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    Andrew Swanson | Wed, Dec 11th 2024, 6:02am EST

Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings & Start/Sit Advice: Week 15 (2024)

As we close out the fantasy regular season for most leagues, I thought it would be the right time to share my end-of-year awards.

Rookie of the Year, Breakout Player of the Year, Bust of the Year and MVP are the awards to be given today, with an honorable second for each category.

2024 Kicker Awards

Rookie of the Year: Jake Bates (K – DET)

As expected, the Lions were a source of ample fantasy goodness this year, with both running backs posting RB1 seasons, Amon-Ra St. Brown continuing to be a stud and even Jared Goff was a great option for fantasy managers. But many may not realize that rookie Jake Bates has been a top-five kicker this year, with 10+ points in four of his last five games.

Honorable Mention: Will Reichard (K – MIN)

Breakout Player of the Year: Austin Seibert (K – WAS)

Despite missing multiple games due to injury and a key extra point at the end of a game, Austin Seibert ranks seventh in points per game and was a fantasy stud in the first half.

Honorable Mention: Chase McLaughlin (K – TB)

Bust of the Year: Justin Tucker (K – BAL)

I have spent too much time this season blasting Justin Tucker. Everyone is aware of his struggles. It is painful to watch the GOAT struggle, but he deserves this award based on his preseason average draft position (ADP).

Honorable Mention: Jake Elliott (K – PHI)

MVP: Chris Boswell (K – PIT)

Six games of 12+ fantasy points and two over 24 propelled Chris Boswell to be the top scoring kicker this season. Outside of one four-point game against the Commanders, Boswell provided a solid floor as well.

Honorable Mention: Ka’imi Fairbairn (K -HOU)

Week 15 Kicker Rankings & Start/Sit Advice

Week 15 Kicker Rankings

Rank ECR Name TEAM Opponent Over/Under Spread OPP RZ D RZ EFF* OFF RNK K Score** Weather
1 10 Chase McLaughlin TB at LAC 46.5 -3 1 28 3 29 Dome
2 3 Will Reichard MIN vs. CHI 42.5 -5.5 3 21 11 29.5 Dome
3 8 Chris Boswell PIT at PHI 45.5 4.5 6 3 17 30.5 49F, Rain, Light Wind
4 5 Ka’imi Fairbairn HOU vs. MIA 46.5 -2.5 6 11 18 32.5 Dome
5 1 Jake Bates DET vs. BUF 51.5 -2.5 16 26 2 41.5 Dome
6 16 Justin Tucker BAL at NYG 44.5 -13 14 31 1 33 45F, Rain, Light Wind
7 23 Zane Gonzalez WAS at NO 48.0 -3.5 8 24 5 33.5 Dome
8 13 Brandon McManus GB at SEA 46.5 -3 11 20 6 34 44F, Rain, f8 MPH Wind
9 11 Jake Moody SF vs. LAR 47.0 -3 8 10 4 19 53F, 9 MPH Wind
10 18 Chad Ryland ARI vs. NE 45.0 -6.5 21 8 12 34.5 Dome
11 9 Matthew Wright KC at CLE 44.5 -6.5 19 7 16 35.5 46F, Chance of Rain
12 14 Younghoe Koo ATL at LV 44.5 -3 25 6 8 36 Dome
13 15 Jake Elliott PHI vs. PIT 45.5 -4.5 13 23 7 38.5 49F, Rain, Light Wind
14 6 Tyler Bass BUF at DET 51.5 2.5 4 27 10 43.5 Dome
15 21 Matt Gay IND at DEN 43.0 4.5 2 15 23 44.5 56F, Light Wind
16 26 Joey Slye NE at ARI 45.0 6.5 5 2 31 44.5 Dome
17 4 Brandon Aubrey DAL at CAR 44.0 -1.5 26 1 20 45.5 52F, Light Wind, Chance of Rain
18 2 Cameron Dicker LAC vs. TB 46.5 3 10 13 24 50 Dome
19 12 Wil Lutz DEN vs. IND 43.0 -4.5 17 17 21 50.5 56F, Light Wind
20 20 Jason Myers SEA vs. GB 46.5 3 23 12 13 51 44F, Rain, f8 MPH Wind
21 25 Anders Carlson NYJ at JAC 40.5 -3 20 9 27 53 70F, 10 MPH Wind
22 24 Daniel Carlson LV vs. ATL 44.5 3 24 4 25 56 Dome
23 32 Graham Gano NYG vs. BAL 44.5 13 18 0 26 57 45F, Rain, Light Wind
24 31 Dustin Hopkins CLE vs. KC 44.5 6.5 12 19 22 59.5 46F, Chance of Rain
25 19 Cade York CIN at TEN 49.0 -4 27 30 9 62 55F, Light Wind, Chance of Rain
26 30 Cam Little JAC vs. NYJ 40.5 3 21 15 28 67 70F, 10 MPH Wind
27 17 Nick Folk TEN vs. CIN 49.0 4 30 5 29 68 55F, Light Wind, Chance of Rain
28 27 Joshua Karty LAR at SF 47.0 3 31 19 15 68 53F, 9 MPH Wind
29 7 Jason Sanders MIA at HOU 46.5 2.5 28 22 19 71.5 Dome
30 22 Blake Grupe NO vs. WAS 48.0 3.5 29 25 14 71.5 Dome
31 29 Eddy Pineiro CAR vs. DAL 44.0 1.5 32 16 30 79.5 52F, Light Wind, Chance of Rain
32 28 Cairo Santos CHI at MIN 42.5 5.5 15 29 32 81.5 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 30th in red zone efficiency, giving Justin Tucker an RZ EFF score of 2. The lower the 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 an 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 a kicker has variables working in his favor for a good fantasy kicking performance.

Kicker fantasy football 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 FantasyPros’ expert consensus rankings (ECR) top 10 who could be excellent in Week 15.

Zane Gonzalez (K – WAS) @ New Orleans: 1% Roster Percentage on Yahoo

Starting a player with a 1% roster percentage in the final week of the regular season in the first round of the fantasy playoffs may be a test of intestinal fortitude. However, keep in mind that the Saints will not have Derek Carr and the Commanders should be able to move the ball against them.

Chad Ryland (K – ARI) vs. New England: 7% Roster Percentage on Yahoo

I love this matchup at home in what should be a positive game script. Chad Ryland has a K Score of 34 and I love that he is indoors.

Week 14 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.

Chad Ryland (K – ARI) vs. Seattle: 1% Roster Percentage on Yahoo

  • ECR Rank: 1
  • My Rank: 4
  • Week 14 Finish: T-25

The game script did not go as predicted and Chad Ryland turned out to be a dud with just three fantasy points. I am staying in the fire, however, and recommend him this week at home against New England.

Jake Moody (K – SF) vs. Chicago: 50% Roster Percentage on Yahoo

  • ECR Rank: 12
  • My Rank: 2
  • Week 14 Finish: T-8

Jake Moody posted a solid eight fantasy points but did not deliver the monster game I anticipated. The Bears’ top-rated defense and the 49ers’ poor red-zone offense flip-flopped.

Week 15 Waiver Wire Pickups

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