2025 Kicking Stats
FGM
19
FGA
24
FG%
0.8
50+
4
XP
45
Rest-of-Season Projections
2025 Fantasy Outlook
Bates didn't earn an NFL gig in 2023, after going undrafted and signing with the Texans, but there was renewed interest last spring once he'd kicked three field goals of 60-plus yards in the UFL. He won the job in Detroit and held it down all year, finishing seventh among kickers in fantasy points behind a league-high 67 PATs (64 converted). Bates also performed well on field goals, missing just three, though his 29 attempts tied for 21st, lagging behind other kickers due to Detroit's aggressive approach on fourth down and excellent efficiency at converting scoring chances into TDs. Even if both those factors are unchanged under new offensive coordinator John Morton, it's a relatively stable situation that ensures Bates will have enough PATs to stay fantasy relevant. Read Past Outlooks
Signed a two-year, $1.98 million contract with the Lions in June of 2024.
Productive night in TNF win
Bates went 3-of-4 on field-goal attempts and 5-for-5 on extra-point tries in Thursday's 44-30 win over the Cowboys.
ANALYSIS
The kicker had a 52-yard field-goal try blocked in the third quarter, but other than that, he made the most of his opportunities, connecting on field goals from 38, 47 and 46 yards, respectively. Bates is now 19-of-24 on field-goal tries and 45-of-47 on extra-point attempts for the year, with all five field-goal misses coming from 40 yards or longer. The second-year pro is often limited in his field-goal opportunities by his coach's desire to go for it on fourth down, but Thursday proved one of his busier games.
The kicker had a 52-yard field-goal try blocked in the third quarter, but other than that, he made the most of his opportunities, connecting on field goals from 38, 47 and 46 yards, respectively. Bates is now 19-of-24 on field-goal tries and 45-of-47 on extra-point attempts for the year, with all five field-goal misses coming from 40 yards or longer. The second-year pro is often limited in his field-goal opportunities by his coach's desire to go for it on fourth down, but Thursday proved one of his busier games.
NFL Stats
Loading NFL Stats...
Fantasy Stats
Loading Fantasy/Red Zone Stats...
2025 NFL Game Log
2025
2024
2025 NFL Game Log
Loading Game Log...
2024 Fantasy Outlook
Bates went undrafted out of Arkansas in 2023 and was then waived by the Texans in mid-August. The Lions signed him in June 2024 as possible competition for Michael Badgley, who subsequently suffered a season-ending hamstring injury during training camp. Bates now has a shot at being Detroit's kicker come Week 1, but the team almost certainly will bring in other competition this summer.
More Fantasy News
Perfect in loss
Bates made all three of his point-after tries and converted his sole field-goal attempt in Thursday's 31-24 loss to the Packers.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Makes clutch field goal in win
Bates made both of his field-goal attempts and went 4-for-4 on extra-point tries during the Lions' 34-27 overtime win over the Giants on Sunday.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Makes only FGA in loss
Bates made his only field-goal try and missed his only PAT in Sunday night's 16-9 loss to the Eagles.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Busy in blowout win
Bates went 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and made made three of four PATs in Sunday's 44-22 win over the Commanders.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Tough luck in loss
Bates went 1-for-2 on field-goal tries and made all three of his extra-point attempts in Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Vikings.
ANALYSIS
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Subscribe now to instantly reveal our take on this news.
Latest Fantasy Rumors
Atop depth chart after Badgley hurt
Bates is the only healthy kicker remaining for the Lions, as Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Michael Badgley suffered a season-ending hamstring injury during Thursday's practice.
ANALYSIS
Bates had been slated to compete with Badgley to be Detroit's kicker in 2024, but Badgley will miss the entire campaign, leaving Bates as the favorite to start by default. After showing off his big leg by making six field goals of 50-plus yards in the UFL, Bates saw his chances of securing a spot on Detroit's roster get a boost due to Badgley's injury, though the Lions are expected to bring in another kicker to compete with Bates. Per Field Yates of ESPN, the Lions worked out kickers Matt Ammendola, Lucas Havrisik, Matthew McCrane and Andre Szmyt on Friday.
Bates had been slated to compete with Badgley to be Detroit's kicker in 2024, but Badgley will miss the entire campaign, leaving Bates as the favorite to start by default. After showing off his big leg by making six field goals of 50-plus yards in the UFL, Bates saw his chances of securing a spot on Detroit's roster get a boost due to Badgley's injury, though the Lions are expected to bring in another kicker to compete with Bates. Per Field Yates of ESPN, the Lions worked out kickers Matt Ammendola, Lucas Havrisik, Matthew McCrane and Andre Szmyt on Friday.