The 2025 NFL season is underway and opening week provided an abundance of entertainment; however, Week 2 promises to be equally thrilling.
The USA TODAY Sports staff is back to deliver you the best NFL bets for Sunday. The team went 1-4 in Week 1, with the rookie tight end Tyler Warren the lone winning wager. The bad beats are getting out of the way early as Trey McBride’s receiving yardage total was lost by the hook.
The crew is back and ready for redemption and a bounce back this Sunday.
Our experts have provided the best prediction for this weekend’s slate of games, selecting from any betting markets available and supplying an in-depth analysis on spreads, totals, player props and anytime touchdowns. Here are our best NFL bets for Sunday games with odds from BetMGM. Best of luck if you tail.
Best bets NFL Week 2
All odds listed are provided by BetMGM Sportsbook. Access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a complete list.
Jaguars RB Travis Etienne Jr. OVER 58.5 rushing yards at Cincinnati Bengals (-115)
Ayrton Ostly, NFL writer: Stefon Diggs finished just eight yards shy of my prediction last week and I’ve learned my lesson. On to running backs!
Etienne led the Jacksonville backfield with 16 carries. The next-highest total was Tank Bigsby’s five carries and he’s since been traded to Philadelphia. This looks to be Etienne’s show until Bhayshul Tuten earns a larger share of touches.
Cincinnati allowed just 49 rushing yards in its opener but that was against the Browns led by Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson. Etienne is more dynamic than Ford and more experienced than Sampson. This Bengals defense is still on watch until proven otherwise.
Etienne may not hit 143 yards as he did in Week 1 but this line needs him to barely clear a third of that. Given the defenses in this game, it could turn into a shootout with Etienne making the most of it in the running game.
Chicago Bears (+6) at Detroit Lions (-110)
Jacob Camenker, NFL writer: OK, so backing Joe Flacco and a notoriously slow-starting Bengals squad in Week 1 blew up in my face. But that’s something the Bears never do… right?
While Chicago looked lost at times outside of its first offensive drive in Week 1, the Bears have been a thorn in the Lions’ side in recent seasons. They have just a 1-3 record over the last two years, but two of their defeats were by less than five points. Chicago shouldn’t have an issue staying close to Detroit as Ben Johnson looks to prove he made the right decision leaving the Lions to take the Bears coaching job.
Add in that Jared Goff has a career, straight-up record of 3-17-1 in games where neither Johnson nor Sean McVay is calling his games and this line seems mispriced. The Bears may have a chance to win this outright.
Browns QB Joe Flacco OVER 244.5 passing yards vs. Ravens (-115)
Jack McKessy, NFL writer: Flacco’s Week 1 start with the Browns this year was his sixth regular-season career start with the team. His initial stint with Cleveland came at the back end of the 2023 season, when he won four straight games to push the Browns into the playoffs.
In each of Flacco’s first six starts with the Browns – all of which have been in head coach Kevin Stefanski’s offense – he’s tallied at least 250 passing yards. His 290 yards in Week 1 this year were actually his lowest total in his last five regular-season starts, breaking a streak of four straight games with more than 300 yards passing.
This week, Flacco gets a matchup with a Ravens team that has been diced through the air over the last season plus. Baltimore allowed the second-most passing yards in the league last year and began the 2025 season allowing 394 yards to Bills quarterback Josh Allen.
Flacco’s history of high passing volume with the Browns – which seems likely to continue until rookie running back Quinshon Judkins gets up to speed on the team’s offensive playbook – and the Ravens’ trouble stopping opposing passers sets Flacco up for a solid outing in Week 2.
Jets RB Breece Hall OVER 57.5 rushing yards vs. Buffalo Bills (-115)
Nick Brinkerhoff, NFL writer: After carrying the crew with the only dub of Week 1, we gave plenty of thought to backing the over on Tyler Warren’s receptions again this week – a wager we will also endorse. Instead of getting predictable, we’ll take a trip to the Meadowlands for this AFC East clash. The Jets aren’t shy about their desire to become the Detroit Lions of the East Coast – a run-first squad that plays off the strength of their offensive line.
Luckily for us, the sportsbooks haven’t caught on yet and Hall shined in the opener against what figures to be a solid Steelers defense. After trade rumors and some level of uncertainty regarding his future with Gang Green, the fourth-year back was the unquestioned RB1 in Tanner Engstrand’s offense, finishing with 19 carries for 107 yards. Braelon Allen might get his time to shine, but Hall was explosive and looked like the player the Jets drafted in 2022.
Buffalo’s run defense was already gashed by Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson in Week 1, allowing 238 yards on the ground. Without Ed Oliver, that task becomes even tougher – especially against Hall and the new-look Jets in a game that might be closer than many expect.
Patriots TE Hunter Henry OVER 3.5 Receptions (+100)
Tom Viera, NFL writer/editor: Unfortunately, we watched Drake London reel in eight receptions on a massive 15 targets (second-most in NFL Week 1), but he only managed 55 yards, falling short of our recommended pick. It’s easy to endorse going back to the well with London on Sunday night but we’re going to pivot to another veteran who’s built a strong rapport with his second-year quarterback.
Not paying any juice makes this pick even more enticing. Henry tied for the team lead with eight targets in Week 1 – a trend that rolled over from Drake Maye’s rookie season, during which Henry led New England in targets, receiving yards, receptions and end-zone targets in games alongside Maye.
Colts rookie Tyler Warren posted a respectable seven receptions for 76 yards against the Dolphins’ secondary, and we can expect Henry to produce a similar stat line. The Patriots tight end has finished with at least four receptions in eight of nine healthy games with Maye, including a five-reception outing at Miami in Week 12 a season ago. You can bank on Henry.
