OCTOBER 22, 2020 • HORSESHOEHEROES.COM
RODRIGO BLANKENSHIP
Colts: Rodrigo Blankenship remains breath of fresh air after Adam Vinatieri Colts rookie kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has continued to help fans in Indy forget about Adam Vinatieri's bad final season. The importance of...
Nails another five kicks Blankenship hit a 40-yard field goal and all four extra-point attempts in Sunday's 31-27 win over the Bengals.
Impact Blankenship was perfect for a third straight week, but this was the first time in the undrafted rookie's career that he made fewer than two field goals in a game. It was a solid fantasy day for the Georgia product nonetheless, as he extended his league-high in points to 63, outpacing Justin Tucker by four. The Colts have a Week 7 bye, which leaves fantasy managers in a tough position on whether to drop him or utilize a bench spot for him. There's only a handful of kickers who qualify to be rostered through a bye week, and Blankenship could fit the mold with seven of the Colts' next eight games being played in a dome.
OCTOBER 19, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
No. 2 Alabama braces for No. 3 Georgia's visit minus Saban
The bombshell news came three days and change before college football’s biggest regular season game of the yearOCTOBER 15, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Patriots: Bill Belichick blew it wasting kicker draft pick instead of signing Rodrigo Blankenship Patriots GM Bill Belichick blew it by wasting a draft pick on a kicker instead of signing former Georgia star Rodrigo Blankenship. It's not...
OCTOBER 14, 2020 • MUSKETFIRE.COM
Perfect on five kicks Blankenship made all five kicks -- three field goals and two extra points -- in Sunday's 32-23 loss to the Browns.
Impact Blankenship has only missed one field goal from less than 40 yards this season, and he connected on all three from that range Sunday. Colts faithful should be excited to have some stability at the position after legend Adam Vinatieri's disappointing 2019 season, as Blankenship leads the league with 56 points through five games. Even with the Colts' offense being underwhelming, Blankenship is producing and should be universally rostered and started Week 6 against the Bengals.
OCTOBER 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Registers 13 points Blankenship hit all four field goals and his lone extra-point attempt in Sunday's 19-11 win over the Bears.
Impact The undrafted rookie has been a solid contributor for the Colts, as he's made all nine extra points this season and 12 of 14 field goals (86 percent). Blankenship's work from range has been solid, too, hitting four of five kicks from beyond 40 yards. It's tough being tied to the Colts' mediocre offense, but a Week 5 matchup against the Browns should yield fantasy dividends, as the Browns have allowed 402 total yards per game -- the eighth-most in the league.
OCTOBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Converts six kicks Blankenship made two of three field-goal attempts and all four extra-point attempts during Sunday's 36-7 win over the Jets.
Impact Blankenship converted field goals from 42 and 41 yards Sunday, but he hit the right upright from 41 yards on his miss. It was still a productive day for the 23-year-old, and he's 8-for-10 on field-goal attempts and 8-for-8 on extra-point attempts through three games. A matchup with the Bears in Week 4 represents the toughest defensive test for the Colts in the young season.
SEPTEMBER 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Hits all six kicks Blankenship connected on all four field goals and two extra points in Sunday's 28-11 win over the Vikings.
Impact Blankenship missed a 30-yard field goal in Week 1, but the undrafted free agent bounced back with perfection against Minnesota, including a 44-yard field goal. The Colts have moved the ball well with Philip Rivers under center, and they draw another favorable matchup in Week 3 with the Jets coming to town.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Misses short FG in debut Blankenship made two of three field goal attempts, missing from 30 yards, in Sunday's loss at Jacksonville. He converted both extra-point attempts.
Impact It's concerning that Blankenship missed a short field goal in a close game considering the undrafted rookie likely doesn't have a strong hold on the job. He likely cannot afford many more missteps early in the season.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Forgettable debut: Rivers picked off twice in loss to Jags
Philip Rivers’ Indianapolis debut ended up being a dudSEPTEMBER 13, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Colts' new kicker constructing new chapter as opener nears
Rodrigo Blankenship has some big shoes to fill for the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at JacksonvilleSEPTEMBER 8, 2020 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Twitter reacts: Rodrigo Blankenship wins Colts' job as starting kicker Former Georgia Bulldogs star kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has won the starting kicker job for the Indianapolis Colts over incumbent Chase McLa...
