Week 2 Guillotine FAAB: Who Got Chopped and What We'd Bid

By Patrick · Survive The Chop · September 15, 2026

Every league has a different waiver wire after the first chop. In our verified Week 1 sample, Omarion Hampton was released in 19.1% of leagues and Ja'Marr Chase in 7.0%. Here's a closer look at some notable Week 1 chops, what their usage and outlook tell us, and what we'd spend.

The goal is to win the league. Fix the weaknesses that could get you chopped, but keep enough FAAB to compete for the stars released in the weeks ahead. If another manager wants to empty half their budget after one game, let them spend away that future buying power. You don't need to win every auction to build the best team.

With roughly 17 teams still competing in a typical league, players like Cook and Hampton can become the foundation of your backfield. Chase tops our bid guide, and Loveland is our favorite smaller bid at tight end. The decision is how much to commit now while leaving yourself options for the next cut.

Week 2 bid guide

These are our recommended bid ranges, expressed as a percentage of your starting FAAB budget. For a $1,000 league, 5% means $50. The guide assumes PPR scoring and one starting quarterback.

In a field this deep, the healthy players on this list will be starters for plenty of teams. Lean toward the upper end when you're close to the chopping block and need a substantial boost now. Stay closer to the lower end when your team has more breathing room. A big Week 1 score doesn't guarantee safety; look at the lineup you're putting on the field this week.

Set a total spending limit before you enter several claims. Winning two useful starters can still cost more than you intended.

Put your bids into a FAAB plan

In FAAB Insights, select targets from your league's available players and open Review plan. You'll see suggested drops, maximum spend, FAAB left and a projected lineup outlook. Adjust your selections, then enter the claims on Sleeper.

Build my FAAB plan

Recommended bids and market estimates answer different questions. Our ranges say what we'd spend. The app's market estimate describes what comparable players have historically cost. Another manager may pay more than our recommendation; that alone is no reason to raise yours. The ranges here are editorial guidance informed by FAAB Insights. Your personalized app recommendation can differ with your roster, budget and strategy.

Ja'Marr Chase: the top prize

Recommended bid: 15–20% · Our rest-of-season rank: WR2

Two catches for 12 yards is a brutal opener from your first-round pick. It also creates an opportunity for everyone who survived. Chase still ran 36 routes, and we project 18.3 PPR points in Week 2. One quiet afternoon hasn't pushed him out of the elite tier in our rankings. Bengals game log, SumerSports.

We've seen him rebound quickly before. Last year, Chase followed a two-catch opener with 14 receptions, 165 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. You don't need that exact repeat to make this purchase work. You need the receiver who can stay in your lineup through the final chop. 2025 game log.

Chase gets the largest bid in this guide because he offers both immediate help and that long-term ceiling. He can be your WR1 through the final chop. Push toward 20% when you need a major boost now; start closer to 15% when you have more breathing room. His name will attract larger offers, so decide your limit before the auction gets away from you.

James Cook: pay for the workload

Recommended bid: 10–15% · Our rest-of-season rank: RB5

Cook is our preferred running back target if you have room for the bigger purchase. We project 17.1 PPR points this week, and his role gives us a reason to trust him beyond one matchup.

He played 85.4% of Buffalo's early-down snaps in the opener, according to PFF. That's substantial control of the rushing work. Frank Gore Jr. handled third downs with Ty Johnson absent, so the case for Cook rests on his lead rushing role rather than an assumed jump in catches. PFF's usage review.

In a 17-team field, Cook can be the best running back on plenty of rosters. Bid toward 15% when your team needs that kind of anchor. Cook and Hampton are both players you can start now; our higher bid on Cook reflects his stronger long-term outlook. The lower recommendation on Hampton leaves you more FAAB to address another position or compete in the weeks ahead.

Drake London: buy the talent, price in the uncertainty

Recommended bid: 5–8% · Our rest-of-season rank: WR10

London's two catches for 29 yards came with Cooper Rush at quarterback. Atlanta's latest team update offered no return timetable for Tua Tagovailoa or Michael Penix Jr. That uncertainty matters when every week can be your last. Falcons game log, Falcons' injury update.

We still rank London as a top-10 receiver for the rest of the season, but our 13.1-point Week 2 projection calls for a more restrained bid now. He's a better fit for a team that can use him without asking him to rescue its entire lineup.

London brings WR1 talent, but the quarterback situation keeps our recommendation at 5–8%. That range gives you a chance to pursue his upside without spending as though Atlanta's passing game is already settled. If you're close to the chopping block, weigh his Week 2 outlook against the other players actually available to you, and check the quarterback news before submitting claims.

