Who Should I Start? Brandon McManus or Jake Bates

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.

Friday, September 26, 11:08 PM

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has made just four out of six field goal tries so far this season, but one of his misses was from 67 yards out. Perhaps most importantly for his fantasy outlook, Bates is currently leading the NFL in extra-point attempts and makes (13) for the second-straight season. Detroit faces a difficult matchup in the Cleveland Browns in Week 4, who have been one of the NFL's best defenses so far in 2025. That could lead to more field goal opportunities for Bates if the Lions have some success moving the ball, but the Browns can hold them out of the end zone. Bates also gets the advantage this week of playing an indoor home game at Ford Field. Heading into Week 4, Bates profiles as a high-end starting fantasy kicker.