Week 2 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: RB
Peppers & Picks' Week 2 RB start 'em, sit 'em call for the 2026 NFL season: start Jahmyr Gibbs (DET), our RB1 at 22.9 projected points, and sit Mike Washington Jr. (LV) at 3.2 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 RB picks
Sally's pick
Jahmyr Gibbs RB · DET
Sally's Week 2 RB 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
De'Von Achane RB · MIA
Tina's Week 2 RB pick: De'Von Achane. 18.1 projected points at SF, started in 97% of leagues — she'll take the cheaper version of the same production.
Start 'em: RBs 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.
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.
Bijan Robinson RB · ATL · vs CAR
17.8 proj · #3 RB4 of 5 peppers, On FireStart Bijan Robinson in Week 2: our RB3 projects for 17.8 points, 6.8 above a typical starting RB.
Rostered 100% · started 100%
Full outlook for Bijan RobinsonWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Bijan Robinson (ATL RB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs CAR, with 17.8 projected fantasy points and a on fire Pepper Meter rating, our RB3 this week. 100% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at RB3 because the projection lands about 62% clear of what a typical RB banks in a week. At home against CAR, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. That combination is why the Pepper Meter has him at On Fire this week.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Jonathan Taylor RB · IND · at KC
17.4 proj · #4 RB4 of 5 peppers, On FireStart Jonathan Taylor in Week 2: our RB4 projects for 17.4 points, 6.4 above a typical starting RB.
Rostered 100% · started 99%
Full outlook for Jonathan TaylorWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Jonathan Taylor (IND RB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at KC, with 17.4 projected fantasy points and a on fire Pepper Meter rating, our RB4 this week. Facing KC away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. 99% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 17.4 projected points is roughly 58% more than the RB baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at RB4. Tina has him at On Fire on the Pepper Meter, and she'll wear the result either way.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Christian McCaffrey RB · SF · vs MIA
17.3 proj · #5 RB4 of 5 peppers, On FireStart Christian McCaffrey in Week 2: our RB5 projects for 17.3 points, 6.3 above a typical starting RB.
Rostered 100% · started 100%
Full outlook for Christian McCaffreyWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Christian McCaffrey (SF RB) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs MIA, with 17.3 projected fantasy points and a on fire Pepper Meter rating, our RB5 this week. I have him at RB5 because the projection lands about 57% clear of what a typical RB banks in a week. At home against MIA, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 100% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. Add it up and you get a On Fire reading on the Pepper Meter — Sally isn't hedging on this one.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Sit 'em: RBs to bench in Week 2
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 honestly rank on output, not name recognition. Facing LAC away from home, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. Tina keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Tina'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.
Sally'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. Tina keeps him at Mild until the usage says otherwise.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Kaelon Black RB · SF · vs MIA
5.9 proj · #48 RB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Kaelon Black in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 5.9 projected points lands 5.1 under the RB starter line.
Rostered 50% · started 3%
See his full outlook for Kaelon BlackWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Kaelon Black (SF RB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs MIA, with only 5.9 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our RB48 this week. 3% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. 5.9 points is roughly 46% short of the RB baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. Facing MIA in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. The Pepper Meter cools him to Mild, and that reading is doing its job.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Jonathon Brooks RB · CAR · at ATL
6.3 proj · #46 RB1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Jonathon Brooks in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 6.3 projected points lands 4.7 under the RB starter line, and he carries a QUESTIONABLE designation.
Rostered 80% · started 5% · QUESTIONABLE
See his full outlook for Jonathon BrooksWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Jonathon Brooks (CAR RB) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at ATL, with only 6.3 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our RB46 this week. 5% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. The projection sits about 43% under what a startable RB returns, so I honestly can't pretend the price tag matches the output. The questionable 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.
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.