Athletic ranks the Las Vegas Raiders among the NFL’s worst quarterback situations, spotlighting O’Connell’s injury and a last-minute backup trade that unsettles Week 1 plans. The piece also flags Seattle’s QB churn—Geno Smith out, Sam Darnold in—and New Orleans’ post-Carr uncertainty as Shough and a late-RM buzz around Spencer Rattler swirl around the Saints. Fantasy takeaways center on volatile jobs, late moves, and the risk of chasing passers in unsettled offenses.

Humor runs through the analysis, but it lands on a real truth: stability at quarterback is precious, and when three teams show QB flux at once, fantasy upside dries up while ceilings shrink. Managers should weigh matchup volatility, coaching context, and late-summer roster moves before banking on any single passer.

Bottom line: the QB carousel in Vegas, Seattle, and New Orleans shapes early-season projections, rostering strategies, and streaming options more than any single incumbent could carry.

Geno Smith and Pete Carroll spearhead optimism for the 2025 Raiders, with a broad roster upgrade aimed at a higher floor in a tough AFC West. Analysts foresee 9–10 wins, hinging on QB stability and better pass-catch options as Las Vegas replaces O'Connell/Minshew with Geno and the Carroll-driven coaching mix. ESPN’s Barnwell echoed the improved outlook, underscoring a reachable floor even in a playoff-heavy division.

Beyond the quarterback upgrade, Meyers and a marquee receiving option are cited as catalysts for a more efficient attack. The narrative centers on Geno’s accuracy and stride-rate, with Carroll’s Seahawks/Pats pedigree providing a blueprint for overachievement. The Raiders’ path is challenging but plausible, painting a vivid shot at emerging as a surprising playoff team in 2025.