Who Should I Start? Brandon McManus or Spencer Shrader

Tuesday, March 4, 10:44 PM

The Green Bay Packers agreed to re-sign kicker Brandon McManus on Tuesday to a three-year, $15.3 million deal, including a $5 million signing bonus, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal was negotiated by Drew and Jason Rosenhaus. McManus joined the Packers midway through the 2024 and helped stabilize a position that had been a headache for the team ever since Mason Crosby left. The 33-year-old veteran made 20 of his 21 field-goal attempts, including all three from 50-plus yards out, and all 30 of his extra-point tries in 11 regular-season games. In the wild-card game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he made one of his two field goals and his only point-after attempt. Given the upside of Green Bay's offense with quarterback Jordan Love, McManus should enter the 2025 season as a fringe top-12 fantasy option, at worst.

Thursday, March 13, 9:49 PM

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Thursday that they have signed free-agent kicker Spencer Shrader to an undisclosed deal. Shrader will return to Indianapolis after making all three of his extra points in the Week 1 loss to the division-rival Houston Texans. The 25-year-old also appeared in games with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs in his first year in the NFL in 2024, going a combined 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts (zero attempts from 50-plus yards) and 9-for-9 on extra-point tries. Shrader didn't miss a single kick, but it was also a small sample size. He was brought in to compete with veteran Matt Gay this summer after Gay made just 83.8 percent of his 37 field-goal attempts in his second year with the team. Whoever wins the competition should be left to the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy leagues.