Jake Bates Fantasy Stats

The Detroit Lions officially announced on Wednesday that they re-signed kicker Jake Bates to an undisclosed deal. Bates was an exclusive-rights free agent. The 27-year-old will return for his third season with the Lions in 2026. The former undrafted free agent out of Arkansas has become one of the more reliable kickers in fantasy football over the last couple of seasons in a Lions offense that should remain formidable in 2026. Last year in 17 games, Bates made 27 of his 34 field-goal tries (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and a league-high 54 extra points on 56 tries. He has made 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts in his two years in the NFL while succeeding on 95.9% of his 123 extra-point attempts. Bates was the No. 6 fantasy kicker in 2025. It also helps that half of his games come indoors, mitigating his volatility.

The Detroit Lions tendered a contract to exclusive-rights free-agent kicker Jake Bates, ensuring that he returns for the 2026 season, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Bates has gotten off to a nice start to his NFL career in two seasons with Detroit, making 84.1% of his 63 field-goal attempts while making 118 of his 123 extra-point tries in 34 games played. The 27-year-old Arkansas product has led the NFL in extra-point attempts and extra-point makes in each of the last two years while playing in one of the best offenses in the league. In 2025, he went 27-for-34 on field goals (4-for-9 from 50-plus yards) and 54-for-56 on extra points in 17 games played to finish as the No. 6 fantasy kicker in overall points. The Lions will have a new offensive coordinator in 2026, but they should still have a favorable offense, making Bates a clear top-10 fantasy target at the kicking position.

Across 15 games this season, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has converted on 22 of 28 field goal attempts and 52 out of 54 extra-point tries. Bates has the benefit of being tied to the Detroit offense, which enters Week 17 ranked second in the NFL in points per game (30.1). However, Bates and the Lions will face one of the league's top scoring defenses in Week 17 when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Vikings. Over the last three weeks, Minnesota has allowed opponents to score an average of just 13 points per game. In the first matchup between the two NFC North division rivals this season in Week 9, the Lions were held to 24 points, their fourth-lowest mark in a game in 2025. If there's one benefit for Bates, the game will be played indoors, which eliminates any weather concerns for the kicking game. Bates remains a viable starting kicker for fantasy managers in Week 17, but he profiles as a low-end option rather than a must-start player at the position against Minnesota.

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has been a bit shaky in recent weeks, as he's recorded a missed field goal in each of Detroit's last two games. He's now missed six field goal attempts across 14 games this season after missing just three attempts across 17 games as a rookie in 2024. Still, Bates leads the NFL in both extra-point makes (49) and attempts (51). He remains attached to the Lions offense, which enters Week 16 averaging a league-leading 30.6 points per contest. In Week 16, Detroit will host the Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh currently ranks just 18th in points allowed per game (23.3), so Detroit could have opportunities to get Bates on the field in point-scoring situations. Additionally, the game will be held indoors at Detroit's Ford Field, so the weather will not be a factor. Bates profiles as a solid starting kicker option for fantasy managers in Week 16.

Although Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates saw his streak of four straight games without a missed field goal come to an end in Week 14, he still knocked in three out of four field goal attempts and all five of his extra point tries in Detroit's win over the Dallas Cowboys. Bates remains the current NFL leader in both extra-point attempts (47) and makes (45) through 14 weeks. In Week 15, the Lions will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Rams. The Lions and Rams enter the week as two of the NFL's top teams in points per game, so this game could have shootout potential. Additionally, playing indoors at Los Angeles' SoFi Stadium eliminates any potential issues Bates might have with the weather. Fantasy managers can view Bates as a must-start fantasy kicker in Week 15.

Across 12 games this season, Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates has connected on 16 of 20 field goal attempts and converted a league-leading 40 extra-point tries. The 26-year-old has also done some of his best work in recent weeks, knocking in all seven of his field goal attempts over his last four games. In Week 14, Bates and the Lions will host the Dallas Cowboys in a game that appears to have shootout potential. Through 13 weeks, both Detroit and Dallas rank in the top five in points per game among all NFL teams. If both offenses hold to form, there could be plenty of opportunities for Bates to put points on the board. The game will also be played indoors at Detroit's Ford Field, which removes any potential weather concerns. Bates profiles as a must-start fantasy kicker in Week 14.

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates was one of the heroes of his team's Week 12 win over the New York Giants, bending in a 59-yard field goal to send the game to overtime. After a relatively shaky start to the season, Bates has now made six straight field goal attempts over his last three games. He'll have a second straight game in the friendly confines of Ford Field in Week 13 against the Green Bay Packers. For his career, Bates is averaging 8.6 points per game at home, compared to 7.4 on the road. If there's one concern for Bates in Week 13, it's Green Bay's prowess as a scoring defense. The Packers have held three of their last four opponents to 16 points or fewer and held the Lions to 13 points in the first matchup between the two teams this season in Week 1. Still, Bates profiles as a solid starting kicker option for fantasy managers in Week 13.

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates had an underwhelming game in Week 11, making just one field goal and missing his lone extra-point try in his team's 16-9 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. On paper, Bates has a much lighter matchup in Week 12, when the Lions host the New York Giants inside the domed Ford Field. In his career to this point, Bates is averaging 8.5 points per game at home, compared to 7.4 per game on the road. The Giants have also been one of the easiest teams for opposing offenses to light up the scoreboard against so far this season. New York enters Week 12 allowing 27.3 points per game and has allowed 31.2 points per game over the last five weeks. Bates could have plenty of chances to put points on the board for the Lions against the Giants and profiles as a must-start fantasy kicker in Week 12.

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates recorded his first missed extra point of the season in Week 10 against the Washington Commanders, but he knocked in all three of his field-goal attempts. Even with the blunder against Washington, Bates leads the NFL in extra-point makes (33) and attempts (34) through 10 weeks. The Lions have a difficult road matchup in Week 11 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Philadelphia ranks in the top ten in the NFL in per-game opponent scoring (21.3 points per game). Still, the Lions have one of the league's highest-scoring offenses so far this season and could provide Bates with some opportunities to put points on the board. It's not his most favorable matchup, but Bates still profiles as a solid starting kicker option for fantasy managers in Week 11.

Detroit Lions kicker Jake Bates projects as one of the top kicker options for Week 10's matchup against the Washington Commanders. Bates hasn't been quite as effective this season compared to last, however, making just nine of 13 attempts, but he has nailed all 30 of his extra points, which is the most in the league. His 69.2% field goal percentage ranks 31st out of 33 qualified kickers this season. The Lions attempt field goals at one of the lowest rates in the league, but Bates has still struggled to deliver in his limited opportunities. Bates should have plenty of opportunity for scoring in Week 10 against a Washington defense that hasn't shown itself capable of stopping anything recently.