Who Should I Start? Wil Lutz or Jake Bates

Saturday, September 6, 1:56 PM

Denver Broncos kicker Wil Lutz enters his ninth NFL season as the Broncos prepare to face the Tennessee Titans. Lutz has spent eight of his nine seasons under head coach Sean Payton and is coming off his best campaign since 2018, making 91.2% of his field goals and finishing as K8 in 2024. Week 1 presents a favorable matchup, with the Broncos heavily favored (-9) over the Titans. Lutz thrived in winning games last season, averaging 10.6 fantasy points per contest when Denver came out on top. RotoBaller currently ranks Lutz as K10 for Week 1, making him a strong start in fantasy this week, especially in games where Denver is projected to dominate.

Friday, September 5, 5:44 PM

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates had a breakout season as a rookie in 2024, nailing 26 of his 29 field goal attempts and converting a league-high 64 extra-point attempts. The 26-year-old will face a tough road environment in Week 1 at Lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. Last year, Bates made 13 field goals both at home and on the road, but he made 14 more extra points in the friendly confines of Detroit's domed Ford Field. The weather is not expected to be an issue in Green Bay on Sunday, but it's still an additional variable to consider. More importantly, the Lions averaged 30.8 points per game on the road last season, compared to 35.3 at home. The over/under for Week 1 is 47.5, so the betting markets are expecting a solid number of points to be scored between the two teams. Bates is a starting-caliber kicker in fantasy this week who should be expected to provide top-12 production.