RADIO
Daniel Carlson Set to Handle Saints' Kicking Duties
New Orleans Saints kicker Daniel Carlson appears set to handle the job entering the regular season, with Charlie Smyth being released Sunday, according to Mike Triplett. Carlson only joined New Orleans on Aug. 24 but made a strong final impression. He hit field goals from 38 and 53 yards in Friday's preseason finale against Dallas, with the 53-yarder providing the winning points in a 27-24 victory. The veteran made 22 of 27 field goals for Las Vegas last season and owns an 86.9% conversion rate over his NFL career. Smyth had handled the job over the final six games of 2025, making 12 of 16 field goals and all 13 of his extra points, but never completely separated from the competition this summer. Tanner Brown was also part of the battle, though Smyth's release leaves Carlson in position to enter Week 1 as New Orleans' kicker.
Source: Mike Triplett
Source: Mike Triplett
Dominic Zvada Wins Giants Kicking Job
New York Giants kicker Dominic Zvada has won the team's kicking job ahead of the regular season, head coach John Harbaugh told Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News. Both Zvada and Ben Sauls made it through the entire preseason without missing a field goal, but ultimately, the former won the roster battle. Presumably, Sauls, a second-year kicker who went 7-for-7 on extra points and 8-for-8 on field goals last year, will be released. Zvada is a rookie from Michigan who went 17-for-25 on field goals during his final year at school. He didn't have the greatest senior season by any means, but he has proven capable of converting from long distance, as he hit both a 46-yarder and a 53-yarder on Friday. For now, he can be avoided in redraft and dynasty leagues, but he could get on the fantasy radar with a strong start to the regular season.
Source: Pat Leonard
Source: Pat Leonard
Ravens Open to Adding Competition for Tyler Loop
Baltimore Ravens kicker Tyler Loop could face competition for a roster spot between now and the start of the regular season, according to Kyle Goon of The Baltimore Banner. When asked about Loop's camp on Friday, head coach Jesse Minter did not rule out the possibility of the Ravens adding another kicker in the near future. Minter noted that the 25-year-old had a good camp, but he cares more about how the kicker performs in high-pressure situations, such as the waning minutes of close games. Notably, Loop missed two field goals in the Ravens' preseason finale, which is why there was any conversation about his roster spot in the first place. He ranked as the K12 in fantasy football as a rookie last year, going 44-for-46 on extra points and 30-for-34 on field goals. If the Ravens look for a veteran kicker to compete with Loop, some free-agent possibilities include Graham Gano, Brandon McManus, and Matt Prater.
Source: Kyle Goon
Source: Kyle Goon
Cameron Dicker "Working Through Something"
Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh said that placekicker Cameron Dicker (undisclosed) is "working through something," according to Alex Insdorf. However, Harbaugh also said that he is not concerned with Dicker's injury. "Just something that came up tonight," Harbaugh said after the team's preseason finale against the Los Angeles Rams. We will keep an eye on the 26-year-old kicker's status heading into the team's Week 1 regular-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, but it sounds like he should be just fine to kick to begin the season. The former Texas product should be considered a top-five fantasy kicker in a Chargers offense that could be much more explosive under new coordinator Mike McDaniel in 2026. Dicker was a first-time Pro Bowler last year after making 92.7% of his 41 field-goal attempts (5-for-6 from 50-plus yards) and 97.1% of his 35 extra-point attempts in 17 regular-season games. RotoBaller has Dicker ranked as the No. 5 fantasy kicker for the 2026 season.
