Dolphins Lose All-Pro Kicker to Hip Injury

    Written by: Zach Foster

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    Player Updates

    Jason Sanders_Jersey

    The news came out yesterday that the Miami Dolphins will begin the 2025 season without veteran kicker Jason Sanders,who is sidelined with a hip injury. Based on the limited data available, it appears that he was injured during pregame warmups ahead of the Dolphins' final preseason game vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars. The most likely culprit for this injury is a hip flexor strain – while there are other possibilities, the nature of the injury and the timeline both align with a hip flexor narrative.

    Nevertheless, the show must go on for fantasy managers even if the team expects him back within the first month of the 2025 season. It is imperative to plan accordingly if you have already rostered Jason Sanders on your team.

    Impact on Sanders' Value

    Sanders has been a reliable fantasy asset thanks to Miami's high-powered offense. He ranked in the top 10 among kickers in 2024, fueled by the Dolphins' ability to move the ball consistently and provide him with numerous attempts from 40+ yards.

    • Field Goals: 37/41 (90.2%)

      • Longest Field Goal: 57 Yards

      • Range:

        • 20-29: 7 made FGs
        • 30-39: 13 made FGs
        • 40-49: 5 made FGs
        • 50+: 12 made FGs
    • Extra Points: 26/28 (92.9%)

    With his hip issue forcing him to miss the start of the regular season, The Predictors do not see him as a trustworthy draft-day pick in standard formats. Instead, Sanders becomes a stash candidate in deeper leagues with IR spots, especially if your league allows injured kicker storage. If you don't have the option to stash players, we would advise waiting 1-2 games following his return to the lineup to see how his performance is. Hip injuries in kickers can be tricky and may limit their accuracy on longer kicks.

    Impact on the Dolphins' Offense

    From a fantasy perspective, Sanders' absence doesn't diminish the value of Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, or Jaylen Waddle. The offense should continue to score, but Miami may take fewer risks on long field goals and instead lean into 4th-down attempts early in the season. That could actually slightly boost touchdown opportunities for skill players until Sanders returns.

    Kicker Options

    If you were targeting Sanders late in drafts, pivoting these options below may make sense (from unlikely to probably available):

    • Cameron Dicker (Chargers)

      – Unlike to be available but if he is that's an easy decision, averaged 10.5 FPTS/G in 2024.

    • Evan McPherson (Bengals)

      – more of a boom or bust prospect - averaged 7.8 FPTS/G in 2024.

    • Jake Moody (49ers)

      – Plays in a high-powered offense that has a high red-zone efficiency - averaged 8.4 FPTS/G in 2024.

    It all depends on who is available and what type of risks you are willing to take.

    For Week 1 specifically, monitor who Miami signs as Sanders' replacement. A fill-in Dolphins kicker could be a sneaky play right away, given the offensive firepower. Possible names to be on the lookout for include Cade York, Zane Gonzalez, Greg Zuerlien.

    Bottom Line

    Sanders' injury is a short-term setback, but unless you're in a deep league with kicker stashes, fantasy managers are better off moving on. But keep him on your waiver radar; once healthy, Sanders returns to one of the NFL's most explosive offenses.