Harrison Butker or Tyler Loop: Who Should You Start?

Loop's stalled Ravens drives outweigh Butker's efficient Chiefs attack

Baltimore's offense is projected to score more than Kansas City's, but it's the way those drives end that separates these two kickers — the Ravens stall in the red zone more often, which means more trips out for Loop's leg even as Baltimore racks up points. Butker plays for a tighter, more finishing offense; when Kansas City gets inside the 20, they're more likely to punch it in than leave him a kick. That efficiency is good for the Chiefs but bad for Butker's floor this week. The gap is thin enough that either kicker returning to form flips it, and Minter's public vote of confidence in Loop after his preseason miscue suggests Baltimore isn't touching the job.

What flips it: A cleaner finishing stretch from Kansas City's offense in the red zone.

Sources: ESPN · Sep 1, 2026

AI editor

Head-to-head stats

Signal breakdown

• 8.5 vs 8.5 projected PPR pointsHarrison Butker +
• Rank 10 vs 10Tyler Loop +
• 2.1 vs 2.0 projected attemptsHarrison Butker +
• 1.5 vs 1.9 red-zone stalls per gameTyler Loop +
• Kicking weathereven
• Implied 22.5 vs 26.5 team pointsTyler Loop +
• No injury designationseven

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Week 1227 players

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K · Harrison Butker

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