Week five proved to be another frustrating week for fantasy managers, as only two kickers in rostered in more than 50% of Yahoo leagues posted a top-12 finish. The top kicker in fantasy heading into the week, Younghoe Koo, managed just a single point in a controversial loss to the Bucs marred by a phantom roughing the passer call.

The top performer from the previous week, Greg Joseph of the Vikings, followed up his 17-point showing against the Saints in London with three points against the Bears.

On a positive note, Nick Folk continues to be an underrated signing for the Patriots. Since joining the team in 2019, Folk has made 90% of his kicks for New England, including a team-record 32 consecutive kicks. If you are looking for a waiver wire option for Daniel Carlson, Folk could be a nice play this week against the Browns.

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Week 5 Stud Performances from widely available kickers

Nick Folk (NE) vs. Detroit: 41% roster percentage on Yahoo

With 34 fantasy points over his last three games, including a week-best 18 points against the Lions, Folk looks like he is returning to his 2021 form. While it is not always the case (Herbert is an outlier), rookie quarterbacks often struggle in the red zone and provide ample opportunities for field goals. If the team continues with Zappe, don’t be surprised to see more double-digit performances.

Chase McLaughlin (IND) @ DEN: 0% roster percentage on Yahoo

Fewer than 1% of fantasy managers were able to benefit from McLaughlin’s 17 fantasy points on Thursday Night against the Broncos. In what turned out to be an ugly game for the ages, the only scoring on the night came off the foot of McLaughlin and Brandon McManus of the Broncos. With a K Score of 43 and a home game against the Jags, McLaughlin could once again finish has a top-10 play and is available everywhere.

Week 5 Dud Performances from widely-rostered kickers

Younghoe Koo (ATL) @ Tampa Bay: 83% roster percentage on Yahoo

Although Koo entered the week as the top kicker in fantasy, there were red flags surrounding him in what turned out to be a negative game script. I faded Koo is some of my leagues for other options, as I worried he would not get enough kicking opportunities against the Bucs. I also was somewhat worried about him playing outdoors. Koo missed a 50-yard attempt on his only kick of the day.

Kicker Rankings

*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 7th in red zone efficiency; therefore Justin Tucker has a RZ EFF score of 25. 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’s 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 6.

Taylor Bertolet/Dustin Hopkins (LAC) vs. Denver: (0/18)% roster percentage on Yahoo

Whoever is kicking for the Chargers this week against the Broncos on Monday Night Football is in for a massive game. The Broncos own the top red zone defense, and the Chargers are great at moving the ball but struggle somewhat in the red zone. Add in the fact that the Broncos are a dumpster fire on offense and Russ may cook up a few more turnovers, and you have the recipe for a solid kicking day.

Cameron Dicker (PHI) vs. Dallas: 1% roster percentage on Yahoo

It’s not very often that I spotlight two kickers with a combined roster percentage of 1% as top-12 options, yet in the case of Dicker the kicker, the numbers somewhat jump off the screen. He posted ten points last week against the Cardinals and his K Score of 28 this week is one of the best in the league. I doubt the Cowboys will present a negative game script that would kill Dicker’s value, and the weather at the Linc looks to be ok.

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.

Robbie Gould (SF) @ Carolina: 50% roster percentage on Yahoo

• ECR Rank: 11
• My Rank: 5
• Week 5 Finish: 21

Gould entered the game with an excellent K Score of 29 and a positive game script with the 49ers facing a team that would likely turn the ball over and get blown out. The weather was also favorable for Gould. Everything was in line for a top-10 play, but he missed a 40-yard try that would have given him a double-digit day.

Brett Maher (DAL) vs. Chicago: 39% roster percentage on Yahoo

• ECR Rank: 14
• My Rank: 10
• Week 5 Finish: 7

With four consecutive weeks of ten or more fantasy points, including 11 against the Rams, Maher is quietly one of the best kickers in the league, and nobody seems to care. His 55 points in 2022 trail only Daniel Carlson, and he continues to be a consistent option on a team that possesses a defense that should limit negative game scripts.

Waiver Wired

Top Add

Brett Maher (DAL) vs. Chicago: 39% roster percentage on Yahoo

Maher’s roster percentage should be closer to 80%, but for some reason, fantasy managers don’t want to get on board. His defense will likely keep the Cowboys out of negative game scripts, the offense can move the ball but has not been great in the red zone, and he plays half of his games indoors. Oh, and he is the No.2 kicker on the year and should finish as a top-5 play rest of season.

Other players to consider:

• Graham Gano (NYG) vs. CHI: 23% roster percentage on Yahoo

Another week of Gano putting up a top-12 finish doesn’t seem to move the needle for fantasy managers. With a stat line of 17,14,8,10 over his last four games, you would think owners would be jumping on the Gano bandwagon.

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