Due to the expected ineptitude from the Cardinals offense, we are not advising drafting Prater as a top-20 kicker. If Kyler Murray returns and the Cardinals are better than expected then that could change. For now, you should leave Prater on the waiver wire.
Prater made three field goals at the Rams in Week 6 but no PATs, and he scored nine Fantasy points. Only two kickers this season have failed to make multiple field goals against the Rams, and five guys have made at least three field goals against Los Angeles. Prater has 24 Fantasy points in two games with Kyler Murray, and he has top-five upside in the rematch with the Rams in Week 12.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Makes both kicks in Week 11
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Prater connected on his sole field-goal attempt and only point-after try during Sunday's 21-16 defeat in Houston.
Through 11 contests this season, Prater has missed just three kicks (two FGAs, one PAT) on 33 total attempts. But with a scoring average of just 6.2 points per game, he ranks 26th in the category among placekickers to have made at least 10 appearances, making him an unreliable option for fantasy purposes. Still, Prater has a decent chance to bounce back Sunday against the Rams, who have conceded 8.8 points per game (fifth most) to opposing kickers this season.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Connects on five kicks Sunday
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Prater netted all four field-goal attempts and his only point-after try during Sunday's 25-23 win versus the Falcons.
Prater could have had slightly more output Week 10, but the Cardinals went for two on their first touchdown of the game just before halftime. Still, with Arizona's offense stalling often in Atlanta territory, he was handed FGAs of 51, 46, 56 and 23 yards, all of which he connected on for his most productive performance of the season. And the final one (the 23-yarder) split the uprights as time expired. With quarterback Kyler Murray (knee) now directing the offense, Prater may start to make his way up the most points scored list, but he currently ranks 26th (6.4 points per game) among NFL placekickers that have made at least seven appearances this season.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Puts up goose egg in Week 9
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Prater played only one snap on special teams during Sunday's 27-0 defeat at Cleveland.
A moribund Cardinals offense led by rookie fifth-round quarterback Clayton Tune produced just 58 net yards of offense and never got the ball past the Browns' 40-yard line. As a result, Prater's only action of the day was a kickoff to begin the second half. The impending returns of quarterback Kyler Murray (knee) from the reserve/PUP list and running back James Conner (knee) from injured reserve could change Prater's fortunes for the better, but his recent tallies (four, four and zero points) leave a lot to be desired.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Nails both kicks Sunday
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Prater connected on his only field-goal attempt and sole point-after try during Sunday's 31-24 defeat to the Ravens.
Despite the close margin of victory, the Cardinals were down 21-7 entering the fourth quarter and went for two after both of their touchdowns down the stretch, limiting Prater's chances. He thus matched his third-lowest point total (four) in eight games on the campaign, which pushed his scoring average from 6.7 to 6.4 points per game. Prater may have a tough time producing Sunday against a Browns team that has conceded the fourth-fewest FGAs (11) to opponents in seven contests this season.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Misses crucial kick in Week 7
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Prater made one of two field-goal attempts and his only point-after try during Sunday's 20-10 defeat at Seattle.
In a game in which the Cardinals got inside the Seahawks' 25-yard line on just one of their 11 possessions, scoring chances were difficult to come by. And while Prater made his first FGA from 44 yards out, his miss wide left from 34 yards early in the fourth quarter kept the score at 17-10 in an eventual 10-point loss. After this four-point showing, Prater now sits in a tie for 21st among NFL kickers with 6.7 points per game.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Makes all three kicks Sunday
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Prater netted all three field-goal attempts during Sunday's 26-9 defeat to the Rams.
Prater accounted for all of the Cardinals' points Week 6, striking true from 55, 32 and 27 yards during the contest. His long made kick in the first quarter also doubled as his 74th from 50-plus yards, which extended an NFL record that he owns, per Darren Urban of the team's official site. After logging just one FGA in the previous two games, Prater again was busy Sunday, marking his fourth occasion this season with exactly three such attempts and helping push him back into a tie for 17th among kickers in scoring (7.2 points per game) with the Dolphins' Jason Sanders.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Another quiet outing Sunday
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Prater made two of three point-after tries during Sunday's 34-20 defeat to the Bengals.
After a strong start to the season in which he was 8-for-9 on field-goal attempts and connected on all four PATs in the first three weeks, Prater hasn't had as many opportunities the last two games (one made field goal, 3-for-4 on extra points). As a result, he's fallen all the way to a tie for 23rd in points per game among kickers with the Lions' Riley Patterson at 6.8. There's a chance for Prater to bounce back Sunday against a Rams team that has allowed 8.8 points per game to opposing kickers on the campaign.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Makes both kicks
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Prater made his only field-goal attempt as well as his lone extra-point try in Sunday's 35-16 loss to the 49ers.
Prater converted from 38 yards on his field goal. Through four games, he's missed only one of 15 total attempts, compiling 32 points.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Another perfect performance
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Prater made all three field-goal attempts and his only point-after try during Sunday's 28-16 win versus the Cowboys.
