Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & Advice: Kickers (Week 1)

We’re mere hours away from the start of a new NFL season, and though a few of you last-minute Charlies still have fantasy football drafts coming up, most of us are done drafting. It’s time to shift from draft mode into managerial mode.

The vast majority of leagues will have a waiver run this week ahead of the Thursday-night opener. Let’s take a look at some of the players who might be worth a buck or two of FAAB money or late-round picks for those that are still drafting. You can find all of my Week 1 waiver wire pickups here.

(Rostership percentage courtesy of Yahoo)

Fantasy Football Week 1 Waiver Wire Advice: Kickers

Kickers

Riley Patterson (K – DET): 42% rostered

The Thursday-night opener between the Lions and Chiefs should be a high-scoring affair. The Vegas total for that game is 54.5 points – 3.5 points higher than the next-highest total on the board. The Chiefs have won eight straight season openers, and yet their opponents have scored at least 20 points in all eight of those games. The average point total in the Chiefs’ last eight season openers: 60.3

Brandon McManus (K – JAX): 39% rostered

The Jaguars have an exciting young offense and a juicy Week 1 matchup against the Colts. Brandon McManus, who spent his first nine NFL seasons with the Broncos, should get his fair share of scoring opportunities in his Jags debut.

Blake Grupe (K – NO): 2% rostered

The Saints have the easiest schedule in the league this season, and if their new kicker pans out, you might not have to replace him. The Saints’ cakewalk schedule includes only three teams that made the playoffs last season: the Jaguars, Vikings and Giants. There’s nothing wrong with becoming a Grupe groupie.

Will Lutz (K – DEN): 8% rostered

The former Saints kicker is now with the Broncos, who get a favorable Week 1 home matchup against the Raiders. Las Vegas gave up 8.7 fantasy points per game to opposing kickers over the first 17 weeks of the 2022 regular season.

Cameron Dicker (LAC): 54% rostered

Dicker is my favorite free-agent kicker to add for this week, and I anticipate he will jump up to around 75% roster percentage by the end of September. He plays half of his games indoors, the Chargers will be a top-12 offense and he was fairly accurate last season with the Eagles and Chargers.