Eight different kickers finished Week 9 with at least ten fantasy points, highlighted by Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs, who kicked four field goals and two extra points to finish with 18 fantasy points on the day.
As you might expect, Butker is owned and started in nearly 100% of Yahoo leagues, giving those many lucky owners a leg up on their competition. Of the remaining seven players to finish in double figures, only Brett Maher and Ka’imi Fairbairn are owned in over 80% of leagues, with three of the seven players owned in fewer than 10%.
Week 9 proved to be the week of the un-owned kicker, with monster games by Chris Boswell, Austin Seibert, Sam Ficken, and Michael Badgley going to waste as Dan Bailey, Matt Prater, Josh Lambo, and Zane Gonzalez burned fantasy owners.
Of the five double-digit performers of the week widely available in most leagues, Michael Badgley of the Chargers is the one to own, and the one fantasy owners should scoop up off waivers for the stretch run.
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Week 9 Stud Performances from Widely Available Kickers
Austin Seibert (CLE) @ Denver: 3% ownership on Yahoo
Seibert scored 13 fantasy points against the Broncos for his third big game of the season. The problem with Seibert is although his K Score indicated an above-average chance for fantasy production, the up and down Browns offense is tough to predict. Fantasy owners who chance points on Seibert may be disappointed as he has followed up his previous double-digit games with single point duds, including three points against San Francisco in Week 5. Instead of picking up Seibert, it would make more sense to target Michael Badgley of the Chargers.
Michael Badgley (LAC) vs. Green Bay: 6% ownership on Yahoo
In his first game of the season after missing eight weeks with a groin injury, Badgley picked up where he left off in 2018 with 15 fantasy points on four of five field goals. This game was the most surprising of the week by far, as the Chargers manhandled a Green Bay team that has yet to get off the plane. The Chargers offense ranks in the top 17 in average yards per game, yet they continue to struggle as the 8th-worst offense in the red zone. If he can stay healthy, Badgley could be a top-5 kicker for the rest of the year.
Sam Ficken (NYJ) @ Miami: 0% ownership on Yahoo
Ficken scored 12 fantasy points in the Jets shocking loss on the road to the winless Dolphins who are actually trying to lose games. When you consider Ficken has a total of 13 fantasy points combined in his previous six games, you can conclude on your own that he is not someone you want to think about picking up.
Week 9 Dud Performances from Heavily-Owned Kickers
Joey Slye (CAR) vs. Tennessee: 53% ownership on Yahoo
With two consecutive games of four or fewer fantasy points, rookie Joey Slye has come back down to Earth for fantasy owners who had been riding high on his breakout campaign. His dud performance two weeks ago against the 49ers was abnormal based on a blowout game flow. This past week was a bit more concerning with a missed field goal and a shanked extra point.
Josh Lambo (JAX) vs. Houston: 60% ownership on Yahoo
Was it jet lag? Perhaps Gardner Minshew and the offense stayed out too late and enjoyed their trip across the pond a bit too much? Whatever the case, the Jags offense was putrid in this London game, and Lambo felt the repercussions of only one field goal and a negative game script.
Kicker Rankings
| Rank | ECR | Name | TEAM | Opponent | Spread | O/U | OPP RZ D | RZ EFF* | OFF RNK | K Score** | Weather |
| 1 | 1 | Justin Tucker | BAL | at CIN | -10 | 46 | 4 | 28 | 2 | 34 | 44F Overcast 9 mph wind |
| 2 | 6 | Brett Maher | DAL | vs. MIN | -3 | 46 | 9 | 23 | 1 | 33 | Dome |
| 3 | 4 | Harrison Butker | KC | at TEN | -3 | 49 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 38 | 53F 6 mph wind |
| 4 | 2 | Wil Lutz | NO | vs. ATL | -13 | 50 | 31 | 1 | 14 | 46 | Dome |
| 5 | 3 | Greg Zuerlein | LAR | at PIT | -3.5 | 46 | 11 | 21 | 10 | 42 | 41F Overcast 9 mph wind |
| 6 | 9 | Robbie Gould | SF | vs. SEA | -6 | 44 | 16 | 16 | 7 | 39 | TBD |
| 7 | 5 | Matt Prater | DET | at CHI | 3.5 | 44 | 13 | 19 | 5 | 37 | 30F Overcast 16 mph wind |
| 8 | 13 | Jason Myers | SEA | at SF | 6 | 44 | 1 | 31 | 4 | 36 | TBD |
| 9 | 7 | Michael Badgley | LAC | at OAK | -1.5 | 48 | 27 | 5 | 16 | 48 | 72F 4 mph wind |
| 10 | 10 | Matt Gay | TB | vs. ARI | -5.5 | 54 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 45 | 75F 8 mph wind |
| 11 | 11 | Dan Bailey | MIN | at DAL | -3 | 46 | 3 | 29 | 8 | 40 | Dome |
| 12 | 16 | Daniel Carlson | OAK | vs. LAC | 1.5 | 48 | 18 | 14 | 11 | 43 | 72F 4 mph wind |
| 13 | 12 | Zane Gonzalez | ARI | at TB | 5.5 | 54 | 25 | 7 | 20 | 52 | 75F 8 mph wind |
| 14 | 8 | Mason Crosby | GB | vs. CAR | -7 | 48 | 32 | 28 | 17 | 77 | 26F 17 mph wind |
| 15 | 26 | Randy Bullock | CIN | vs. BAL | 10 | 46 | 8 | 1 | 25 | 34 | 44F Overcast 9 mph wind |
