Ka'imi Fairbairn or Tyler Loop: Who Should You Start?
2026 Week 2 · deterministic head-to-head · Verdicts based on PPR scoring.
Fairbairn's cleaner kicking environment beats Loop's better scoring script
Fairbairn gets the nod because the roof-protected setting, superior accuracy and deeper range make his expected chances more bankable, while his stronger board standing reinforces a narrow edge. Loop has the better team environment, with more touchdown and extra-point upside, and his recent form supports confidence in his role. But open-air wind matters more for Loop because his profile is strongest inside 50 yards; Fairbairn's risk is Houston finishing drives with touchdowns instead of settling for kicks.
What flips it: A late increase in Baltimore's field-goal opportunities or weather that puts Houston's roof protection at risk.
AI editor

Ka'imi Fairbairn
9.89.89.8 Projected Points

Tyler Loop
9.19.19.1 Projected Points
Why Ka'imi Fairbairn
Start· highVeteran starting K. Reliable long-range leg and established accuracy.
K4 on the board with a 24.5 implied total, 1.8 red-zone stalls per game and 92% accuracy under a retractable roof — no weather risk.
- Roof protection removes the main variable that could undermine Fairbairn's reliable long-range profile.
- His veteran range gives Houston a stronger fallback when drives stall outside easy scoring distance.
The call
- Consensus K4 at 9.8 projected points, with 2.1 made field goals of 2.4 attempts plus 2.3 extra points — volume on both scoring paths.
- A 24.5 implied team total plus 1.8 red-zone stalls per game means the offense both moves the ball and hands him drives that die inside the 20.
- 92% accuracy (44/48) with a 57-yard long and 50-plus makes in six games means the long tries convert too.
- Retractable roof with a calm forecast either way removes weather from the equation, and he's the locked PK1 with no injury designation.
Why Tyler Loop
Start· mediumStarting placekicker who handles kickoffs. Accurate inside 50 but limited range, hitting just 1-of-4 from 50-plus as a rookie with a long of 52.
K11 with a 27.0 implied total, 1.9 red-zone stalls per game and 88% accuracy — locked-in PK1 in a favorable scoring script.
- Baltimore's superior scoring environment can erase the gap if its drives finish with extra points.
- Loop's secure role and early-season momentum give him a clean path to outperform his lower ranking.
The call
- Baltimore's 27.0 implied total and -7.5 spread point to a high-volume scoring day: 2.1 projected attempts plus 2.8 extra points is a healthy blended floor at 9.1 points.
- His own offense stalls in the red zone 1.9 times per game, which is exactly the profile that converts drives into kicker points rather than touchdowns.
- Role is unambiguous — PK1 with no designation, and the Ravens cut Moody after his opener, so there is no competition for the job.
- Only real drag is the 10 mph wind under an open roof, mild enough not to move the needle on a kicker hitting 88% (30/34) with a 52-yard long.
Latest on Loop
The Ravens released Jake Moody from the practice squad after an impressive performance from kicker Tyler Loop in Sunday's season opener.
Loop went 2-of-2 on field goals, including a career-long from 57 yards out.
Reported by the sources listed — not independently verified.
Head-to-head stats
| Metric | Ka'imi Fairbairn | Tyler Loop |
|---|---|---|
| Projected points | 9.89.89.8 | 9.19.19.1 |
| Consensus rank | K4 | K11 |
| Projected FG attempts | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| Red-zone stalls / game | 1.8(2025) | 1.9(2025) |
| Kicking conditions | Retractable roof, calm forecast either way | 11 mph wind forecast at kickoff |
| Implied total · spread | 24.5-2.5 | 27.0-7.5 |
| Field-goal % | 91.7%(2025) | 88.2%(2025) |
| Depth chart | K1 | K1 |
| Start/Sit record | — | 1–0 |
Recent form
Ka'imi Fairbairn — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs BUF | 9.09.09.0 |
Tyler Loop — last 1 week
| Week 1 | vs IND | 14.014.014.0 |
Signal breakdown
- 9.8 vs 9.1 projected PPR pointsKa'imi Fairbairn +
- Rank 4 vs 11Ka'imi Fairbairn +
- 2.4 vs 2.1 projected attemptsKa'imi Fairbairn +
- 1.8 vs 1.9 red-zone stalls per gameTyler Loop +
- 6 mph, 92°F, clear vs 11 mph, 82°F, overcastKa'imi Fairbairn +
- Implied 24.5 vs 27.0 team pointsTyler Loop +
- No injury designationseven
Compare different players
Every fantasy-relevant player this week — search or filter by position.
