Who Should I Start? Jason Sanders or Daniel Carlson

Thursday, October 16, 12:05 PM

According to Miami Dolphins special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman, the team is uncertain if placekicker Jason Sanders (hip) is close to a return, or if he'll even be available to play in the 2025 campaign. Sanders sustained a hip injury leading up to the start of the regular season, but it appears to be worse than initially thought, as he was expected back after Week 5 but has yet to begin practicing. Considering the team's lack of knowledge regarding his progression and Riley Patterson's excellence working in his stead, it wouldn't be surprising if the 29-year-old didn't kick again until 2026. Fantasy managers can safely drop Sanders if he was being held onto.

Friday, October 17, 9:14 PM

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson draws a challenging matchup in Week 7 versus the Kansas City Chiefs, making him a risky fantasy start. The Chiefs have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing kickers this season and continue to limit scoring opportunities with one of the league's stingiest defenses. Meanwhile, Geno Smith and the Raiders offense have struggled to sustain drives or finish in scoring position, further capping Carlson's upside. While the veteran remains a very accurate kicker, his lack of opportunity makes him tough to trust in fantasy lineups this week. Managers should consider streaming a kicker from a more favorable offensive environment until the Raiders show more consistency.