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As roster cut-down day approaches in the NFL, we will start to see some movement at the kicker position. At this point in the preseason, many teams are starting to figure out which kicker will earn one of their 53 roster spots.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are no exception. With Rodrigo Blankenship and Chase McLaughlin battling for the kicking job, it's time for the Bucs to make a decision.
Is Chase McLaughlin the Buccaneers' starting kicker? What is his fantasy football outlook?
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Is Chase McLaughlin The Buccaneers' Starting Kicker?
Only a few teams get the luxury of entering the summer with a clear understanding of who their kicker will be. That wasn't the case for the Buccaneers, who had Blankenship and McLaughin compete for the role.
It looked like McLaughlin had the edge on the competition for most of training camp, and Blankenship's two missed kicks in Week 2 of the preseason made the choice clear for head coach Todd Bowles and general manager Jason Licht.
On Tuesday, the Buccaneers announced that they released Blankenship from their roster. McLaughlin has won the starting job ahead of Week 1.
What Is Chase McLaughlin's Fantasy Football Outlook?
With most fantasy managers rostering just one kicker, only the best players at the position are worth drafting. There are a few factors that go into evaluating a kicker's fantasy value.
The first factor is overall skill. While McLaughlin has missed just two extra points through 47 career games, he has struggled on longer kicks, making just 78.9 percent of field goals over the last two seasons. As a result of his inconsistency, the 27-year-old has bounced around from team to team, including regular-season stints with the Chargers, 49ers, Colts, Jaguars, Jets, and Browns.
Two other factors to consider are team performance and kicking environment. Since fantasy football awards more points for field goals (especially ones from long range) than extra points, you want to invest in a kicker who plays on a strong offense, but not necessarily one that scores too many touchdowns or attempts a lot of fourth-down conversions. Unfortunately for McLaughlin, the Buccaneers' offense is expected to take a major step backward in the post-Tom Brady era and scoring opportunities will be less plentiful. Plus, Raymond James Stadium can get windy.
All in all, none of this is good news for McLaughlin's fantasy value. He's definitely not worth drafting ahead of Week 1, and his season-long outlook is nothing more than a mid-season streamer who might do well when playing in a dome or facing a bad defense.
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