Who Should I Start? Dustin Hopkins or Spencer Shrader

Saturday, January 4, 9:58 PM

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins made his lone field-goal attempt, a 23-yarder, and added an extra point in a 35-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Week 18. Although Hopkins finished a tough 2024 season on a high note, he overall made just 18 of his 27 field-goal attempts for the Browns this past season. The veteran kicker still has three years remaining on the contract extension he signed before the season, although it wouldn't be a big surprise to see the Browns bring in some competition in training camp next year. That being said, an offseason release would bring a significant cap hit and dead money for the Browns which makes it likely that Hopkins is back with the team for the 2025 season.

Thursday, March 13, 9:49 PM

The Indianapolis Colts announced on Thursday that they have signed free-agent kicker Spencer Shrader to an undisclosed deal. Shrader will return to Indianapolis after making all three of his extra points in the Week 1 loss to the division-rival Houston Texans. The 25-year-old also appeared in games with the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs in his first year in the NFL in 2024, going a combined 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts (zero attempts from 50-plus yards) and 9-for-9 on extra-point tries. Shrader didn't miss a single kick, but it was also a small sample size. He was brought in to compete with veteran Matt Gay this summer after Gay made just 83.8 percent of his 37 field-goal attempts in his second year with the team. Whoever wins the competition should be left to the waiver wire in 12-team fantasy leagues.