NFL Player News
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Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Football Team's Dustin Hopkins: Staying with Washington
Hopkins is signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract with Washington, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
With nearly $1.9 million guaranteed, anything short of a complete meltdown in training camp should send Hopkins into Week 1 as Washington's kicker. He hasn't gained much traction in fantasy football since the Kirk Cousins era, but Hopkins could re-emerge on the radar if his team continues to improve. Hopkins will turn 31 in October, and he has career conversion rates of 83.9 percent (FGs) and 94.9 percent (PAT), i.e. close to league-average.
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Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Football Team's Dustin Hopkins: Expected to re-sign
Hopkins is expected to re-sign with Washington, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington reports.
Ben Standig of The Athletic adds that Hopkins' deal, which is expected to be signed after free agency officially begins March 17, will be for one year. The veteran kicker boasts an 84 percent field-goal conversion rate over six seasons in Washington, though in 2020 he converted just 27 of 34 field-goal tries (79 percent) over 16 regular-season games.
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Cairo Santos K | CHI
Bears' Cairo Santos: Inks huge extension
The Bears signed Santos to a five-year, $16 million extension Thursday, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
Chicago spent a number of seasons searching for reliable placekicking before bringing in Santos last year, so it's unsurprising to see the team lock him up long-term. Santos was fantastic through 16 regular-season games in 2020, converting 30 of 32 field-goal tries and 36 of 37 extra-point attempts. The veteran kicker also made his only field-goal attempt during Chicago's playoff loss to the Saints.
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Younghoe Koo K | NYG
Falcons' Younghoe Koo: Staying with Atlanta
Koo has re-signed with the Falcons, Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports.
Although he's been in the NFL since 2017, the 26-year-old kicker only has two accrued seasons, which means he won't become a restricted free agent until spring 2022. Koo finished 2020 as the league leader in field goals made (37), notably going 8-of-8 from 50-plus yards out. He should be drafted in any league that uses kickers.
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Zane Gonzalez K | ATL
Zane Gonzalez: Will be released
Gonzalez (back) will be released from the Cardinals on Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.
Despite Gonzalez's impending release, there's still a chance he could return to Arizona for the upcoming year. The veteran kicker converted 16 of 22 field-goal attempts and 38 of 39 extra-point attempts across 12 games during the 2020 season.
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Wil Lutz K | DEN
Saints' Wil Lutz: Agrees to restructure
Lutz agreed to re-work his contract with the Saints on Thursday, Luke Johnson of NOLA.com reports.
The Saints will reportedly save $1.7 million in cap space by spreading some of the money owed to Lutz into future years. Lutz wrapped up 2020 with a career-worst 82.1 field goal percentage, which sets 2021 up to be a pivotal year for him. He signed a five-year deal back in 2019.
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Younghoe Koo K | NYG
Falcons' Younghoe Koo: Likely staying with Falcons
Koo will be an exclusive-rights free agent this offseason, which "practically guarantees" he'll be back with the Falcons for 2021, D. Orlando Ledbetter of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Players who reach the end of their contracts with less than three accrued seasons in the NFL become ERFAs. These players don't actually have any negotiating power, as they can only play for their original team, so long as the team tenders them a minimum salary. Koo's impressive performance the past two years ensures he'll get that tender, unless he receives a long-term extension first. Either way, he figures to be Atlanta's kicker in 2021, hoping to build on a 2020 campaign in which he converted 37 of 39 field-goal attempts and 33 of 36 point-after attempts.
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Jason Sanders K | MIA
Dolphins' Jason Sanders: Staying in Miami long term
Sanders is signing a five-year, $22 million extension that includes $10 million guaranteed, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
The new deal keeps Sanders under contract with the Dolphins through 2026, his age-30/31 season. The 2018 seventh-round pick has converted 86.5 percent of field-goal attempts and 98 percent of PATs through 48 NFL games, peaking in 2020 when he converted eight of nine tries from 50 yards or more. For his career, Sanders has made 12 of 15 (80 percent) from 50-plus, and 24 of 32 (75 percent) in the 40-49 range. He's good enough to warrant fantasy consideration even if the Miami offense appears mediocre again.
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Greg Joseph K | LV
Vikings' Greg Joseph: Signs in Minnesota
Joseph signed with the Vikings on Tuesday, Greg Auman of The Athletic reports.
Joseph spent the 2020 season on the Buccaneers' practice squad. Now, he'll compete with Dan Bailey -- who missed seven field goals and six extra points last year -- for the Vikings' starting kicker role in 2021. The 26-year-old has suited up for 16 career NFL games, connecting on 17 of 20 field-goal attempts (85 percent) and 34 of 38 extra-point tries (89 percent).
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Harrison Butker K | KC
Chiefs' Harrison Butker: Tallies all of Chiefs' points
Butker connected on all three of his field-goal attempts during Sunday's Super Bowl LV loss to the Buccaneers.
Butker did his best to reward the Chiefs' drives into Tampa Bay territory, connecting on two field goals from 49-plus yards out on football's biggest stage. Unfortunately, Butker's first-quarter field goal to open the scoring was the only time Kansas City held the lead all night. He closed out the postseason 7-for-8 on field goals and 6-for-7 on extra-point tries. Butker remains under contract through the 2024 season and figures to be one of the top fantasy kicking options again next season.