SEPTEMBER 7, 2020 • USATODAY.COM
Former Georgia K Rodrigo Blankenship wins Colts' kicking job Former Georgia Bulldogs kicker Rodrigo Blankenship has won the starting job at kicker for the Indianapolis Colts. Blankenship is slated to m...
SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • USATODAY.COM
Wins kicking job Blankenship will be the Colts kicker to begin the season after Chase McLaughlin was released Saturday, Zak Keefer of The Athletic reports.
Impact Blakenship outperformed McLaughlin during the team's scrimmage last week which seemed to be the difference maker in an otherwise tight competition throughout training camp. The Georgia product was a standout kicker at the collegiate level, making 80 of his 97 career field-goal attempts, but didn't wind up getting drafted. That ultimately might have been a blessing in disguise, as Blakenship should now be set to take over for long-time Colt, Adam Vinatieri, at the pivotal position. McLaughlin, who served as the fill-in for the Colts last season after Vinatieri was limited by injury, will now hit the waiver wire.
SEPTEMBER 5, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Kicking battle remains close Blankenship outperformed veteran Chase McLaughlin in Saturday's scrimmage, making six of seven field goals, the Indianapolis Star reports.
Impact Blankenship made kicks of 33, 37, 41, 52, 56 and 57 yards and missed from 48. McLaughlin made four of seven kicks, missing from 48, 52 and 56 yards. McLaughlin had performed better than Blankenship in the first scrimmage, so the battle for the placekicking job remains close. However, McLaughlin is still the favorite as a veteran since he made five of six field-goal attempts and all 11 PATs in his stint with the Colts last season.
AUGUST 30, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Falling behind in kicker battle Blankenship was 5-of-8 in field goal attempts in Monday's practice at Lucas Oil Stadium with misses from 39, 44 and 53 yards and appears behind Chase McLaughlin in the competition...
Impact Blankenship, who joins the Colts after a prolific college career at Georgia, entered training camp as an underdog to unseat McLaughlin and it sounds like he's falling behind in the competition. Still, the Colts may not name a starter until close to the start of the regular season.
AUGUST 25, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Hanging in kicker competition Blankenship and Chase McLaughlin are in a tight battle for the Colts' starting kicker job, George Bremer of The Anderson Herald Bulletin reports.
Impact McLaughlin made the rounds last year, playing a handful of games with the Chargers and 49ers, but he ultimately ended the year by suiting up in four games with the Colts. In that stretch, he connected on five of six field goals, including two from beyond 50 yards. That provided him the edge in this kicking competition, but Blankenship has reportedly won a few days during training camp as well. Blankenship -- a Georgia product -- converted on 82 percent of field goals and 100 percent of extra points in his senior year of college before signing with the Colts in April. It'll be tough to declare a winner without preseason action, so this battle could extend through training camp as the Colts are careful to pick Adam Vinatieri's successor.
AUGUST 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE
Rodrigo Blankenship Training With Adam Vinatieri Will Get Colts Fans Hyped Rodrigo Blankenship, or as Georgia Bulldogs fans know him as "Hot Rod", was one of the best kickers in college football for the better part...
JULY 24, 2020 • FANDUEL.COM
Former Georgia K Rodrigo Blankenship an instant-impact NFL rookie USA TODAY recently released its list of 20 NFL draftees who could become instant-impact rookies in the 2020 NFL season. Making the list were...
MAY 25, 2020 • USATODAY.COM
Rodrigo Blankenship's Latest Tweet Proves He's a Very Good Kicking Teacher Indianapolis Colts kicker Rodrigo Blankenship showed that he has the potential of becoming a great teacher following his NFL career.
MAY 8, 2020 • 12UP.COM
