Who Should I Start? Riley Patterson or Spencer Shrader

Saturday, December 6, 6:24 AM

Miami Dolphins kicker Riley Patterson has filled in well for Jason Sanders (hip) this season, as Sanders' IR stint has extended through the first 13 weeks of the season. Patterson has made 21 of his 23 field goal attempts overall this season and 24 of his 25 extra point attempts. He converted all four of his field goal chances last week against the Saints and also added an extra point. This week, he'll be in a good matchup against the Jets, but the weather in New York is expected to be very cold. Patterson has not made any field goals from 50+ yards this season, but has consistently converted shorter attempts. The elements will make it tough to make anything from long distance, but he can reliably deliver shorter kicks. He is the No. 14 kicker in RotoBaller's Week 14 rankings, so he isn't a must-start in most leagues, but he isn't a terrible option either.

Monday, October 6, 11:21 PM

Indianapolis Colts head coach Shane Steichen said that kicker Spencer Shrader (knee) tore his ACL and MCL in his right knee in the Week 5 win over the Las Vegas Raiders and will miss the rest of the season, according to Stephen Holder of ESPN.com. Shrader was injured when a defender crashed into his knee following a kick on Sunday. It's a tough break for the 26-year-old and the 4-1 Colts, as Shrader had missed just one of his 14 field-goal tries while making all 14 of his extra-point attempts in five games before his season-ending injury. With no current kicker other than Shrader on the active roster or practice squad, the Colts will be working out free-agent kickers this week as they head into a Week 6 meeting with the visiting Arizona Cardinals. Fantasy managers who had been using Shrader at the position will have to hit the waiver wire for a replacement.