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.

Jared Goff flipped Week 1’s frustration into Week 2 fireworks, carving up the Bears for 334 yards and five touchdowns as Detroit rolled. The piece argues Goff is a QB of his own making, not merely a product of Ben Johnson’s play-calling, with Jameson Williams' speed widening the field and Gibbs, Montgomery, St. Brown, and LaPorta sharing the wealth. Caleb Williams offered the opposite spotlight for Chicago, highlighting Detroit’s rebound as an early-season turning point.

J.J. McCarthy's Vikings debut in Minnesota was rough: six sacks, three fumbles, two interceptions and no touchdowns across eight quarters in a 22-6 loss to Atlanta. A short week, injuries and a non-existent run game left the rookie under constant pressure while Adam Thielen offered public backing. Rumors about Kirk Cousins or Carson Wentz surfaced as Minnesota pledges to surround McCarthy with better protection and more capable weapons, keeping faith in his ceiling despite the setback.

A locker-room crate reading "Vikings Stiff" framed the night’s mood, and the tale underscored the franchise’s need for immediate improvement to support development. The plan hinges on better blocking, smarter decision-making, and surrounding McCarthy with stabilizing vets—while long-term questions about Cousins or Wentz linger in a bruising NFC North landscape.

The Vikings fell 22-6 to Atlanta in Week 2 SNF as JJ McCarthy posted 11-of-21 for 158 yards with no TDs and two interceptions, including a late pick that iced the game. Minnesota moves to 1-1 while Atlanta steadies at 1-1. McCarthy stressed learning and a bright locker-room future, promising to attack every day with the 1-0 mentality as the offense searches for rhythm.

Week 3 brings a home date with Cincinnati, a matchup that could hinge on Burrow’s health. If Burrow sits, Minnesota could lean on a cleaner game plan and growth from its young QB; if he plays, the Vikings will need sharper decision-making and play-calling to rebound and capitalize on opportunities that eluded them this Sunday night.