Vikings pivot to Carson Wentz as J.J. McCarthy’s ankle sprain occludes the rookie’s early season arc. Wentz arrives with a redemption arc and a plugged-in supporting cast, ready to test O’Connell’s system behind a Flores-led defense. McCarthy’s absence pressures the offense to survive while Minnesota weighs a longer layoff versus a quick return. Jefferson and Hockenson become focal points as the team searches for spark and stability.

If Wentz finds rhythm, Minnesota could stabilize a shaky start, and the door opens to a gradual McCarthy return. The dynamic is a microcosm of the NFL: a veteran floor with upside sparking a talented, but still-learning, squad. The NFC North plot thickens as the Vikings chase answers and consistency in a league that never sleeps on opportunity.

Bottom line: this is Plan B in motion—an opportunity to validate a reclamation narrative, test a veteran’s fit with a talented cast, and decide whether McCarthy’s development stalls or accelerates under pressure.

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.

The Bears opened strong but faltered late, blown by a fourth‑quarter collapse and a costly challenge that burned a timeout. Chicago’s offense stalled after a rapid start, with 12 penalties costing yardage and Caleb Williams misfiring downfield. Ben Johnson took ownership of the play‑calling in his first regular‑season game, calling the loss a teachable moment and vowing adjustments ahead of the Detroit trip. For fantasy managers, the takeaway is patience with Johnson, a push toward balance, and closer attention to clock management as the offense settles in.

Johnson’s postgame clarity and accountability set a tone for growth, while the Bears must minimize penalties and sustain drives. The Week 2 matchup versus his former team, Detroit, is a pressure test to see if Chicago can stabilize a lackluster run game and reclaim late‑game control. In Minnesota, T.J. Hockenson remained a focal point, underscoring his fantasy ceiling even if Chicago’s decision‑making overshadowed the outcome.

Caleb Williams’ Bears debut flashed high-end upside with a quick-start offense and dual-threat flashes, but the night spiraled as the defense tired and Williams’ decision-making wavered. A late replay-challenge timeout miscue by Chicago’s staff left the Bears with a desperate finish, field-goal chance squandered by progression and time. Minnesota seized the moment, aided by a key late sequence from T.J. Hockenson, while Chicago tried to salvage a game that began with fireworks but ended in volatility.

Fantasy takeaway: Williams’ rushing floor provides genuine upside, but his long-term value rests on improving accuracy and clock-management under pressure. Hockenson’s late involvement for Minnesota keeps him a sturdy target in tight-game scripts, while Bears coaching and stamina will determine if Williams can sustain this splashy, roller-coaster blend of boom-or-bust weeks.