Who Should I Start? Ka'imi Fairbairn or Jake Bates

Wednesday, November 19, 8:15 PM

Houston Texans kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn (quadriceps) missed his team's last two games with a quad injury, but he was back at practice this week and has no injury designation for Thursday night's home game against the Bills. Fairbairn has been one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL over the last few seasons, making 22 of his 25 field goal attempts, including two from over 50 yards. He also converted all 12 extra point attempts. He'll retake his starting job from Matthew Wright and will be kicking at home indoors this week against the Bills, who have allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to kickers this season. If someone dropped Fairbairn, he can be a nice pickup based on his reliability, and he is the K17 in RotoBaller's rankings this week in his return.

Saturday, November 15, 12:01 AM

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates recorded his first missed extra-point of the season in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders, but he knocked in all three of his field goal attempts. Even with the blunder against Washington, Bates leads the NFL in extra-point makes (33) and attempts (34) through 10 weeks. The Lions have a difficult road matchup in Week 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia ranks in the top ten in the NFL in per-game opponent scoring (21.3 points per game). Still, the Lions have one of the league's highest-scoring offenses so far this season and could provide Bates with some opportunities to put points on the board. It's not his most favorable matchup, but Bates still profiles as a solid starting kicker option for fantasy managers in Week 11.