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Fantasy surprise: QB Derek Carr

Sure, quarterbacks are valuable players in fantasy, but with a patchwork offensive line that needed even more duct tape in Pittsburgh, who could have seen Carr's production coming? All he has done is pass for a franchise-record 817 yards through the first two games of a season to go with four TDs. And he is just the fourth player in NFL history with at least 380 yards passing and multiple TD passes in each of his team's first two games of a season, along with Drew Bledsoe (1994), Tom Brady (2011) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (2018). -- Paul Gutierrez

Impressive wins over the Ravens and Steelers to start the season is quite a statement of intent by Jon Gruden's Raiders. The offense -- led by Derek Carr and featuring big contributions from Darren Waller, Henry Ruggs III and Hunter Renfrow -- has played up to its potential, but it's the defense that's been the true revelation thus far. It starts up front, where Maxx Crosby and Yannick Ngakoue are blowing up game plans. Through two weeks, Crosby leads the NFL with 15 pressures, per Next Gen Stats, while Ngakoue has 11. We'll see if this is sustainable, but Gus Bradley might have the scheme and personnel to change how we look at this team.

At 2-0, they are one of the surprise teams of the NFL. Derek Carr for MVP? He's off to a fast start.

Admittedly, seems insanely high to rank them, even this early. But starting 2-0 against Baltimore and Pittsburgh, 2020 playoff teams, is more impressive than last year's 2-0 start against Carolina and New Orleans, one that fizzled with an 8-8 finish. Also, Derek Carr seems to be knocking on door of elite QB club ... even on a bum ankle.

Derek Carr has an edge to him through two weeks, and boy, has it been fun to watch. He leads the league with 817 passing yards, and while sometimes that stat doesn't translate into wins, the Raiders are 2-0. He had the 61-yard, highlight-reel touchdown throw to Henry Ruggs at Heinz Field last week. After another offseason of trade rumors, maybe Carr is settling into Jon Gruden's offense and this will finally work. We've still got a long way to go.