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.

Geno Smith’s Week 2 MNF struggles overshadow a solid Raiders defense as Las Vegas dropped a high-variance shootout against Los Angeles. Smith forced throws, 3 interceptions, and just 180 passing yards, while the defense limited the Chargers to 20 points after an early turnover. Offense line woes and playmaking gaps surfaced, prompting questions about how the unit will rebound in Week 3. Depth guys Brock Bowers and Ashton Jeanty chipped in modest yet meaningful touches, and chatter about Brady, Carroll, and game-planning added context to the fallout.

Fantasy-wise, the takeaway is twofold: Smith’s ceiling remains volatile if the line can’t protect him, and the defense’s resilience could keep them in low-scoring streamer territory in favorable matchups. Watch for Jayden Daniels’ status and potential offensive adjustments, as well as how the Raiders’ next game script might lean into supporting cast contributions and more disciplined attacking sequences.

Chargers' defense steals the show in a 20-9 win over the Raiders as Herbert labors yet LA improves to 2-0. Through two weeks, the unit sits among the league’s stingiest, having allowed only 30 points and not a single first-half TD. The defense harassed Geno Smith all night, combining three interceptions, three sacks, and relentless pressure that kept Las Vegas from threatening late.

Daiyan Henley anchors with 10 tackles (2 for loss), an interception, two pass defenses and an 11-yard sack; Quentin Johnston breaks through with a 60-yard score after Week 1 success; Tony Jefferson shines after a late call-up with a key end-zone breakup and a pick near the goal line. Jesse Minter’s group clamps down on the run and soldiers through a long, grueling drive to seal it.