Geno Smith struggled in Week 2, finishing with an 0-11 mark on passes of 10+ yards and three interceptions as the Raiders fell to the Chargers 20-9. The offense, led by a slow-starting Chip Kelly game plan, stalled in the red zone (1-7) and left fantasy managers questioning Smith’s ceiling after a hot opener in New England. Ashton Jeanty showed flashes but couldn’t spark a consistent ground attack.

The home crowd, Brady in the box and Carroll’s birthday spectacle added narrative spice, while Khalil Mack and Maxx Crosby anchored the defense and Daniel Carlson delivered a 54-yard FG. Herbert and the Chargers closed strong, leaving Las Vegas with more questions than answers about offense and play-calling. Next up, a Bears visit that will test the Raiders’ consistency at Allegiant.

Key fantasy takeaways: bench/limit Geno until he resets, monitor Crosby’s disruptive upside, and keep an eye on the red-zone usage of Bowers and the offense as a whole. Herbert remains a strong fantasy start, with the Chargers’ defense capable of supporting streaming options in tougher matchups.

Week 3’s fantasy defense slate centers on streaming value and clear starts, led by Green Bay, Seattle, Buffalo, and Indianapolis in Tier 1 with favorable matchups and strong pressure outputs. Expect continued sack-heavy games from these units, plus solid floor from the Falcons, Buccaneers, and Chiefs. Tier 2 adds Vikings, Texans, and Cardinals in matchups that carry swing potential if pass rush and turnover luck align. Tier 3 brings Commanders, Steelers, and Eagles in sturdy, mix-and-match starts. Tier 4-6 caution managers to seek safer streams or deeper-league plays and exploit waiver opportunities.

Key Week 3 takeaways: target defenses with high sack rates and favorable implied game scripts, especially when facing rookie QBs or O-lines with documented struggles. Watch injury reports and quarterback status closely, as even small changes can swing a D/ST’s Week 3 upside. This guide emphasizes tiered rankings, waiver adds, and start/sit decisions to help fantasy managers optimize lineups and shave points off potential losses.

Tom Brady’s Raiders influence is expanding. He was seen in the coaching booth during a Monday night defeat, and his offseason roster input has been labeled invaluable by GM John Spytek. Chip Kelly confirms Brady’s film-study sessions two to three times weekly and weekly game plan reviews. The NFL has loosened broadcast-related constraints, allowing remote participation in production meetings while prohibiting practice access. Brady will call Week 3’s Cowboys-Chicago Bears game as part of his Fox duties.

The ownership hurdle was cleared last year, and Brady’s role straddles front-office insight and on-air duties, suggesting a growing advisory footprint that could shape future roster decisions even as day-to-day coaching remains separate. For fantasy purposes, the developing dynamic signals potential shifts in player usage and depth as the Raiders weigh their options around Brady’s experience.