Who Should I Start? Dustin Hopkins or Tyler Bass

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.

Saturday, December 30, 12:10 AM

Buffalo Bills kicker Tyler Bass disappointed from a fantasy perspective in last Saturday's 24-22 win over the Los Angeles Chargers, drilling his lone field-goal attempt and each of his three extra-point tries. Though it was a 29-yard chip shot, Bass' converted field goal came in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter to keep Buffalo's playoff bid alive. The Bills came into Week 16 as double-digit favorites against a Chargers team missing four of their biggest stars, seemingly positioning them to form a lead and play from ahead. But such positive game script never quite materialized in that one, as the team essentially played down to a far inferior squad. Bass hopes for a different tune at home in Week 17 versus the New England Patriots, virtually finding himself in the same favorable setup as he did in his last time out. With no legitimate weather concerns in Orchard Park on Sunday, Bass should be treated as a top-10 kicking play.