Who Should I Start? Younghoe Koo or Tyler Loop

Wednesday, December 18, 1:04 PM

The Atlanta Falcons are placing kicker Younghoe Koo (undisclosed) on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, according to a source. In a corresponding move, the Falcons have signed kicker Riley Patterson off the Cleveland Browns practice squad and onto their 53-man active roster. Koo is now out for the rest of the season and would be unavailable to kick in the wild-card round of the playoffs if the Falcons get into the postseason. The 30-year-old suffered an undisclosed injury in the Monday night win over the Las Vegas Raiders and will now go on the shelf. Normally a very reliable kicker, Koo struggled with accuracy in 2024, making 25 of his 34 field-goal attempts, although he made all 26 of his extra points. Patterson will now fill in heading into a Week 16 contest against the New York Giants. With rookie QB Michael Penix Jr. making his first career start, fantasy managers will want to steer clear of Patterson.

Monday, June 23, 3:31 PM

The Baltimore Ravens used a sixth-round pick to take kicker Tyler Loop out of Arizona in this year's NFL draft to replace long-time standout Justin Tucker, who was released this offseason. Loop is the favorite to succeed Tucker, but The Athletic's Jeff Zrebiec thinks the Ravens could be headed for their first training camp kicking competition since Tucker beat out Billy Cundiff in 2012. John Hoyland, an undrafted rookie out of Wyoming, has been good enough to suggest that he could push Loop for the starting gig in training camp and the preseason this fall. The 23-year-old Loop impressed the coaching staff during offseason workouts after making 83.6% of his field goals in his four seasons with the Wildcats in college. Loop could be a bit inconsistent in his rookie season if he wins the job, but given the offense he's in, he could be fantasy relevant immediately.