Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has never appeared in an NFL playoff game before, but he already ranks as the No. 1 overall kicker in RotoBaller's Divisional Round fantasy rankings. His highly anticipated performance against the Washington Commanders on Saturday is the result of an impressive regular season in which he scored the seventh-most fantasy points among kickers. He missed just three field-goal attempts, and the Lions' incredibly potent offense put him in position to make a whopping 64 extra points. Also working in his favor is a somewhat favorable matchup against the Commanders, who surrendered two field goals to Chase McLaughlin last week, including one from 50 yards out. All in all, Bates is this week's top fantasy kicker thanks to his accuracy, power, and role on a dominant Lions team.
Jan 17, 2025 1:49 AM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates should benefit from the competitive, high-scoring nature of Sunday night's Week 18 contest against the Minnesota Vikings. With the NFC's No. 1 seed on the line, Detroit will stay highly competitive and keep its foot on the gas pedal for all 60 minutes. This bodes well for Bates, who has thrived in high-leverage situations all year long and benefits when the Lions put up a lot of points. In his first NFL season, Bates ranks eighth among all kickers in fantasy points. He has made a whopping 60 of 63 extra points, plus 25 of 28 field goals. He does have two missed field goals and two missed extra points over his last three games, but fantasy managers shouldn't have any concerns about his accuracy given his track record and high fantasy points total this season. Bates should be deployed as a top-five kicking option for the final week of the 2024 regular season.
Jan 4, 2025 9:16 AM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates went 2-for-2 on field goals and 2-for-4 on extra points during Monday's Week 17 win over the San Francisco 49ers. His two field goals came from 42 and 57 yards out. In the shorter kicking game, Bates missed one extra point attempt and had another blocked. The 25-year-old has been terrific in his first NFL season, ranking seventh among kickers in fantasy football. In the primetime victory, he set a Lions single-season franchise record for points scored (135). He'll remain a top fantasy option heading into next week's pivotal matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Dec 31, 2024 12:39 AM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates is afforded one of the better matchups of Week 17 when he lines up against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. The 25-year-old has been excellent this season -- driving through all but one of his 59 extra-point attempts and knocking in 23-of-26 field goal tries across 15 games. Coincidentally, all three of his missed field goals have come over the last four contests. He gets a 49ers defense this Monday night, which has been tough on opposing offenses but is one of the more favorable ones for fantasy kickers. San Fran is letting up the twelfth-most points per game to opponents in 2024, and Detroit should come out swinging as they're still fighting for first place in the NFC North. Bates ranks as RotoBaller's K2 ahead of this weekend's action.
Dec 27, 2024 9:46 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates can be started with confidence in Week 16 at the Chicago Bears. He is coming off a game against Buffalo in which he missed a 52-yard field goal but made all six of his extra points. The 52-yarder was his only attempt of the game so he will look to rebound a bit at Chicago this week. Tied to the Lions' high-powered offense, Bates is a trustworthy option for fantasy managers at the position. Look for more opportunities for field goals in this game and expect Bates to deliver this week.
Dec 21, 2024 9:25 AM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has turned a corner recently with his fantasy production. In his past five games, Bates has made four field goals of 50-plus yards and has double-digit fantasy points in four of those last five contests. In a home matchup with the Bills in Week 15, there figure to be points scored with two great offenses featured in what could turn out to be a shootout. Look for Bates to continue his recent strong stretch if Lions' drives stall short of finding the end zone. He figures to be a strong play at the kicker position this week.
Dec 14, 2024 9:50 AM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates converted both of his field-goal attempts and all four extra points in the team's 34-31 win over the Packers on Thursday night. Bates' performance included a 43-yard kick and a clutch 35-yard game-winner, showcasing his reliability in high-pressure situations. The Lions' offense continues to provide plenty of scoring opportunities for Bates, who has now connected on 21 of 22 field-goal attempts and 48 of 49 extra points this season. With at least eight fantasy points in 10 games this year, Bates remains one of the most consistent fantasy kickers heading into Week 15's matchup against the Buffalo Bills.
