Start Derrick Henry in Week 2: our RB7 projects for 15.8 points, 4.8 above a typical starting RB.
- Projection
- 15.8 pts
- RB rank
- #7
- Matchup
- vs NO
Derrick Henry's fantasy role in Week 2
Derrick Henry goes into Week 2 of the 2026 season as a locked-in weekly starter at RB for the BAL. He is rostered in 100% of leagues and actually started in 99% of them, and we rank him RB7 on our own weekly board at 15.8 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 NO. Our Pepper Meter heat rating for this spot is 4 out of 5, which is how we grade the combination of role, projection and opponent difficulty.
Against a typical starting RB baseline of 11 points, his 15.8-point projection is 4.8 points better. That gap is the whole start/sit argument in one number.
How to play it
Start Derrick Henry in Week 2: our RB7 projects for 15.8 points, 4.8 above a typical starting RB.
If you are deciding between him and another RB, compare projections first, then lean on the Pepper Meter heat rating as the tiebreaker.
Sally's take
Peppers & Picks ranks Derrick Henry (BAL RB), our RB7 this week for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs NO, projecting 15.8 projected points with a on fire Pepper Meter rating. At home against NO, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 99% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at RB7 because the projection lands about 44% clear of what a typical RB banks in a week. Sally has him at On Fire on the Pepper Meter, and she'll wear the result either way.
Tina's take
Peppers & Picks ranks Derrick Henry (BAL RB), our RB7 this week for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs NO, projecting 15.8 projected points with a on fire Pepper Meter rating. At home against NO, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 99% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at RB7 because the projection lands about 44% clear of what a typical RB banks in a week. Tina has him at On Fire on the Pepper Meter, and she'll wear the result either way.