Justin

Rohrwasser

The 2020 fifth-rounder spent his rookie year on the practice squad before getting promoted with a futures deal in January. Getting waived at this stage of the offseason should officially end his time with the Patriots.

Folk in 2020 scored the 18th most fantasy points among kickers despite the Patriots attempting the eighth most field goals. The veteran has made 40 of his 45 field goal tries in two seasons with the Pats. The curiously tattooed kicker Justin Rohrwasser remains on the New England roster.

Folk will be the opening game starter after beating rookie K Justin Rohrwasser in a training camp battle. New England’s kicker has always been on the fantasy radar, although the offense likely regresses with a weakened 2020 roster. Against the Dolphins in Week 1, Folk is a quality streamer.

New England remains without a kicker on the roster a week before their season opener against Miami. It’s a bold strategy. We’ll likely see the team activate Folk or Rohrwasser to the 53-man roster this week, or the team will sign a free agent kicker like Matt Gay. Patriots beat writers throughout August said kicker was a major weak spot for the team. Field goals and extra points could be precarious for the Patriots in 2020.

It’s a huge admission of defeat from the Patriots, who will supposedly stash the No. 159 overall pick of the draft on the practice squad. Rohrwasser’s selection was immediately followed by an off-the-field controversy when it was revealed he had a tattoo associated with a white nationalist hate group. Rohrwasser, who is already 23 years old, claimed ignorance. He got the tattoo removed but then proceeded to stink up the joint in training camp, getting badly out-kicked by Nick Folk. Folk, surprisingly, has also been released, so the Pats will be in the market for a new kicker.

Rohrwasser has struggled with consistency while Folk has been accurate with his attempts since signing with the Patriots on Monday. There’s been some speculation that Rohrwasser has dealt with an injury -- not that the Patriots would ever reveal as much. The team “can’t afford to roll the dice on a guy who’s working out the kinks as he enters the league,” Curran wrote. “There are a whole lot of question marks facing the Patriots in 2020. If they can eliminate one of them at kicker, they should.” Curran suggested cutting the rookie and re-signing him to the practice squad. Whoever gets the starting job for New England could be useful for fantasy purposes on a team that should see plenty of positive game script -- a key in pinpointing viable fantasy kickers.

Folk turns 36 in November. He spent seven games with New England last season, drilling 14-of-17 field goals and all 12 of his extra points. The longtime Jets kicker will compete with fifth-round rookie Justin Rohrwasser, who has been described as “erratic” in practice this summer. Rohrwasser has the edge due to his draft pedigree, but Bill Belichick isn’t going to put that ahead of the team’s success. Folk has a legit shot to beat out the rookie.

Without an oncoming rush, the rookie kicker hit one from 50 yards, then yanked two kicks way left, per beat writers. Rohrwasser went 2-for-4 on the “skinny” field goal posts in a full team setting. Maybe he’s still getting used to kicking without the white nationalist tattoos he had removed in July. Rohrwasser could be a decent fantasy option if Cam Newton and the New England offense can maintain positive game script in 2020.

Folk was with New England last year but only played in seven games due to an appendectomy. He didn’t miss one field goal inside of 40 yards or any extra points but struggle on long kicks. Folk missed three of his eight attempts from 40 yards out or farther. He’ll compete with fifth-round pick Justin Rohrwasser for the starting gig.

The far-right group has been associated with racism. Rohrwasser claimed ignorance when it became a controversy following his draft selection, saying he merely thought it was a military tribute. That, of course, strains belief. He vowed to have it removed and has followed through on doing so. “I’m going to learn from this,” Rohrwasser claimed. We would certainly hope so. Rohrwasser’s draft capital makes him the heavy favorite to replace Stephen Gostkowski in New England.