Who Should I Start? Matt Gay or Charlie Smyth

Saturday, November 29, 4:55 AM

San Francisco 49ers kicker Matt Gay filled in reasonably well for the injured Eddy Pineiro (hamstring) in Week 12. In San Francisco's 20-9 win over the Panthers, Gay converted both of his extra point tries and nailed field goals from 29 and 47 yards out. Pineiro is listed as out on the 49ers' final injury report before their Week 13 showdown with the Cleveland Browns, so Gay will stay on as the team's kicker for at least one more week. Unfortunately, he won't be working in favorable conditions. Sunday's forecast calls for 25 to 35 MPH winds, rain, and snow in Cleveland. Gay will have to be at the top of his game to be of service to San Francisco. Fantasy football managers may want to look elsewhere to fill the kicker slot in their starting lineups for Week 13.

Sunday, December 28, 11:36 AM

New Orleans Saints kicker Charlie Smyth (illness) is active for Sunday's Week 17 contest against the Tennessee Titans. He had been listed as questionable but evidently recovered enough from an illness that forced him to practice in a limited capacity on Friday. The 24-year-old recently inked a three-year extension with the Saints and led all kickers in fantasy scoring last Sunday with five field goals on six attempts. Now that he's healthy, he is a strong top-10 kicking option for Week 17 fantasy football.