Who Should I Start? Daniel Carlson or Evan McPherson

Friday, September 5, 8:03 PM

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson enters the 2025 season in the middle tier of fantasy options after two straight years of declining accuracy. Once considered one of the league's most reliable legs, Carlson now finds himself tied to an offense that remains more potential than production. His Week 1 matchup against the Patriots does little to boost his outlook, as New England's defense should keep scoring opportunities limited. Until the Raiders prove they can sustain drives and finish possessions consistently, Carlson is best left on the waiver wire. For now, he's a low-end streaming option without dependable week-to-week fantasy value.

Saturday, September 6, 2:31 PM

Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson appeared to be on his way to becoming one of the league's best at the position. However, McPherson's production has gone in the wrong direction since his rookie year, and he finished the 2024 campaign by making only 72.7% of his attempts, a career-low. He was also limited to 12 games due to injury. The Bengals offense can move down the field quickly, which should give the 26-year-old chances to produce for fantasy managers. Still, until McPherson proves he can be trusted to capitalize on his opportunities, managers may want to consider other kickers for the Week 1 AFC North clash with the Browns.