New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and converted his sole extra point try in Week 15. Grupe was good from 41 and 51 yards away and he is now 14-for-16 from 40 or more yards out. It was an encouraging effort after his 0-for-2 showing in Week 14. Despite the rebound, Grupe is not a recommended start in Week 16 when the Saints take on the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. The weather at Lambeau Field is expected to be wet, windy, and cold, which is far from ideal for a kicker used to kicking in the optimal conditions provided by a domed stadium. Pass on Grupe this week but keep an eye on his availability as he may be useful in Week 17 when New Orleans faces the Las Vegas Raiders.
Dec 22, 2024 3:38 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe converted both of his extra point attempts in Week 14 but he missed both of his field goal tries. It is worth noting that the misses were both from over 50 yards out. The first, a 53-yarder, had the distance but veered left of the uprights. The second was a 60-yard try at the end of the first half that was blocked by the Giants. Before those whiffs, Grupe had been a perfect 5-for-5 from 50 or more yards out. Grupe is a tough sell for fantasy football purposes in Week 15. The Saints will next face the Washington Commanders, who have seen the fourth-fewest field goal attempts in the league and are tied for the third-lowest fantasy points per game allowed to opposing kickers. On top of that, the Saints offense as a whole will be downgraded with quarterback Jake Haener drawing the start in light of regular starter Derek Carr's (concussion, hand) injuries. Fantasy managers can and should find a more bankable option for the first round of the fantasy playoffs.
Dec 14, 2024 5:32 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe hit a pair of 54-yard field goals in Week 13 but also missed a 36-yarder in the 21-14 loss to the Rams. The miss was his first since Week 8 and just his second missed field goal of the year. He is now 5-for-5 on attempts from 50 yards or more. On the season Grupe has been good on 20 out of 22 field goal attempts and has converted 26 of 28 extra point tries. In Week 14 the Saints face the New York Giants, who rank in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points allowed to opposing kickers. Grupe has not been spectacular by any stretch but his long-range accuracy offers some appeal. With six teams on bye this week, it may be necessary to shop the wire to fill the kicker slot. Grupe is a decent option but fantasy managers will be best served to shop for a more lucrative matchup as the Saints-Giants pairing is expected to be a low-scoring affair.
Dec 7, 2024 6:10 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe did not register a field goal attempt in Week 11's 35-14 win over the Cleveland Browns but he did convert all five of his extra point tries. Season-long, he is 18-for-19 on field goals and 26-for-28 on extra points. His last missed kick came in Week 8 when he pushed a 44-yard field goal attempt wide right. Grupe has converted his other eight kicks from 40 or more yards away. On deck are the Los Angeles Rams, who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing kickers. The matchup features an over/under of 49.5 and if the expected offensive showcase comes to fruition, then there will be plenty of chances for Grupe to get on the field. Grupe makes for a solid choice at kicker in Week 13.
Nov 30, 2024 6:14 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe was perfect in Week 10, converting both of his field goal attempts and both extra point tries. He scored the first points of the game against the Falcons with a 38-yard field goal in the second quarter and hit another from 26 yards out in the third quarter. On the season he has missed just one of his 19 field goal attempts and is now 21-for-23 on extra points. Grupe offers a solid floor, rarely straying far from his average 7.5 fantasy points per game. In Week 11, the Saints face the Browns, who have offered little to opposing kickers this season, though that may be because they are allowing teams to reach the end zone more often than they are stopping them short, particularly in close range. Cleveland has only seen five field goals attempted at a distance of 39 yards or fewer. They have also had the good fortune of opponents going 8-for-14 from 40 yards out or more, with just one block to their credit. Grupe is 8-for-9 from that range. Grupe isn't an option to get excited about but a top-12 finish isn't out of the question. He is worth a look for fantasy managers seeking a kicker in Week 11.
Nov 16, 2024 3:27 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts in Week 9. Grupe got off to an early start, hitting tries from 29 and 31 yards out in the first quarter, and then nailed a 51-yarder in the third. He also converted his lone extra point attempt on the day. To date, Grupe is 16-for-17 on field goals and 19-for-21 on extra points and ranks in the top 12 in fantasy points. In Week 10, he will take the field against the Atlanta Falcons, which has allowed the most fantasy points to opposing kickers this season. That offers an upside to Grupe, who already represents a fairly stable floor. Remove his highest and lowest fantasy scores in 2024 and he averages seven fantasy points per game. Grupe is widely available and is worthy of a start for managers seeking help at kicker in Week 10.
Nov 9, 2024 5:33 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe converted field goal attempts from 40 and 43 yards out in Week 8 before missing a 44-yarder in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers. It was his first missed field goal attempt of the season. He was not able to try for an extra point as the Saints were held out of the end zone in the 26-8 loss and remains a perfect 20-for-20 on the season. In Week 9, Grupe and the Saints take on the Panthers in a rematch of their Week 1 blowout wherein Grupe had his highest-scoring game of the season. In that matchup, he converted five extra points and had four field goals, including two from over 50 yards away. New Orleans figures to put up big numbers once more against Carolina's soft defense, paving the way for another big day for Grupe. Fantasy managers in need of a streaming option can plug him into their Week 9 lineups.
