Every season, the drumbeat grows louder to remove kickers from fantasy football. I am against it, and since you are reading this article, you must also be in favor of keeping them. Or you just want to win this position in a league that still requires it. That works too.
The fact of the matter remains that most fantasy leagues still require kickers. With the position accounting for 10% of your lineup, choosing the right one can be the difference between a win and a loss in your fantasy matchup.
While I favor keeping kickers, I am wholeheartedly against DRAFTING kickers. If your league allows, skip the position and sign the best one on waivers before the Week 1 kickoff. Which is the best? I'm glad you asked!
Kickers to Target
- Justin Tucker
- Evan McPherson
- Tyler Bass
- Harrison Butker
- Daniel Carlson
- Matt Gay
- Dustin Hopkins
- Brandon McManus
The most straightforward methodology when selecting a kicker is finding a good offense. Everyone above is tied to one of the best quarterbacks and offenses in the league. It is no coincidence that they are all in the Footballguys consensus Top 10. The issue will be their ADP.
There is no reason to take any of these eight before your second-to-last pick, but your leaguemates might not agree. If they go early, don't fret. It just means more talent at running back and wide receiver for you to draft in the 10th-13th.
If your league awards more points for long-distance field goals, pay special attention to Justin Tucker, Daniel Carlson, and Evan McPherson. Tucker hit 19 field goals of 40 or more yards last year, Carlson hit 18, and McPherson led the league with nine makes of more than 50 yards. McPherson also happens to be my No.1 kicker for 2022.
Best of the Rest
Like the kickers in the first category, Succop and Prater are tied to two of the better offenses in the league. Unfortunately, they fall a tier below because they are not particularly exciting.
Succop missed the Top 12 last year and only hit 14 field goals of 40 yards or more. But, he is still tied to Tom Brady, and the turnover in the Buccaneers' offense could even lead to more attempts in 2022. Prater was Top 5 last year and hit seven 50-yard field goals, but only added three from 40 yards. If the Cardinals' offense scores more touchdowns with a healthier Kyler Murray and the addition of Marquise Brown, his lower totals could drop him out of the Top 10 but not by much.
Folk was the 2nd best kicker in fantasy last year, but even though the Patriots' offense returns most of its personnel, it feels different in 2022. He was average from all distances but finished well with accuracy and volume. It will be interesting to watch how a possible step-back in offensive production affects him. If it leads to more field goals, he will be a top-5 option again, but he is not exactly safe.
Jason Sanders and Wil Lutz are two of my gut calls. Neither is in our consensus Top 15, but they have proven their worth in the past. Sanders was one of the best kickers in fantasy in 2020, and the Dolphins' offense will have a new look in 2022. So expect a rebound from a very pedestrian 2021. Lutz was injured in 2021 but was never outside the Top 10 from 2016-2019 and was No. 11 in 2020. If the Saints' offense improves under Jameis Winston, Lutz would again find himself pushing towards the Top 5.
The Rest
I have given 13 names above that are worthy of your Week 1 roster. However, you may need to get into the weeds a little if you play in a bigger league. But before I get into some kicker dart throws, let's talk about a few you might want to avoid.
Younghoe Koo is a fantasy favorite after a No.1 finish two years ago, but he was outside the Top 15 last year, and the Falcons' offense will probably be worse this season. As a result, he is too risky at his top-10 ADP.
Greg Zuerlein might have a couple of the best kicker nicknames ever, but he missed the Top 12 tied to a great Dallas offense last year and is now recovering from injury and kicking for the New York Jets. He might be Legatron, but he should not be on your fantasy roster.
Two that might be worth a gamble, but make sure you monitor your team, are Brett Maher and Rodrigo Blankenship. Maher replaced Zuerlein in Dallas, but they basically held kicker battles for the entire preseason, and his job is far from safe. Blankenship is returning from injury and needed to win his job back in the preseason. Both are in favorable situations, but you must be ready to replace them if their team does the same.
If you missed every player above, Chris Boswell and Greg Joseph are safe options to consider. They probably won't win you any matchups, but they won't lose any for you. Honestly, that's the best you can ask for when dealing with most kickers.