March 12, 2026
The Miami Dolphins announced on Thursday that they re-signed kicker
Riley Patterson to an undisclosed deal. The Dolphins moved on from
Jason Sanders, who missed the entire 2025 season due to injury, and also signed former Atlanta Falcons kicker
Zane Gonzalez earlier this week. The 26-year-old Patterson filled in nicely for Sanders last year, making 27 of his 29 field-goal attempts and 34 of his 35 extra-point opportunities over 17 games. However, because of Miami's inconsistent offense, he finished as just the No. 16 kicker in overall fantasy points. Given how well Patterson kicked in 2025, he should be considered the favorite for placekicking duties in Miami over Gonzalez going into the 2026 regular season this fall. In his five years in the NFL, Patterson has made 87.4% of his 103 field-goal attempts, including going 7-for-13 from 50-plus yards out. If he wins the starting job this summer, Patterson will be a low-end starting kicker in deeper fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: Miami Dolphins
March 11, 2026
The New York Jets agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with free-agent kicker
Cade York on Wednesday, sources told FOX Sports' Jordan Schultz. Former Jets kicker
Nick Folk signed with the Atlanta Falcons earlier this week, so the Jets will add York, a former fourth-rounder, and give him a chance to win the starting job to open the 2026 season. The Cleveland Browns took the 25-year-old placekicker with the 124th overall pick in 2022 out of LSU. York has only kicked in the NFL for two seasons, going 33-for-45 on field goals (73.3%) and 51-for-54 on his extra-point attempts in 23 games played for the Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, and Washington Commanders. He didn't play at all last year and spent the 2024 season with both Washington and Cincy. Right now, York and
Lenny Krieg are the two kicking options on New York's roster. Fantasy managers will want to avoid the kicking situation for the Jets in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: New York Post - Brian Costello
March 11, 2026
The Tennessee Titans are re-signing kicker
Joey Slye to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday, a source told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. Slye will return to Nashville after going 28-for-35 on his field-goal attempts (9-for-14 from 50-plus yards) and 26-for-27 on his extra-point opportunities in 16 games last year. The 29-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Virginia Tech was mostly off the fantasy radar in 2025 in an inconsistent Titans offense led by rookie quarterback
Cameron Ward. Slye finished as the No. 20 fantasy kicker in terms of overall fantasy points. For his career, Slye has made only 81.4% of his 215 field-goal attempts for six different teams over the course of seven seasons. The Titans' offense could make some improvements in Ward's second season under a new coaching staff, but fantasy managers should have higher-ceiling options to choose from this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Ian Rapoport
March 10, 2026
Former Miami Dolphins kicker
Jason Sanders signed an undisclosed one-year deal with the New York Giants on Tuesday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Sanders missed all of the 2025 season due to a hip injury and was released by Miami. The 30-year-old veteran will now head to the NFC East, where he could quickly become a valuable kicker in fantasy if he's fully healthy in a Giants offense with all kinds of explosive weapons. Sanders has made 84.6% of his 221 career field-goal attempts (33-for-48 from 50-plus yards) in his seven years in the NFL. The former seventh-round pick in 2018 out of New Mexico went 37-for-41 on field goals (12-for-14 from 50-plus yards) and 26-for-28 on extra-point attempts in 17 games in his last healthy season in 2024. Sanders will be firmly in sleeper territory at the kicking position if he wins the Giants' placekicker job.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 10, 2026
Veteran free-agent kicker
Zane Gonzalez agreed to an undisclosed one-year deal with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday, agent Mike McCartney told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Gonzalez will be joining his sixth team as he heads into his eighth NFL season. The 30-year-old former seventh-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 out of Arizona State kicked in nine games for the Atlanta Falcons last year and was solid, making 19 of his 22 field-goal attempts (7-for-9 from 50-plus yards) while missing just one of his 18 extra-point tries. The Dolphins already released long-time kicker
Jason Sanders, and
Riley Patterson, who filled in nicely in 2025, could leave in free agency, so Gonzalez gives Miami's new coaching staff an experienced fallback option at placekicker. In an offense that will be led by new quarterback
Malik Willis, Gonzalez will be a low-end kicking option, at best, in fantasy football leagues if he's the starter this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 10, 2026
The Houston Texans are signing kicker
Ka'imi Fairbairn to a two-year, $13 million deal on Tuesday, a league source told Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Sports. Fairbairn still had a year left on the three-year, $15.9 million contract he signed with the Texans in March of 2024, but the Texans will extend one of the best kickers in the NFL for another couple of seasons. The 32-year-old veteran led the NFL in both field-goal makes (44) and attempts (48) in 15 regular-season games in 2025, also making all 28 of his extra-point opportunities. He went 9-for-13 on kicks from 50-plus yards out. Fairbairn was second behind only the Seahawks'
Jason Myers in overall fantasy points among kickers last year. He has an 87.6% success rate in his career on 291 field-goal attempts over his nine years in the league. Locked in with Houston for another couple of years, Fairbairn will be a high-floor fantasy kicker in 2026.
