Who Should I Start? Matt Prater or Joey Slye

Tuesday, October 15, 7:55 PM

The Arizona Cardinals placed kicker Matt Prater (knee) and defensive lineman Bilal Nichols (neck) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday, meaning both players will have to miss at least the next four games. Nichols will miss the rest of the season. To replace Prater on the active 53-man roster, the Cardinals elevated Chad Ryland from the practice squad. In the last two games with Prater out, Ryland has gone 5-for-6 on field goals and made both of his extra points. Prater made all six of his field goals and went 10-for-10 on extra points in his four games, surpassing the career 1,800-point plateau. The earliest Prater will be eligible to return from IR will be after the team's Week 11 bye for a Week 12 contest against the division-rival Seattle Seahawks. Ryland will be a poor streaming option for fantasy managers in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday night.

Friday, October 18, 12:39 PM

New England Patriots kicker Joey Slye has not been a dependable fantasy option over the last two weeks, but he could generate some streaming appeal in deeper leagues for Week 7. This Sunday, Slye will kick against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Given that the Jaguars have allowed the second-most points per game this season, the Patriots should have plenty of scoring opportunities, opening the way for Slye to get involved. Furthermore, the New England offense has shown additional signs of life ever since benching Jacoby Brissett for Drake Maye. Brissett averaged just 0.4 passing touchdowns per game as the Patriots' starter while Maye threw for three touchdowns in his first career start last weekend. Between a favorable matchup and the Patriots offense's upward trajectory, Slye becomes a fringe top-12 fantasy option at the kicker position. He's worth considering if your primary kicker is injured or on a bye week.