Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
Come on, let's be honest. Do you really care about the rankings for kickers in fantasy football? You should certainly not spend a lot of money on a kicker, but depending on the league you play in they can be very, very valuable. Personally, I like to wait until the end of my draft and get the best available.
The Top 20:
1. Stephen Gostkowski - Patriots
He's one of the most reliable kickers in the game now and plays for the most explosive offense in the NFL. All of that adds up to points, points, and more points. He had a great season two years ago when Brady and Moss went off and will do the same this season.
2. David Akers - Eagles
Akers had a resurgence last season as he was the 2nd highest fantasy kicker behind Gostkowski. He also plays on a team with a very good offense. Look for him to continue putting up numbers for the Eagles.
3. Ryan Longwell - Vikings
I always feel better when a kicker plays half of his games in a dome, and that's exactly what Longwell does. He had a very good season in 08', hitting 6 field goals of 50+ yards, and 6 from 40-49. Right there that's a lot of points. The Vikings should be better on offense this year, but can still stall out to allow a lot of long range trys.
4. Mason Crosby - Packers
I don't know why, but I'm a big fan of Crosby. Maybe it has something to do with him being a good kicker in a tough climate like Green Bay. I guess I feel the same way about Robbie Gould. Either way, I think Aaron Rodgers is going to go off this season, so Crosby will be putting up more points as well.
5. Jason Elam - Falcons
Remember what I said about kickers in a dome. Elam's leg is not as strong as it used to be, but the move inside has certainly helped. He had a career high 93.5 field goal percentage last year. He only tried two kicks from beyond 50 yards, but was 10-10 on kicks from 40-49. He also had 42 pats.
6. Rob Bironas - Titans
Bironas had 15 field goals from 40-49 yards last season. That's amazing, and creates a lot of points. Despite a very good running game, the Titans still don't move the ball well enough through the air. What does that mean? Lots and lots of field goal attempts.
7. Nate Kaeding - Chargers
I have never been a fan of Kaeding. Maybe it has something to do with my hatred for all things San Diego Chargers. Regardless of what I think, Nate is a solid NFL kicker. He struggled last year with a 84.7%, but had 127 points, which were his 2nd highest in his career. I look for him to bounce back this season.
8. Neil Rackers - Cardinals
With the exception of one season (2005-2006) he's never been the most accurate kicker, which drives down his fantasy value. He did have a solid season hitting 89.6% last year and I look for him to continue that as well as scoring points for the Cardinals.
9. Nick Folk - Cowboys
How good will the offense be without TO? Who knows, and who really cares. If the offense can't move the ball as well, than bring in the kicker. I doubt he'll match his 132 points from his rookie season, but could come close. He struggled a bit last year and still scored 112.
10. Robbie Gould - Bears
Robbie Gould was one of the biggest pickups for me back in 2006-07 when he scored 143 points for the Bears and burst onto the scene. It's not easy kicking in the Windy City, and Gould has done a fantastic job. He will not hit you a 50 yard field goal, or even attempt one, but is solid throughout the rest of his game.
11. John Kasey - Panthers
12. Garrett Hartley - Saints
13. Shayne Graham - Bengals
14. Kris Brown - Texans
15. Matt Prater - Broncos
16. Joe Nedney - 49ers
17. Josh Brown - Rams
18. Lawrence Tynes - Giants
19. Rian Lindell - Bills
20. Josh Scobee - Jaguars
Watch Out For:
Garret Hartley
Jason Hanson
Phil Dawson
Be Wary Of:
Adam Vinatieri
Jay Feely
Jeff Reed
Take a Flyer On:
Dan Carpenter
Graham Gano
Sebastian Janikowski
(Stay tuned for Defense rankings tomorrow by Chad Garner)
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