Week 2 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: FLEX
Peppers & Picks' Week 2 FLEX start 'em, sit 'em call for the 2026 NFL season: start Jahmyr Gibbs (DET), our RB1 at 22.9 projected points, and sit Travis Hunter (JAX) at 3 projected points. Every call below comes from our own weekly projection, position rank, roster and start rates, opponent and injury designation, with Sally's and Tina's reasoning attached.
Data on this page is as of September 21, 2026 at 12:13 AM ET and refreshes automatically every 30 minutes.
Sally's and Tina's Week 2 FLEX picks
Sally's pick
Jahmyr Gibbs RB · DET
Sally's Week 2 FLEX pick: Jahmyr Gibbs. He's our RB1 at 22.9 projected points at BUF, and the Pepper Meter has him at 5 of 5.
Tina's pick
Puka Nacua WR · LAR
Tina's Week 2 FLEX pick: Puka Nacua. 18.5 projected points vs NYG, started in 69% of leagues — she'll take the cheaper version of the same production.
Start 'em: FLEXs to start in Week 2
Jahmyr Gibbs RB · DET · at BUF
22.9 proj · #1 RB5 of 5 peppers, NuclearStart Jahmyr Gibbs in Week 2: our RB1 projects for 22.9 points, 11.9 above a typical starting RB.
Rostered 100% · started 100%
Full outlook for Jahmyr GibbsWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Jahmyr Gibbs (DET RB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at BUF, with 22.9 projected fantasy points and a nuclear Pepper Meter rating, our RB1 this week. 100% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 22.9 projected points is roughly 108% more than the RB baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at RB1. Facing BUF away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. That combination is why the Pepper Meter has him at Nuclear this week.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Puka Nacua WR · LAR · vs NYG
18.5 proj · #1 WR5 of 5 peppers, NuclearStart Puka Nacua in Week 2: our WR1 projects for 18.5 points, 8.5 above a typical starting WR.
Rostered 100% · started 69% · QUESTIONABLE
Full outlook for Puka NacuaWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Puka Nacua (LAR WR) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs NYG, with 18.5 projected fantasy points and a nuclear Pepper Meter rating, our WR1 this week. At home against NYG, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 69% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Fair warning: he carries a questionable tag as of the timestamp below, so re-check before kickoff. Tina has him at Nuclear on the Pepper Meter, and she'll wear the result either way.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Amon-Ra St. Brown WR · DET · at BUF
18.1 proj · #2 WR5 of 5 peppers, NuclearStart Amon-Ra St. Brown in Week 2: our WR2 projects for 18.1 points, 8.1 above a typical starting WR.
Rostered 100% · started 100%
Full outlook for Amon-Ra St. BrownWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET WR) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at BUF, with 18.1 projected fantasy points and a nuclear Pepper Meter rating, our WR2 this week. BUF is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 100% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. The math is unsexy and convincing: 18.1 points, 81% above what the position pays out on average. Sally has him at Nuclear on the Pepper Meter, and she'll wear the result either way.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
De'Von Achane RB · MIA · at SF
18.1 proj · #2 RB4 of 5 peppers, On FireStart De'Von Achane in Week 2: our RB2 projects for 18.1 points, 7.1 above a typical starting RB.
Rostered 100% · started 97%
Full outlook for De'Von AchaneWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists De'Von Achane (MIA RB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at SF, with 18.1 projected fantasy points and a on fire Pepper Meter rating, our RB2 this week. 97% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 18.1 projected points is roughly 65% more than the RB baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at RB2. Facing SF away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. That combination is why the Pepper Meter has him at On Fire this week.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba WR · SEA · at ARI
17.8 proj · #3 WR5 of 5 peppers, NuclearStart Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 2: our WR3 projects for 17.8 points, 7.8 above a typical starting WR.
Rostered 100% · started 100%
Full outlook for Jaxon Smith-NjigbaWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA WR) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at ARI, with 17.8 projected fantasy points and a nuclear Pepper Meter rating, our WR3 this week. The at ARI draw matters here — road snaps against ARI shape how often he's asked to do something. 100% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Smith-Njigba clears the WR bar by about 78%, which is why he sits this high on my board. Sally has him at Nuclear on the Pepper Meter, and she'll wear the result either way.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Sit 'em: FLEXs to bench in Week 2
Travis Hunter WR · JAX · at DEN
3 proj · #100 WR1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Travis Hunter in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 3 projected points lands 7 under the WR starter line.
Rostered 53% · started 3%
See his full outlook for Travis HunterWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Travis Hunter (JAX WR) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at DEN, with only 3.0 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our WR100 this week. 3% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Nothing in the projection defends him — 70% below positional par is a bench line for me. The at DEN draw matters here — road snaps against DEN shape how often he's asked to do something. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Mike Washington Jr. RB · LV · at LAC
3.2 proj · #62 RB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Mike Washington Jr. in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 3.2 projected points lands 7.8 under the RB starter line.
Rostered 29% · started 0%
See his full outlook for Mike Washington Jr.Why?
Peppers & Picks lists Mike Washington Jr. (LV RB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at LAC, with only 3.2 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our RB62 this week. 3.2 points is roughly 71% short of the RB baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. Facing LAC away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. RB · JAX · at DEN
3.8 proj · #58 RB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Chris Rodriguez Jr. in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 3.8 projected points lands 7.2 under the RB starter line.
Rostered 25% · started 0%
See his full outlook for Chris Rodriguez Jr.Why?
Peppers & Picks lists Chris Rodriguez Jr. (JAX RB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at DEN, with only 3.8 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our RB58 this week. Nothing in the projection defends him — 65% below positional par is a bench line for me. The at DEN draw matters here — road snaps against DEN shape how often he's asked to do something. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
MarShawn Lloyd RB · GB · at NYJ
4.7 proj · #53 RB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit MarShawn Lloyd in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 4.7 projected points lands 6.3 under the RB starter line.
Rostered 77% · started 15%
See his full outlook for MarShawn LloydWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists MarShawn Lloyd (GB RB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at NYJ, with only 4.7 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our RB53 this week. NYJ is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 15% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. He grades 57% below the average weekly RB number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Makai Lemon WR · PHI · at TEN
4.8 proj · #88 WR1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Makai Lemon in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 4.8 projected points lands 5.2 under the WR starter line.
Rostered 65% · started 3%
See his full outlook for Makai LemonWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Makai Lemon (PHI WR) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at TEN, with only 4.8 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our WR88 this week. 3% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. The projection sits about 52% under what a startable WR returns, so I honestly can't pretend the price tag matches the output. On the road against TEN, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
This article is rebuilt automatically every week from our own Week 2 projections, position ranks, roster and start rates, opponent data, injury designations and Pepper Meter heat ratings. Commentary is written in-house by Sally and Tina.