The Las Vegas Raiders chase a 2-0 start in Week 2 against the Los Angeles Chargers in a late 10 p.m. ET kickoff that fantasy managers have circled. Geno Smith is pegged as the primary engine, while Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty loom as high-upside catalysts who could lift a Raiders offense that needs big-volume contributions in a potential shootout.

The Chargers’ defense is the hurdle, having stifled Patrick Mahomes in Week 1 and hinting at a tougher stop against pass-heavy teams. If the game tilts into a high-scoring affair, Smith’s arm and Bowers’ middle-field mismatches become fantasy-friendly, with Jeanty offering steady volume on the ground and as a goal-line weapon.

Expect the surrounding context to inform decisions—Tre Tucker and Dont’e Thornton Jr. could see looks in the air, while Chiefs standouts like Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice provide a benchmark for how high the Raiders’ ceiling could rise in a favorable game script. Chip Kelly’s ground emphasis and Pete Carroll’s era frame the Raiders’ approach in a scenario where every late-night snap matters for fantasy rosters.

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.