NFL Player News
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Brett Maher K | LAR
Cowboys' Brett Maher: Boots game-winning FG
Maher missed one of two extra points but connected on all three of his field-goal attempts, including a 42-yarder as time expired, in Sunday's 22-19 win over the Falcons.
While he's hardly been automatic -- Maher's missed one kick, either field goal or extra point, in four straight games -- he's still maintained a solid fantasy floor most weeks, booting multiple field goals in seven of his last nine contests. With the low-powered Dallas offense often sputtering in the red zone, Maher should continue to see plenty of opportunities down the stretch.
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Ka'imi Fairbairn K | HOU
Texans' Ka'imi Fairbairn: Boots game-winning score Sunday
Fairbairn converted three of his five field-goal attempts and both of his extra-point kicks for 11 points in Sunday's 23-21 victory over Washington.
Fairbairn experienced the highs and lows of placekicking in the Week 11 win. His 54-yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter turned out to be the game-deciding score, but he misfired on a 45-yarder later in the game which would have made life easier for the Texans. He also missed a 44-yarder earlier in the contest. Still, he's been a productive kicker in 2018, leading the NFL with 27 FGA while successfully converting 81.5 percent of his kicks.
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Jake Elliott K | PHI
Eagles' Jake Elliott: Held without field-goal try in loss
Elliott attempted no field goals and made his only extra-point attempt in Sunday's 48-7 loss to New Orleans.
The Eagles got absolutely trounced in this one, and the offense never managed to get much going. It marks the second time this season that Elliott has been held without a field-goal but the first time he wasn't even called on for an attempt. The Memphis product has just one multi-field-goal game over his last four but will look to rebound as he goes from the worst matchup for kickers in the Saints to the best one in the Giants at home Week 12.
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Matt Bryant K | ATL
Falcons' Matt Bryant: Flawless day of kicking
Bryant succeeded on his only extra-point attempt and put all four of his field-goal tries through the uprights during a 22-19 loss to Dallas on Sunday.
Fresh off a three-game absence due to a hamstring injury, the 17-year veteran appeared clutch as usual, connecting on tries from 21, 41, 45 and 53 yards out against the Cowboys. Bryant has potential to be a popular waiver-wire addition heading into a Thanksgiving night game against New Orleans, for what figures to be a high-scoring affair. The Saints haven't proven to be an especially fruitful matchup for kickers this season, however, allowing the sixth-fewest field-goal attempts, largely in part to a red zone defense giving up touchdowns on 72.4 percent of drives.
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Chris Boswell K | PIT
Steelers' Chris Boswell: Limited opportunities in win
Boswell made both his extra point tries during their 20-16 win against Jacksonville.
Jacksonville did a good job against the potent Pittsburgh offense, resulting in Boswell's worst outing this season and his lowest point total since Week 6 of the 2016 season. The offense should fare better against Denver in Week 12.
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Cairo Santos K | CHI
Buccaneers' Cairo Santos: Perfect in team debut
Santos did not attempt any field goals and was perfect on all five extra-point attempts in the Buccaneers' 38-35 loss to the Giants on Sunday.
Santos maximized his opportunities, drilling every extra-point try he was afforded. The veteran kicker has the talent to stabilize the team's placekicking position, considering he brought a respectable 84.1 percent career success rate into Tampa. He'll look to log his first field-goal opportunities in a Week 12 matchup versus the 49ers.
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Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Redskins' Dustin Hopkins: Misses 63-yarder in waning seconds
Hopkins made each of his three PATs and missed a 63-yard field-goal attempt in Sunday's 23-21 loss to the Texans.
Bothered by a groin injury during the week, Hopkins was cleared to play but didn't get any realistic chances besides the trio of extra points. His lone field-goal attempt fell short in the closing seconds of the game, with the Redskins dropping to 6-4 after losing their starting quarterback to a severe leg injury. Hopkins is attached to the most injury-riddled offense in the league, with Smith now the fourth starter to be lost for the season. A Week 12 matchup with the slow-paced Cowboys on Thanksgiving isn't likely to help.
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Matt Prater K | BUF
Lions' Matt Prater: Finds more success from long range
Prater converted both of his field-goal attempts and both of his PATs during Sunday's 20-19 victory over Carolina.
Prater's day could've been even bigger had a delay of game penalty not forced the Lions to punt after the team initially lined up for a 58-yard field goal attempt. Prater was otherwise perfect from 32- and 54-yards out. Look for the veteran to again be one of the most trusted kickers in the league in Week 12 against the Bears.
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Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Redskins' Dustin Hopkins: Playing Sunday
Hopkins (groin) is active for Sunday's game against the Texans.
Hopkins managed one limited practice this week -- Friday -- after which he told John Keim of ESPN.com that he planned to "give it a go. ... It [the groin] was pain-free." The Redskins clearly agreed, signing no replacement kicker in the meantime. Hopkins thus will face a Houston team that has allowed 7.0 real-life points per contest to kickers during its current six-game winning streak.
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Dustin Hopkins K | CLE
Redskins' Dustin Hopkins: Expects to play
Hopkins (groin) said he's pain-free and expects to play in Sunday's game against the Texans, John Keim of ESPN.com reports.
Despite his stated confidence, Hopkins is listed as questionable on the Redskins' final injury report for Week 11. The possibility of an absence will need to be seriously considered if the Redskins sign another kicker Friday or Saturday. With the banged-up Washington offense facing a tough Houston defense, Hopkins doesn't profile as a top-12 fantasy option at his position this week.