Jake Bates

Jake Bates enters the 2026 fantasy season in a very familiar spot: he is back with the Detroit Lions on a one-year deal after the team tendered him as an exclusive-rights free agent and he signed the contract in late March. That means there is no trade drama, no free-agent uncertainty, and no sign of a current injury or roster shakeup threatening his role, which is exactly what fantasy managers want from a kicker heading into draft season.

The upside case is straightforward. Bates has a huge leg, and Detroit’s offense should continue to give him plenty of scoring chances, especially in games where drives stall just outside the red zone. Fantasy outlets remain upbeat on him entering 2026, with recent rankings and outlook pieces still treating him as a strong kicker option and a steady weekly play.

The main reason to like Bates is volume. Kickers tied to good offenses usually benefit from a mix of extra points and field-goal opportunities, and Detroit has consistently looked like one of the more fantasy-friendly environments for that archetype. Recent projection models still slot him as a usable fantasy starter, with ADP placing him in the late rounds and projections keeping him in the kicker1 conversation.

For 2026 fantasy drafts, Bates looks like a safe, high-floor target rather than a flashy difference-maker. He is best viewed as one of the better kicking options to grab near the end of a draft if you want stability and a strong offense behind him, and there is no recent transaction or injury news that meaningfully hurts that outlook.