Maxx Crosby delivered a vintage edge rush for the Raiders in a hard loss to the Bears, adding his first NFL interception while signaling that the team must win to satisfy its goals. He stressed relentless effort and leadership in the locker room, acknowledging that the unit must do more as a group. Ashton Jeanty showed flashes in limited action, and Tyree Wilson contributed with pressure off the edge. Fantasy managers should watch Crosbys continued disruption and the rising role for Jeanty as Las Vegas searches for late season momentum.

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.

Raiders defense under Patrick Graham is taking shape, rendering a problematic Chargers attack less threatening in the red zone and showing discipline even when the unit isn’t fully assembled. The midseason injection of veterans and a developing Tyree Wilson usage hint at a scalable scheme that could compound fantasy upside.

With Maxx Crosby demanding attention and a rejuvenated linebacker corps—Germaine Pratt, Devin White, Jamal Adams—the Raiders project as a defense that can swing games. Graham must continue pressuring Herbert to create chaos, while the offense stabilizes for Crosby and Co. to flourish on game days.

Las Vegas opens Week 1 with New England as a slim home favorite and astavish spread slate, while the narrative centers on experience versus turnover. The pick includes LV at +2.5 and a lean on the over 43.5, acknowledging offensive teething and a wary Raiders’ defense. The broader scene features the Cowboys-Eagles start and a Friday-night Chiefs-Chargers nod, setting the stage for a wild start to 2025 fantasy seasons.

Big-picture notes: Geno Smith anchors the LV attack in this odd offseason reshuffle, with Drake Maye tasked to pick up a new rhythm. Jakobi Meyers draws attention as a steady target, and the competition’s early heat is on via a crowded Las Vegas offensive ecosystem. The takeaway for fantasy is multi-dimensional—target volume, efficiency, and game flow edges that could swing Week 1 results.