Who Should I Start? Justin Tucker or Rodrigo Blankenship

Thursday, June 26, 3:50 PM

Free-agent kicker Justin Tucker received a 10-game suspension from the NFL on Thursday, according to league insider Ian Rapoport. The eight-time All-Pro was released by the Baltimore Ravens this offseason after allegations of sexual misconduct by numerous accusers. The 35-year-old suspension will begin on the NFL's roster cutdown day (August 26), and he will be eligible for reinstatement following Week 10 of the 2025 campaign (November 11). His suspension can be served whether he is with a team or not. Tucker is one of the best kickers in NFL history, but the off-the-field developments are sure to negatively impact his legacy and his chances to be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in the future.

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.