Who Should I Start? Jake Moody or Jake Bates

Sunday, September 7, 7:54 PM

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he will "get on the plane and evaluate" the kicker position after Jake Moody went 1-for-3 on field goal attempts Sunday. One of his kicks was blocked, while the other hit off the left upright from just 27 yards out. Moody's struggles are nothing new, as he went 2-for-6 on field goals over his final three games in 2024. Of course, that means Moody is now just 3-for-9 on field goals over his last four regular-season games dating back to last year. Finding an effective field goal kicker in free agency isn't easy, but the 49ers could soon get desperate if Moody's struggles continue. Shanahan's comments indicate that the Niners aren't committed to replacing the 25-year-old, but they'll at least do their due diligence.

Friday, September 5, 5:44 PM

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates had a breakout season as a rookie in 2024, nailing 26 of his 29 field goal attempts and converting a league-high 64 extra-point attempts. The 26-year-old will face a tough road environment in Week 1 at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. Last year, Bates made 13 field goals both at home and on the road, but he made 14 more extra points in the friendly confines of Detroit's domed Ford Field. The weather is not expected to be an issue in Green Bay on Sunday, but it's still an additional variable to consider. More importantly, the Lions averaged 30.8 points per game on the road last season, compared to 35.3 at home. The over/under for Week 1 is 47.5, so the betting markets are expecting a solid number of points to be scored between the two teams. Bates is a starting-caliber kicker in fantasy this week who should be expected to provide top-12 production.