Colston Loveland: trust the role behind the zero

Recommended bid: 5–8% · Our rest-of-season rank: TE3

Loveland is one of our favorite targets this week. A catchless opener is painful, but Chicago kept sending him out into pass patterns: 35 routes, with PFF recording route participation on 92.1% of the team's pass plays. He was heavily involved in the passing formations even though the production didn't follow. SumerSports, PFF's usage review.

That usage is why we're comfortable looking past the box score. We still have Loveland at TE3 for the rest of the season and project 13.6 PPR points this week. At a position where dependable options get thin quickly, he can give you a meaningful advantage.

Lean toward 8% if you've been scraping by at tight end. A player with Loveland's role and ceiling is difficult to find in a league this deep. Keep the full week's spending in view, though, especially if you also need help at running back or receiver. The role makes him a buy; it doesn't make a rebound automatic.

Omarion Hampton: a useful upgrade without the star price

Recommended bid: 5–7% · Our rest-of-season rank: RB14

Hampton's opener was better than his fantasy total suggests. He rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown, but a lost fumble hurt managers who were already close to the cut line. Chargers game log.

The encouraging part: SumerSports credited him with five forced missed tackles. He made defenders miss despite getting zero net yards before contact across his carries. In plain terms, the blocking gave him little room, and he still created yardage after defenders reached him. That's a positive sign for the runner, even if the rushing lanes need to improve. SumerSports.

The reason to keep your bid under control is the passing-down split. Keaton Mitchell handled the main third-down and two-minute work, which limits Hampton's receiving floor in PPR. PFF.

We project 15.1 PPR points in Week 2. Our RB14 rest-of-season ranking puts Hampton in the RB1 range for a 17-team league, making him a meaningful backfield addition at this stage. Bid toward 7% when you need that help now. His passing-down role is why we're keeping the recommendation below Cook's, even though both can be important starters.

Terry McLaurin: affordable weekly help

Recommended bid: 2–4% · Our rest-of-season rank: WR28

McLaurin ran routes on 92.1% of Washington's pass plays. He's staying on the field, even with Stefon Diggs drawing targets more frequently on his routes. We project 13.8 PPR points this week, useful production for a receiver or flex spot in a deep field. PFF's usage review.

WR28 is firmly in starting territory with 17 teams still alive. McLaurin is worth pursuing for weekly help, while our 2–4% range keeps most of your budget available for bigger opportunities later. His role is reassuring; the competition for targets keeps us from bidding like he's an elite receiver.

Courtland Sutton: keep it inexpensive

Recommended bid: 0–2% · Our rest-of-season rank: WR38

Sutton managed two catches for 11 yards Monday night. Denver's penalties helped stall the offense, but a cleaner game alone won't guarantee him a bigger role. NBC Sports, Broncos' postgame report.

Our 12.4-point Week 2 projection makes Sutton a useful option when starting spots are spread across so many teams. Start your bid near 1%. We like him as an inexpensive way to strengthen a receiver or flex spot, while his WR38 ranking keeps the recommendation well below the stars above.

Burrow, Brown and Bowers: let your needs decide

Joe Burrow: We rank him QB6 for the rest of the season and project 18.8 points this week. He can give plenty of teams a stronger starter. In a one-QB league, compare that projection with your current quarterback before deciding how much of your budget to move away from running backs and receivers. Superflex leagues need a different approach.

A.J. Brown: He's on injured reserve and must miss at least four games. Week 6 is his earliest possible return. A stash makes sense only if you can cover the absence; he cannot fix a Week 2 lineup problem. Patriots' injury analysis.

Brock Bowers: He was described as day-to-day Monday after a meniscus procedure. Wait for clearer availability before treating him as this week's tight end solution. We're holding off on a firm bid range until that picture improves. ESPN's report.

Keep FAAB for the weeks ahead

Across the 2025 Sleeper leagues we analyzed, eventual champions had spent about 24% of their starting FAAB by Week 5, on average. That's roughly 35% less than average spending among teams still competing at the same point.

Our advice for Week 2: strengthen your lineup while keeping most of your budget available for later cuts. You don't need to assemble your final roster after the first chop. More players will hit waivers each week, and you'll want the money to compete for them.

Who hit waivers after Week 1?

These are selected notable players from our verified Sleeper cut sample. Percentages show the share of completed cuts that released each player, including bench and reserve players.

These sample percentages describe verified releases as of Tuesday morning. Availability depends on your league, its cut timing and any claims that have already processed.

Build your team's FAAB plan

Start with the players your league actually released. Then decide how much to commit to each claim and how much you want left for future cuts. Your FAAB plan brings those decisions together with suggested drops and a projected lineup outlook.

Connect your Sleeper league for personalized recommendations based on your roster, available players and remaining FAAB. The article is free; the paid app brings the advice to your team.

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