Who Should I Start? Harrison Butker or Kareem Hunt

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.

Tuesday, January 30, 8:42 PM

Cleveland Browns running back Kareem Hunt (hernia) recently had sports-hernia surgery to fix a ruptured adductor, according to sources. Hunt played in 15 games in his fifth year with the Browns in 2023, but he was listed on the injury report often with a groin injury and averaged a career-low 3.0 yards per carry on 135 attempts for 411 rushing yards and a career-high nine rushing TDs in the regular season. He added a career-low 15 receptions for 84 yards through the air. The 28-year-old's lower numbers now make more sense, but he still had plenty of fantasy appeal as a flex play because of his red-zone usage and nose for the end zone. Hunt could be more effective with better health in 2024, but he's also scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. His fantasy appeal will depend on where he lands, and there's a good chance it won't be in Cleveland.