--Keith HernandezSource: KPRC 2 Sports - Aaron Wilson
March 10, 2026
The Buffalo Bills and kicker
Tyler Bass (hip, groin) agreed to a revised contract on Tuesday that includes $1 million guaranteed and a chance to earn up to $3.5 million in 2026, according to Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Bass missed the entire 2025 season due to injury, so a pay cut was inevitable. The 29-year-old made 24 of his 29 field-goal attempts (4-for-4 from 50-plus yards) and went 59-for-64 on his extra points in 17 games during the regular season for Buffalo in 2024. The former sixth-rounder (188th overall) in 2020 out of Georgia Southern has made 84.5% of his 155 field-goal attempts in his five years in the NFL, all with the Bills. He has two years left on his contract and should enter the start of the 2026 season this fall as the team's starting placekicker, which will make him attractive again in most fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
The Las Vegas Raiders are signing veteran free-agent kicker
Matt Gay to an undisclosed deal on Monday evening, his agents told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The move to bring Gay in pretty much seals previous placekicker
Daniel Carlson leaving in unrestricted free agency. The 31-year-old Gay was cut by the Washington Commanders last year after going 13-for-19 on his field-goal attempts in 10 games. He was picked up by the San Francisco 49ers and went 4-for-4 on field goals and 4-for-4 on extra-point attempts in just two games before
Eddy Pineiro returned from injury. The former fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 out of Utah has made 84.3% of his 216 career field-goal attempts, including going 32-for-54 from 50-plus yards in his seven NFL seasons. The Raiders' offense could be much improved in 2026, even with a rookie signal-caller most likely starting most of the games. Still, Gay shouldn't be drafted in 12-team fantasy leagues.
--Keith HernandezSource: NFL Network - Tom Pelissero
March 9, 2026
The Atlanta Falcons have signed kicker
Nick Folk to a two-year contract, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL.com. Folk spent 2025 with the New York Jets and is now heading to Atlanta for his 20th season in the NFL. He has played for four teams over five years, making appearances with the Patriots, Titans, Jets, and Falcons. He was a rare bright spot for New York last year, going 28-for-29 on field goals and 22-for-22 on extra points. The 41-year-old should benefit from a move to Atlanta, where he'll spend at least half of his games kicking inside a dome. He'll also offer the Falcons a refreshing upgrade at kicker after they trotted out a combination of
Parker Romo and
Zane Gonzalez in the aftermath of
Younghoe Koo's early-season release.
--Andersen PickardSource: Tom Pelissero
March 8, 2026
The Indianapolis Colts re-signed kicker
Blake Grupe to a one-year deal worth up to $1.4 million on Sunday, league sources told James Boyd of The Athletic. Grupe was cut by the New Orleans Saints last year after starting the year 18-for-26 on his field-goal tries and making all 15 of his extra-point attempts through 11 games played. The 27-year-old Notre Dame product then latched on with the Colts and kicked for them for five games, going a perfect 11-for-11 on field goals and 10-for-10 on his extra points. The strong finish to the 2025 season led to Grupe getting another shot as Indy's starting placekicker to begin the 2026 campaign this fall. Grupe has made 81.9% of his 105 career field-goal attempts (19-for-27 from 50-plus yards out) over three NFL seasons with the Saints and Colts. Fantasy managers in standard 12-team leagues should have better options at the kicking position this fall.
