Oct 31, 2026, 12:41 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader missed his first field goals of the season in Week 7, as he made only one of his three field goal attempts while whiffing on tries of 48 and 56 yards out. He'd previously not missed a single field goal attempt -- all six of his attempts from 50 or more yards and all seven of his attempts from between 40 and 49 yards away went through the uprights. Shrader's misses were very uncharacteristic of him this season, which is why it's still feasible to start him in Week 8 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. They have a solid defense this season, especially in the red zone. It may be hard for the Colts to score much on them, but the Jaguars red zone defense is one of the best in the NFL, and for opposing kicker scoring, a good red zone defense is actually a positive. We'll assume that Shrader's recent misses were an aberration and hope they don't become part of a larger trend. He slides in the kicker rankings a bit, but still retains starting value in fantasy football for Week 8 as a top-10 option at his position.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 24, 2026, 1:18 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader is the best player at his position in fantasy football this season. He's made all 18 of his field goal attempts and 12 of his 13 extra point tries so far this year. The matchup in Week 7 is quite ugly, though -- the opposing Minnesota Vikings defense should feast on the vulnerable Colts offense. We could see a truly hideous showing from Indy, who is missing their top wideout and No. 1 tight end to injuries. Shrader has been accurate, but the problem could come in the form of the Colts not moving the ball into field goal range enough to make things competitive. Additionally, Indy has a poor defense this year, and the Vikings could build up an early lead and force the Colts to go for it on fourth downs and try to reach the end zone at the expense of more field goal attempts for Shrader. It's fine to start him this week, but his chances of having a big game are diminished by the brutal defense on the other side of the ball.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 19, 2026, 12:25 PM ET

The Indianapolis Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard on Monday, and Dan Patrick's sources have told him that the Colts' first call will be/has been to former quarterback Peyton Manning. Owner Carlie Irsay-Gordon put both Ballard and head coach Shane Steichen on clear notice back in January, so barring a significant turnaround, the Colts will likely be looking for a new head coach soon, too. It is unclear if Manning has any interest in becoming the franchise's GM, which would include ownership interest in the Colts. Ballard had been Indy's GM since the 2017 season. The Colts have started out 2-4 on the season after just losing to the previously winless Tennessee Titans 26-20 at home on Sunday in Week 6. It could be an enticing offer for Manning with an ownership stake and the ability to pick his own quarterback. The Colts gave QB Daniel Jones an extension in the offseason despite the fact that he was coming off a torn Achilles tendon. Jones has underwhelmed so far through six games, throwing four touchdowns and six interceptions, but he has also been without a key weapon on offense in receiver Alec Pierce (heel). Making things more difficult for the next GM of the Colts is the fact that Indy traded their 2027 first-rounder (10th overall) to the New York Jets last year for cornerback Sauce Gardner. Since former franchise QB Andrew Luck retired before the 2019 season, the Colts have made two playoff appearances (one win) and are now on their seventh different starting QB.--Keith Hernandez
Source: The Dan Patrick Show

Oct 17, 2026, 6:07 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader is on an absolute tear this season as the No. 1 overall kicker in fantasy football. He averages a ridiculous 17 fantasy points per game over his last four contests, which is production you'd be happy with from a high-end running back or wideout rather than a placekicker. Still, Indy's offense has done a good job of moving the ball down the field but chronically fails at getting it into the end zone, especially not through the air. Colts quarterback Daniel Jones is struggling, and hasn't pushed the ball into the end zone many times this season, leaving Shrader to help the team rack up points slowly. He's made all 16 of his field goal attempts this season and missed just one extra point, and currently ranks as the No. 35 overall player in fantasy football if you exclude Week 1, as he's scored an average of 17.0 fantasy points through those games.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Oct 10, 2026, 1:23 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader is the No. 1 overall kicker in fantasy football through four games. He's converted nine of his 10 extra point attempts and all 11 of his field goal tries this season, including four from between 40 and 49 yards out and four from between 50 and 59 yards out. Shrader has been sharp, accurate, and consistent, other than the single extra point miss, and he's playing on an offense that's been struggling greatly in the red zone. Starting Colts quarterback Daniel Jones' rushing upside has been smashed into the turf by the Achilles injury he suffered late last season, and he's thrown just three touchdowns through four contests. With touchbacks on kickoffs now coming out to the 35-yard line and the league's kickers on another level, it's easier than ever to pick up just two first downs and convert a long field goal multiple times per game. Shrader is the king of the K position in fantasy football right now and should be started in all leagues with kicker positions in their starting lineups.--John Johnson
Source: ESPN

