Dan

Bailey

This was telegraphed when the Vikings signed Greg Joseph a month ago. Bailey had a disastrous, shank-filled 2020 where he converted just 15-of-22 field goal attempts. That is not going to cut it in modern football. One of the best kickers in the league his first six years in Dallas, Bailey has been highly inconsistent since 2017. His big leg and experience will earn him plenty of free agent workouts, but his days of being a set-and-forget option, both in real life and fantasy, appear to be over.

Waived by the Titans in September, Joseph spent most of the year on the Super Bowl champion Bucs’ practice squad. It is conceivable he will challenge/replace Dan Bailey, who has been the bane of coach Mike Zimmer’s existence since arriving in Minnesota. Bailey has converted under 80 percent of his field goal attempts since arriving in Minneapolis after he was near 90 in Dallas.

Bailey can make up to $12 million by meeting certain field goal percentage incentives. The nine-year veteran has posted 84% field goal and 93% extra point rates for the Vikings over the last two seasons.

Awful for the Vikings his first season in Minnesota in 2018, Bailey rebounded to convert 27-of-29 field goal tries last season while making 40-of-44 extra points. It was more like the performance we were used to seeing from Bailey in Dallas. Bailey turned 32 in January.

Once one of the most accurate kickers in the league, Bailey’s decline continued last season as he converted just 21-of-28 field goal attempts including only 5-of-11 from 40 yards or more in 14 games with the Vikings. It would not be a surprise if the Vikings brought in some competition.

Bailey is quite literally one of the best kickers in NFL history, boasting the second-best conversion rate (88.2) of all time. He did that in Dallas’ dome and will be remaining indoors in Minnesota. The upgrade from rookie Daniel Carlson is impossibly large for a team with championship aspirations. Bailey will immediately slot back in as a top-10 weekly kicker in fantasy.

Bailey turned down four offers since getting released from Dallas. He wants to play for a contender, and with multiple teams likely to have an opening this week, he should finally sign. One of the most accurate kickers in the league, Bailey will be an upgrade wherever he lands.

Rookie Dan Bailey will handle field-goal duties for the second straight game against the Lions this weekend. You should be able to do better for a Buehler fill-in.

After going 3-for-3 yesterday, Bailey has nailed 19 straight field goals. “Don’t mess with him,” said special teams coach Joe DeCamillis. “Don’t coach him. Leave him alone.” Bailey’s 20 field goals made on the season tie him for the league lead with Billy Cundiff.

Bailey is picking up right where he left off after going 32-of-37 on field goals as a rookie last season. Dallas’ potentially explosive offense and the kicker-friendly confines of Cowboys Stadium make him a fine fantasy kicking option.