Joey Slye or Tyler Bass: Toss-Up — Week 1 Start/Sit Verdict

Too close to call — the edges cancel out.

Joey Slye and Tyler Bass grade out even this week. Slye's best edge is attempt volume (1.9 to 1.8 projected attempts), Bass's best edge is red-zone opportunity (1.3 to 0.9 stalls per game) — and they cancel out. Start whichever player's game you trust more this week.

Joey Slye

K20TENvs NYJ

7.67.67.6 Projected Points

Sit

Tyler Bass

K20BUFvs HOU

7.57.57.5 Projected Points

Sit

Why Joey Slye

Sit

Starting PK with big-leg range. Veteran journeyman kicker with long-distance capability.

Sit — K20 by consensus, projects K26 this week: 0.9 red-zone stalls a game, and 7.6 pts projected vs NYJ.

Calm forecast at kickoff.
1.9 FG tries projected, just under the 2.0 league median this week.
TEN's offense stalls in the red zone 0.9 times a game (2025) — that's where kicker points come from.
Vegas has TEN at 21.3 points as 3-point favorites.

Why Tyler Bass

Sit

Starting placekicker. Strong leg on kickoffs and long-range attempts.

Sit — K20 by consensus, projects K27 this week: 1.3 red-zone stalls a game, and 7.5 pts projected vs HOU.

Calm forecast at kickoff.
1.8 FG tries projected, just under the 2.0 league median this week.
BUF's offense stalls in the red zone 1.3 times a game (2025) — that's where kicker points come from.
Vegas has BUF at 23.5 points as 1.5-point favorites.

Head-to-head stats

Metric	Joey Slye	Tyler Bass
Projected points	7.67.67.6	7.57.57.5
Consensus rank	K20	K20
Projected FG attempts	1.9	1.8
Red-zone stalls / game	0.9(2025)	1.3(2025)
Kicking conditions	Calm forecast at kickoff	Retractable roof, calm forecast either way
Implied total · spread	21.3-3.0	23.5-1.5
Field-goal %	84.8%(2025)	—
Depth chart	K1	K1