Who Should I Start? Matt Gay or Will Reichard

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.

Friday, November 21, 3:13 PM

Minnesota Vikings kicker Will Reichard should be regarded as a No. 2 kicker option in Week 12, which should keep him off the starting radar in most formats. The former Alabama standout has put together an excellent second season in Minnesota by making 19 of 21 field goal attempts and all 19 extra points, but the Vikings' offense has sputtered in the past two weeks. Starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy is completing just more than half of his passes and has thrown five interceptions in the past three games, which has naturally limited the offense. While tied to a struggling offense facing a road game against one of the NFL's better defenses, Reichard can be stashed in Week 12 with more favorable matchups on the horizon.