Squirrel’s Nuts & Bolts: Chargers - Raiders Showdown Strategy (Week 2 NFL DFS)

Sep 15, 2025

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Week 2 of the NFL season wraps up with an AFC West showdown as the Chargers visit the Raiders in Las Vegas. The Chargers enter as 3.5-point road favorites with the total set at 46.5 points. Both teams opened the year with wins, and with Kansas City surprisingly 0-2, the winner here will take sole possession of first place – two games clear of a Chiefs team that has won the division for nine straight years.

The Chargers are led by star quarterback Justin Herbert, who opened the season with 318 passing yards and three touchdowns in the team’s win over the Chiefs. His receiving trio of Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston, and the returning Keenan Allen each caught at least five passes for 68-plus yards, combining for three scores (two by Johnston, one by Allen). First-round rookie running back Omarion Hampton handled 15 carries for 48 yards in his debut. The Raiders counter with their own first-round running back, Ashton Jeanty – drafted 10 picks ahead of Hampton – alongside quarterback Geno Smith, who threw for 362 yards and a touchdown in his Las Vegas debut against the Patriots. Tight end Brock Bowers and wideout Jakobi Meyers round out the core of the Raiders’ attack.

Los Angeles boasted one of the league’s stingiest defenses last season, allowing the fewest points per game on the way to an 11-6 record. The Raiders, meanwhile, stumbled to a 4-13 finish with Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell under center. That the Chargers are just 3.5-point favorites speaks to the impact of home-field advantage and the offseason additions of quarterback Geno Smith and rookie running back Ashton Jeanty. For DFS single-game contests, we’ll keep the relatively close spread in mind as we build our lineups. Let’s break down this AFC West showdown, highlight the key plays, and uncover the strategies that could help you climb the leaderboards.