Who Should I Start? Harrison Butker or Brett Maher

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.

Monday, January 1, 7:38 PM

The Los Angeles Rams are signing veteran kicker Brett Maher on Monday after waiving rookie Lucas Havrisik earlier in the day. Maher began the year as the Rams' kicker and played in the first seven weeks before getting cut on Oct. 24, going 17-for-23 (73.9 percent) on his field-goal opportunities and 12-for-13 with his extra points. Havrisik was cut by the Rams on Monday after missing two of his four extra points in a one-point win over the New York Giants on Sunday. LA just has been unable to settle on a kicker all season, but Maher will hope to come back in and be more successful than he was earlier in the year as the team gets ready for another playoff appearance. In the Week 18 regular season finale against the San Francisco 49ers with key starters potentially being rested, Maher should be avoided for fantasy lineups.