RADIO
Jason Sanders to Kick for the Jets on Sunday
Kicker Jason Sanders, who is on the practice squad, will make the start for the New York Jets in Sunday's Week 1 season opener against the Tennessee Titans over Blake Grupe in a mild surprise, head coach Aaron Glenn told Rich Cimini of ESPN. Sanders initially won a training camp kicking battle over Cade York for the Jets' placekicker job, but New York decided to bring in Grupe for added competition, and it looked like Grupe had taken the job after Sanders was moved to the practice squad. The 30-year-old Sanders was injured and did not play at all in 2025. The former seventh-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2018 from New Mexico is an 84.6% kicker on his 221 total field-goal attempts in his seven seasons with the Dolphins, making 33 of his 48 attempts from 50-plus yards. In his most recent season in 2024 in Miami, Sanders went 37-for-41 on field-goal attempts (90.2%) and 26-for-28 on his extra points in 17 games. For now, he has the job in New York over Grupe, but any little slip-up and the Jets could give Grupe a shot. Fantasy managers should avoid the kicking situation in the Big Apple.
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Source: ESPN New York - Rich Cimini
Eddy Pineiro A Top-12 Kicking Option For Week 1
San Francisco 49ers kicker Eddy Pineiro is ready for his second season with the team. Last year, Pineiro took over the position from Jake Moody after the latter missed three kicks (including two extra points) in last year's season opener. Pineiro went on to be one of the most effective kickers in fantasy football based on fantasy points per game. Not previously known for having a powerful leg, Pineiro went 6-for-7 from beyond 50 yards and was 10-for-10 on field goals between 40 and 49 yards long in 2025. In Week 1, San Francisco opens the season against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne. The Rams have one of the league's top-rated defenses, but even if they slow down the 49ers, Kyle Shanahan's dynamic offense should still be able to move the ball into field goal range and set Pineiro up for some scores. Pineiro is 12th overall at his position in RotoBaller's Week 1 rankings and can be safely started.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Blake Grupe Still Competing for Week 1 Kicking Job
New York Jets kicker Blake Grupe still hasn't secured the job for Sunday's opener against Tennessee. Special teams coordinator Chris Banjo said Thursday that Grupe and Jason Sanders remain in competition, according to Zack Rosenblatt. Banjo said he is looking for "confidence and consistency" before making the call. Grupe is currently on the active roster after the Jets claimed him off waivers from Indianapolis on Aug. 31, while Sanders is on the practice squad. Grupe made all 11 of his field-goal attempts over five games with the Colts last season, including a 60-yarder, after going 18-for-26 earlier in the year with New Orleans. Sanders missed all of 2025 with a hip injury but has considerably more NFL experience. For now, fantasy managers looking for a Week 1 kicker should wait for the Jets to actually name one.
Source: Zack Rosenblatt
Source: Zack Rosenblatt
Harrison Mevis Not Worth Streaming in Week 1
Los Angeles Rams kicker Harrison Mevis enters the season as an appealing fantasy option given the high-end status of his team's offense. There's definitely full-season fantasy upside here, but Mevis probably belongs on the waiver wire for Week 1 against the San Francisco 49ers. First of all, this game is being played in Australia. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is at sea level, which means there will be thicker air and tougher kicking conditions. We also don't know what the kicking surface will be like in this stadium, creating some uncertainty. Additionally, this is a tougher matchup for Mevis, as the 49ers allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to kickers last year. The bright side is that the Rams should find themselves in plenty of scoring opportunities given the excellent state of their offense, but even last year, he ranked as the #13 kicker in fantasy points per game. Concerns about this matchup and the stadium environment outweigh any value gained from playing alongside a powerful offense. Mevis ranks outside the top 12 fantasy kickers for this divisional battle to open the season.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Andy Borregales a Riskier Option for Week 1 in Seattle
New England Patriots kicker Andy Borregales had a shaky start to the preseason, which has already impacted his fantasy football price tag. While he harnessed his accuracy in Weeks 2 and 3 of the preseason, he still finished 5-for-8 with just one made field goal from 50+ yards out. With that in mind, fantasy managers can likely find other, more dependable kicking options for the season opener. After all, it's Week 1, so nobody is dealing with bye weeks or kicker injuries yet. That means there should still be plenty of viable kicking options on the waiver wire, including several with higher projections than the Patriots' 23-year-old. Some kickers with similar price tags to Borregales but a higher Week 1 ranking from RotoBaller include Wil Lutz, Chris Boswell, Jake Elliott, Tyler Bass, and Harrison Butker. Borregales ranks all the way down at K23 for Week 1, according to RotoBaller's fantasy experts.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jason Myers a Clear No. 1 Kicker in Week 1
Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers is an easy Week 1 start against the New England Patriots. Myers finished as the No. 1 kicker in fantasy last season while being highly efficient for one of the league's best offenses. Helping Myers' case was the Seahawks' field goal volume. Myers attempted 48 field goals, hitting 41. He also made all 48 of his extra point attempts. The Patriots boast a good defense, but Seattle should be able to score on them consistently with how efficiently the offense runs. Either way, Myers will be in a position to kick field goals or extra points often on Wednesday. He can safely be deployed as a starting kicking option as we get our first look at the Seahawks' 2026 offense.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Cowboys Ready to Swing Another Trade?
