Who Should I Start? Jason Sanders or Rodrigo Blankenship

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.

Monday, August 21, 6:14 PM

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers waived kicker Rodrigo Blankenship on Monday. Blankenship lost the kicking battle to Chase McLaughlin in training camp this summer and will now look to latch on with another team before the start of the 2023 regular season. The 26-year-old spent last year with the Indianapolis Colts and Arizona Cardinals, going 4-for-5 on his field-goal tries and 4-for-5 on extra points in just three total games. As long as Tampa doesn't bring in more competition for McLaughlin to close out the preseason, he should enter Week 1 as the team's starting kicker. McLaughlin, 27, made 83.3 percent of his 36 field-goal attempts and made all 21 of his extra-point tries in 16 games with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022. The kicking position in Tampa won't be as exciting in fantasy now that Tom Brady isn't running the offense in 2023.