Who Should I Start? Cairo Santos or Jake Bates


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
8.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Cairo Santos News

Cairo Santos Riding Momentum into Must-Start Matchup

Saturday, November 22, 9:59 AM

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos is coming off his best game of the season in Week 11, knocking down four of five field goals, including the game-winner to beat the division rival Minnesota Vikings. It's been an up-and-down year for Santos, who's fought through injuries and kicker controversy with Jake Moody earlier in the year. With Moody in Washington and the injuries behind the veteran kicker, Santos will look to fire off a strong finish to his 12th season. He faces a great matchup in Week 12, against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to kickers this season. With good weather expected and a ton of confidence, Santos is worth starting in Week 12.


Week 1 Projections

Fant.
Pts.
Rush.
Yds.
Rush
TD
Rec. Rec.
Yds.
Rec
TD
8.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0

Jake Bates News

Lions Tender a Contract to Kicker Jake Bates

Wednesday, March 4, 3:20 PM

The Detroit Lions tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Jake Bates, ensuring that he returns for the 2026 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bates has gotten off to a nice start to his NFL career in two seasons with Detroit, making 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts while making 118 of his 123 extra-point tries in 34 games played. The 27-year-old Arkansas product has led the NFL in extra-point attempts and extra-point makes in each of the last two years while playing in one of the best offenses in the league. In 2025, he went 27-for-34 on field goals (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and 54-for-56 on extra points in 17 games played to finish as the No. 6 fantasy kicker in overall points. The Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, but they should still have a favorable offense, making Bates a clear top-10 fantasy target at the kicking position.


Cairo Santos vs. Jake Bates

Still trying to decide between Santos and Bates? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Cairo Santos is projected to score 8.6 points this week while Jake Bates is projected to score 8.6 points.