Who Should I Start? Cairo Santos or Chad Ryland

Saturday, November 23, 5:44 AM

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos is a solid, somewhat unexciting fantasy option in Week 12 as he faces the Minnesota Vikings. Santos' most recent performance was a mixed bag while he successfully converted his first two field goals, he had a chance to win the game with a field goal at the buzzer, only to see it get blocked. Whether that missed opportunity will linger in Santos' mind remains to be seen, but he has generally been reliable throughout the season, making him a dependable kicker option. Minnesota's defense has been tough on passing offenses this year, ranking 4th in points per game allowed and 1st in EPA per play, which could mean fewer scoring opportunities for the Bears. Still, Santos has been consistent in terms of accuracy, and with the potential for field goal attempts in a low-scoring game, he's worth considering as a start. While there are likely higher-upside options available, Santos is a steady, if unspectacular, play for Week 12. If you're dealing with bye-week issues or injury concerns, he's a reasonable choice, but don't expect any game-changing performances.

Tuesday, October 22, 11:45 AM

Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland drilled his only attempt, which was the 32-yard game-winning field goal for the Cardinals on Monday night. Ryland also hit two extra points to go along with the game-winning field goal. This was a grinding matchup between two offenses that played at a slower pace, and the Cardinals' offense didn't find themselves in a field goal situation until the end of the game, limiting Ryland's opportunities. With the Cardinals' offense still struggling to find consistency, Ryland doesn't yet crack the list of fantasy-relevant kickers. However, the Cardinals will face some mid- to lower-tier defenses in the coming weeks, which could make Ryland a potential streaming option in the future.