| 16 | 14 | Joey Slye | CAR | at GB | 7 | ’48 | 6 | 26 | 22 | 54 | 26F 17 mph wind |
| 17 | 15 | Stephen Hauschka | BUF | at CLE | 2.5 | 43 | 19 | 13 | 23 | 55 | 44F Overcast 9 mph wind |
| 18 | 17 | Chris Boswell | PIT | vs. LAR | 3.5 | 45 | 17 | 15 | 28 | 60 | 41F Overcast 9 mph wind |
| 19 | 18 | Adam Vinatieri | IND | vs. MIA | -15.5 | 44 | 28 | 4 | 21 | 53 | Dome |
| 20 | 19 | Younghoe Koo | ATL | at NO | 13 | 50 | 21 | 11 | 9 | 41 | Dome |
| 21 | 20 | Austin Seibert | CLE | vs. BUF | -2.5 | 43 | 22 | 10 | 19 | 51 | 38F Overcast 17 mph wind |
| 22 | 21 | Eddy Pineiro | CHI | vs. DET | -3.5 | 44 | 23 | 9 | 29 | 61 | 30F Overcast 16 mph wind |
| 23 | 22 | Aldrick Rosas | NYG | at NYJ | 1.5 | 10 | 29 | 3 | 24 | 56 | 50F Overcast 12 mph wind |
| 24 | 23 | Ryan Succop | TEN | vs. KC | 3 | 49 | 16 | 16 | 26 | 58 | 53F 6 mph wind |
| 25 | 24 | Sam Ficken | NYJ | vs. NYG | 1.5 | 41 | 7 | 25 | 32 | 64 | 50F Overcast 12 mph wind |
| 26 | 25 | Jason Sanders | MIA | at IND | 15.5 | 44 | 10 | 22 | 30 | 62 | Dome |
*Red Zone Efficiency is based on the inverse of how well the kicker’s offense does in the red zone. For example, the Ravens rank second in red zone efficiency; therefore Justin Tucker has a RZ EFF score of 31. The lower number, the better for kickers, as playing on a team that struggles to score touchdowns in the red zone equates to more field goal opportunities.
**The K Score is the sum of a player’s opponent red zone, the red zone efficiency of his offense, and the overall rank of his respective team in terms of total yards. A low score indicates that a kicker has variables working in his favor for a good fantasy kicking performance.
Kicker rankings are based on numerous factors, including matchups, Vegas lines and score projections, weather conditions, the ability of a kicker’s team offense and their ability to move the ball into field goal range, offensive red zone efficiency, and how well the opposing defense limits touchdowns in the red zone. These factors are a guide, but not a definitive way to predict kicking success, as other variables and negative game scripts significantly impact the outcome.
Based on all of the variables mentioned above, the following two kickers are players ranked outside of the FantasyPros ECR top 10 who could be an excellent play Week 10:
Jason Myers (SEA) vs. San Francisco: 86% Ownership on Yahoo
This pick is going to take a leap of faith based on concerns that Myers missed two field goals and an extra point last week against Tampa Bay, including a game-winning kick at the end of regulation. Before last week’s debacle, Myers was on fire with back-to-back games of at least ten fantasy points, and his K Score of 36 indicates he is in play for a top 12 finish.
Daniel Carlson (OAK) vs. L.A. Chargers: 6% ownership on Yahoo
Carlson has been a steady fantasy kicker with an average floor of seven fantasy points in his last four games, but he has yet to have a double-digit breakout game for the few fantasy owners this season who have started him. With a K Score of 41 and a revitalized Charger defense that locked down the Packers this past week, the Raiders may be forced to settle for field goals on Thursday night.
Prediction Review
Each week I suggest two kickers ranked outside the FantasyPros ECR top 10 who I believe will be solid performers based on the variables described in the K Score section. The following is a review of my picks from the previous week to see where I was successful and where I missed the mark.
Harrison Butker (KC) vs. Minnesota: 98% ownership on Yahoo
ECR Rank: 12
My Rank: 7
Week 9 Finish: 1
Butker’s elite K Score indicated that he could still have a solid game against Minnesota even without Patrick Mahomes under center. Butker not only had a solid game, but he also finished as the No.1 overall kicker for the week despite an ECR ranking of 12. Perhaps fantasy analysts thought that the Vikings would score at will on the Chiefs, creating a negative game script that would limit Butker’s ability to score points.
Zane Gonzalez (ARI) vs. San Francisco: 46% Ownership on Yahoo
ECR Rank: 14
My Rank: 6
Week 8 Finish: 16
I think I have gone to the well one too many times on Gonzo, as the Cardinals offense continues to slip down the rankings in average yards per game. Gonzo made his one field goal opportunity and both extra-point attempts, but he just did not have enough chances in field goal range to come through as a top 12 kicker.
Waiver Wired
Top Add
Michael Badgley (LAC): 6% ownership on Yahoo
Badgley picked up right where he left off last season as a valuable fantasy kicker on an offense that provides ample opportunities for fantasy points. If you are struggling at finding a kicker with a solid floor and a high ceiling to help you on the playoff push, Badgley is your guy.
Other players to consider:
Daniel Carlson (OAK) vs. L.A. Chargers: 6% ownership on Yahoo
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Andrew Swanson is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive or follow him @FFtoday_Andy.