Who Should I Start? Brandon McManus or Jake Bates
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Brandon McManus News
Thursday, December 25, 7:05 PM
Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus has been a major roll over the past month or so, and he'll look to continue that hot stretch when the Packers host the Ravens in Week 17. McManus hasn't missed a kick in the five games he's been back since suffering a quad injury earlier this season. He's nailed his last 11 field goals and 13 extra points, which has led to double-digit fantasy performances in three of his last five weeks. No matter if the quarterback for the Packers is Jordan Love or Malik Willis, Green Bay should be able to find opportunities for McManus in the kicking game. That bodes well for fantasy managers looking to start him, and they should as a solid top-12 option this week against the Ravens.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Jake Bates News
Wednesday, March 4, 3:20 PM
The Detroit Lions tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Jake Bates, ensuring that he returns for the 2026 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bates has gotten off to a nice start to his NFL career in two seasons with Detroit, making 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts while making 118 of his 123 extra-point tries in 34 games played. The 27-year-old Arkansas product has led the NFL in extra-point attempts and extra-point makes in each of the last two years while playing in one of the best offenses in the league. In 2025, he went 27-for-34 on field goals (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and 54-for-56 on extra points in 17 games played to finish as the No. 6 fantasy kicker in overall points. The Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, but they should still have a favorable offense, making Bates a clear top-10 fantasy target at the kicking position.
Brandon McManus vs. Jake Bates
Still trying to decide between McManus and Bates? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Brandon McManus is projected to score 8.8 points this week while Jake Bates is projected to score 8.6 points.
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