Who Should I Start? Justin Tucker or Dustin Hopkins

Friday, January 5, 5:32 PM

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker may not have attempted any field goals in Week 17 but was able to produce a respectable fantasy performance. He was able to make all eight of his extra-point attempts. That was his first game without attempting a single field goal since Week 4 and just the second one of the season. In Week 18, the offense is going to be a shell of itself while plenty of the starters get a well-deserved rest week after locking up the first seed in the AFC. This also means that Tucker should get plenty of opportunities when the offense inevitably stalls against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that is fighting for its playoff hopes.

Thursday, January 11, 3:00 PM

Cleveland Browns kicker Dustin Hopkins (hamstring) has officially been ruled out for Saturday's wild-card playoff game against the Houston Texans after missing practice all week. Hopkins will miss his third straight game due to his hamstring injury. Riley Patterson, who has served as Cleveland's kicker the last two games with Hopkins out, will likely be elevated from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster for Saturday's playoff contest. The 24-year-old was the Detroit Lions' primary kicker for 13 games this year before getting cut and latching on with the Browns. In 15 total games between both teams this year, he's gone 16-for-18 on field-goal tries and has miss three of his 44 extra-point attempts. Fantasy managers should be looking for better options at the position on wild-card weekend.