Drafts are complete, lineups have been set, and the countdown to Thursday’s kickoff game between the Bills and the Rams is on.
As you look at your matchups this week, you may have a tough choice between flex plays, deciding between upside rookies like Romeo Doubs or Isaiah Likely, or a veteran running back poised to have a solid game with a plus matchup.
A kicker, on the other hand, is the furthest thing from your mind. You may not even remember whom you drafted, and you could care less about whom you lock into your lineup.
I completely understand the lack of attention the position gets, but before you commit to that strategy, you should know that of the 12 kickers drafted based on FantasyPros ADP last season, only four finished the season as a top-12 player.
To make matters worse, only one kicker drafted in the top five finished as a top-five kicker.
Daniel Carlson, Nick Folk, Matt Gay, and Matt Prater, the four players who finished along with Justin Tucker as a top-five play, all were drafted outside the top nine at the position, with Folk coming out of nowhere to finish in the top three. While Harrison Butker, Younghoe Koo, and Tyler Bass all failed to finish as a K1.
Unless you are able to secure Tucker, Evan McPherson, or Carlson, chances are you will be better off streaming a kicker after the first month of the season. Players who we think are going to be solid plays often turn out as duds, while less sexy plays like Nick Folk turn out to be league-winning waiver wire additions.
If you do stream kickers, this article will give you everything you need to identify plus matchups and players who are trending in the right direction.
Beyond our fantasy football content, be sure to check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you prepare for your draft this season. From our free mock Draft Simulator – which allows you to mock draft against realistic opponents – to our Draft Assistant – that optimizes your picks with expert advice – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football draft season.
Kicker Rankings
| Rank | ECR | Name | TEAM | Opponent | Spread | O/U | OPP RZ D | RZ EFF* | OFF RNK | K Score** | Weather |
| 1 | 2 | Evan McPherson | CIN | vs. PIT | -6.5 | 45 | 11 | 9 | 14 | 34 | 75F, Light Wind |
| 2 | 5 | Matt Gay | LAR | vs. BUF | 2.5 | 53 | 10 | 16 | 7 | 33 | Dome |
| 3 | 6 | Daniel Carlson | LV | at LAC | 3.5 | 53 | 27 | 3 | 8 | 38 | Dome |
| 4 | 1 | Justin Tucker | BAL | at NYJ | -7 | 45 | 19 | 18 | 6 | 43 | 82F, Light Wind |
| 5 | 3 | Harrison Butker | KC | at ARI | -4.5 | 54 | 21 | 21 | 1 | 43 | Dome |
| 6 | 7 | Tyler Bass | BUF | at LAR | -2.5 | 53 | 8 | 31 | 5 | 44 | Dome |
| 7 | 4 | Rodrigo Blankenship | IND | at HOU | -8 | 46 | 22 | 13 | 16 | 51 | Dome |
| 8 | 8 | Ryan Succop | TB | at DAL | -1.5 | 51 | 20 | 30 | 3 | 53 | Dome |
| 9 | 14 | Brandon McManus | DEN | at SEA | -6.5 | 42 | 3 | 11 | 19 | 33 | 62F, Light Wind |
| 10 | 13 | Matt Prater | ARI | vs. KC | 4.5 | 54 | 16 | 17 | 9 | 42 | Dome |
| 11 | 9 | Robbie Gould | SF | at CHI | -7 | 42 | 14 | 28 | 11 | 53 | 71F, 15 MPH Wind |
| 12 | 10 | Jake Elliott | PHI | at DET | -4 | 49 | 31 | 24 | 13 | 68 | Dome |
| 13 | 11 | Dustin Hopkins | LAC | vs. LV | -3.5 | 53 | 32 | 27 | 4 | 63 | Dome |
| 14 | 18 | Younghoe Koo | ATL | vs. NO | 5.5 | 43 | 1 | 8 | 29 | 38 | Dome |
| 15 | 12 | Nick Folk | NE | at MIA | 3 | 47 | 7 | 25 | 15 | 47 | 90F, 12 MPH Wind |
| 16 | 23 | Graham Gano | NYG | at TEN | 5.5 | 44 | 4 | 0 | 31 | 35 | 79F, Overcast |
| 17 | 15 | Greg Joseph | MIN | vs. GB | 1 | 48 | 23 | 22 | 10 | 55 | Dome |
| 18 | 20 | Randy Bullock | TEN | vs. NYG | -5.5 | 44 | 5 | 23 | 17 | 45 | 79F, Overcast |
| 19 | 21 | Mason Crosby | GB | at MIN | -1 | 48 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 41 | Dome |
