Week 2 of the 2026 NFL season runs Sep 15 – Sep 21. Rankings below are matchup-adjusted PPR projections: every player's own weekly baseline moved by the defense he faces and the offense he plays in. The injury section is a contingency board — what each start is worth per week, and who absorbs the touches if he cannot go.
Week 2 takeaways
- Saquon Barkley is the week's top-ranked running back at 20.6 projected points, drawing @ TEN.
- Justin Jefferson heads the receiver board at 18.6 projected points.
- Biggest matchup swing: Saquon Barkley gains about 2.7 points on a normal week @ TEN.
- Hardest spot on the slate: Ja'Marr Chase loses roughly 1.8 points @ HOU.
- No teams are on bye this week, so the waiver pool stays shallow.
Week 2 player rankings by position
Matchup-adjusted PPR projections. Swing is the difference from that player's own normal week.
Quarterback rankings — Week 2
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jayden Daniels (WAS) | @ DAL | 26.4 | +3.9 |
| 2 | Jalen Hurts (PHI) | @ TEN | 25.3 | +3.3 |
| 3 | Josh Allen (BUF) | vs DET | 24.3 | +1 |
| 4 | Lamar Jackson (BAL) | vs NO | 23.3 | +0.3 |
| 5 | Jordan Love (GB) | @ NYJ | 23 | +3 |
| 6 | Patrick Mahomes (KC) | vs IND | 22.4 | +0.9 |
| 7 | Baker Mayfield (TB) | vs CLE | 20.2 | -0.3 |
| 8 | Joe Burrow (CIN) | @ HOU | 19.3 | -1.9 |
| 9 | Brock Purdy (SF) | vs MIA | 19.1 | +1.3 |
| 10 | Justin Fields (NYJ) | vs GB | 17.8 | -1.1 |
| 11 | Justin Herbert (LAC) | vs LV | 17.8 | +1.1 |
| 12 | Bo Nix (DEN) | vs JAX | 17.4 | -1.2 |
Running back rankings — Week 2
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saquon Barkley (PHI) | @ TEN | 20.6 | +2.7 |
| 2 | Bijan Robinson (ATL) | vs CAR | 18.1 | -0.6 |
| 3 | Jahmyr Gibbs (DET) | @ BUF | 17.4 | +0 |
| 4 | Christian McCaffrey (SF) | vs MIA | 16.3 | +1.1 |
| 5 | De'Von Achane (MIA) | @ SF | 15.1 | -0.9 |
| 6 | Josh Jacobs (GB) | @ NYJ | 15 | +1.9 |
| 7 | Bucky Irving (TB) | vs CLE | 14 | -0.2 |
| 8 | Kyren Williams (LAR) | vs NYG | 14 | +0.8 |
| 9 | Ashton Jeanty (LV) | @ LAC | 13.9 | -1.3 |
| 10 | Derrick Henry (BAL) | vs NO | 12.9 | +0.1 |
| 11 | Jonathan Taylor (IND) | @ KC | 12.8 | -1.7 |
| 12 | James Cook (BUF) | vs DET | 12.7 | +0.5 |
Wide receiver rankings — Week 2
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Justin Jefferson (MIN) | @ CHI | 18.6 | +0.4 |
| 2 | CeeDee Lamb (DAL) | vs WAS | 18.5 | +0.9 |
| 3 | Ja'Marr Chase (CIN) | @ HOU | 17.7 | -1.8 |
| 4 | Puka Nacua (LAR) | vs NYG | 17.7 | +1 |
| 5 | Nico Collins (HOU) | vs CIN | 17 | +1.4 |
| 6 | A.J. Brown (PHI) | @ TEN | 16.8 | +2.2 |
| 7 | Amon-Ra St. Brown (DET) | @ BUF | 16.6 | +0.1 |
| 8 | Malik Nabers (NYG) | @ LAR | 15 | -1.2 |
| 9 | Ladd McConkey (LAC) | vs LV | 14.4 | +0.9 |
| 10 | Drake London (ATL) | vs CAR | 14.3 | -0.5 |
| 11 | Jaxon Smith-Njigba (SEA) | @ ARI | 14.3 | +1.4 |
| 12 | Terry McLaurin (WAS) | @ DAL | 14.1 | +2 |
Tight end rankings — Week 2
| # | Player | Matchup | Proj | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | George Kittle (SF) | vs MIA | 12.9 | +0.8 |
| 2 | Brock Bowers (LV) | @ LAC | 12.6 | -1.3 |
| 3 | Trey McBride (ARI) | vs SEA | 11.5 | -1.7 |
| 4 | Sam LaPorta (DET) | @ BUF | 11.5 | +0 |
| 5 | Travis Kelce (KC) | vs IND | 11.3 | +0.4 |
| 6 | Mark Andrews (BAL) | vs NO | 10.6 | +0.1 |
| 7 | Dallas Goedert (PHI) | @ TEN | 10.3 | +1.4 |
| 8 | T.J. Hockenson (MIN) | @ CHI | 10.2 | +0.2 |
| 9 | Tucker Kraft (GB) | @ NYJ | 9.9 | +1.3 |
| 10 | Evan Engram (DEN) | vs JAX | 8.9 | -0.6 |
| 11 | Jake Ferguson (DAL) | vs WAS | 8 | +0.4 |
| 12 | Colston Loveland (CHI) | vs MIN | 7.4 | -0.7 |
Week 2 risers
- Saquon Barkley (RB) @ TEN grades smash spot — worth about 2.7 points above a normal week.
- A.J. Brown (WR) @ TEN grades smash spot — worth about 2.2 points above a normal week.
- Terry McLaurin (WR) @ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 2 points above a normal week.
- Josh Jacobs (RB) @ NYJ grades smash spot — worth about 1.9 points above a normal week.
- Deebo Samuel (WR) @ DAL grades smash spot — worth about 1.5 points above a normal week.
- Nico Collins (WR) vs CIN grades smash spot — worth about 1.4 points above a normal week.
Week 2 fallers
- Ja'Marr Chase (WR) @ HOU grades nightmare — about 1.8 points below a normal week.
- Brian Thomas Jr. (WR) @ DEN grades nightmare — about 1.7 points below a normal week.
- Jonathan Taylor (RB) @ KC grades nightmare — about 1.7 points below a normal week.
- Trey McBride (TE) vs SEA grades nightmare — about 1.7 points below a normal week.
- Marvin Harrison Jr. (WR) vs SEA grades nightmare — about 1.6 points below a normal week.
- DK Metcalf (WR) @ NE grades nightmare — about 1.5 points below a normal week.
Week 2 injury report and contingency plans
What each start is worth per week, and who absorbs the work if he cannot go.
Jalen Hurts · QB · PHI22 pts/week at stake
With Jalen Hurts out you lose about 22 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Patrick Mahomes · QB · KC21.5 pts/week at stake
With Patrick Mahomes out you lose about 21.5 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Joe Burrow · QB · CIN21.2 pts/week at stake
With Joe Burrow out you lose about 21.2 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Baker Mayfield · QB · TB20.5 pts/week at stake
With Baker Mayfield out you lose about 20.5 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Jordan Love · QB · GB20 pts/week at stake
With Jordan Love out you lose about 20 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Bijan Robinson · RB · ATL18.7 pts/week at stake
With Bijan Robinson out you lose about 18.7 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
Saquon Barkley · RB · PHI17.9 pts/week at stake
With Saquon Barkley out you lose about 17.9 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.
De'Von Achane · RB · MIA16 pts/week at stake
With De'Von Achane out you lose about 16 points and there is no obvious in-house replacement — look to the waiver wire rather than the depth chart.