NFL Predictions Week 2: Final Odds Projections and Fantasy Stars to Watch

The NFL has a tall order to fill following an intense opening to the 2014 season. Most of Week 2's games possess the potential to manufacture yet another wild football Sunday.

Several squads hoping to avoid an 0-2 start have a tough road ahead, and other teams that began the year on a brighter note hold a golden opportunity to prove they're the real deal.

Meanwhile, out in Fantasy Land, some elite names will get tossed into the spotlight after uneventful or nonexistent Week 1 outings. Their owners will watch with eager eyes in hopes of witnessing the typical superstar production they signed up for on draft day.

Let's run through the Week 2 schedule and highlight three stars who could use a big day to protect their fantasy stock.

Away	Home	Spread
Detroit	Carolina	CAR (-1)
Miami	Buffalo	Even
Jacksonville	Washington	WAS (-7)
Dallas	Tennessee	TEN (-3)
Arizona	N.Y. Giants	ARI (-2.5)
New England	Minnesota	NE (-3)
New Orleans	Cleveland	NO (-7)
Atlanta	Cincinnati	CIN (-5.5)
St. Louis	Tampa Bay	TB (-7)
Seattle	San Diego	SEA (-7)
Houston	Oakland	HOU (-2.5)
N.Y. Jets	Green Bay	GB (-9.5)
Kansas City	Denver	DEN (-13.5)
Chicago	San Francisco	SF (-7.5)
Philadelphia	Indianapolis	IND (-3)

All odds, updated as of Friday evening, are courtesy of Odds Shark. 

Fantasy Stars to Watch

Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Cam Newton stood on the sidelines, when he wasn't running on the field in street clothes, during the Carolina Panthers' Week 1 victory over Tampa Bay Buccaneers. After missing the opening contest with injured ribs, the dual-threat quarterback now looks ready to tag in for Derek Anderson.

According to NFL on ESPN, head coach Ron Rivera sounds certain his star passer will make his season debut this Sunday against the Detroit Lions:

Considering the journeyman Anderson registered 230 passing yards and two touchdowns, we can't drop the same line about Carolina's limited receiving unit. Reliable tight end Greg Olsen and rookie wideout Kelvin Benjamin proved good enough for the last-second replacement against Tampa Bay.

Detroit limited Eli Manning to 163 passing yards with two interceptions on Monday night, but does picking off Manning even count at this point? He's now thrown at least one pick in 15 of his last 17 games. It remains to be seen whether the Lions secondary has truly improved from last year.

This leaves fantasy managers with a tough roster quandary. Start Newton, or give him a game to warm up and prove he's fine? Unless you have a high-level alternative such as Russell Wilson or Andy Dalton, stick with Newton, who was quietly ESPN's No. 3-rated quarterback last season despite the same persisting doubts about his supporting cast.

Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Wesley Hitt/Getty Images

Be honest, you're freaking out right now if you drafted Jamaal Charles.

After compiling 1,980 total yards and 19 touchdowns in 2013, the Kansas City Chiefs star running back merited top-three, often No. 1 consideration. That high in the selection process, anyone taken is expected to produce plenty of points on a weekly basis.

Yet Charles started the season with 34 total yards in a humbling loss to the Tennessee Titans. Per CBS' Dave Richard, his 11 touches was the lowest total since Andy Reid became Kansas City's head coach:

He had an off day. Everybody is entitled to one. ESPN.com's Adam Teicher peered back to prior quiet outings and found that Charles has a tendency to bounce back strong:

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If history is any guide, Charles has a good chance of having a big game this Sunday against the Broncos in Denver. 

In 2012, Charles had just six carries in a September loss to the Buffalo Bills. Next came a 233-yard, one-touchdown game against the New Orleans Saints. But later that season, he followed a five-carry game against Oakland with just 39 yards against San Diego. 

However, in December of that same year, Charles rushed for 226 yards and a touchdown against Indianapolis a week after carrying nine times against the Raiders. 

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Denver's run defense, which didn't need to break much of a sweat facing Trent Richardson last week, will provide Charles with stout competition. Obviously Charles' owners will stick with him through thick and thin, but a monster game would make many fantasy gamers sleep easier on Sunday night.

If not, then managers start panicking over a deteriorated offensive line and a tougher schedule, and at the least wondering if they should have snagged LeSean McCoy instead.

Victor Cruz, WR, New York Giants

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

Unlike with Charles, it's getting harder to give Victor Cruz the benefit the doubt as a top fantasy wide receiver.

The 27-year-old hasn't had the opportunity to salsa dance since Sept. 29, 2013. That's an 11-game touchdown drought for a receiver who scored 19 times in 2011 and 2012 combined.

It'd be one thing if Cruz just wasn't getting goal-line looks, but his production has dipped across the board. In those 11 scoreless games, he has recorded just 49 receptions for 597 yards, which prorates to 71 catches for 868 yards over 16 games.

He hasn't accumulated more than eight grabs in any of those bouts, and he's received single-digit targets in each of the last five contests. New York's offense is a sinking ship, and Cruz is getting dragged down with it.

He expressed his frustration to the New York Daily News' Ebenezer Samuel:

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I think in order for us to be successful, there needs to be an increased number of targets in my direction. And in other playmakers’ directions. Just like Rueben Randle as well, in my opinion. But that all comes with the continuity, that comes with getting the running game going, that comes with building what we want to build as the game continues.

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That will be tough to accomplish this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, especially if star cornerback Patrick Peterson shadows him in the slot. Considering the lack of talent elsewhere, why wouldn't he pay special attention to the Giants' lone receiving threat?

If Cruz doesn't put on his dancing shoes any time soon, fantasy players are going to have to relegate him to the bench.