Who Should I Start? Harrison Butker or Spencer Shrader

Friday, October 18, 4:15 PM

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker will face the San Francisco 49ers in Week 7. In Kansas City's last contest, Butker nailed four of five field goal attempts and both of his extra-point attempts in the 26-13 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 5. Butker has been accurate this season, draining 12 of his 14 field goal attempts and 10 of 11 extra-point attempts. Butker has been one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL throughout his career, nailing over 85% of his field goal attempts in every season except 2022. Butker has also made over 90% of his extra-point attempts in his career. The San Francisco defense is a well-rounded unit that could trouble the Kansas City offense when the field shortens. If the Chiefs offense stalls within Butker's range, he is more than capable of splitting the uprights. The Kansas City Chiefs kicker should be worthy of a start in Week 7.

Saturday, September 7, 1:25 PM

The Indianapolis Colts elevated rookie kicker Spencer Shrader and cornerback Chris Lammons from the practice squad to the active 53-man roster on Saturday in advance of the Week 1 regular-season opener on Sunday against the division-rival Houston Texans. This is a clear sign that starting kicker Matt Gay (hernia), who is listed as questionable for Week 1, will end up being inactive on Sunday morning after he recently underwent surgery for a sports hernia. Gay is questionable to kick on Sunday, but he missed practice all week and is probably more doubtful than anything. Fantasy managers that were planning to use Gay in Week 1 should have already been looking for other options this weekend. Rolling with Shrader in his first NFL game would be unwise given all the other options available on the waiver wire.