Who Should I Start? Evan McPherson or Tyler Loop

Wednesday, December 4, 3:42 PM

The Cincinnati Bengals placed kicker Evan McPherson (groin) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday. It was announced earlier on Wednesday that McPherson would miss some time due to his injury, and now he won't be eligible to return until the Week 18 regular-season finale against the division-rival Pittsburgh Steelers. With fantasy championship matchups in most leagues coming in Week 17, managers with McPherson on their rosters in redraft leagues can let him go. The Browns worked out and signed former Washington Commanders and Cleveland Browns kicker Cade York on Wednesday, and he will be their kicker in Week 14 on Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. Like the Bengals in 2024, the 25-year-old McPherson was a fantasy disappointment in 12 game, going 16-for-22 on field-goal tries while missing just one of his 38 extra points.

Monday, June 23, 3:31 PM

The Baltimore Ravens used a sixth-round pick to take kicker Tyler Loop out of Arizona in this year's NFL draft to replace long-time standout Justin Tucker, who was released this offseason. Loop is the favorite to succeed Tucker, but The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec thinks the Ravens could be headed for their first training camp kicking competition since Tucker beat out Billy Cundiff in 2012. John Hoyland, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming, has been good enough to suggest that he could push Loop for the starting gig in training camp and the preseason this fall. The 23-year-old Loop impressed the coaching staff during offseason workouts after making 83.6% of his field goals in his four seasons with the Wildcats in college. Loop could be a bit inconsistent in his rookie season if he wins the job, but given the offense he's in, he could be fantasy relevant immediately.