Who Should I Start? Jake Moody or Blake Grupe

Wednesday, April 2, 1:20 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said this week that the team plans to bring in a veteran kicker "who's capable of taking that job" to compete with Jake Moody this offseason. The 49ers would love to see Moody win the competition and come out motivated for a strong season in 2025 after struggling through a high-ankle sprain in 2024. The 25-year-old made just 70.6 percent of his 34 field-goal attempts in 14 games (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) in his second year in the NFL after making 84 percent of his 25 field-goal tries in his rookie year. The former third-round pick in the 2023 NFL draft out of the University of Michigan certainly has the skills to bounce back in 2025 if he's healthy, and if he does, he should be in play as a top-12 fantasy kicker.

Saturday, January 4, 4:22 AM

New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe was perfect in Week 17, hitting his lone extra point and a 34-yard field goal try. On the season he is 30-for-32 for extra point attempts and has converted 23 of his 27 field goal attempts. All of those misses have come from 40 yards out or further. Grupe won't be kicking in the comfort of a dome in Week 18 but he will have good weather conditions when the Saints travel to Tampa to take on the Buccaneers. That said, Grupe should probably be avoided for fantasy purposes. Since their Week 12 bye, the Saints have averaged just 11.4 points per game. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler will be at the helm again in the season finale. The Saints have had a hard time sustaining drives since he took over for Derek Carr (hand), which means there is less of a chance for Grupe to get on the field. Grupe has a good leg and can be of service when called upon but the Saints' woes on offense should steer fantasy managers elsewhere in Week 18.