Who Should I Start? Jake Bates or Brandon Aubrey
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Jake Bates News
Wednesday, March 4, 3:20 PM
The Detroit Lions tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Jake Bates, ensuring that he returns for the 2026 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bates has gotten off to a nice start to his NFL career in two seasons with Detroit, making 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts while making 118 of his 123 extra-point tries in 34 games played. The 27-year-old Arkansas product has led the NFL in extra-point attempts and extra-point makes in each of the last two years while playing in one of the best offenses in the league. In 2025, he went 27-for-34 on field goals (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and 54-for-56 on extra points in 17 games played to finish as the No. 6 fantasy kicker in overall points. The Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, but they should still have a favorable offense, making Bates a clear top-10 fantasy target at the kicking position.
Week 1 Projections
| Fant. Pts. |
Rush. Yds. |
Rush TD |
Rec. | Rec. Yds. |
Rec TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
Brandon Aubrey News
Saturday, March 7, 8:13 AM
The Dallas Cowboys placed the second-round, $5.76 million tender on free-agent kicker Brandon Aubrey on Saturday, a source told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Aubrey can now sign an offer sheet with another team, but the Cowboys will have the right to match any offer he receives. If they don't match an offer from another team, the Cowboys would get a second-round pick in return for Aubrey leaving. ESPN's Todd Archer reported last month that the 30-year-old placekicker is looking for a contract that exceeds the $6.4 million average that Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gets. Aubrey has been a Pro Bowler in each of his three years in the NFL with Dallas and has also been one of the best fantasy options at the position. The Notre Dame alumnus has made 88.2% of his 127 field-goal attempts in three years and was the No. 3 kicker in overall fantasy points in 2025 in an explosive Cowboys offense. He'll be one of the first kickers off the board in fantasy football drafts this fall if he stays in Dallas.
Jake Bates vs. Brandon Aubrey
Still trying to decide between Bates and Aubrey? Check on the latest news to make sure both players are active and healthy. Our PPR projections show that Jake Bates is projected to score 8.6 points this week while Brandon Aubrey is projected to score 8.5 points.
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