Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater (left knee) returned to practice in a limited capacity on Friday. This was an improvement after he missed two consecutive practices, but it still leaves some uncertainty about his availability. The Cardinals are officially listing him as questionable for Week 5 versus the San Francisco 49ers. Prater has remained quite effective in his age-40 season, converting all 10 of his extra points attempts and all six of his field goal attempts. Fantasy managers can continue to start Prater in leagues with 12 teams or fewer.
Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater (knee) is dealing with a left-knee injury that kept him out of his second straight practice this week on Thursday. Prater is now firmly in danger of missing the Week 5 divisional tilt on Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. The Cardinals signed Chad Ryland to their practice squad on Wednesday, further signaling that they are worried about Prater's ability to kick this weekend. Prater is the No. 19 fantasy kicker through the first four weeks of the 2024 NFL campaign, so it's not like he was coming into this week really on the fantasy radar of managers in standard 12-team leagues. The 40-year-old has made all six of his field-goal attempts and all 10 of his extra-point tries, but the Cardinals offense so far has been too inconsistent to make Prater a viable fantasy kicking option on a weekly basis.
Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater (knee) was listed as a non-participant for the team's first practice of the week on Wednesday. Evidently the 40-year-old veteran came out of Sunday's 42-14 loss to the Washington Commanders a bit dinged up. Interestingly enough, Arizona held tryouts last Friday for kickers Anders Carlson and Chad Ryland, while Prater did not garner a designation. The Cardinals signed Ryland to their practice squad on Wednesday. Prater will need to get in at least one limited session over the next few days to boost his chances of suiting up in Week 5. However, if he can't, it would seem that Ryland would appear in his stead. The journeyman kicker has yet to miss a field goal or extra point attempt this season. Arizona will hit the road to take on their division-rival San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.
Week 1 of the 2024 season saw several kickers put up extraordinary amounts of points. Five kickers had multiple field goals from 50+ yards out, three of them also hitting two tries from the 40-49-yard range. Nine other kickers also made good from 50 yards or more. Unfortunately, Matt Prater was not one of them. The 40-year-old veteran did convert all of his attempts though, netting field goals from 29 and 31 yards out and banging home two extra points. In Week 2, the Cardinals host the Rams in their home opener in what is expected to be one of the highest-scoring games of the week. Prater may not have had a chance to kick from distance in the season opener but he has a strong leg and the benefit of playing in a dome in Week 2. Fantasy managers looking for a solution at kicker can fire up Prater on Sunday without worry.
Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater will begin his 18th NFL season when the team takes on the Buffalo Bills in Week 1. Prater is the active leader in career field goals with 401 and is second on the list in career extra points. Last season Prater was 28-for-33 on field goal attempts and made all but one of his 23 extra point tries. With a healthy Kyler Murray leading the way, Arizona's offense should be more effective out of the gate than it was in 2023 which will lead to more opportunities for Prater to put points on the board. Buffalo is expected to score at will against Arizona's defense on Sunday. If the Cardinals can stay competitive it will be because they engage in a shootout which, again, means more chances to score for Prater. The veteran kicker is not the best option out there but he is widely available, has a strong leg (nine FGs of 50+ yards in 2023), and will be featured in a high-scoring matchup.
As the regular season concludes with Week 18, fantasy managers can confidently rely on Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater. In the recent victory against the Eagles, Prater showcased his consistency by converting 2-of-2 field goals and 3-of-3 extra points. Impressively, he has not missed a kick in his last four games and has only four total misses on the year, solidifying his status as one of the most reliable kickers in the league. Prater's performance against the Eagles, including successful attempts from 28 and 34 yards, underlines his ability to contribute fantasy points regularly despite Arizona's offensive inconsistencies. As the Cardinals gear up for the final game of the year, fantasy managers should feel comfortable starting Prater, knowing they have a dependable kicker to round out their lineups.
As the Arizona Cardinals prepare to face the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 17, veteran kicker Matt Prater emerges as a reliable fantasy option. In the recent matchup against the Bears, Prater showcased his long-range prowess by converting a 55-yard field goal, setting an NFL record with six such makes this season. Despite a relatively quiet game, Prater's ability to contribute from deep distances has been a crucial asset for the Cardinals. With two more makes from 50-plus yards, he could tie another league record. As the Cardinals gear up for a crucial clash with the Eagles, fantasy managers can anticipate Prater to be a valuable asset, potentially capitalizing on additional opportunities to add to his impressive long-range record. In addition, there is a real possibility Arizona may have difficulty moving the football consistently, potentially giving Prater more opportunities. For those in need of help at the kicking position, Prater is worth the start.
In Week 15, Matt Prater delivered a standout performance, connecting on 3-of-3 field goal attempts (58, 43, 28) and 2-of-2 extra point attempts against the 49ers. This marked a significant uptick in Prater's production, with five total kicks, including three field goals, after seeing limited opportunities in his previous three games. Despite the improved offensive outlook for the Cardinals, Prater remains a risky fantasy kicker, ranking outside the top 25 at his position in scoring with 85 total points. However, his ability to convert kicks from 50-plus yards, including a 62-yarder earlier in the season, adds an element of upside. Fantasy managers considering Prater for Week 16 should weigh the potential for long-range kicks against the overall scoring limitations.
Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater booted one 51-yard field goal and three extra points in the team's Week 13 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers two weeks ago. He looked good in that matchup and fresh off a Week 14 bye, should be well-rested and ready to go. However, the Cardinals take on a stiff test against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15. While the Arizona offense has been better since the return of quarterback Kyler Murray, the 49ers currently boast the best defense in the NFL, making it a real possibility that Arizona struggles to move the ball. While that could open up additional opportunities for Prater and his booming leg, it could also stifle the Cardinal offense so much that Prater sees fewer opportunities. As such, he remains too risky and nothing more than a waiver wire option for Week 15.
Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater could be a steaming option heading into Week 13. With the re-emergence of quarterback Kyler Murray leading the Arizona passing game, Prater has become a viable fantasy option once again. However, In Week 12, Prater put up a goose egg, missing his only field goal attempt from 56 yards out. In his defense, the Cardinals' offense was anemic and did not call on him for an extra point in the entire game. In other words, fantasy managers should throw Week 12 out the window, as Prater has kicked a solid 19 field goals on the year. The veteran kicker has missed just four kicks all season and remains a decent option, despite the lack of consistency from the Arizona offense. Managers in need of kicking help should consider him for Week 13.
