Who Should I Start? Brandon McManus or Evan McPherson

Friday, September 26, 5:13 PM

Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus looks to shake off the blocked kick with under a minute left in Week 3 and bounce back as the Packers head to Dallas to play the Cowboys in Week 4. McManus didn't get too many opportunities in Week 3 with the Packers only scoring one touchdown, but he did make a 39-yard field goal, and his 43-yard attempt was blocked, which would have given the Packers a 13-10 lead. Instead, the Browns moved into field goal range themselves and booted home a game-winning field goal. The Packers are an excellent offense, but that doesn't always translate into giving the kicker a lot of runway for fantasy scoring each week. In a matchup like this against the Cowboys in Week 4, McManus enters the streaming kicker conversation as somebody who could get some volume in a controlled, indoor environment like AT&T Stadium.

Saturday, October 4, 2:13 PM

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson has been a victim of the team's offensive struggles in 2025. While he has yet to miss a kick, McPherson has only four attempts through four games, ranking 28th among all kickers. The Bengals' offense has been one of the least efficient in the NFL, sitting 30th in points per game (15.3), last in total yards per game (205.3), and dead last in time of possession (25:32). Simply put, McPherson isn't getting opportunities. The Week 5 matchup doesn't offer much upside either, as the Detroit Lions have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to kickers this season. With backup Jake Browning leading the Bengals' offense, scoring chances are unlikely to improve. McPherson remains a reliable kicker in terms of accuracy, but the lack of volume makes him unplayable in fantasy. He should be left out of starting lineups in Week 5.