Dec 6, 2024 10:50 AM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates will aim to continue his strong season as the team takes on the Green Bay Packers in Week 14 on Thursday Night Football. Bates contributed nine points during Detroit's 23-20 Thanksgiving win over the Bears, converting three of four field goals while missing his first attempt of the season from 45 yards out. Despite the blemish, Bates remains one of the most consistent kickers in the league, going 19-for-20 on field goals and 44-for-45 on PATs through 12 games. The Lions' offense is the highest-scoring in the NFL, and continue to provide Bates with ample opportunities. Fantasy managers can confidently keep him in lineups. Bates is a safe, high-floor option against Green Bay.
Dec 4, 2024 9:01 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates went three-for-four on field goal attempts and converted both extra point tries in the Lions' 23-20 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 13. Bates' performance marked his sixth double-digit fantasy output of the season, bolstered by Detroit's ability to consistently create scoring opportunities. Bates remains one of the most reliable kickers in fantasy football this year. He'll aim for another strong showing as the Lions host the Green Bay Packers on Thursday Night Football in Week 14.
Nov 29, 2024 10:14 AM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates will aim to stay consistent as the Lions take on the Chicago Bears in Week 13. Bates connected on his lone field-goal attempt, a booming 56-yarder, and converted all three of his extra points in the Lions' 24-6 victory over Indianapolis. He continues to deliver, maintaining a perfect 16-for-16 record on field goals this season and leading the league with 40 successful PATs, a testament to Detroit's dynamic offense. Bates has scored eight or more fantasy points in eight of 11 games this year, proving to be one of the most dependable fantasy kickers. With the Lions once again boasting the highest projected team total this week, Bates remains a safe option for fantasy managers looking to capitalize on his steady production.
Nov 27, 2024 5:59 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates aims to maintain his consistent scoring as the team faces the Indianapolis Colts in Week 12. In the Lions' 52-6 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bates converted his sole field goal attempt and all seven extra points. This season, Detroit's offense has been prolific, scoring over 40 points in four of ten games and never falling below 20 points, providing Bates with ample scoring opportunities. He leads the league with 39 extra points made on 40 attempts and remains perfect on field goals, hitting all 15 attempts. Bates has scored at least eight fantasy points in seven games and achieved double-digit points in five, making him a reliable fantasy option heading into the matchup against Indianapolis.
Nov 23, 2024 11:25 AM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates delivered another strong performance in Week 11, converting his lone field goal attempt and all seven extra points in a 52-6 win over the Jaguars. Bates remains perfect on field goals this season, going 15-for-15, while leading the league with 39 extra points on 40 attempts. His consistent production continues to shine as part of Detroit's high-powered offense. Heading into Sunday night, Bates ranks as the K3 for the week and has scored 12 or more fantasy points in four of his last six games. He remains a reliable fantasy starter heading into Week 12 against the Indianapolis Colts.
Nov 17, 2024 9:12 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates heads into a favorable Week 11 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars as a solid fantasy option. He remains perfect on field goals this season, converting all 14 attempts, including two critical long-distance kicks in the Week 10 victory over the Texans. While head coach Dan Campbell's aggressive fourth-down strategies may limit Bates' field goal opportunities, the Lions' offensive firepower ensures a steady flow of extra point attempts, with Bates successfully making 32 out of 33 so far. Given Detroit's league-leading projected team total for the week, Bates is poised to deliver strong fantasy production against a Jaguars defense allowing over 26 points per game.
Nov 15, 2024 11:14 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates remains a reliable, high-floor option in Week 10 against the Houston Texans. While Bates benefits from Detroit's high-scoring offense, he has limited upside as Lions head coach Dan Campbell often opts to go for it on fourth down in opposing team territory, reducing Bates' field goal attempts. However, he's attempted just 12 field goals this season making all of them while converting 30 of 31 extra points over eight games. Facing a Texans defense that allows the fifth-fewest fantasy points to kickers, Bates' scoring potential may be capped. However, his connection to Detroit's prolific offense keeps him streamable, especially in leagues with limited kicker options.
