Dallas outlasted New York 40-37 in overtime as Brandon Aubrey drilled a 64-yard FG to force OT and followed with a 46-yard winner. Dru Phillips anchored the Giants' defense with multiple first-down-saving tackles and a pivotal late stand, even as New York piled up 500+ yards for the first time in nearly six seasons. The loss leaves NYG 0-2 in the NFC East this year and 5-20-1 in the division since 2021, while Dallas rides a high-powered offense and reliable kicking. The Giants’ next test is a primetime date with the winless Chiefs in East Rutherford, a true gauge of their week-to-week ceiling. For fantasy, Aubrey’s leg and Phillips’ defensive juice stand out, while NYG’s aerial production hints at a workable floor if the defense tightens in future must-wins.

Jake Browning takes Cincinnati’s quarterback duties, flashing a stable fantasy floor around 20 points per game in his last starter stint, signaling weekly streaming viability in favorable matchups.

Denver’s WR pecking order shifts as Troy Franklin edges Marvin Mims Jr. for outside work, with Courtland Sutton anchoring the unit. Woody Marks is breaking out in Houston’s backfield, potentially becoming a top waiver RB and even a starter soon. PFF+ tools and in-season projections round out the plan for smart, early-week roster decisions.

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 in the AFC West features a tight Denver at Los Angeles showdown with a 2.5-point road line and a 45.5 total, highlighting a split in momentum between the teams. Denver arrives off a sloppy offensive showing and shaky defense, while Los Angeles comes off a convincing win at Las Vegas and appears to be peaking early in 2025. Division familiarity suggests another close, grind-it-out bout where Denver must bring their A-game to stay in range.

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.