Who Should I Start? Nick Folk or Blake Grupe

Tuesday, July 29, 12:30 PM

The New York Jets signed free-agent kicker Nick Folk to an undisclosed deal on Tuesday, according to head coach Aaron Glenn. The Jets waived kicker Caden Davis on Tuesday, so Folk's primary competition for the kicking job in New York will be UFL standout Harrison Mevis. The 40-year-old Folk will reunite with the Jets after kicking for them from 2010 to 2016. He spent the last two years with the Tennessee Titans and went 21-for-22 on his field-goal tries while making all 25 of his extra-point attempts in 14 games in 2024. As long as Folk doesn't really struggle or get injured in training camp and the preseason in his return to the Jets, he should be the favorite to win the job over Mevis. Heading into his 18th NFL season, Folk has a career 84.3% success rate on 479 field-goal attempts, including going 47-for-70 from 50-plus yards.

Saturday, January 4, 4:22 AM

New Orleans Saints kicker Blake Grupe was perfect in Week 17, hitting his lone extra point and a 34-yard field goal try. On the season he is 30-for-32 for extra point attempts and has converted 23 of his 27 field goal attempts. All of those misses have come from 40 yards out or further. Grupe won't be kicking in the comfort of a dome in Week 18 but he will have good weather conditions when the Saints travel to Tampa to take on the Buccaneers. That said, Grupe should probably be avoided for fantasy purposes. Since their Week 12 bye, the Saints have averaged just 11.4 points per game. Rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler will be at the helm again in the season finale. The Saints have had a hard time sustaining drives since he took over for Derek Carr (hand), which means there is less of a chance for Grupe to get on the field. Grupe has a good leg and can be of service when called upon but the Saints' woes on offense should steer fantasy managers elsewhere in Week 18.