Who Should I Start? Cairo Santos or Chase McLaughlin

Saturday, November 15, 2:32 PM

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos has been a safe floor option at the position this season. Through seven games, Santos has made 12 of 15 kicks, while making all 20 extra point attempts. Santos is averaging 9.1 fantasy points per game this season, which puts him on pace to finish as the 13th-ranked kicker. The Bears face the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11, which will be Santos's first indoor game since Week 2. Despite the ideal kicking conditions, the Vikings may fare as a tough matchup for the veteran kicker, as only one other team has forced more missed field goals this season than the Vikings. Santos is a low-end starting option against the Vikings, as he looks to have his first big game of the 2025 season.

Saturday, November 8, 7:59 PM

Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin has been reliable again this season, making 17 of his 21 field goal attempts and converting 16 of 17 extra points. His 81% field goal percentage ranks just below the league average of 83.6% and is a sizable step down from last season's career best mark of 93.8%, which was third best in the league. The 29-year-old has been money on kicks from 50 yards or longer this season, drilling all eight of his attempts. No other kicker has made more than six. The eight field goals from 50 yards or more are already one shy of his career best mark set back in 2022. McLaughlin has solid streaming value in Week 10 against New England, which is one of the highest projected totals of the week.