Who Should I Start? Matt Prater or Cairo Santos

Saturday, September 6, 4:46 PM

The Buffalo Bills elevated veteran kicker Matt Prater from the practice squad, and he's expected to handle kicking duties in Week 1 with Tyler Bass on injured reserve. Entering his 19th NFL season, Prater brings plenty of experience, including spending the last four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. This is a strong fantasy spot for the 40-year-old kicker, as the Bills remain one of the league's top offenses and face the Baltimore Ravens in a matchup with the highest projected point total of Week 1. While Prater is a temporary fill-in, he still profiles as a solid streaming option and could provide low-end starting fantasy value this week.

Saturday, September 6, 4:36 PM

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos will open his 12th NFL season on Monday Night Football against the Minnesota Vikings. Santos has been a steady presence in Chicago, connecting on over 90% of his field goals in three of the last five seasons. This year brings optimism for the Bears' offense with head coach Ben Johnson and second-year quarterback Caleb Williams at the helm. However, Johnson's track record in Detroit suggests he could favor fourth-down aggressiveness over settling for field goals, which would impact Santos' opportunities. Week 1 presents a tough draw against a Vikings defense that allowed the fifth-fewest points in 2024. Given the matchup and the uncertainty around how the new-look Bears offense will operate, Santos is best left out of fantasy lineups this week.