More Fairbairn comparisons
More Loop comparisons
This week’s toughest calls
- K. WilliamsKyren WilliamsRBLARvs NYG
C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LAR
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LAR
D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
B. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLE
- B. IrvingBucky IrvingRBTBvs CLE
D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CIN
- D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CIN
J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARI
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARI
R. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG
D. MooreDJ MooreWRBUFvs DET
- D. MooreDJ MooreWRBUFvs DET
J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUF
- J. WilliamsJameson WilliamsWRDETvs BUF
L. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MIN
- L. Burden IIILuther Burden IIIWRCHIvs MIN
M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
C. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- C. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
M. GoldenMatthew GoldenWRGBvs NYJ
- K. Pitts Sr.Kyle Pitts Sr.TEATLvs CAR
G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIA
- G. KittleGeorge KittleTESFvs MIA
S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUF
- S. LaPortaSam LaPortaTEDETvs BUF
T. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJ
- T. KraftTucker KraftTEGBvs NYJ
T. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs IND
- T. KelceTravis KelceTEKCvs IND
D. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs TEN
- D. GoedertDallas GoedertTEPHIvs TEN
J. FergusonJake FergusonTEDALvs WSH
- D. PrescottDak PrescottQBDALvs WSH
J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LAR
- J. DartJaxson DartQBNYGvs LAR
J. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LV
- J. HerbertJustin HerbertQBLACvs LV
C. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MIN
- C. WilliamsCaleb WilliamsQBCHIvs MIN
B. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIA
- B. PurdyBrock PurdyQBSFvs MIA
P. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs IND
- P. MahomesPatrick MahomesQBKCvs IND
B. NixBo NixQBDENvs JAX
- B. AubreyBrandon AubreyKDALvs WSH
K. FairbairnKa'imi FairbairnKHOUvs CIN
- K. FairbairnKa'imi FairbairnKHOUvs CIN
E. PineiroEddy PineiroKSFvs MIA
- E. PineiroEddy PineiroKSFvs MIA
H. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs IND
- H. ButkerHarrison ButkerKKCvs IND
T. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NO
- T. LoopTyler LoopKBALvs NO
C. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLE
- C. McLaughlinChase McLaughlinKTBvs CLE
N. FolkNick FolkKATLvs CAR
- Buccaneers D/STBuccaneers D/STDSTTBvs CLE
Chiefs D/STChiefs D/STDSTKCvs IND
- Chiefs D/STChiefs D/STDSTKCvs IND
Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LV
- Chargers D/STChargers D/STDSTLACvs LV
49ers D/ST49ers D/STDSTSFvs MIA
- 49ers D/ST49ers D/STDSTSFvs MIA
Patriots D/STPatriots D/STDSTNEvs PIT
- Patriots D/STPatriots D/STDSTNEvs PIT
Bears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MIN
- Bears D/STBears D/STDSTCHIvs MIN
Packers D/STPackers D/STDSTGBvs NYJ
- D. MontgomeryDavid MontgomeryRBHOUvs CIN
D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG
- D. AdamsDavante AdamsWRLARvs NYG
D. SwiftD'Andre SwiftRBCHIvs MIN
- J. PriceJadarian PriceRBSEAvs ARI
M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
- M. EvansMike EvansWRSFvs MIA
R. StevensonRhamondre StevensonRBNEvs PIT
- C. SkatteboCam SkatteboRBNYGvs LAR
C. WatsonChristian WatsonWRGBvs NYJ
- D. Samuel Sr.Deebo Samuel Sr.WRSFvs MIA
I. LikelyIsaiah LikelyTENYGvs LAR
- I. LikelyIsaiah LikelyTENYGvs LAR
J. DobbinsJ.K. DobbinsRBDENvs JAX
- A. Jones Sr.Aaron Jones Sr.RBMINvs CHI
K. Pitts Sr.Kyle Pitts Sr.TEATLvs CAR
Get a Start/Sit call on your whole roster →
Save your team once and see a Start, Sit, or Toss-Up verdict on every player, every week — with the matchup, usage and game-script evidence behind each call.
Add to My Team — freeOr browse this week’s NFL games or NFL player props.