Nov 2, 2024 4:07 AM EST
New Orleans Saints placekicker Blake Grupe was good on his only field goal attempt in Week 7. The make, from 35 yards out, kept Grupe perfect on field goal tries this season. He also converted his only extra-point attempt of the night. Facing the stiff defense of the Denver Broncos, the Saints found it hard to give Grupe chances to enter play and the situation is likely to repeat in Week 8 when they get the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers have had just nine touchdowns scored against them this season and have allowed the fewest points in the league (83). Naturally, they have seen the fewest extra point attempts and similarly have seen the third-fewest field goal attempts tried against them. Fantasy managers should shop the wire for a different kicking option in Week 8, as Grupe's situation is about as poor as it can get.
Oct 26, 2024 5:49 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe made the most of the Week 6 defeat at the hands of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Grupe had a perfect day, hitting field goals from 29 and 42 yards out and converting all three of his extra point attempts in the 51-27 loss which resulted in his best fantasy score since Week 1. He is 10-for-10 on field goal attempts in 2024 though he has missed two extra points. The Saints open Week 7 with a Thursday night matchup against the Denver Broncos. The game is expected to be a low-scoring affair given Denver's defensive prowess and lack of firepower on offense. As such, Grupe's upside is limited in a game where scoring chances are expected to be few and far between. Grupe has not done enough this season to separate himself from the pack so fantasy managers should have no qualms about streaming another kicker in Week 7.
Oct 17, 2024 1:20 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe went without a field goal attempt for the first time this season in Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Grupe went 1-for-2 on extra point attempts in the game, making it his second missed point through the first five weeks of the season. Grupe's sophomore season started with a bang as he hit four field goals (including two 50-yarders) in Week 1 and benefited from the Saints' early offensive explosion by knocking home 10 extra points over their first two games. However, Grupe has not reached double-digit fantasy points since Week 1, and there's no reason to believe he is due for a big turnout in Week 6. The expected point total for the NFC South matchup against the Buccaneers is a mere 42 points, which is among the lowest on Sunday's slate. Grupe is not a bad option, per se, but fantasy managers can probably find a more promising option elsewhere.
Oct 12, 2024 4:05 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe (hip) practiced in full on Friday after he was given an DNP tag on Thursday. Grupe was looking iffy for Week 5 against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football after popping up on the initial injury report, but a return to a full practice a day later on Friday should put him in the clear to be available to close out Week 5 action. The 25-year-old has been a top-10 fantasy kicker through the first four weeks of the season, and there's no reason why fantasy managers should be going away from him this week as long as he's active. Grupe is currently the No. 7 kicker in terms of fantasy points this year. He's made all eight of his field-goal attempts and has missed just one of his 14 extra-point tries. The Chiefs defense has allowed 7.5 fantasy points per game to kickers through four games, which ranks 20th in the league.
Oct 4, 2024 7:21 PM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe (hip) is dealing with a right-hip injury and was unable to take part in the first practice of the week on Thursday. Grupe's status for the Week 5 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday night is now in question, but he still has two more days to get back onto the practice field. If Grupe cannot get back on the practice field in the next two days, the Saints could call up Charlie Smyth from the practice squad to serve as their kicker on Monday night. Through four weeks in 2024, Grupe checks in as the No. 5 fantasy kicker, having made all eight of his field-goal attempts and 13 of his 14 extra-point tries in a much-improved Saints offense. Fantasy managers might need to pivot at the kicking position in Week 5 if Grupe is out or listed as questionable for Monday's contest.
Oct 3, 2024 6:18 PM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe hit field goals from 34 and 38 yards out in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. His second professional season started with a bang in Week 1 when he converted five extra points and had four field goals (including two from over 50 yards away). The two games since produced more modest results, with scores of eight and six fantasy points. In Week 4 he has a good chance of turning in another double-digit effort against the Atlanta Falcons, who have allowed the most fantasy points to kickers thus far in the new season. Fantasy managers looking for options in Week 4 can plug Grupe in with confidence.
Sep 28, 2024 4:28 AM EST
New Orleans kicker Blake Grupe has a lot working in his favor in his first NFL season. The undrafted rookie has the benefit of playing in a dome, for starters. And with Klint Kubiak now running the offense, the team is suddenly a powerhouse in the making meaning Grupe is flush with opportunities to put points on the board. His pro debut was stellar, nailing five extra points and four field goals - two from more than 50 yards out. Last week, he banged home another field goal and hit five of his six extra point tries. The Saints get the Eagles in Week 3 in what is expected to be one of the highest-scoring games of the week. Grupe makes for a great streaming option if he isn't on your roster already.
Sep 21, 2024 6:00 AM EST
New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe was on fire in Week 1's win over Carolina. The second-year kicker drilled all five extra point attempts, along with all four field goal attempts. Two of his field goals came from 50+ yards out, showcasing improvement from last year. Grupe is a tougher start this week against the Dallas Cowboys, who gave up just 17 points last week to Cleveland. Despite his strong Week 1 performance, look elsewhere for a kicker in Week 2.
Sep 13, 2024 1:28 PM EST
New Orleans Saints' second-year kicker Blake Grupe is an option at the kicker position heading into Week 1's tout with the Carolina Panthers. Grupe had a solid rookie season, converting 30-of-37 field goal attempts with a long of 55 yards. The Notre Dame product finished the season strong and will look to carry over his late-season success into Week 1. Carolina allowed the fourteenth-most points to kickers a season ago, making it a solid matchup for Grupe.
Sep 6, 2024 11:56 AM EST