Who Should I Start? Daniel Carlson or Rodrigo Blankenship

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.

Monday, August 21, 6:14 PM

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived kicker Rodrigo Blankenship on Monday. Blankenship lost the kicking battle to Chase McLaughlin in training camp this summer and will now look to latch on with another team before the start of the 2023 regular season. The 26-year-old spent last year with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals, going 4-for-5 on his field-goal tries and 4-for-5 on extra points in just three total games. As long as Tampa doesn't bring in more competition for McLaughlin to close out the preseason, he should enter Week 1 as the team's starting kicker. McLaughlin, 27, made 83.3 percent of his 36 field-goal attempts and made all 21 of his extra-point tries in 16 games with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. The kicking position in Tampa won't be as exciting in fantasy now that Tom Brady isn't running the offense in 2023.