Who Should I Start? Cairo Santos or Matt Gay

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.

Wednesday, November 19, 7:06 PM

The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent kicker Matt Gay to their practice squad on Wednesday and released wide receiver Russell Gage Jr. from their practice squad in a corresponding move, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Eddy Pineiro (hamstring) suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in the Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals and is not expected to be available to kick this coming Monday night against the Carolina Panthers. Gay was just waived by the Washington Commanders on Monday after missing two kicks in a three-point loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in Madrid. The 31-year-old veteran looks like he'll be the 49ers' short-term replacement at place kicker with Pineiro injured, but fantasy managers should be looking to stay away. The seven-year veteran has been inconsistent, making 13 of his 19 field-goal tries in 10 games, including going 4-for-9 from 50-plus yards out.