NFL Player News

Fitzgerald is set to open the 2026 campaign as Carolina's kicker following a standout rookie season, Darin Gantt of the team's official site reports.

After entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent, Fitzgerald won Carolina's kicker job in training camp last year and held the role through the campaign, making 24 of 29 field-goal attempts and 27 of 30 extra-point tries over 17 regular-season games. Even more impressively, he tied for the league lead with four game-winning FGs and ranked third in opponents' average drive start, a measure of his effectiveness on kickoffs. Fitzgerald's rookie season also included two made field goals of 55-plus yards, so he's essentially checked all the boxes. He isn't expected to have any competition for the starting role heading into training camp.

Zvada and Ben Sauls are expected to compete during training camp for the Giants' primary kicker role, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.

Sauls emerged as the Giants' kicker down the stretch last season, when he made all eight of his field-goal tries and all seven of his PATs in Weeks 16-18. Meanwhile, Zvada went unselected during April's NFL Draft but signed with New York following a standout college career that included setting a Michigan record with seven field goals of 50-plus yards (on seven attempts) over 13 games in 2024. Zvada was less effective as a senior, but his big leg drew the attention of the Giants, and he'll at least have a chance to push Sauls for the starting job in training camp. It initially looked like it would be a three-man competition, but the Giants cut veteran kicker Jason Sanders -- who has since signed with the Jets -- in early June.

Sauls is set to compete during training camp with undrafted rookie Dominic Zvada for the Giants' kicker job, Dan Salomone of the team's official site reports.

Sauls was the Giants' kicker in Weeks 16-18 and went 8-for-8 on field-goal attempts and 7-for-7 on extra-point tries. He didn't show much of a leg to go with that accuracy, however, as his longest FG last year was from a modest 45 yards. New York parted ways with long-time kicker Graham Gano (neck) in late March, leaving Sauls as the most likely option to begin the 2026 campaign. However, Zvada could challenge for the role with a strong training camp after a decorated college career that included the most field goals (seven) made from 50-plus yards in Michigan history.

Smythe will enter training camp positioned to compete with Tanner Brown for the No. 1 kicker job, Luke Loffredo of USA Today reports.

Smythe started New Orleans' final six games of the 2025 season, going 12-for-16 on field-goal tries and making all 13 of his extra-point attempts. He first joined the Saints back in 2024 as part of the NFL's International Player Pathway. During training camp and the preseason Smythe will work to outperform Brown, who has spent time on various practice squads in the league (most recently the Rams and Falcons in 2024) but has yet to log a regular-season appearance.

As the coming season approaches, Borregales is set to reprise his role as the Patriots' top kicker, SI.com reports.

After being taken in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, Borregales beat out Parker Romo last summer to emerge as New England's starting kicker ahead of the team's surprising 14-3 regular-season campaign. In the process, the 23-year University of Miami product made 27 of 32 field-goal attempts (84 percent) and 53 of 55 extra-point tries, en route to recording 134 points (seventh in the league among kickers) in 17 games. In his second campaign as a pro, his fantasy upside hinges on how an offense led by rising young signal-caller Drake Maye clicks, but at a minimum Borregales should be a solid streaming option when the Patriots are heavily favored and/or playing indoors.

As the coming season approaches, Myers is set to retain his role as the Seahawks' top kicker, Michael Hanich of SI.com reports.

In that role with the defending Super Bowl champions, Myers racked up a career high and league-leading 171 points in 2025, while making 41 of his 48 field-goal attempts and all 48 of his extra-point tries in 17 regular-season contests. Looking ahead to the coming campaign, the 35-year-old -- who currently is the only kicker on his team's roster -- should maintain a solid enough weekly floor working behind the Seahawks offense to maintain fantasy viability in 2026, even if he sees a modest reduction in terms of volume.

Lutz, who signed a contract extension with Denver last November, enters the 2026 campaign as the team's clear primary kicker, Bob Morris of SI.com reports.

Lutz has been very reliable since joining the Broncos in 2023, playing in all 51 of the team's regular-season games and making 89.0 percent of his field-goal tries. He's converted 12 of 18 attempts from 50-plus yards during that time and hasn't missed any extra points over the past two years. Morris notes Lutz's contract includes no guaranteed money in 2028, but with most of his salary guaranteed from 2026 to 2027, the veteran kicker is essentially locked in as Denver's starting kicker for at least the next two years.

McPherson will again work as Cincinnati's primary kicker during the upcoming season following a bounce-back performance last year, John Sheeran of A to Z Sports reports.

McPherson struggled mightily in 2024, making just 16 of 22 FG attempts over 12 regular-season contests. However, he was much better last season, converting a career-high 89 percent of his field-goal tries (25-for-28), though he did miss three PATs. McPherson went 5-for-8 from 50-plus yards and 10-for-10 from 40 to 49 yards last year, giving the Bengals a reliable leg when they opted to kick from distance. Cincinnati has much higher aspirations after winning just six games last year, and McPherson figures to play a key role if the team is to rebound from a rough campaign.

Santos currently doesn't have any viable competition for the role of Chicago's primary placekicker, Alyssa Barbieri and Brendan Sugrue of Bears Wire report.

Santos had an uneven 2025 season, making just 25 of 30 field-goal attempts, including going 4-for-6 from 50-plus yards. However, he made all 39 of point-after tries and hit several clutch FGs, including a game-winning 48-yard kick as time expired against Minnesota in Week 11. With that said, the 12-year veteran doesn't have anywhere near the strongest leg in the league, and he missed a pair of contests last year due to a thigh injury. The Bears don't currently have another kicker on the roster, so Santos looks set to open 2026 as the team's primary option at that position. However, Barbieri and Sugrue suggest Chicago could move on at some point given Santos' lack of a big leg, which puts him behind most top kickers in the league.

Little is set to reprise his role as Jacksonville's primary kicker during the upcoming season and will look to further cement his place as one of the NFL's top players at his position, Casandra Chesser of Jaguars Wire reports.

Little made history last year when he kicked the longest field goal in league history -- a 68-yarder in Week 9. For good measure, he booted a 67-yarder in Week 18 and outdid both of those kicks in the preseason with a 70-yarder. Overall, Little made 30 of 34 FG attempts and 50 of 51 extra-point tries, leaving little margin for him to improve. Still, he had a rough patch between Weeks 3 and 7 when he went just 4-for-8 on field-goal tries, so a reasonable goal could be to avoid any similar uneven stretches in 2026. Regardless, Little will enter the campaign as one of fantasy's most desirable kickers, especially in formats that award more points for long-distance makes.