| 20 | 16 | Chris Boswell | PIT | at CIN | 6.5 | 45 | 17 | 11 | 23 | 51 | 75F, Light Wind |
| 21 | 17 | Jason Sanders | MIA | vs. NE | -3 | 47 | 9 | 19 | 25 | 53 | 90F, 12 MPH Wind |
| 22 | 19 | Wil Lutz | NO | at ATL | -5.5 | 43 | 25 | 15 | 28 | 68 | Dome |
| 23 | 22 | Greg Zuerlein | NYJ | vs. BAL | 7 | 45 | 12 | 12 | 26 | 50 | 82F, Light Wind |
| 24 | 24 | Cairo Santos | CHI | vs. SF | 7 | 42 | 13 | 2 | 24 | 39 | 71F, 15 MPH Wind |
| 25 | 25 | Joey Slye | WAS | vs. JAC | -3 | 44 | 24 | 6 | 21 | 51 | 83F, Light Wind |
| 26 | 26 | Jason Myers | SEA | vs. DEN | 6.5 | 42 | 2 | 29 | 20 | 51 | 62F, Light Wind |
| 27 | 27 | Ka’imi Fairbairn | HOU | vs. IND | 8 | 46 | 36 | 5 | 32 | 73 | Dome |
| 28 | 28 | Cade York | CLE | at CAR | -1.5 | 42 | 30 | 20 | 18 | 68 | 75F, Light Rain, Light Wind |
| 29 | 29 | Austin Seibert | DET | vs. PHI | 4 | 49 | 29 | 1 | 22 | 52 | 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 14th in red-zone efficiency; therefore Justin Tucker has a RZ EFF score of 18. 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 in Week 1.
Matt Prater (ARI) vs. Kansas City: 76% roster percentage on Yahoo
For this first week, I decided to go with one player who is heavily rostered on Yahoo but still ranked outside of the top 10 in ECR, and one player who is widely available in most leagues.
There is a ton to like this week about Prater at home against the Chiefs in a game that projects to be high-scoring. I love that he is playing indoors, and the Cardinals are down their best red-zone wide receiver with DeAndre Hopkins out due to a suspension. What I don’t like is Prater ranked outside the top 25 in accuracy last season, with seven misses in 37 tries.
If you are looking for a high-floor play this week with a solid base of extra points, Prater is your guy. His K Score of 42, mixed with the indoor game and a 53.5 over/under, suggests he could also finish as a top-five player in Week 1.
Brandon McManus (DEN) @ Seattle: 43% roster percentage on Yahoo
McManus finished as the No. 15 kicker in fantasy points scored in 2021, but his outlook in 2022 is far different than the previous campaign. Russell Wilson provides a much-needed boost at quarterback, and the Denver offense should be able to sustain more drives. While the effectiveness of Russell Wilson (ninth-best red-zone QB over the past three seasons) in the red zone could negate field goal opportunities, McManus should have the best extra-point floor of his career and could creep into the top 10 by season’s end.
Look for the Broncos to take advantage of this choice matchup for Russ returning home and secure a blowout win over the Seahawks. McManus may not have a monster day, but his K Score indicates he could be in line for 8-10 fantasy points.
Waiver Wired
Top Add
Dustin Hopkins (LAC) vs. Las Vegas: 32% roster percentage on Yahoo
Hopkins scored the 10th-most points last season and returns to the same potent Chargers offense that is going to need to score a ton of points in the AFC West. Why he is rostered in fewer than 35% of leagues is beyond me, especially when you consider that he scored more fantasy points than Harrison Butker, a player available in just 4% of leagues. If he is on your waiver wire, scoop him up and play him this week against the Raiders.
His K score of 63 indicates he could be in line for more of an extra-point game than a ton of field goals, but he should provide a high floor and should have a much higher roster percentage this season. Grab him now while you can.
Other players to consider:
Jake Elliott (PHI) at Detroit: 35% roster percentage on Yahoo
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Andrew Swanson is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive or follow him @FFKickerGuy.
