December 28, 2024
New Orleans Saints kicker
Blake Grupe was blanked in Week 16. It wasn't that he missed any kicks, it was the fact that the offense was never in a position to get him on the field in a 34-0 shellacking at the hands of the Green Bay Packers. When Grupe last saw scoring opportunities, in Week 15, he went two-for-two on field goals (from 41 and 51 yards out) and nailed his lone extra point. In Week 17, Grupe and the Saints face the Las Vegas Raiders, who have given up the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing kickers. Still, Grupe remains a risky option in fantasy football's championship round. With
Derek Carr (hand) and
Alvin Kamara (out) the Saints' offense could still be stuck in the mud come Sunday. New Orleans has averaged 12.8 points per game in rookie quarterback
Spencer Rattler's five starts thus far. With most fantasy leagues whittled down to their final two teams, there should be safer alternatives on the wire to stream in Week 17.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 22, 2024
New Orleans Saints kicker
Blake Grupe went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and converted his sole extra point try in Week 15. Grupe was good from 41 and 51 yards away and he is now 14-for-16 from 40 or more yards out. It was an encouraging effort after his 0-for-2 showing in Week 14. Despite the rebound, Grupe is not a recommended start in Week 16 when the Saints take on the Green Bay Packers on Monday night. The weather at Lambeau Field is expected to be wet, windy, and cold, which is far from ideal for a kicker used to kicking in the optimal conditions provided by a domed stadium. Pass on Grupe this week but keep an eye on his availability as he may be useful in Week 17 when New Orleans faces the Las Vegas Raiders.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 14, 2024
New Orleans Saints kicker
Blake Grupe converted both of his extra point attempts in Week 14 but he missed both of his field goal tries. It is worth noting that the misses were both from over 50 yards out. The first, a 53-yarder, had the distance but veered left of the uprights. The second was a 60-yard try at the end of the first half that was blocked by the Giants. Before those whiffs, Grupe had been a perfect 5-for-5 from 50 or more yards out. Grupe is a tough sell for fantasy football purposes in Week 15. The Saints will next face the Washington Commanders, who have seen the fourth-fewest field goal attempts in the league and are tied for the third-lowest fantasy points per game allowed to opposing kickers. On top of that, the Saints offense as a whole will be downgraded with quarterback
Jake Haener drawing the start in light of regular starter
Derek Carr's (concussion, hand) injuries. Fantasy managers can and should find a more bankable option for the first round of the fantasy playoffs.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
December 7, 2024
New Orleans Saints kicker
Blake Grupe hit a pair of 54-yard field goals in Week 13 but also missed a 36-yarder in the 21-14 loss to the Rams. The miss was his first since Week 8 and just his second missed field goal of the year. He is now 5-for-5 on attempts from 50 yards or more. On the season Grupe has been good on 20 out of 22 field goal attempts and has converted 26 of 28 extra point tries. In Week 14 the Saints face the New York Giants, who rank in the bottom half of the league in fantasy points allowed to opposing kickers. Grupe has not been spectacular by any stretch but his long-range accuracy offers some appeal. With six teams on bye this week, it may be necessary to shop the wire to fill the kicker slot. Grupe is a decent option but fantasy managers will be best served to shop for a more lucrative matchup as the Saints-Giants pairing is expected to be a low-scoring affair.
--Dan Stephens - RotoBallerSource: RotoBaller
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