR room already looking thin, they’re suddenly relying on rookies like Tre Harris and KeAndre Lambert-Smith to carry the load. Harris finished with 85 yards, which is cool, but losing Johnston is a gut punch to Justin Herbert's options.
The Colts also got banged up on the line. Braden Smith and Blake Freeland both left the game. You can have the best QB battle in the world, but if your tackles are out, it doesn't matter who’s under center.
What You Should Actually Watch For Next
Stop looking at the final scores. Seriously. If you want to know who is going to make an impact in the regular season, look at the first two drives of the second quarter. That’s usually where the "bubble" players—the ones fighting for a roster spot—are playing against the second-team defense.
Watch the offensive line depth. Teams like the Colts and Chargers are one more injury away from a total collapse in pass protection. If you see a rookie tackle getting beat three times in a row by a backup edge rusher, that’s a red flag for the entire team's season outlook.
Check the target share for rookie tight ends. Tyler Warren in Indy and Harold Fannin Jr. in Cleveland are being used as "queens on the chessboard." They aren't just blocking; they’re being moved to the slot and out wide. These are the guys who will be waiver-wire gold in September.
Monitor the "veteran" backups. Sam Howell didn't exactly light it up for the Vikings while J.J. McCarthy rested. If your team's starter goes down, you want to know if the guy behind him is Sam Darnold (looking sharp) or Joe Milton III (struggling with interceptions).
Basically, keep your eyes on the process, not the points. The real stories of the week 2 nfl preseason are buried in the third-down conversions and the special teams tackles, not the 38-0 scorelines.