RADIO
Blake Grupe Has Statistical Edge in Colts Kicker Battle
Indianapolis Colts kicker Blake Grupe has the statistical edge over Spencer Shrader through the opening stretch of training camp, according to Nathan Brown of the Indianapolis Star. Special teams coordinator Brian Mason cautioned that the team is evaluating more than the results reporters see, including ball flight, pre-practice work, and how each kicker progresses throughout camp. Grupe made all 11 of his field-goal attempts and all 10 extra points in five games with Indianapolis last season, while Shrader went 13-for-14 on field goals and 14-for-14 on extra points before suffering a season-ending knee injury. Grupe may be ahead for now, but this remains an open competition, with scrimmage and preseason kicks expected to carry extra weight. Neither kicker belongs on fantasy draft boards until the Colts settle on a winner.
Source: Nathan Brown
Source: Nathan Brown
Matt Gay in the Lead in Kicker Competition in Vegas
The Athletic's Sam Warren reported that kicker Matt Gay is in the lead for the Las Vegas Raiders' kicking competition. Additionally, Gay was perfect during practice today, while undrafted rookie Kansei Matsuzawa doinked one off the right upright from 40 yards away but made everything else. The two are competing to replace long-time Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson. Gay enters camp as the favorite to win the competition because of his NFL experience. However, Matsuzawa has an opportunity to win the kicking competition if he can perform consistently on deep kicks. Over the last few seasons, Gay has struggled on 50-plus-yard kicks with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Commanders.
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren
Source: The Athletic - Sam Warren
Tony Romo Placed on Leave at CBS Following Arrest
Former Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo is on leave from his role at CBS Sports until further notice, according to the network. Former defensive lineman J.J. Watt will work alongside Jim Nantz and Tracy Wolfson for the time being. Romo had an open container of alcohol in his vehicle when he was stopped by police last week and arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, according to authorities. He performed poorly on field-sobriety tests and was taken into custody, booked, and released. Romo was later cited for refusing "to take a test for intoxication after arrest." He has a court appearance scheduled for Sept. 21. The 46-year-old has been the lead game analyst for CBS' NFL coverage since 2017 after making four Pro Bowl appearances during an NFL career that went from 2004 to 2016, all with the Cowboys. Romo is still the franchise's leader in touchdown passes (248).
Source: Austin Karp
Source: Austin Karp
Cam Little Remains a High-End Kicker Option Entering 2026
Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little put together a rock-solid season in 2025, converting 30 of his 34 field goal attempts and 50 of his 51 extra-point tries. Little also has one of the most powerful legs in the NFL, as he made eight field goals from 50-plus yards out and connected on an NFL-record 68-yard field goal in early November. The 22-year-old finished 2025 as the fifth-best kicker in terms of overall fantasy scoring. Entering 2026, Little should be in a strong position for another high-end fantasy season while playing alongside the high-powered Jacksonville offense. In both redraft and dynasty formats, Little has a strong case to be viewed as an elite kicker.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Tyler Bass Fully Healthy and Ready to Go
Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass (pelvis) told reporters that he's fully healthy and ready to go after rehabbing a pelvic injury that cost him all of last season, according to Matt Parrino of Syracuse.com. "It was hard to get out of bed for a couple weeks," Bass said. "When I started kicking, we started with baby steps- 20-yarders, 10-yarders, and then working from there. It wasn't until midway through OTAs that I started feeling like myself again." The 29-year-old kicker finished as a top-10 player at his position in fantasy in 2024, when he made 24 of his 29 field-goal attempts (4-for-4 from 50-plus yards) and 59 of his 64 extra-point tries in 17 regular-season games. The former sixth-round pick in 2020 from Georgia Southern is an 84.5% field-goal kicker (16-for-23 from 50-plus yards) in his five years in the NFL, and he could be a nice fantasy sleeper at the kicking position in Buffalo's high-scoring offense if he can manage to stay healthy in his return in 2026.