Source: Alex Insdorf
Source: Alex Insdorf
Andy Borregales Finishes Preseason on a High Note
New England Patriots kicker Andy Borregales has bounced back ever since his ugly showing in Week 1 of the preseason. During Thursday's preseason finale against the Cleveland Browns, he went 2-for-2 on field goals and also made his lone extra point attempt. The field goals weren't particularly impressive, as they came from 26 and 33 yards out, but it was nice to see him demonstrate some accuracy. He missed three kicks in the first week of the preseason, but he has gone 3-for-3 on field goals since then. There was never much doubt that Borregales would make the team, as he was the only kicker on the Patriots' roster this summer. Nevertheless, fantasy managers should be encouraged that he overcame his initial struggles and the team never felt compelled to bring in any external competition. He was the K10 in fantasy football as a rookie last year, but he has fallen to K22 in RotoBaller's latest fantasy football draft rankings for 2026.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Players Leaving for NCAA Can't Return to NFL in 2026 Season
The NFL informed its clubs on Wednesday that any player who returns to the college ranks will be prohibited from signing with an NFL team this season, according to ESPN. The league also reminded teams of the rule that any player signed to an NFL contract who is subsequently cut is a free agent. Those players can sign with another NFL team, join the CFL, or return to college. Any player cut by an NFL team who returns to the college ranks in 2026 will still be considered a free agent and therefore not subject to a future draft. Two NFL players, Cleveland's Dae'Quan Wright and New Orleans' Zxavian Harris, were cut by their respective teams to join the roster at LSU. A court order has recently granted players like Wright and Harris an unexpected extra year of eligibility. Players can regain their college eligibility if they terminate their NFL contracts and repay any pro earnings. After the recent court order, the SEC and Big Ten approved new rules on Tuesday that prevent players from leaving the NFL to join college teams.
Source: ESPN.com
Source: ESPN.com
NFL Pro Bowl to be Eliminated
The NFL Pro Bowl will no longer have a standalone game or games, be it tackle or flag football, according to The Athletic. Eighty-eight players will receive the Pro Bowl honor with no alternates, which will corral a key aspect of the All-Star event that had "gotten out of whack in recent years." In place of the games, Pro Bowlers will be invited to visit Los Angeles for an in-person celebration in February. The process of selecting Pro Bowlers will stay the same. Ballots cast by fans, players, and coaches are weighted equally to determine the selections of the 88 players on offense, defense, and special teams across both conferences. "You start doing it over and over again, and now what we've compromised on becomes the standard," NFL vice president of football operations Troy Vincent Sr. told The Athletic. "And that is not the product the fans deserve nor the way the players want to be celebrated." The biggest issue for the Pro Bowl recently has been the lack of competitiveness in the game.
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
Source: The Athletic - Jonathan Jones
Jason Sanders the Favorite to Win Kicking Job with the Jets
New York Jets placekicker Jason Sanders is the favorite to win the starting job in 2026. Since the team released Cade York on Tuesday, Sanders is likely to be the Jets' kicker this season, assuming they don't make any other additions. In seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Sanders has made less than 85% of his field goal attempts, and he missed all of 2025 due to a hip injury sustained while warming up before a preseason game. Sanders will have tough shoes to fill in New York, where the Jets' kicker made a league-high 97% of his field goal attempts in 2025. Given his injury history and accuracy issues, along with the Jets' low-ranked offensive attack, Sanders should not be a target at kicker in fantasy drafts.
Source: Ryan Dunleavy - NY Post
Source: Ryan Dunleavy - NY Post
49ers Owner Arrested on Disorderly Conduct and Possessing Criminal Tools
San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York was arrested over the weekend and found guilty of two misdemeanor charges, according to WKBN 27 News. York pleaded no contest on Monday morning to misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and possessing criminal tools. He was already sentenced to two days in jail and $1,150 in fines. After his arrest, York will presumably be subject to NFL discipline under the personal-conduct policy. Columbiana County Municipal Court records show that York was initially taken into custody on a charge of engaging in prostitution, but that charge was later dropped.
Source: WKBN 27 News - Josh Frketic, Kristen Hephner, and Laurel Stone
Source: WKBN 27 News - Josh Frketic, Kristen Hephner, and Laurel Stone
Daniel Carlson Signing with Saints
The New Orleans Saints are signing two-time All-Pro kicker Daniel Carlson, according to NFL Insider Mike Garafolo. Incumbent Charlie Smyth had been battling with Tanner Brown throughout training camp, and the signing comes two days after Brown missed the team's lone field goal attempt in a 34-0 preseason loss to the Saints. Over eight seasons, played mostly with the Raiders, Carlson has made 225 of his 259 field-goal attempts, including a career-long 60-yarder in 2025. In what could develop into an exciting offense in year two under head coach Kellen Moore, Carlson will have plenty of fantasy value as an accurate kicker with range.
