Who Should I Start? Brandon McManus or Zane Gonzalez

Sunday, October 26, 7:20 PM

Green Bay Packers kicker Brandon McManus (quadricep) is officially active for Sunday's Week 8 contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had been listed as questionable after logging a limited practice session. The 34-year-old returns following a two-game absence. He went 7-for-9 on field goals and 11-for-12 on extra points when healthy, maintaining low-end streaming appeal in fantasy football. His return to action is bittersweet for the Packers and fantasy managers alike. Green Bay is surely pleased to get its primary kicker back, but it also spells the end of a magical two-week stretch for Lucas Havrisik, who went from searching for substitute teaching jobs to going 4-for-4 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra points while filling in for McManus. Havrisik is a healthy scratch Sunday night.

Thursday, March 6, 1:30 PM

The Washington Commanders re-signed kicker Zane Gonzalez to an undisclosed deal on Thursday, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Gonzalez took over for an injured Austin Seibert (hip) before Week 13 last season and finished the year (including three playoff games) by making 12 of his 15 field-goal attempts and all 27 of his extra-point tries in nine games. That was enough to convince the Commanders that the 29-year-old deserves a shot to open the 2025 season as their primary placekicker. Gonzalez was returning to the NFL in 2024 for the first time since he kicked in 12 games for the Carolina Panthers back in 2021. Washington is one of the better up-and-coming offenses in the NFL after quarterback Jayden Daniels led them to the NFC Championship in his rookie season, so at the very least, Gonzalez will be a fantasy streaming option to open next season.