Who Should I Start? Matt Gay or Jake Bates

Sunday, December 22, 12:00 PM

Indianapolis Colts kicker Matt Gay (neck) is officially active for the Week 16 divisional contest on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Gay missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday due to his neck injury but returned to a full practice session on Friday and will serve as the starting placekicker this weekend. At best, Gay is a deep-league streaming option in the fantasy playoffs for a Colts offense that has struggled to move the ball consistently all year behind second-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. The 30-year-old veteran booter has been solid for the Colts this season, though, making 24 of his 27 field-goal attempts and all 23 of his extra-point opportunities. While Gay has been solid from an efficiency standpoint, his lack of volume on field-goal tries makes him more of a low-upside fantasy kicking option.

Friday, December 27, 9:46 PM

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates is afforded one of the better matchups of Week 17 when he lines up against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. The 25-year-old has been excellent this season -- driving through all but one of his 59 extra-point attempts and knocking in 23-of-26 field goal tries across 15 games. Coincidentally, all three of his missed field goals have come over the last four contests. He gets a 49ers defense this Monday night, which has been tough on opposing offenses but is one of the more favorable ones for fantasy kickers. San Fran is letting up the twelfth-most points per game to opponents in 2024, and Detroit should come out swinging as they're still fighting for first place in the NFC North. Bates ranks as RotoBaller's K2 ahead of this weekend's action.