On his second perfect day in three chances this season, Prater highlighted his performance with a 62-yard field goal as time expired going into halftime. He's been known for his booming kicks since entering the league in 2007, and Sunday's long make actually matched the second longest of his career behind the 64-yarder he connected on with the Broncos in 2013. With 28 points on the campaign, Prater currently ranks in a tie for sixth among NFL kickers in terms of scoring with the Dolphins' Jason Sanders.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Miss in loss
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Prater missed one of his three field-goal attempts and made both of his extra-point tries in Sunday's 31-28 loss to the Giants.
Prater opened the game by missing wide left from 55 yards. He responded by hitting subsequent field goals from 37 and 44 yards in the second quarter. Through two weeks, he sports a commendable 18 points.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Perfect in season opener
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Prater made all three field-goal attempts and his lone extra-point try in Sunday's 20-16 loss at Washington.
The highlight of Prater's perfect opener was a 54-yarder early in the second quarter that cut the Commanders' lead to 7-6. Arizona isn't likely to be an offensive juggernaut this season -- especially not as long as Kyler Murray remains sidelined by an injury -- so Prater remains an average-at-best fantasy option until the Cardinals' signal-caller returns to action. With that said, Prater is set for a weather-neutral home environment in Week 2 against a Giants team that ceded two field-goal attempts and five extra-point tries Sunday versus Dallas.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Back with Arizona on two-year deal
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Prater agreed Tuesday with the Cardinals on a two-year contract, Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic reports.
The 2023 campaign will be Prater's age-39 season. He missed four games to injury last year but otherwise hadn't missed a contest since 2014 with the Lions. Prater made 22 of 25 field-goal attempts and 17 of 18 extra-point tries last season. He still has one of the stronger legs in the sport.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Misses PAT in finale
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Prater did not attempt a field goal and missed one of two extra-point tries in Sunday's 38-13 loss to the 49ers.
Prater's missed PAT was his only this season. The veteran also made 22 of his 25 field-goal attempts, proving fairly accurate despite a struggling Arizona offense limiting his opportunities. In missing four games due to a hip injury as well, Prater's 83 total points ranked 30th among kickers league-wide. The 38-year-old is now slated to become an unrestricted free agent this offseason.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Heavily involved in Week 17
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Prater went 4-for-5 on field-goal tries and made his only PAT attempt in Sunday's 20-19 loss to the Falcons.
Prater was busy again Sunday, making multiple field goals for the fourth consecutive game. The 38-year-old was able to convert a 38-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 36-yarder in each of the second and third quarters before later adding a 57-yard boot in the final period. His only miss came late in the third when he sailed a 43-yard try wide left. Prater has gone 12-for-14 on field-goal attempts over the last four contests, raising his season total to 22 makes over 25 tries while appearing in 12 games.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Busy in Week 16
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Prater went 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts and made his only PAT try in Sunday's 19-16 overtime loss to the Buccaneers.
Prater was busy for a second consecutive week Sunday, making a 56-yard field goal in the first quarter and a 53-yarder in the second quarter. He later added a third field goal from 39 yards in the fourth quarter while also recording a PAT in the final period of regulation. Prater has now attempted three field goals in three consecutive games, going 8-for-9 over that stretch, including four makes from over 50 yards. Arizona has a plus matchup in Week 17 against Atlanta, giving the kicker another opportunity to be heavily involved on New Year's Day.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Makes three FGs in Week 15
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Prater made all three of his field-goal attempts and didn't attempt a PAT in Sunday's 24-15 loss to Denver.
Prater was effective from deep in the Colorado altitude, making kicks of 45, 50 and 55 yards. The Cardinals went for two after their only touchdown, and opportunities could be scarce moving forward, as Arizona could be down to third-string quarterback Trace McSorley if Colt McCoy (concussion) joins Kyler Murray (knee) on the sidelines.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Nets six points in Week 12
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Prater made one of two field-goal attempts and all three point-after tries in Sunday's 25-24 defeat to the Chargers.
Prior to Week 12, Prater was perfect on his 19 combined FGAs and PATs this season, so his miss from 49 yards out at the end of the Cardinals' first possession of the second half proved telling in a one-point loss. With the modest six-point effort, he amazingly upped his points per game on the campaign from 5.3 to 5.4, leaving him on the outside looking in at fantasy relevance.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Nails both kicks Monday
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Prater made his only field-goal attempt and only point-after try during Monday's 38-10 loss to the 49ers.
Prater was back in action after sitting out Week 10 due to an illness, but a Cardinals offense led by backup quarterback Colt McCoy wasn't able to generate many scoring opportunities. Even when No. 1 QB Kyler Murray was healthy in Prater's six other appearances this season, though, the kicker attempted just eight FGAs and nine PATs. With an average of 5.3 points per game on the campaign, Prater ranks 29th in the NFL among placekickers with at least as many showings (seven) as he's managed.
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Cardinals' Matt Prater: Puts in full practice Thursday
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Prater (hip/illness) practiced fully Thursday, Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com reports.
Prater has been tending to a hip injury since Week 4 that sidelined him Weeks 5-7. He was able to handle scoring chances Week 8 before taking on all kicking duties Week 9, but an illness forced him to miss another contest this past Sunday at the Rams. The Cardinals signaled Prater's relative health when they waived his Week 10 replacement Tuesday, and indeed the former was back in full capacity to start Week 11 prep. Prater thus is set to be the team's kicker Monday against the 49ers in Mexico City.