--Keith HernandezSource: The Athletic - James Boyd
March 7, 2026
San Francisco 49ers kicker
Eddy Pineiro agreed to a long-term extension with the organization on Saturday. They've agreed on a four-year, $17 million deal, which includes $10 million in guaranteed money. Pineiro signed a one-year deal with the 49ers last offseason and turned it into a huge payday for himself. The 30-year-old was elite as he knocked down 28-of-29 field goal attempts with a league-leading 96.6 field goal percentage. The 49ers weren't going to let their best kicker in years walk away into free agency. Pineiro was going to get paid regardless, so the 49ers made sure it wasn't by anyone else. The 49ers hopefully have the kicker position taken care of through the 2029 season.
--Andy WebbSource: Adam Schefter
March 7, 2026
The Dallas Cowboys placed the second-round, $5.76 million tender on free-agent kicker
Brandon Aubrey on Saturday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Aubrey can now sign an offer sheet with another team, but the Cowboys will have the right to match any offer he receives. If they don't match an offer from another team, the Cowboys would get a second-round pick in return for Aubrey leaving. ESPN's Todd Archer reported last month that the 30-year-old placekicker is looking for a contract that exceeds the $6.4 million average that Chiefs kicker
Harrison Butker gets. Aubrey has been a Pro Bowler in each of his three years in the NFL with Dallas and has also been one of the best fantasy options at the position. The Notre Dame alumnus has made 88.2% of his 127 field-goal attempts in three years and was the No. 3 kicker in overall fantasy points in 2025 in an explosive Cowboys offense. He'll be one of the first kickers off the board in fantasy football drafts this fall if he stays in Dallas.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 6, 2026
The Miami Dolphins are expected to release kicker
Jason Sanders (hip) after the two sides could not agree on a new contract, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Sanders will leave the team with a streak of 27 straight made field goals, including going 9-for-9 on his last 50-plus-yard field goals. However, he did not kick at all last year due to a hip injury that he suffered in training camp. The Dolphins drafted the 30-year-old in the seventh round in 2018 out of New Mexico, and he's converted on 84.6% of his 221 field-goal attempts for the team in the last seven seasons. The Dolphins will now likely go with
Riley Patterson to begin the 2026 season after he impressed last year in Sanders' place. If fully healthy, Sanders should attract plenty of interest on the open market for teams looking for an upgrade at placekicker.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN - Adam Schefter
March 6, 2026
The Washington Commanders are re-signing kicker
Jake Moody to a one-year deal on Friday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. Moody spent time with the Commanders, San Francisco 49ers, and Chicago Bears in 2025 in his third year in the NFL. The 26-year-old former third-round selection by the Niners in 2023 out of Michigan played in six games with Washington, going 10-for-11 on his field-goal tries and 10-for-11 on extra points. Overall, he made 19 of 23 field-goal attempts (2-for-2 from 50-plus yards) and went 15-for-16 on extra points in nine games. Moody will enter the 2026 season as the Commanders' starting placekicker, but fantasy managers should be able to find more consistent options in 12-team leagues. Moody has a career 78% success rate on his 82 field-goal attempts through three seasons in the NFL.
--Keith HernandezSource: ESPN.com - Jeremy Fowler
March 4, 2026
The Detroit Lions tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker
Jake Bates, ensuring that he returns for the 2026 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bates has gotten off to a nice start to his NFL career in two seasons with Detroit, making 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts while making 118 of his 123 extra-point tries in 34 games played. The 27-year-old Arkansas product has led the NFL in extra-point attempts and extra-point makes in each of the last two years while playing in one of the best offenses in the league. In 2025, he went 27-for-34 on field goals (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and 54-for-56 on extra points in 17 games played to finish as the No. 6 fantasy kicker in overall points. The Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, but they should still have a favorable offense, making Bates a clear top-10 fantasy target at the kicking position.
--Keith HernandezSource: Detroit Free Press - Dave Birkett
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