Who Should I Start? Dustin Hopkins or Harrison Butker

Thursday, January 11, 3:00 PM

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for Saturday's wild-card playoff game against the Houston Texans after missing practice all week. Hopkins will miss his third straight game due to his hamstring injury. Riley Patterson, who has served as Cleveland's kicker the last two games with Hopkins out, will likely be elevated from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster for Saturday's playoff contest. The 24-year-old was the Detroit Lions' primary kicker for 13 games this year before getting cut and latching on with the Browns. In 15 total games between both teams this year, he's gone 16-for-18 on field-goal tries and has miss three of his 44 extra-point attempts. Fantasy managers should be looking for better options at the position on wild-card weekend.

Sunday, December 31, 12:21 AM

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker joined in on the team's uncharacteristic woes in last Monday's 20-14 loss to the division-rival Las Vegas Raiders, sinking both of his extra-point attempts but missing his lone field-goal try. Butker had been flawless on kicks from last year's Super Bowl up until Week 14 of this season, but the 28-year-old has now missed two boots in his last two weeks. With K.C.'s scuffling offense netting just 19.4 points per game through their last eight contests, Butker has secured a single-digit fantasy outcome just twice over this period. The Chiefs next welcome in the Cincinnati Bengals, who have surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing kickers on the campaign. Butker should be treated as a top-10 choice in Sunday's plus draw for title-hopeful fantasy rosters.