Who Should I Start? Ka'imi Fairbairn or Matt Gay

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.

Wednesday, November 19, 7:06 PM

The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent kicker Matt Gay to their practice squad on Wednesday and released wide receiver Russell Gage Jr. from their practice squad in a corresponding move, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Eddy Pineiro (hamstring) suffered a Grade 1 hamstring strain in the Week 11 win over the Arizona Cardinals and is not expected to be available to kick this coming Monday night against the Carolina Panthers. Gay was just waived by the Washington Commanders on Monday after missing two kicks in a three-point loss to the Miami Dolphins on Sunday in Madrid. The 31-year-old veteran looks like he'll be the 49ers' short-term replacement at place kicker with Pineiro injured, but fantasy managers should be looking to stay away. The seven-year veteran has been inconsistent, making 13 of his 19 field-goal tries in 10 games, including going 4-for-9 from 50-plus yards out.