Raiders’ defense flashed the form it showed earlier this season, chasing plays on the perimeter and sealing the edge. Jonah Laulu and Kyu Blu Kelly supplied pursuit and containment that disrupted outside runs and short throws. A relentless pass rush let the secondary swarm, and Ashton Jeanty added a physical punch in the running game.

Pete Carroll framed the win as a statement of identity—effort, tempo, and a defense that can dictate games. While Las Vegas continues to chase its new identity, this performance gave fantasy managers a reason to watch the Raiders’ defense and Jeanty’s workload, with Chinn contributing on perimeter plays and the unit building toward a stretch of favorable matchups.

Washington carved through Las Vegas’ run defense in Week 3, exposing misreads, unbalanced lines, and missed tackles. The Raiders yielded 201 rushing yards at 7.6 per carry, their worst run- defense grade of the early season. Pre-snap confusion, edge-containment issues, and post-snap gaps opened multiple big plays, underscoring a need for tighter alignment and tackling to stabilize fantasy-heavy run games.

Key plays highlighted the breakdowns: interior pressure pushing edges wide, linebackers over-pursuing, and corners failing to shed blockers. Tackling woes—11 misses, 10 on the ground—gave Washington extra chances. For fantasy managers, the takeaway is to reassess Raiders defenders and monitor how Washington’s offense and Marcus Mariota/Deebo Samuel usage evolves going forward.

Two weeks into the season, the Raiders’ defensive line is stealing headlines. Jonah Laulu has surged to the forefront with 3 sacks, sitting just behind the league leaders, while Thomas Booker IV has flashed elite interior pressure after a camp trade for Jakorian Bennett. Las Vegas has also benefited from the Wilkins release and big paydays for Crosby, Butler, and Koonce, fueling a top-5 run defense early.

Early returns point to a transformative interior rush for Las Vegas, with Laulu and Booker forming a dynamic pair that could lift the unit all season. If the trend holds, the Raiders’ schemed pressure and run-stopping ability may redefine the defense in fantasy alike.