Will WFT vs. Giants be close tonight? Plus, MLB stars who are under the most pressure

Howdy newsletter readers! It’s Shanna McCarriston for my last newsletter of the week. How sad, but don’t worry, I’ll be back giving you all the news next week. 

Thanks to those who sent me some hot takes from Week 1 of the NFL season on Twitter. I think my favorite take was that the Panthers are a playoff team if they find a pass-catching tight end (thanks for the take, Colt). The Panthers are always a team I’ve kept my eyes on (even before I once lived in Charlotte.) Yes, they had that Super Bowl run with Cam Newton way back, but I’ve also seen them have talent and do nothing with it. Granted, they’re missing some key opponents, but I do think they aren’t too far from being a dangerous team.

Now to the newsletter stuff. Today we will discuss picks for Week 2 of the NFL season — which starts tonight! — and much more.

Let’s get to it.

📰 What you need to know

1. NFL Week 2 picks and predictions 🏈

Another week of football is here and, unlike last week, we actually have some regular season play to base our picks on. Last week was a bit chaotic: there were crazy comebacks, underdog wins, overtime games. But do you expect anything less from the NFL? We start this second week of football with a matchup between the Washington Football Team and the New York Giants. Personally, I think Washington will win.

Pete Prisco, who gives us weekly picks, agrees. The latest odds are currently at Washington Football Team -3. Prisco sees the game ending 22-17 with WFT recording their first win of the regular season.

Here are three more of Prisco’s picks I found interesting, along with the latest odds:

• Bills 19, Dolphins 18 | Latest Odds: Bills -3.5
  
  
• Eagles 23, 49ers 22 | Latest Odds: Eagles +3
• Steelers 23, Raiders 14 | Latest Odds: Steelers -5.5

For full picks and the latest odds for each game this week, click here.

The matchup I’m most looking forward to this weekend is Chiefs vs. Ravens. The Chiefs nearly recorded a loss last week and the Ravens nearly had a win, so I want to see how both teams will come into this AFC matchup. I also want to see if the Eagles’ success continues against the 49ers, how petty Tom Brady gets against the Falcons (he already has made some 28-3 references), and, of course, how Aaron Rodgers bounces back.

Let Week 2 begin!

2. Fantasy Football: Who to start and who to sit 🏈

If your fantasy football team lost last week, don’t harp on it too much, it was only Week 1. Plus, we have all the advice you need for Week 2, so you are sure to beat your opponent this time around (Disclaimer: Winning not actually guaranteed.)

Let’s take a look at who you should start and who you should sit by position, along with each player’s projected points. These recommendations come courtesy of our fantasy expert, Jamey Eisenberg.

Quarterbacks

• Start: Jalen Hurts, Eagles, 20.3. projected points
• Start: Matthew Stafford, Rams, 21.8 projected points
• Start: Joe Burrow, Bengals, 20.5 projected points
• Sit: Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars, 17.4 projected points

Running backs

• Start: Darrell Henderson, Rams, 14 projected points
• Start: Chase Edmonds, Cardinals, 12.7 projected points
• Start: Melvin Gordon, Broncos, 13.1 projected points
• Sit: Mike Davis, Falcons, 12.5 projected points

Wide receivers

• Start: Juju Smith-Schuster, Steelers, 15.1 projected points
• Start: DeVonta Smith, Eagles, 13.8 projected points
• Start: Mike Williams, Chargers, 14.1 projected points
• Sit: Corey Davis, Jets, 13.8 projected points

Hopefully these tips help you destroy whoever you are going up against this week. For even more fantasy football tips to help you throughout the season, subscribe to our Fantasy Football Today newsletter.

3. Kentucky lands another five-star recruit 🏀

Kentucky was already the No. 1 men’s college basketball team in the 2022 recruiting rankings and on Wednesday they landed yet another five-star prospect. Chris Livingston committed to the Wildcats, choosing Kentucky over Tennessee State and Georgetown.

This is the third class of 2022 player committed to the team and all three have been five-star prospects. Here is a look at what Livingston brings to the Wildcats:

• 6-foot-6, 200 pounds
• Combo forward, coming from high school powerhouse Oak Hill Academy
• Rated the No. 6 overall prospect in the class, according to the 247Sports Composite
• Second-ranked player at his position
• Second-highest ranked player in Kentucky’s commitment class behind Shaedon Sharpe

This recruiting class is shaping up to be one of the best ever for Kentucky, with even more five-star players leaning towards the Wildcats. Dereck Lively II, Cason Wallace and Adem Bona, three top-20 prospects, could soon be joining the team as well.

The only program to ever secure six top-20 talents did so in 2013 and, you guessed it, it was Kentucky. Now they have a decent chance to do that again. And they kind of need to, because last season UK went 9-16 and missed the NCAA Tournament.

4. MLB players under the most pressure in September ⚾

September baseball always comes with pressure, but some players this year are under more pressure than others with the postseason approaching.

As of Wednesday evening, 17 teams were within four games of a postseason spot with less than three weeks to go. History, awards and of course those postseason spots are all on the line as we begin to see the end of the regular season. Looking at the players feeling pressure, there are some positions that just naturally have more relying on them than others, like the star shortstop and ace pitcher.

Looking at position, star power and what is on the line for their team, CBS Sports’ Mike Axisa put together a list of the players with the most pressure on them. Here is a glimpse of that list:

• Cody Bellinger, Dodgers, CF
• Gerrit Cole, Yankees, SP
  
  
• Yu Darvish, Padres, SP
  
  
• Bryce Harper, Phillies, RF
  
  
• Kyle Seager, Mariners, 3B

To read more about why these players are feeling the most pressure, click here.

📝 Odds & Ends

• An umpire in the Yankees vs. Orioles game last night ejected the grounds crew from the field for some reason
  
  
• Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman say the FBI mishandled the Larry Nassar investigation
  
  
• A look at Week 2 NFL quarterback Power Rankings
• Mike Trout is unlikely to return this season from his calf injury after setbacks in his recovery

📺 What to watch tonight

⚾ Padres vs. Giants, 3:45 p.m. | SF -137 | TV: MLB.TV

⚾ Yankees vs. Orioles, 5:05 p.m. | BAL +210 | TV: MLB. TV

🏈 Washington Football Team vs. Giants, 8:20 p.m. | WAS -3.5 | TV:NFLN

🏅 Best thing I saw on the internet

After finishing his final chemotherapy treatment, Bills superfan Joshy jumped through a cardboard table like the true member of Bills Mafia he is. He was even wearing a Bills jersey and helmet, with those in the hospital cheering him on as he rang the bell and completed the fantastic celebration. The video went viral, with players noticing and cheering on Joshy for the big news. One person the video caught the attention of was Josh Allen, who wanted to meet the young fan. On Sunday, Joshy and Josh got to meet and continue the celebration of the Bills Mafia member being done with his treatment.