Kickers Ranked: Your Ultimate Fantasy Football Guide
Hello, fantasy football enthusiasts! Welcome back to our series where we demystify the complex world of fantasy football. Today, we're diving into a topic that's often overlooked but can make or break your season - kickers ranked for fantasy football. So, grab a snack, get comfy, and let's kick things off! Guys, explore more in Guides And Explainers and kickers ranked fantasy.
Why Care About Kickers Ranked?
Before we dive into the kickers ranked list, let's address the elephant in the room. Why should you care about kickers at all? After all, they're the lowest-scoring position in fantasy football. Here's the thing: while it's true that kickers don't score as many points as quarterbacks or running backs, they can still win you weeks. A reliable kicker can provide consistent points, and in close matchups, those points can be the difference between a win and a loss. Plus, it's one less position you have to stress about each week.
Kickers Ranked: The Basics
Before we get to our kickers ranked list, let's talk about what makes a good fantasy kicker. The most important factors are:
- 1. Field Goal (FG) Accuracy: Kickers who can consistently make field goals from 40+ yards are gold.
- 2. Extra Point (XP) Conversion: While the NFL has moved the extra point back, it's still a crucial point for kickers.
- 3. Kickoff Touchback Percentage: The higher the percentage, the more opportunities for FGs and XPs.
- 4. Team Offense: A kicker on a high-scoring offense has more opportunities to score points.
Kickers Ranked: Top 10 for 2022
Alright, enough talk. Let's get to the kickers ranked list you've been waiting for. Remember, these rankings are based on a points-per-reception (PPR) format and can change due to injuries or performance throughout the season.
1. Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
Why he's ranked #1: Tucker is the most accurate kicker in NFL history and has a career field goal percentage of 90.6%. He's also a reliable extra point kicker and has a high kickoff touchback percentage.
2. Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons
Why he's ranked #2: Koo has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league over the past two seasons. He's accurate from long range and has a high extra point conversion rate.
3. Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks
Why he's ranked #3: Myers has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league since joining the Seahawks in 2019. He's accurate from long range and has a high kickoff touchback percentage.
4. Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs
Why he's ranked #4: Butker is one of the most reliable kickers in the league and has a high extra point conversion rate. He also kicks for one of the highest-scoring offenses in the league.
5. Greg Zuerlein, Dallas Cowboys
Why he's ranked #5: Zuerlein has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league over the past decade. He's accurate from long range and has a high kickoff touchback percentage.
6. Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints
Why he's ranked #6: Lutz has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league since taking over the starting job in 2016. He's accurate from long range and has a high extra point conversion rate.
7. Joey Slye, Carolina Panthers
Why he's ranked #7: Slye has been one of the most accurate kickers in the league since taking over the starting job in 2019. He's also a reliable extra point kicker and has a high kickoff touchback percentage.
8. Ryan Succop, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Why he's ranked #8: Succop has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league over the past decade. He's accurate from long range and has a high extra point conversion rate.
9. Randy Bullock, Tennessee Titans
Why he's ranked #9: Bullock has been one of the most accurate kickers in the league since taking over the starting job in 2016. He's also a reliable extra point kicker and has a high kickoff touchback percentage.
10. Daniel Carlson, Las Vegas Raiders
Why he's ranked #10: Carlson has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league since taking over the starting job in 2018. He's accurate from long range and has a high extra point conversion rate.
Kickers Ranked: Sleeper Picks
While the kickers ranked above are the cream of the crop, there are always sleepers who can outperform their draft position. Here are a few to keep an eye on:
Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears
Santos has been one of the most accurate kickers in the league since taking over the starting job in 2017. He's also a reliable extra point kicker and has a high kickoff touchback percentage.
Dustin Hopkins, Los Angeles Chargers
Hopkins has been one of the most consistent kickers in the league since taking over the starting job in 2015. He's accurate from long range and has a high extra point conversion rate.
Tristan Vizcaino, San Francisco 49ers
Vizcaino has been one of the most accurate kickers in the league since taking over the starting job in 2020. He's also a reliable extra point kicker and has a high kickoff touchback percentage.
Kickers Ranked: Draft Strategy
Now that you have our kickers ranked list, let's talk strategy. When it comes to drafting kickers, the general consensus is to wait until the very last round. After all, there's not much difference between the top kickers and the bottom ones in terms of fantasy points. However, if you're in a league with a lot of owners who draft kickers early, you might want to consider drafting one in the 14th or 15th round to ensure you get a reliable one.
Another strategy is to wait until the last round and then pick up a kicker from a high-scoring offense. This way, you're getting a kicker who has more opportunities to score points.
Kickers Ranked: Waiver Wire
Even if you don't draft a kicker, you can still pick one up off the waiver wire each week. This strategy allows you to stream kickers based on their matchups. For example, if a kicker's team is playing against a defense that struggles to defend the run, that kicker might have more opportunities to score points.
Kickers Ranked: Final Thoughts
And there you have it, folks! Our definitive guide to kickers ranked for fantasy football. Remember, while kickers might not be the sexiest position, they can still win you weeks. So, don't overlook them in your draft. And if you have any questions or need further clarification, feel free to reach out in the comments below.
Until next time, happy drafting, and may the fantasy football gods be ever in your favor!