Source: Syracuse.com - Matt Parrino
Source: Syracuse.com - Matt Parrino
Packers Waive Kicker Lucas Havrisik
The Green Bay Packers waived kicker Lucas Havrisik on Tuesday, a source told Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. In a corresponding move, the Packers added kicker Lenny Krieg to their 90-man roster. It was believed that the 26-year-old Havrisik might keep the placekicker seat warm until rookie sixth-rounder Trey Smack was ready to take over. Krieg will now compete with Smack in training camp and the preseason. Havrisik made all four of his field-goal attempts and seven of his nine extra-point tries in just three regular-season games with the Packers last year in his second NFL season. In his rookie season with the Los Angeles Rams, he went 15-for-20 on field goals (2-for-3 from 50-plus yards) and 19-for-22 on extra points in nine games played. Fantasy managers will want to avoid Green Bay's kicking situation to begin the 2026 season.
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Tom Silverstein
Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - Tom Silverstein
Cameron Dicker Could See Fewer Field-Goal Opportunities in 2026
A Pro Bowler in 2025, Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker's 38 made field goals were the third most in the league, allowing him to finish as the No. 4 fantasy kicker in a middle-of-the-road offense. With better health and the arrival of coordinator Mike McDaniel leading to projected offensive improvements in Los Angeles, Dicker is one player for whom this news could be seen as a double-edged sword. Better offensive efficiency will obviously increase overall scoring opportunities, but only the Saints and Jets converted fewer of their red zone trips into touchdowns than the Chargers in 2025, making Dicker one of only four kickers to attempt 40+ field goals, a number that could drop on the heels of more successful touchdown drives. Dicker's 93.5% career conversion rate on field goals is the highest of all time by a substantial margin, so it's best not to overthink his selection, and he remains a safe bet to accumulate points, heading into 2026 as RotoBaller's fifth-ranked kicker.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jason Myers Remains a Top-Five Fantasy Kicker
Seattle Seahawks kicker Jason Myers is coming off the best season of his career and remains one of the safest options at the position. He converted 41 of 48 field-goal attempts in 2025, finishing second in the NFL in makes while tying for the league lead in attempts. Myers also connected on nine kicks from at least 50 yards, made all 48 of his extra points, and led the league with 171 points. Seattle may not give him another 48 field-goal tries, but the offence consistently put him in scoring range and trusted him on long attempts. Myers has now made nine field goals from beyond 50 yards in three of the past four seasons, so the range is not tied to one career year. RotoBaller ranks him K4 for 2026. Fantasy managers do not need to reach for a kicker, but Myers belongs near the front of the position once the final rounds arrive.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Shanahan Expected to be Ready for Season Opener
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch said on Sunday that he doesn't think head coach Kyle Shanahan's injuries suffered in a recent car accident will prevent him from coaching the Sept. 10 regular-season opener against the division-rival Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. "That's not what we're anticipating," Lynch said. "That's not what I've heard from the doctors. But just like we talked about with players, the timeline kind of takes care of itself. He's got to meet certain markers. But I think the expectation is that long before that he'll be better." Shanahan suffered a broken nose, three ribs, and his hand and needed more than 40 stitches in his face while also suffering a severe concussion on July 14 when his car collided with an SUV. He is recovering well but still has lingering concussion symptoms, according to Lynch. It will be a group effort to replace Shanahan early on in training camp, but assistant head coach Chris Foerster will assume some of his duties. Shanahan is heading into his 10th season with the team, which will tie him with Bill Walsh for the longest tenure by a head coach in franchise history.
