Kostos: Winning preseason picks for Week 2

While some dismiss the NFL preseason as unnecessary (I vehemently disagree) and merely a money-grab for greedy owners (OK, they might be on to something with that claim), the fact remains that superb value can be had with game picks in the league's exhibition period.

That is evidenced, of course, by my 3-0-1 run picking last weekend's slate of contests. As per usual, I relied on the preseason quarterback axiom: The team with the better backup passer is more likely to win -- and cover -- than the team that trots out an atrocious signal-caller behind the established starter.

As we barrel ahead into Week 2, I'm back with another four-pack of picks. And just like last week, I merely ask that you let go of logic and reason applied to regular season selections and instead think of games in these terms: Which team's backups do I like more?

St. Louis Rams at Tennessee Titans (-1.5)

Like many other of my preseason picks, my predicted winner would get slaughtered if this were the regular season. The Rams would annihilate the Titans. Poor Marcus Mariota would be running for his life like Indiana Jones away from a boulder.

But it's not. It's the preseason. And in this topsy-turvy exhibition world, the Titans are the better pick.

Zach Mettenberger is one of the league's best backup passers, and it should surprise no one if he's starting for another team in 2016. And Charlie Whitehurst, while an awful starter, is more than capable as a backup.

Thanks to the Titans eschewing him in favor of Mariota, Mettenberger has a massive chip on his shoulder, and that will translate to success against the Rams' second-team defense. And watch for Tennessee rookie running back David Cobb, who looks ready to usurp the underwhelming Bishop Sankey as the team's starter.

The combination of Mettenberger and Whitehurst will lead the Titans to victory.

The Pick: Titans (-1.5)

Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers (-2.5)

With all apologies to the Masters, I simply must say: Going against the Steelers in the preseason is a tradition unlike any other!

Pittsburgh has already failed to cover in each of its first two preseason games this year, and is now 1-11 against the spread in its last 12 exhibition contests. It's as if Mike Tomlin is begging you to pick the other side.

Thanks, Mike Tomlin! I appreciate it! And I will do just that!

The teams will be relatively even matched when starting quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger are in the game, but once they depart, the advantage shifts squarely to the Packers. Landry Jones has been abysmal for the Steelers (50 percent completion on 78 attempts this preseason), while Scott Tolzien and Brett Hundley both played well last week in New England.

For the third consecutive week, I see Landry Jones failing to cover the spread -- or win the game. Tolzien and Hundley will help the Packers win this one outright.

The Pick: Packers (+2.5)

Jacksonville Jaguars at New York Giants (-3)

If this game were played in the regular season, the Giants would probably put up 30-plus points, and Eli Manning would shred Jacksonville's toothless defense.

But it's not the regular season -- meaning Manning won't play much -- and will ultimately give way to backup Ryan Nassib. And that's not good for anyone planning to back the Giants.

Nassib is truly awful (8-18 for 78 yards last week in Cincinnati) and looks wholly incapable of running an NFL offense. While it's not unreasonable to expect Manning and Big Blue's first-team offense to play well, they aren't going to play for long, which means more Nassib and third-stringer Ricky Stanzi.

Second-year Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has yet to remind fans of the halcyon days of Mark Brunell, but his backup, Chad Henne, is one of the better second bananas in the NFL. When it comes down to Nassib vs. Henne in August, you take Henne every time and don't think twice about it.

I look forward to watching Nassib throw wounded ducks all over MetLife Stadium, leading to a Jacksonville victory.

The Pick: Jaguars (+3)

Detroit Lions at Washington Redskins (-2.5)

Man, the Detroit Lions looked good in their preseason opener -- and as a bonus, they were one of my Week 1 winners. Props to you, Motown!

Rookie running back Ameer Abdullah sparkled. Matthew Stafford and Golden Tate connected on a gorgeous touchdown pass. The defense was stout.

But of course, that came against a Jets team that played rookie Bryce Petty at quarterback for most of the game. They won't be the recipient of such luck when the take on the Redskins in our nation's capital.

Washington has three legitimate passers on its depth chart: Robert Griffin III, Kirk Cousins and Colt McCoy. And while RG3 isn't close to the league's best quarterback (as he erroneously stated this week in delusional fashion), he acquitted himself well in the team's first preseason game. And both Cousins and McCoy can move the ball in efficient fashion against backups.

Detroit's trio of backup passers -- Dan Orlovsky, Kellen Moore and Garrett Gilbert -- aren't awful, but can't match up to Washington's reserves.

That makes the Redskins the pick.

The Pick: Redskins (-2.5)

A confident, sometimes brash New Yorker, Nick Kostos is a host and executive producer at SiriusXM and formerly covered the NFL for Bleacher Report. He enjoys nothing more than a cold beer and going against the public. He specializes in the NFL, college football and basketball.