T.J. Hockenson is a fair Week 2 play — our TE16 at 8.3 projected points, right around the TE starter line.
- Projection
- 8.3 pts
- TE rank
- #16
- Matchup
- at CHI
T.J. Hockenson's fantasy role in Week 2
T.J. Hockenson goes into Week 2 of the 2026 season as a bench stash most leagues are holding for the MIN. He is rostered in 65% of leagues and actually started in 20% of them, and we rank him TE16 on our own weekly board at 8.3 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: at CHI. Our Pepper Meter heat rating for this spot is 3 out of 5, which is how we grade the combination of role, projection and opponent difficulty.
Against a typical starting TE baseline of 7 points, his 8.3-point projection is 1.3 points better. That gap is the whole start/sit argument in one number.
How to play it
T.J. Hockenson is a fair Week 2 play — our TE16 at 8.3 projected points, right around the TE starter line.
If you are deciding between him and another TE, compare projections first, then lean on the Pepper Meter heat rating as the tiebreaker.
Sally's take
Peppers & Picks ranks T.J. Hockenson (MIN TE), our TE16 this week for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at CHI, projecting 8.3 projected points with a hot Pepper Meter rating. The math is unsexy and convincing: 8.3 points, 19% above what the position pays out on average. CHI is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 20% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Hot here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.
Tina's take
Peppers & Picks ranks T.J. Hockenson (MIN TE), our TE16 this week for Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at CHI, projecting 8.3 projected points with a hot Pepper Meter rating. The math is unsexy and convincing: 8.3 points, 19% above what the position pays out on average. CHI is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 20% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Tina keeps the Pepper Meter at Hot here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.