Week 2 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: TE
Peppers & Picks' Week 2 TE start 'em, sit 'em call for the 2026 NFL season: start Trey McBride (ARI), our TE1 at 14.5 projected points, and sit Michael Mayer (LV) at 5.2 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 TE picks
Sally's pick
Trey McBride TE · ARI
Sally's Week 2 TE pick: Trey McBride. He's our TE1 at 14.5 projected points vs SEA, and the Pepper Meter has him at 5 of 5.
Tina's pick
Brock Bowers TE · LV
Tina's Week 2 TE pick: Brock Bowers. 11.8 projected points at LAC, started in 17% of leagues — she'll take the cheaper version of the same production.
Start 'em: TEs to start in Week 2
Trey McBride TE · ARI · vs SEA
14.5 proj · #1 TE5 of 5 peppers, NuclearStart Trey McBride in Week 2: our TE1 projects for 14.5 points, 7.5 above a typical starting TE.
Rostered 100% · started 99%
Full outlook for Trey McBrideWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Trey McBride (ARI TE) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs SEA, with 14.5 projected fantasy points and a nuclear Pepper Meter rating, our TE1 this week. SEA is the opponent, and that's the part of this I'm least worried about. 99% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. The math is unsexy and convincing: 14.5 points, 107% 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.
Brock Bowers TE · LV · at LAC
11.8 proj · #2 TE4 of 5 peppers, On FireStart Brock Bowers in Week 2: our TE2 projects for 11.8 points, 4.8 above a typical starting TE.
Rostered 100% · started 17% · OUT
Full outlook for Brock BowersWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Brock Bowers (LV TE) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at LAC, with 11.8 projected fantasy points and a on fire Pepper Meter rating, our TE2 this week. 17% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at TE2 because the projection lands about 69% clear of what a typical TE banks in a week. The out designation on the timestamp below is the one variable that could blow this up — confirm it Sunday morning. 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.
George Kittle TE · SF · vs MIA
10.6 proj · #3 TE4 of 5 peppers, On FireStart George Kittle in Week 2: our TE3 projects for 10.6 points, 3.6 above a typical starting TE.
Rostered 94% · started 53%
Full outlook for George KittleWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists George Kittle (SF TE) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs MIA, with 10.6 projected fantasy points and a on fire Pepper Meter rating, our TE3 this week. At home against MIA, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 53% of managers already start him, and the depth-chart role behind that number looks stable. I have him at TE3 because the projection lands about 51% clear of what a typical TE banks in a week. Sally has him at On Fire on the Pepper Meter, and she'll wear the result either way.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Tyler Warren TE · IND · at KC
10.2 proj · #4 TE4 of 5 peppers, On FireStart Tyler Warren in Week 2: our TE4 projects for 10.2 points, 3.2 above a typical starting TE.
Rostered 99% · started 90%
Full outlook for Tyler WarrenWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Tyler Warren (IND TE) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at KC, with 10.2 projected fantasy points and a on fire Pepper Meter rating, our TE4 this week. Warren clears the TE bar by about 46%, which is why he sits this high on my board. The at KC draw matters here — road snaps against KC shape how often he's asked to do something. 90% 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 — Tina isn't hedging on this one.
Tina's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Sam LaPorta TE · DET · at BUF
10.2 proj · #5 TE4 of 5 peppers, On FireStart Sam LaPorta in Week 2: our TE5 projects for 10.2 points, 3.2 above a typical starting TE.
Rostered 96% · started 79%
Full outlook for Sam LaPortaWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Sam LaPorta (DET TE) as a start in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at BUF, with 10.2 projected fantasy points and a on fire Pepper Meter rating, our TE5 this week. I have him at TE5 because the projection lands about 46% clear of what a typical TE banks in a week. On the road against BUF, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 79% 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: TEs to bench in Week 2
Michael Mayer TE · LV · at LAC
5.2 proj · #32 TE1 of 5 peppers, MildSit Michael Mayer in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 5.2 projected points lands 1.8 under the TE starter line.
Rostered 28% · started 19%
See his full outlook for Michael MayerWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Michael Mayer (LV TE) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at LAC, with only 5.2 projected fantasy points and a mild Pepper Meter rating, our TE32 this week. Roster share is moving +3.1% week over week, so the rest of the country is catching up. Only 28% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. The projection sits about 26% under what a startable TE returns, so I honestly can't pretend the price tag matches the output. On the road against LAC, 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.
Kenyon Sadiq TE · NYJ · vs GB
6.6 proj · #24 TE2 of 5 peppers, SpicySit Kenyon Sadiq in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 6.6 projected points lands 0.4 under the TE starter line.
Rostered 38% · started 5%
See his full outlook for Kenyon SadiqWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Kenyon Sadiq (NYJ TE) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs GB, with only 6.6 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our TE24 this week. Only 38% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. 6.6 points is roughly 6% short of the TE baseline, and I rank on output, not name recognition. Facing GB in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. The Pepper Meter cools him to Spicy, and that reading is doing its job.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
Jake Ferguson TE · DAL · vs WSH
7.5 proj · #19 TE2 of 5 peppers, SpicySit Jake Ferguson in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 7.5 projected points lands 0.5 above the TE starter line.
Rostered 81% · started 32%
See his full outlook for Jake FergusonWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Jake Ferguson (DAL TE) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season vs WSH, with only 7.5 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our TE19 this week. 7.5 projected points is roughly 7% more than the TE baseline, and that gap is the entire argument for the spot at TE19. Facing WSH in front of his own crowd, the script reads neutral to friendly, not scary. 32% 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.
Juwan Johnson TE · NO · at BAL
7.8 proj · #18 TE2 of 5 peppers, SpicySit Juwan Johnson in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 7.8 projected points lands 0.8 above the TE starter line.
Rostered 53% · started 15%
See his full outlook for Juwan JohnsonWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists Juwan Johnson (NO TE) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at BAL, with only 7.8 projected fantasy points and a spicy Pepper Meter rating, our TE18 this week. The at BAL draw matters here — road snaps against BAL shape how often he's asked to do something. Only 53% of leagues roster him, so this is cheap production before the price goes up. Johnson clears the TE bar by about 11%, which is why he sits this high on my board. Spicy heat, high rank: reliable points without the fireworks.
Sally's original analysis from our own projection, usage and status data.
T.J. Hockenson TE · MIN · at CHI
8.3 proj · #16 TE3 of 5 peppers, HotSit T.J. Hockenson in Week 2 if you have an alternative — 8.3 projected points lands 1.3 above the TE starter line.
Rostered 65% · started 20%
See his full outlook for T.J. HockensonWhy?
Peppers & Picks lists T.J. Hockenson (MIN TE) as a sit in Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season at CHI, with only 8.3 projected fantasy points and a hot Pepper Meter rating, our TE16 this week. I have him at TE16 because the projection lands about 19% clear of what a typical TE banks in a week. On the road against CHI, I expect the game to stay competitive enough that his usage holds. 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.
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.