Sit Cowboys D/ST in Week 2 if you have a real alternative — 4.1 projected points lands 2.4 under the DST starter line.
- Projection
- 4.1 pts
- DST rank
- #19
- Matchup
- vs WSH
Cowboys D/ST's fantasy role in Week 2
Cowboys D/ST goes into Week 2 of the 2026 season as a deep-league DST flyer for the DAL. He is rostered in 9% of leagues and actually started in 5% of them, and we rank him DST19 on our own weekly board at 4.1 projected points.
Roster rates are steady week over week, so his role looks settled rather than in flux.
No injury designation to work around right now, which keeps his projection honest.
Week 2 matchup breakdown
The matchup: vs WSH. Our Pepper Meter heat rating for this spot is 1 out of 5, which is how we grade the combination of role, projection and opponent difficulty.
Against a typical starting DST baseline of 6.5 points, his 4.1-point projection is 2.4 points short. That gap is the whole start/sit argument in one number.
How to play it
Sit Cowboys D/ST in Week 2 if you have a real alternative — 4.1 projected points lands 2.4 under the DST starter line.
If you are deciding between him and another DST, compare projections first, then lean on the Pepper Meter heat rating as the tiebreaker.
Sally's take
Peppers & Picks ranks Cowboys D/ST (DAL DST), our DST19 this week for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs WSH, projecting 4.1 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. 4.1 points is roughly 37% short of the DST baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. Facing WSH in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. 5% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.
Tina's take
Peppers & Picks ranks Cowboys D/ST (DAL DST), our DST19 this week for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs WSH, projecting 4.1 projected points with a mild Pepper Meter rating. 4.1 points is roughly 37% short of the DST baseline, and I honestly rank on output, not name recognition. Facing WSH in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. 5% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.