Who Should I Start? Matthew Wright or Jake Bates

Friday, November 7, 10:04 AM

NFL reporter for the Houston Texans, Aaron Wilson, reported on Friday that the Texans will turn to Matthew Wright as their kicker in Week 10 as Ka'imi Fairbairn (quadriceps) is injured and not able to go against their division opponent, the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wright has kicked for multiple NFL teams and was last with the Washington Commanders. He has made 56 of 65 career kicks and 43 of 45 extra points. He has also kicked for the Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers, and the Jaguars, Wilson reports. This is a big matchup for the Texans, as a loss will send them further to the bottom of the AFC South standings. The Texans sit at (3-5), while the Jaguars are at (5-3), and both are looking up at the division leaders, the Indianapolis Colts, at (7-2). A win here for the Texans could continue to give them hope down the stretch and help them make a run with a big division win. The Jaguars have allowed the second-fewest points to opposing kickers, making Wright a challenging play in Week 10.

Saturday, November 15, 12:01 AM

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates recorded his first missed extra-point of the season in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders, but he knocked in all three of his field goal attempts. Even with the blunder against Washington, Bates leads the NFL in extra-point makes (33) and attempts (34) through 10 weeks. The Lions have a difficult road matchup in Week 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia ranks in the top ten in the NFL in per-game opponent scoring (21.3 points per game). Still, the Lions have one of the league's highest-scoring offenses so far this season and could provide Bates with some opportunities to put points on the board. It's not his most favorable matchup, but Bates still profiles as a solid starting kicker option for fantasy managers in Week 11.