Stroud opened Monday night with surgical accuracy, firing for a TD on Houston’s first drive and pushing the Texans to a quick 10-0 edge. Adjustments by Tampa Bay cooled his rhythm, and a costly red-zone hold by Tytus Howard left six points on the board. Stroud cooled after halftime, finishing 8-for-17 for 102 yards, with indecisive progression and a handful of high-throws under duress. Houston’s offense sputtered, dropping to 0-2 while needing cleaner reads, sharper ball placement, and faster decision-making to rebound.

Justin Herbert opened 2025 on a historic Chargers tear, delivering back-to-back 70%+ passing games with multiple touchdowns and zero turnovers, including a Week 1 upset of Kansas City and a Monday night win over the Raiders. Los Angeles sits 2-0 as they prepare for a home opener with Denver, riding Herbert’s peak efficiency and a rising supporting cast. Injuries around the roster and a still-developing run game temper the glow, but the offense looks primed for a serious AFC West charge and potential deep playoff run.

The 2025 surge reframes expectations for the Bolts. Herbert’s accuracy, decision-making and the emergence of Quentin Johnston give LA a dynamic air on offense even as the team navigates Slater and Mack on the mend and a run game that hasn’t yet hit 100 rushing yards in a game. With the schedule favorable and the Chiefs still the benchmark, fantasy managers must weigh Herbert as a top-shelf asset as the Chargers chase a title and possibly a Super Bowl LX bid.