Who Should I Start? Jake Bates or Joshua Karty

Wednesday, December 24, 10:39 PM

Across 15 games this season, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has converted on 22 of 28 field goal attempts and 52 out of 54 extra-point tries. Bates has the benefit of being tied to the Detroit offense, which enters Week 17 ranked second in the NFL in points per game (30.1). However, Bates and the Lions will face one of the league's top scoring defenses in Week 17 when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. Over the last three weeks, Minnesota has allowed opponents to score an average of just 13 points per game. In the first matchup between the two NFC North division rivals this season in Week 9, the Lions were held to 24 points, their fourth-lowest mark in a game in 2025. If there's one benefit for Bates, the game will be played indoors, which eliminates any weather concerns for the kicking game. Bates remains a viable starting kicker for fantasy managers in Week 17, but he profiles as a low-end option rather than a must-start player at the position against Minnesota.

Monday, December 1, 7:31 PM

The Los Angeles Rams signed kicker Joshua Karty back to their practice squad on Monday, according to Adam Grosbard of the Los Angeles Daily News. Karty was waived last Friday by the Rams after being benched for rookie Harrison Mevis, but the 23-year-old will now return to the practice squad as an insurance option for now. In his second year in the NFL, Karty has struggled, going 10-for-15 on his field-goal tries and 23-for-26 on his extra-point opportunities through eight games. Mevis, meanwhile, has gone a perfect 2-for-2 on field goals and 17-for-17 on extra points with the Rams in his first four games. The 23-year-old has been money so far and has jumped onto the fantasy radar quickly at the kicking position because of the high-octane offense in L.A., but they don't often have to settle for field goals, which also limits his upside.