Source: Mike Garafolo
Source: Mike Garafolo
Nick Folk Converts All Six Attempts in Saturday's Preseason Win
Atlanta Falcons kicker Nick Folk brought some stability to Atlanta's kicking game in Saturday's 34-6 win over the Colts, making both of his field goal attempts and all four extra points. The field goals were from 50 and 51 yards out, so there is still some length left in the 41-year-old's leg. The veteran kicker is coming off a solid 2025 campaign in which he converted 28 of 29 field goal attempts (career-long of 58) and all 22 of his extra points while kicking for the Jets, though that effort still landed him well outside the top 12 for fantasy (K21). The Falcons should be a slight upgrade over the Jets offense, and not having to deal with the elements inside the dome in Atlanta should be a benefit as well. Folk ranks No. 24 in RotoBaller's kicker rankings, but there is potential to outproduce that projection. Still, he's more of a streaming option than a kicker to draft for the entire season.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Spencer Shrader Primed to Retake Starting Position
Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader started the second preseason game and was the Colts' lone scorer in their 34-6 loss against the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday. In the first quarter, Shrader completed a 48-yard field goal and a 53-yard field goal. The sputtering Colts offense could not gain any traction, and their seven subsequent drives resulted in punts. Kicker Blake Grupe, Shrader's primary competition, came on in the fourth quarter and missed a 36-yard field goal wide right. Last week against the New England Patriots, Grupe also missed a 61-yard attempt before halftime. Shrader's 2025 season ended early with an ACL and MCL tear, and Grupe replaced him for the rest of the season. Shrader appears fully recovered and is a viable starting option for the Colts and for managers of 12-person leagues with kickers.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Jason Myers Faces Accuracy Concerns After Strong 2025 Season
Seattle Seahawks placekicker Jason Myers is coming off the best fantasy season of his NFL career in 2025. Myers made 41 of 48 field goals and 48 extra points in 17 games, finishing as the number one-ranked kicker and averaging 11.9 fantasy points per game. The veteran kicker has finished in the top four among kickers in three of the last four seasons, but inaccuracy could cost him important points in 2026. He has an 85% field goal percentage, which would've ranked him below league average last season. He also missed his only field goal attempt in the Seahawks' opening preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys, from 45 yards. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Myers' preseason performances, as accuracy could be the difference between another top season and an average one for the Seahawks kicker.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ka'imi Fairbairn Remains a Top Kicker Option in Redraft Leagues
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn is coming off about as good a fantasy season as a kicker can have. He made 44 of 48 field-goal attempts in 15 games, tying David Akers' NFL single-season record for makes, and went a perfect 28-for-28 on extra points. The distance wasn't a problem either. Fairbairn hit all 16 of his tries from 40 to 49 yards and went 9-for-13 from 50 to 59, with a long of 57. Houston also gave him a two-year, $13 million extension in March that keeps him under contract through 2028. The only thing worth pushing back on is last year's volume. His 48 field-goal attempts led the league, and counting on another season like that is asking a lot. Fairbairn doesn't need to get there again to be useful. He has the leg, the accuracy, and a secure job on a Houston offense that gave him plenty of chances last year. He still belongs near the top of the kicker pool in redraft.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Bills Brass Happy With New Field After Preseason Opener
The Buffalo Bills' new Highmark Stadium showed signs of wear and tear before, during, and after the team's preseason opener on Saturday against the Carolina Panthers, but president Pete Guelli is not worried about the grass field. "From a playability and safety perspective, everybody's very happy," Guelli said. "It's Year 1. So it's a brand new field, and it's going to take time for the foundation to build up. So some of the things people saw in the game, those will dissipate over time." "Our grounds people were aware that was a possibility. Until it actually happens in a game as the field is maturing and the root system is setting, those things can happen," Guelli said about the field getting torn up. The Bills' new stadium has been criticized on social media based on seats with obstructed views by guardrails and stairs. With the move to a new stadium, the Bills switched from artificial turf to grass, with their old surface routinely panned by Bills players for being among the league's worst. The team went with Kentucky bluegrass, and it was also installed on the team's practice field.
Source: The Associated Press
Source: The Associated Press