Dallas Cowboys owner and general manager Jerry Jones pointed out on 105.3 The Fan that the team's recent moves to restructure the contracts of defensive tackle Kenny Clark, cornerback DaRon Bland, and tight end Jake Ferguson, which freed up a little more than $19 million in salary-cap space, have given the team financial room to make a trade going into the 2026 season, according to Todd Archer of ESPN. "That does show that we have really viable, serious room financially to make a trade if we wanted to right now," Jones said. Per NFLPA figures, the Cowboys have $33.6 million in cap room, but if it goes unused, it will be rolled over to next year's cap. Jones has been open to making another trade -- the Cowboys sent pass-rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers right before the start of last season -- although nothing is currently on the table. Dallas acquired offensive tackle Broderick Jones and a fourth-round pick for third- and sixth-round picks from the Pittsburgh Steelers. If the Cowboys were to make another trade soon, Jones admits that it would likely come on the defensive side of the ball. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 10.
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
Source: ESPN Dallas - Todd Archer
Roger Goodell Finalizes Extension Through 2030
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has finalized a new four-season contract extension that will keep him in the job through the 2030 season, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. NFL teams were notified of the agreement Sunday, and Goodell's new contract will expire March 31, 2031. His previous deal was scheduled to run through March 2027. Goodell has served as commissioner since 2006 and will now remain in place through the end of the NFL's current collective bargaining agreement with the NFLPA, which also runs through the 2030 season. The extension had been expected for several months, with NFL owners reportedly working toward another deal with Goodell during the summer.
Source: Adam Schefter
Source: Adam Schefter
NFL Hall of Fame Making Big Changes to Selection Process
The Pro Football Hall of Fame has made sweeping changes to its selection process that include a significant reduction in the number of selectors and the elimination of the separate Seniors category, according to Jeff Legwold of ESPN. The board of selectors will be reduced from 50 to 28, as 25 members of the selection committee will be voting members, plus three alternates. There will no longer be at least one selector in each of the home markets of the 32 NFL teams. All players will now be considered in one pool rather than split into either "modern era" or "seniors." The Hall of Fame's class and voting procedures were scrutinized particularly heavily after former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was not selected in his first year of eligibility. "The Hall continually reviews its bylaws to ensure the selection process reflects the highest standards of integrity and the magnitude of election to the Pro Football Hall of Fame," Hall of Fame president and CEO Jim Porter said. "There is no more important task at the Hall of Fame than the election of each new class."
