Who Should I Start? Matt Prater or Jake Bates

Sunday, January 4, 6:40 PM

Buffalo Bills kicker Matt Prater (quadriceps) won't return for Sunday's Week 18 matchup versus the New York Jets. Prater missed the last two games due to a quad injury and aggravated the issue while attempting an extra point on Sunday. Punter Mitch Wishnowsky will take over on kickoffs for the rest of the game. The Bills will likely go for two-point conversions after touchdowns with Prater unavailable. Buffalo is already without kicker Tyler Bass (hip), who is currently on Injured Reserve. The Bills would have to find another kicker for the postseason if Prater is forced to miss time.

Wednesday, December 24, 10:39 PM

Across 15 games this season, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has converted on 22 of 28 field goal attempts and 52 out of 54 extra-point tries. Bates has the benefit of being tied to the Detroit offense, which enters Week 17 ranked second in the NFL in points per game (30.1). However, Bates and the Lions will face one of the league's top scoring defenses in Week 17 when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. Over the last three weeks, Minnesota has allowed opponents to score an average of just 13 points per game. In the first matchup between the two NFC North division rivals this season in Week 9, the Lions were held to 24 points, their fourth-lowest mark in a game in 2025. If there's one benefit for Bates, the game will be played indoors, which eliminates any weather concerns for the kicking game. Bates remains a viable starting kicker for fantasy managers in Week 17, but he profiles as a low-end option rather than a must-start player at the position against Minnesota.