Week 2 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: QB
Peppers & Picks' Week 2 QB start 'em, sit 'em call for the 2026 NFL season: start Josh Allen (BUF), our QB1 at 20.1 projected points, and sit Jayden Daniels (WSH) at 12.2 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 QB picks
Sally's pick
Josh Allen QB · BUF
Sally's Week 2 QB pick: Josh Allen. He's our QB1 at 20.1 projected points vs DET, and the Pepper Meter has him at 3 of 5.
Tina's pick
Lamar Jackson QB · BAL
Tina's Week 2 QB pick: Lamar Jackson. 18.3 projected points vs NO, started in 96% of leagues — she'll take the cheaper version of the same production.
Start 'em: QBs to start in Week 2
Josh Allen QB · BUF · vs DET
20.1 proj · #1 QB3 of 5 peppers, HotStart Josh Allen in Week 2: our QB1 projects for 20.1 points, 3.1 above a typical starting QB.
Rostered 100% · started 99%
Full outlook for Josh AllenWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Josh Allen (BUF QB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs DET, with 20.1 projected fantasy points and a hot Pepper Meter rating, our QB1 this week. 20.1 projected points is roughly 18% more than the QB baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at QB1. Facing DET in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. 99% 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.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Lamar Jackson QB · BAL · vs NO
18.3 proj · #2 QB2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Lamar Jackson in Week 2: our QB2 projects for 18.3 points, 1.3 above a typical starting QB.
Rostered 100% · started 96%
Full outlook for Lamar JacksonWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Lamar Jackson (BAL QB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs NO, with 18.3 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our QB2 this week. NO is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 96% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. The math is unsexy and convincing: 18.3 points, 8% above what the position pays out on average. Spicy heat, high rank: reliable points without the fireworks.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Jaxson Dart QB · NYG · at LAR
17.2 proj · #3 QB2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Jaxson Dart in Week 2: our QB3 projects for 17.2 points, 0.2 above a typical starting QB.
Rostered 94% · started 61%
Full outlook for Jaxson DartWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Jaxson Dart (NYG QB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at LAR, with 17.2 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our QB3 this week. 61% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. The math is unsexy and convincing: 17.2 points, 1% above what the position pays out on average. LAR is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Spicy on the Pepper Meter reflects a steady weekly floor rather than a boom week — that's still a start.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Drake Maye QB · NE · vs PIT
17.1 proj · #4 QB2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Drake Maye in Week 2: our QB4 projects for 17.1 points, 0.1 above a typical starting QB.
Rostered 99% · started 60%
Full outlook for Drake MayeWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Drake Maye (NE QB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs PIT, with 17.1 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our QB4 this week. 17.1 projected points is roughly 1% more than the QB baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at QB4. Facing PIT in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. 60% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Tina keeps the Pepper Meter at Spicy here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Jalen Hurts QB · PHI · at TEN
17.1 proj · #5 QB2 of 5 peppers, SpicyStart Jalen Hurts in Week 2: our QB5 projects for 17.1 points, 0.1 above a typical starting QB.
Rostered 99% · started 88%
Full outlook for Jalen HurtsWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Jalen Hurts (PHI QB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at TEN, with 17.1 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our QB5 this week. I have him at QB5 because the projection lands about 1% clear of what a typical QB banks in a week. On the road against TEN, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 88% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Sally keeps the Pepper Meter at Spicy here because the ceiling is capped, not the role.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Sit 'em: QBs to bench in Week 2
Jayden Daniels QB · WSH · at DAL
12.2 proj · #28 QB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Jayden Daniels in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 12.2 projected points lands 4.8 under the QB starter line, and he carries a DOUBTFUL designation.
Rostered 99% · started 78% · DOUBTFUL
See his full outlook for Jayden DanielsWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Jayden Daniels (WSH QB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at DAL, with only 12.2 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our QB28 this week. He's still in 78% of lineups at 99% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. The projection sits about 28% under what a startable QB returns, so I honestly can't pretend the price tag matches the output. The doubtful designation on the timestamp below is the one variable that could blow this up — confirm it Sunday morning. 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.
Daniel Jones QB · IND · at KC
13.2 proj · #22 QB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Daniel Jones in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 13.2 projected points lands 3.8 under the QB starter line.
Rostered 29% · started 2%
See his full outlook for Daniel JonesWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Daniel Jones (IND QB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at KC, with only 13.2 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our QB22 this week. The at KC draw matters here — road snaps against KC shape how often he's asked to do something. Only 29% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. Nothing in the projection defends him — 22% below positional par is a bench line for me. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
C.J. Stroud QB · HOU · vs CIN
13.6 proj · #21 QB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit C.J. Stroud in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 13.6 projected points lands 3.4 under the QB starter line.
Rostered 29% · started 5%
See his full outlook for C.J. StroudWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists C.J. Stroud (HOU QB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs CIN, with only 13.6 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our QB21 this week. CIN is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Only 29% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. He grades 20% below the average weekly QB number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. Tina keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Caleb Williams QB · CHI · vs MIN
14.2 proj · #20 QB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Caleb Williams in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 14.2 projected points lands 2.8 under the QB starter line, and he carries a QUESTIONABLE designation.
Rostered 95% · started 72% · QUESTIONABLE
See his full outlook for Caleb WilliamsWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Caleb Williams (CHI QB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs MIN, with only 14.2 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our QB20 this week. Facing MIN in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. He's still in 72% of lineups at 95% rostered, which is exactly the trap I'm trying to talk you out of. Fair warning: he carries a questionable tag as of the timestamp below, so re-check before kickoff. Sally keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Bryce Young QB · CAR · at ATL
14.3 proj · #19 QB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Bryce Young in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 14.3 projected points lands 2.7 under the QB starter line.
Rostered 34% · started 9%
See his full outlook for Bryce YoungWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Bryce Young (CAR QB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at ATL, with only 14.3 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our QB19 this week. He grades 16% below the average weekly QB number, which is a floor problem more than a ceiling one. ATL is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. Only 34% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. Mild on the Pepper Meter is generous, honestly.
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.