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Source: ESPN - Adam Schefter
Improved Offensive Efficiency Could Hurt Ka'imi Fairbairn's Fantasy Prospects
Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn led the NFL with 44 made field goals in 2025 despite missing two games with a quad injury, and his 12.9 standard fantasy points per game led the position, but changes to the Texans offense could hurt his value in 2026. The Texans scored touchdowns on only 45.9% of their red zone trips last season, better than only the Saints, Jets, and Chargers, but in trading for running back David Montgomery, they have acquired one of the league's most efficient red zone runners of the past three seasons. Since 2023, Montgomery has scored 29 rushing touchdowns from inside the 20-yard line, and his presence could drastically cut down on Fairbairn's scoring opportunities. With a field goal conversion percentage above 91% in three of the past four seasons, Fairbairn is still as reliable as they come, but with fewer projected chip shots, he could struggle to deliver upon his current ADP of K2.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Kyle Shanahan to be Limited in Camp After Being Involved in Car Accident
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan will be limited in training camp after a July 14 car accident where he collided with an SUV near his Northern California home, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter and Nick Wagoner. Shanahan broke his nose, three ribs, and his hand, needed over 40 stitches in his face, and suffered a severe concussion. Drugs and alcohol were not involved, and both drivers were cooperative with police. Shanahan has been recovering at home and is believed to be healing well, but doctors won't clear him for full activities until concussion symptoms clear. The 49ers are set to kick off training camp on Sunday, so Shanahan will not be present for the first day of workouts. Assistant head coach and offensive line coach Chris Foerster will assume some of Shanahan's duties and help lead the team in camp until Shanahan is cleared to return. Shanahan enters the 2026 season with 82 regular-season victories, the third-most in franchise history. If he gets to 11 wins this year, he'll pass Bill Walsh for second on the list.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
Brandon Aubrey Still the Top Fantasy Kicker to Target
When Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey signed a four-year, $28 million extension this offseason to make him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history, it secured his spot at the top of the fantasy kicker rankings for the foreseeable future. A former soccer player, Aubrey has changed the way the Cowboys can operate offensively with his near-rangeless ability to connect from deep, particularly when playing in the domed confines of AT&T Stadium. Aubrey connected on 36 of his 42 field goal attempts and all but one of his 48 extra point tries, but what makes the three-time Pro Bowler particularly valuable for fantasy has been his historic success from deep, adding 11 more 50+ yard makes in 2025. Aubrey is RotoBaller's K1 for 2026 and will undoubtedly be selected before the final round of drafts in many leagues.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Lucas Havrisik to Compete With Rookie Trey Smack for Kicking Job
The Green Bay Packers cut veteran kicker Brandon McManus shortly after they took Trey Smack in the sixth round in April out of the University of Florida because they were pretty convinced that the rookie would be their opening-day kicker, according to Rob Demovsky of ESPN. However, Smack had some rough days during the offseason program and missed multiple kicks, so the expectation is that there will be a head-to-head competition this summer in training camp between Smack and Lucas Havrisik. The 26-year-old Havrisik is a former undrafted free agent out of the University of Arizona who has made 19 of his 24 field-goal attempts (79.2%) and 26 of his 31 extra-point tries in 12 games in just two NFL seasons with the Packers and Los Angeles Rams. If he wins the starting placekicker job to begin the 2026 regular season this fall, it will only be to keep the seat warm for Smack.
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Source: ESPN.com - Rob Demovsky
Matt Gay Faces Competition From Rookie in Vegas
Veteran kicker Matt Gay will compete with undrafted rookie Kansei Matsuzawa this summer in training camp after the Las Vegas Raiders didn't bring back All-Pro placekicker Daniel Carlson after he posted an 81.5% field-goal percentage in 2025, his worst since his rookie year in 2018. ESPN's Ryan McFadden writes that Gay isn't much of an upgrade over Carlson after making 73.9% of his kicks in 2025 in 12 games with the Washington Commanders and San Francisco Giants. Barring a disaster from Gay in camp, we'd expect him to get the nod over Matsuzawa to begin the 2026 regular season, but he'll surely be on a short leash. In his seven-year NFL career, the 32-year-old Gay, a former fifth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2019 from the University of Utah, has made 84.3% of his 216 field-goal attempts (32-for-54 from 50-plus yards) and 96.7% of his extra points. The Raiders' offense is expected to take a step forward under new head coach Klint Kubiak, but that isn't a reason enough to target Gay in most fantasy football leagues.
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
Source: ESPN.com - Ryan McFadden
Jason Sanders, Cade York Competing for Kicking Job in New York
With veteran kicker Nick Folk signing with the Atlanta Falcons in free agency in the offseason, the New York Jets are set for a kicking competition this summer between Jason Sanders and Cade York, according to Jack Bell of NewYorkJets.com. "They're both consistently competitive, just in their approach, their process," special teams coach Chris Banjo said. "They're very, very resilient in regards of some things that may go good or may not go good, and one snap and clear and they're onto the next thing, and they've been doing a good job of that so far." Sanders didn't play at all in 2025 due to a hip injury, but his 84.6% field-goal percentage was the highest in Miami Dolphins' franchise history, and his 221 field goals are second only to Olindo Mare. York has lived the life of a well-traveled NFL kicker in just two seasons, making 73.3% of his 45 field-goal tries. If Sanders is fully healthy this year, he figures to be the favorite for kicking duties with the Jets. Although he's been pretty consistent in his career, fantasy managers in most formats should be able to find more stable options at the position.
Source: NewYorkJets.com - Jack Bell
Source: NewYorkJets.com - Jack Bell
