Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sits, and Jake Browning gets the start as Cincinnati becomes a 3.5-point underdog to Minnesota with a 43.5 total. Browning’s calm, trust-filled performance has the coaching staff and players optimistic as Cincinnati rides a seven-game win streak into the matchup, aiming to stack wins while Burrow’s return remains uncertain for 2025.

Zac Taylor praised Browning after a 31-27 win over Jacksonville, underscoring the QB’s poise and the team’s belief in him. Cincinnati’s offense has shown resilience despite a recent 22-6 SNF loss to Atlanta with no Bengals TD, elevating Browning’s fantasy implications and the broader bet-and-draft outlook as the season progresses.

Justin Herbert anchors Week 2 MNF DFS, carrying top-line upside against a Raiders defense that yielded big scoring nights in Week 1. Bucky Irving and Omarion Hampton emerge as the clearest valueRBs, with heavy workloads expected in their offenses. Jakobi Meyers and Emeka Egbuka offer cheap, high-target floors to free salary for bigger stars. Davante Adams and Puka Nacua provide premium upside in the same game script, while Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer anchor the TE spots with Dalton Schultz as a salary-saver pivot. Tyler Allgeier’s Week 1 TD signals backfield upside for the Falcons.

The slate centers on the Chargers–Raiders and Buccaneers–Texans matchups, with a midrange/ value-driven approach that rewards volume and game-script clarity. The emphasis is on stacking Herbert with a reliable receiving duo, extracting value from midtier backs, and balancing top-tear options with solid PPR floors. This is a Week 2 MNF you don’t want to fade, especially if you’re chasing ceiling without breaking the bank.

In short, build around Herbert, leverage Irving and Hampton for budget-friendly floor/ceiling, deploy Meyers and Egbuka as sneaky cross-games plays, and cap your TE with Bowers or Mayer while using Schultz as a flexible pivot. The plan is to maximize points-per-dollar while keeping exposure to the likely scoring games high.

Geno Smith lands in Las Vegas as Plan A, a culture fit that could unlock the Raiders' ceiling this season. The two-year, $75 million deal signals stability, and Week 1's controlled, clutch drive hints at a quarterback who can push the offense in a volatile AFC West. The move also reframes his career arc, highlighting resilience and a leadership edge that could translate to fantasy value.

Smith's journey—from Jets backups to Seahawks starter to Raiders catalyst—frames a grit-driven narrative that fantasy managers should monitor: volume looks, fourth‑quarter magic, and a coaching dynamic that stresses trust and late-game execution. If the offense takes flight, Smith could become a high-ceiling, steady QB2 with weekly streaming upside.

Week 2 of 2025 delivered a wave of fantasy busts across QB, RB, WR and TE, forcing managers to rethink lineups and smartly pivot for Week 3. Michael Penix Jr. and J.J. McCarthy faltered in prime time, while a host of running backs—Henry, Hall, Charbonnet, Pacheco, Hunt and more—never found their footing. WRs like A.J. Brown, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Drake London cooled after strong openings, and tight ends such as Mark Andrews and T.J. Hockenson offered limited fantasy returns. Bounce-back potential remains for several, but risk has clearly risen across the board.

Rosters should shift toward safer floors and clearer use-cases in Week 3, with attention to upcoming matchups against softer defenses and potential in-game script shifts. The busts spotlight several buy-low windows, particularly at WR and TE, where targets and red-zone usage could swing dramatically with a favorable game plan. Fantasy managers should weigh the rest-of-season trajectory against Week 2 volatility and adjust accordingly.

Overall, Week 2 underscored the value of depth and matchup-fueled decisions. Staying ahead requires identifying hidden Week 3 opportunities among RBs with clearer roles, WRs in jam-friendly offenses, and TEs who still command a red-zone presence despite rough Sundays.