NFL Preseason Week 2: 4 Things to Watch in Friday's Games

The 2023 NFL preseason is now officially underway. While only a handful of teams actually put their starters out there for the opening week of the preseason -- and even fewer have their starters play more than a drive or two -- Week 2 is usually where the action is at. We might see NFL starters take the field for multiple quarters this weekend, and Friday's games promise to start things off on the right foot. Here are two things to watch in each of Friday's two preseason games.

Panthers vs. Giants Preseason Week 2 Betting Odds

• Spread: Giants -3 (-110)
• Total: 39.5
• Moneyline:
  • Panthers: +135
  • Giants: -110

Panthers vs. Giants Preseason Week 2 Game Analysis

How Does Bryce Young Handle Pressure?

Last week we finally got to see the first overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft take the field. Unfortunately, we barely got to see him play. Bryce Young did handle the first few drives for the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 of the preseason, but his offensive line couldn't hold up against the New York Jets' fearsome defensive line. The Panthers' offensive line as a whole mustered a sub-par 54.2 pass-blocking grade from ProFootballFocus in Week 1, which ranked 28th out of 32 teams.

The Panthers wisely pulled Young from the game before his overmatched offensive line surrendered too much pressure on their young quarterback. He finished the game with 4 completions on 6 attempts for 21 yards.

Unfortunately, Week 2 of the preseason isn't likely to be too much easier on Young and his offensive line -- the New York Giants boast a solid pass-rushing unit of their own. The franchise-quarterback-to-be has jumped right into the fire with his first two matchups, but viewers will at least get a more extended look at how he navigates the pressure this week.

For what it's worth, Young was one of college football's best quarterbacks under pressure in his final season at Alabama, earning the seventh-highest PFF passing grade on under-pressure drop backs in 2022. He was adept at preventing opposing pass-rushers from converting pressures into sacks as well, taking sacks on just 12.5% of his pressured drop backs. Whether or not those skills will translate to the NFL remains to be seen, but his success as a rookie could very well be contingent on that happening. If Young can manage his lackluster offensive line against the Giants here, it would bode well for his future in the league. Only one other rookie in the league has higher odds than Young's +400 Offensive Rookie of the Year Betting Odds, making him a true frontrunner to take home the award at the end of the season.

Who Are the Giants' Offensive Starters?

The Giants kept most of their "starting" offensive players on the shelf last week for their preseason opener against the Detroit Lions. That group obviously included quarterback Daniel Jones and veteran tight end Darren Waller, but there were some other notable players that did not suit up -- Darius Slayton and Parris Campbell joined injured teammates Sterling Shepard andWan'Dale Robinson on the sidelines. We wouldn't expect to see Shepard or Robinson suit up as they continue to work their ways back from their 2022-ending injuries, but it would seem that Slayton and Campbell are currently looking at starting jobs this season.

This is worth monitoring because the Giants do not currently have a bonafide WR1 on their roster. The team clearly expects Waller to handle the bulk of their passing game, but there could still be value in hitting on one of their other pass-catchers later on in fantasy drafts. According to FantasyPros' consensus ADP rankings, none of Shepard, Slayton, Robinson, or Campbell are being consistently selected in fantasy drafts so far this summer.

The Giants' current wide receiver depth chart contains a slew of players with similar and overlapping skillsets, so it's difficult to get too excited about any one player for fantasy. That said, if any of their pass-catchers does lock in a starting or every-down role, it could lead to late-round value in fantasy football drafts.
If none of those players is truly able to establish themselves, Waller could dominate the passing game opportunities for the Giants. The FanDuel Sportsbook has set the line for his Receiving Yardage Prop at 640.5 yards for the 2023 season.

Bengals vs. Falcons Preseason Week 2 Betting Odds

• Spread: Falcons - 6.5 (-110)
• Total: 38.5
• Moneyline:
  • Bengals: +210
  • Falcons: -250

Bengals vs. Falcons Preseason Week 2 Game Analysis

Can We See Some Falcons Starters?

The Atlanta Falcons didn't give us much to work with in their first preseason game of the year. They handily dispatched the Miami Dolphins in a 19-3 win without showing us anything from their presumed regular-season hand. Well played, Mr. Smith.

Fortunately, we should see more actual Week 1 starters against the Cincinnati Bengals this week. Under Arthur Smith, the Falcons have typically gotten their starters at least a few preseason reps before the regular season. After all, who could forget Kyle Pitts's ADP-altering 52-yard catch against the Jets last year?

No one is expecting another 52-yarder from Pitts (or any other Falcons) this preseason, but it would be great to see Pitts take the field with 2023 starting quarterback Desmond Ridder. Pitts' 2022 campaign had already been ended by a knee injury by the time Ridder took the field for the Falcons last year, so the preseason will be the first chance fans of the NFL will have to watch the pair work on their chemistry.

We'd love to see Ridder show even more chemistry with teammate Drake London on Friday, too, but the player we'd most like to see on an NFL field has to be 2023 first-round pick Bijan Robinson. Robinson maintained an absurd 6.1 yards per carry average in his final collegiate season and is more than ready to take on the NFL. It will be a treat to see him suit up on Friday, if the Falcons allow it.

Robinson is the current front-runner to take home the coveted AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award. He has +300 odds on the Rookies Markets as we head into the weekend's action.

Who Will Emerge as the Bengals' RB2?

The Bengals' backfield could look a little different than usual in 2023. While incumbent starter Joe Mixon has been a stalwart of the Joe Burrow era Bengals offense, longtime partner in crime Samaje Perine signed with the Denver Broncos. Mixon is currently dealing with a legal situation as well, which could make the Bengals' RB2 position more important than ever.

Earlier this offseason it looked like Trayveon Williams had a leg up for the RB2 role, but an unfortunate training camp ankle injury could keep him sidelined while the battle for that spot rages on. With Williams sidelined, the Bengals deployed both rookie Chase Brown and third-year back Chris Evans in their first preseason game.

There are reasons to like both backs, and either could become a fantasy stud if Mixon misses any time during the regular season. Evans has some pass-catching chops and boasts a 95th-percentile burst score according to PlayerProfiler.com, while Brown was last seen putting Illinois' offense on his shoulders, toting the rock 328 times for 1,643 yards and 10 touchdowns last year.

Evans produced the flashier stat line in Week 1 of the preseason, taking 7 carries for an impressive 49 yards (7 yards per carry). Brown's 8 carries for 12 yards look less appealing on the stat sheet, but head coach Zac Taylor praised Brown's efforts after the game, pointing out that Brown picked up the necessary yardage for the team when called upon. He also caught 3 passes for 33 yards, something fantasy managers in PPR leagues love to see.

It's no guarantee that one back emerges from the Bengals' preseason with a firm grasp on the "Samaje Perine role", but a strong performance in Week 2 of the preseason against the Falcons here could be a critical first step for either of these hopeful backs.

If none of those backs can step up, Mixon could be in line for the heaviest workload of his career on one of the best offenses in the league. He has the tenth-best odds (+1800) to finish as the Regular Season Rushing Touchdown Leader.

While you wait for Week 1's daily fantasy football slates to lock, you can get in on some best-ball fantasy football drafts on FanDuel. Just draft your team and watch the points pile up throughout the season.

The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.