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Legwold
Source: ESPN.com - Jeff Legwold
Justin Tucker Works Out for Jets
Free-agent kicker Justin Tucker was part of a group workout with the New York Jets on Wednesday, according to Tom Pelissero. The Jets are continuing to look at their options at kicker despite claiming Blake Grupe off waivers earlier this week and bringing Jason Sanders back on the practice squad. Tucker has not kicked in a regular-season game since 2024, when he made 22 of 30 field-goal attempts in his final season with Baltimore. The seven-time Pro Bowler served a 10-game suspension last season for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy. Grupe currently has the roster spot and made all 11 of his field-goal attempts during a five-game stint with Indianapolis late last season. Tucker's workout doesn't mean another move is coming, but the Jets are clearly still evaluating the position.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Tyler Loop Expected to be Ravens' Kicker for Week 1
Baltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said that he expects Tyler Loop to be the team's kicker entering Week 1, according to Giana Han of The Baltimore Banner. However, Minter also said that the team is "trying to have all situations covered." It's unclear exactly what Minter means by this, but it's not the first time he's been a little iffy about Loop's job security. In recent days, he left the door open for the Ravens to bring in some competition at the kicker position. With that being said, it sounds like Loop will handle kicking duties for Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, barring any major surprises. Playing on a good team should bode well for his outlook as a fringe top-12 fantasy kicker, and he also comes with a decent track record after going 30-for-34 on field goals and 44-for-46 on extra points last year.
Source: Giana Han
Source: Giana Han
Blake Grupe Now Expected to be the Jets' Placekicker
Kicker Blake Grupe is now the favorite to become the New York Jets' starting placekicker after they released veteran Jason Sanders on Monday, according to Tom Pelissero of The Ringer. Grupe was claimed by the Jets off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts after he lost out to Spencer Shrader for the kicking job in Indianapolis this summer. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent from Notre Dame has only three years of experience kicking in the NFL, making 81.9% of his 105 field-goal attempts (19-for-27 from 50-plus yards out) while converting on 98% of his 98 extra-point tries. In 16 games in 2025 with the Colts and New Orleans Saints, Grupe went 29-for-37 (78.4%) on his field-goal attempts, including going 7-for-10 from 50-plus yards. He also made all 25 of his extra-point opportunities. Although the Jets' offense could be better in 2026 with veteran quarterback Geno Smith running the show, not much is expected, and fantasy managers should be able to find more stable kicking options in 12- and 14-team leagues.
Source: The Ringer - Tom Pelissero
Source: The Ringer - Tom Pelissero
Blake Grupe Claimed by Jets
Kicker Blake Grupe has been claimed off waivers by the New York Jets, according to Tom Pelissero. Indianapolis waived Grupe on Sunday after Spencer Shrader won its preseason kicking competition, but Grupe won't have to wait long for another opportunity. The Jets had previously given their job to Jason Sanders over Cade York, only for Sanders to miss an extra point and come up well short on a 54-yard field goal in Friday's preseason finale against the Giants. Grupe made 29 of 37 field-goal attempts between New Orleans and Indianapolis last season, including a perfect 11-for-11 run over five games after joining the Colts. He also connected from a franchise-record 60 yards. New York hasn't officially named Grupe its Week 1 kicker or announced a move involving Sanders yet, but claiming him immediately after Sanders' rough finish to the preseason puts the veteran's job in serious jeopardy.
Source: Tom Pelissero
Source: Tom Pelissero
Spencer Shrader Wins Colts Kicking Battle
Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader has made the 53-man roster, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. He won the kicking competition after Indianapolis released Blake Grupe. Although Grupe reportedly had a good camp, he went just 2-for-4 on field goals during the preseason, while Shrader went 5-for-5. Furthermore, Shrader excelled from long range. All five of his field goals came from 40+ yards out, including two from at least 60 yards. The 27-year-old was impressive last season, going 14-for-14 on extra points and 13-for-14 on field goals. If he continues to demonstrate a blend of accuracy and power, he could sneak onto the fantasy radar as a kicker who gets plenty of opportunities in the Colts' upward-trending offense.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Colts Release Kicker Blake Grupe
The Indianapolis Colts have released kicker Blake Grupe, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com. By process of elimination, Spencer Shrader has made the 53-man roster after making two field goals from 60+ yards during the preseason. Grupe reportedly made more than 90% of his kicks in camp, but he was just 2-for-4 on field goals during preseason games. He also had an iffy 78.4% field goal rate in 2025. He seems like someone who will earn a new job when rostered kickers struggle or get injured during the regular season, but at this point, it's unlikely he'll latch onto a 53-man roster for Week 1.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