Sep 12, 2026, 4:59 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader won the preseason kicking competition against Blake Grupe and will face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1. During the preseason, Shrader went five-for-five in field goals, including two from at least 60 yards, which makes him incredibly valuable for fantasy managers. Shrader had his 2025 season cut short with an ACL and MCL tear in Week 5 and was replaced by Grupe for the rest of the season, but he was 13-for-14 in field goals and 14-for-14 in extra points before going down. Because of this injury, many managers drafting in 2026 may have forgotten how dominant he was in early 2025, averaging 13 points per game in the first four weeks. Lastly, this week's game against the Ravens has one of the week's highest over/under totals at 47.5, which should translate to plenty of kicking opportunities for Shrader. More importantly, the match is at home in the controlled environment of Lucas Oil Stadium, which gives Shrader a slight edge over kickers playing outdoors. Shrader appears fully recovered and is a viable starter for the Colts and for managers in 12-person or larger leagues with kickers.--Matt McCauley
Source: ESPN

Aug 31, 2026, 2:30 PM ET

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.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Tom Pelissero

Aug 30, 2026, 4:54 PM ET

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.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Mike Garafolo

Aug 30, 2026, 4:49 PM ET

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.--Andersen Pickard
Source: Mike Garafolo

Aug 23, 2026, 8:06 AM ET

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.--Matt McCauley
Source: ESPN

Aug 14, 2026, 3:46 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts special teams coordinator Brian Mason suffered multiple torn ligaments in his knee after being rolled up on during Thursday night's preseason game against the New England Patriots, according to Joel A. Erickson. The injury happened on the final play of the 13-13 tie, when two players engaged near the sideline ran into Mason. Head coach Shane Steichen said after the game that Mason was being evaluated for a knee injury, and Erickson reported Friday that the damage includes multiple torn ligaments. Mason is entering his fourth season as Indianapolis' special teams coordinator and has been with Shane Steichen's staff since 2023. There has been no reported timetable for Mason's recovery, and the Colts have not announced whether the injury will keep him away from the team once practices resume.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Joel A. Erickson

Aug 5, 2026, 1:49 PM ET

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.--Bruno Mulé
Source: Nathan Brown

Jul 22, 2026, 12:08 AM ET

Indianapolis Colts kickers Spencer Shrader (knee) and Blake Grupe will compete for the place-kicking job in Indy in training camp this summer, per Paul Bretl of Colts Wire. Shrader was 13-for-14 on field goals and a perfect 14-for-14 on extra points in five games last year before suffering an ACL injury in his knee. He was replaced by Grupe in Week 14, and he went a perfect 10-for-10 on field goals and 11-for-11 on his extra-point tries to close out the year before being re-signed in the offseason. Bretl thinks that Grupe should have the advantage going into the 2026 season because he has 105 career attempts under his belt compared to Shrader's 19, and he's also not coming off a significant knee injury. The 27-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame has made 81.9% of his 105 field-goal attempts (19-for-27 from 50-plus yards) and 98% of his extra points in his three years in the NFL. Fantasy managers in 12-team leagues can avoid the Colts' kicking situation to begin the year.--Keith Hernandez
Source: Colts Wire - Paul Bretl

Jun 11, 2026, 9:53 PM ET

Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader (knee) was able to get up some kicks as he works his way back into the mix. Shrader is currently recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 5 of last season. He knocked down 3-of-5 field goal attempts during a recent practice session. He'll be competing with Blake Grupe for the starting kicker job this upcoming season. Grupe connected on all five of his kicks, so Shrader could have a tough challenge ahead of him. Despite some struggles, it's quite amazing that Shrader is even attempting field goals around eight months after surgery.--Andy Webb
Source: Kevin Bowen