Who Should I Start? Cairo Santos or Evan McPherson

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.

Monday, November 18, 12:35 AM

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson went 3-for-3 on extra points but just 2-for-4 on field goals during Sunday's Week 11 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. Both of his misses occurred in the fourth quarter and would have given Cincinnati an important lead. Instead, he missed the uprights wide left both times, preserving a tie that would eventually be broken by the Chargers in the final minute. McPherson's made field goals came from 26 and 27 yards out while he missed from 48 and 51 yards. The 25-year-old has ranked outside the top 15 fantasy kickers for most of this season and should continue to be avoided in most leagues when the Bengals return from their Week 12 bye.