Who Should I Start? Brett Maher or Daniel Carlson

Monday, January 1, 7:38 PM

The Los Angeles Rams are signing veteran kicker Brett Maher on Monday after waiving rookie Lucas Havrisik earlier in the day. Maher began the year as the Rams' kicker and played in the first seven weeks before getting cut on Oct. 24, going 17-for-23 (73.9 percent) on his field-goal opportunities and 12-for-13 with his extra points. Havrisik was cut by the Rams on Monday after missing two of his four extra points in a one-point win over the New York Giants on Sunday. LA just has been unable to settle on a kicker all season, but Maher will hope to come back in and be more successful than he was earlier in the year as the team gets ready for another playoff appearance. In the Week 18 regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers with key starters potentially being rested, Maher should be avoided for fantasy lineups.

Friday, October 10, 9:25 PM

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson remains a low-upside option for fantasy owners despite a potentially favorable Week 6 matchup against the Titans. The Raiders' offense has struggled to sustain drives, posting the league's second-highest turnover rate at 18.5%, and quarterback Geno Smith's inconsistency compounds Carlson's limited scoring opportunities. Even in games with red zone chances, the Raiders' inefficiency reduces Carlson's fantasy ceiling, making him a risky play. Until Las Vegas' offense becomes more consistent and turnover-prone plays are minimized, Carlson is unlikely to provide the reliable fantasy production owners hope for, and those with stronger options at the position should continue looking elsewhere for week-to-week stability.