Who Should I Start? Daniel Carlson or Michael Badgley

Friday, September 12, 2:46 PM

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson kicked off his 2025 campaign with a solid Week 1 performance, tying for the No. 8 kicker spot with 11 fantasy points against the Patriots. The reliable Raiders specialist showcased his impressive leg strength by connecting from both 40 and 51 yards while adding a pair of extra points. Though he missed an ambitious 58-yard attempt before halftime, Carlson's powerful leg remains a valuable fantasy asset. Heading into Week 2, he faces a Chargers defense that surrendered 21 points to the Chiefs ' offense, suggesting ample scoring opportunities should be available. While not an elite option, Carlson's proven accuracy and favorable matchup position him as a dependable low-end starting kicker for managers seeking consistency from their special teams slot this weekend.

Tuesday, March 4, 3:15 PM

The Detroit Lions recently cleared veteran kicker Michael Badgley (groin) from the torn groin that kept him out for all of last season, a source tells NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. While Badgley has made a full recovery, he's now set to become a free agent next week. With the 29-year-old out of commission all year, Jake Bates served as Detroit's regular kicker and was very reliable, missing only three of his 29 field-goal attempts in 17 regular-season games while missing three of his 67 extra-point attempts in his first year in the league. Because of how good Bates looked in 2024, it's likely that the Lions will let Badgley walk in free agency as he heads into his eighth year in the NFL. Badgley has a career 82.4 percent success rate on 119 field-goal attempts in 64 games played. In four games with Detroit in 2023, he made all four of his FGs and went 13-for-15 on extra points.