Who Should I Start? Dustin Hopkins or Jake Moody

Friday, July 11, 2:48 PM

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins will "get every opportunity" to rebound from a down year in 2024, according to Chris Easterling of the Akron Beacon Journal. Hopkins had an excellent year in 2023 when he made 33 of his 36 kicks, including all eight attempts from beyond 50 yards. He was significantly worse in 2024, going just 18-27 overall and four-for-eight from 50+ yards out. Easterling notes that Hopkins' primary competition in Browns' camp is Andre Szmyt, who has yet to record a kick in an NFL game. Hopkins is just starting a three-year contract extension that he signed in July 2024, so the team is counting on him regaining his prior form. RotoBaller currently has Hopkins ranked as kicker #27 for fantasy.

Tuesday, May 27, 1:33 PM

San Francisco 49ers kicker Jake Moody struggled last year after returning from a high-ankle sprain. The former third-rounder changed his approach this offseason from taking three steps before a kick to just two, according to The Athletic's Vic Tafur. Because Moody missed nine of 20 field-goal attempts in the last nine games, forcing the Niners to bring in veteran kicker Greg Joseph to give Moody competition this year. Before getting injured last year, the 25-year-old made 13 of his first 14 field-goal tries before spraining his ankle in a Week 5 loss to the Arizona Cardinals when he tried to make a tackle on a kickoff. He missed the next three games and wasn't the same when he returned. Moody is now fully healthy and likes the way he's kicking the ball this offseason, so he'll be a bounce-back candidate as a starting fantasy kicker in 2025.