Nov 8, 2024 9:41 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates had an average fantasy showing in Week 9, finishing with one field goal and converting all three extra points in the 24-14 win over the Green Bay Packers. This brings Bates to 30 of 31 on extra points for the season. This also marked only the third time this season that he's finished with less than eight fantasy points. Bate's streamable status remains strong thanks to Detroit's high-scoring offense. Bates continues to offer reliable production in favorable matchups and will look to add to his season totals next week against the Houston Texans.
Nov 3, 2024 9:28 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates heads into Week 9 against the Green Bay Packers with a reliable fantasy floor, thanks largely to Detroit's high-powered offense. Bates has only attempted 11 field goals across seven games but remains a strong option due to his consistent extra-point volume, converting 27 of 28 PATs this season. With 22 extra points over his last four games alone, he benefits from Detroit's frequent scoring opportunities, even though head coach Dan Campbell's aggressive play-calling on fourth downs sometimes limits his field goal chances. Bates has scored at least eight fantasy points in five of seven games, including three double-digit outings. As the Lions enter Week 9 with a projected team total of 25, Bates is well-positioned to deliver another solid fantasy performance.
Nov 1, 2024 9:34 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates delivered in the clutch during Week 7, nailing a 44-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to secure a 31-29 comeback victory over Minnesota. Bates, now a perfect 10-for-10 on the season, connected on his lone field goal attempt of the game and went 4-for-4 on extra points. The game-winning kick marked the most significant moment of Bates' young career after a costly David Montgomery fumble that was returned for a touchdown, temporarily putting the Vikings ahead. Detroit's defense forced a quick three-and-out, setting up Jared Goff and the offense to drive down the field, giving Bates a chance to seal the win. Bates has scored eight or more fantasy points in four of six games this season. The Lions will host the Tennessee Titans next Sunday, and Bates remains a solid kicking option in Week 8.
Oct 20, 2024 8:24 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates is a perfect 5-for-5 on his field goal attempts so far this season but none have come from more than 35 yards out. He did miss an extra point last week at Arizona. He has a decent matchup in Week 4 against the Seahawks at Ford Field but until he proves himself on a long kick it is tough to trust him as a fantasy kicker option. The Lions have a good offense which would seem to suggest plenty of opportunities for Bates but Dan Campbell's propensity to go for it on 4th-and-short situations can be viewed as a factor limiting Bates' overall upside. Until fantasy managers get more clarity on the long-range ability of Bates as a kicker, it is best to leave him on the waiver wire and take a wait-and-see approach.
Sep 28, 2024 2:01 PM EST
Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has hovered around the middle of the pack for kickers so far after two weeks. In the Lions' Week 2 loss, Bates converted on all three of his field goals and his lone extra point. So far, he hasn't missed a field goal or extra point through two games, but he hasn't attempted a field goal longer than 35 yards. The Lions' offense is good enough to move the ball down the field to get into Bates' range, but their aggressive play calling has seen more touchdown-or-bust type of plays rather than settling for field goals. Bates looks to be a mid-level option heading into Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals while having one of the higher-rated matchups according to RotoBaller's matchup tool.
Sep 20, 2024 9:44 AM EST
Detroit Lions Kicker Jake Bates will face the Los Angeles Rams at home in Week 1. Bates had a good season in the UFL earlier this year, kicking a 64-yard field goal and two other field goals of 60 or more yards. The 25-year-old had never attempted a field goal in his football career until earlier this year, but he proved during his time in the UFL that he could hang with the best. He signed a two-year deal with the Lions this offseason and could be considered to start just because of how high-scoring this matchup is expected to be. Bates is listed as K18 on RotoBaller's Week 1 Rankings.
Sep 8, 2024 1:07 AM EST