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Nate Kaeding

In the fantasy world kickers are undervalued and they are often near the top of point totals in most leagues. Fantasy owner’s should look for kickers that play for potent offense’s and also kick in friendly environments. Owner’s should also be looking for kickers whose offenses’ also stall in the red-zone, here’s looking at you Rian Lindell.

This isn’t to say that you should reach for one in the early rounds. A general rule of thumb that we here at Fantasy Football Brother’s support is to draft one kicker, then find a kicker during the bye week that has a good matchup.

Another rule that we also go by is to draft a kicker in one of the last two rounds. Our thought is that you lose to much value at other positions if you reach on a kicker.

I know I said they are undervalued earlier, but don’t be that guy at your draft who drafts a kicker in the 8th or 9th round believing you just added another elite player to a position. Kickers are strange and even the best can get the “shanks,” just ask Nate Kaeding in the postseason last year.

The truth is carrying two kickers on your roster is not beneficial to your fantasy roster as it can be used elsewhere, such as another wide receiver or backup running back. Fantasy owner’s should have their general roster laid out with the necessary handcuffs and boom/bust players before selecting a kicker.

K RANKS

1) Nate Kaeding – SDC – KI

Kaeding choked big time in the playoffs, but that is of no concern to us. The guy put up 146 points last season to lead the NFL. San Diego sputtered in the red-zone last year and we expect more of that this year with Vincent Jackson’s three game suspension and rookie running back Ryan Mathews. Kaeding also kicks in a warm weather environment which is another plus.
 
2) Stephen Gostkowski – NEP – KI

Stephen Gostkowski will look to regain his crown of top fantasy kicker as he was the last two seasons until he was unseated by the aforementioned Kaeding last season. Gostkowski will have a tough time of it if Wes Welker isn’t healthy and the once dynamic Patriots offense can’t produce. Gostkowski can boom ‘em and coach Bill Belichick has seemed to gain some trust in him.
 
3) Mason Crosby – GRE – KI

Crosby’s field goal percentage last year was horrible, sitting at .750, the guy missed nine field goals. So why do we have him here? Look further into that number and you will see he was 2-6 from 50+ yards, so coach Mike McCarthy has trust in him and his leg. He also plays for an offense that will give him the chances to score and Crosby has averaged 132 points the last three seasons.
 
4) Garrett Hartley – NOR – KI

Hartley was money in the post-season last year and with a full season under his belt of kicking for one of the league’s best offenses solidifies his spot. Hartley has shown an accurate leg in his short time and the fact that he kicks in a dome is another plus.
 
5) David Akers – PHI – KI

Akers is Old Reliable, after a couple of tough seasons in 2006 (102 pts.) and 2007 (108 pts.) he changed his approach in the offseason and came to camp in great shape. In 2008 he had 144 points and in 2009 he had 139. Akers kicks for one of the NFL’s most potent offenses so the chances will be there and the fact that he was 11-13 from 40-49 yards should tell you that he still has some pop in his leg and is pretty accurate.
 
6) Robbie Gould – CHI – KI

The old sidewinder had only 105 points last season in what was a disappointing season for the Bears in general. Now enter Mike Martz and what he brings to the table and Gould should be in for a fine season. He doesn’t kick in the best conditions, but he has mastered Soldier Field’s little nuances, much the same way Jeff Reed has done in Pittsburgh.
 
7) Lawrence Tynes – NYG – KI

Tynes had a lost season in 2008 because of a knee injury. He had a nice bounceback year in 2009 and put up 126 points. He plays for an offense that will get him the opportunities and tends to go through struggles in the red-zone.
 
8) Rob Bironas – TEN – KI

Bironas can boot it and was 5-6 from 50+ yards last year, not to mention 10-12 from 40-49 yards. With Vince Young at the helm for the Titans’ offense there should be plenty of opportunities for Bironas to show off his huge……..leg.
 
9) Ryan Longwell – MIN – KI

Longwell was deadly accurate last year, kicking at a .929 clip. He has produced back-to-back solid seasons and with the return of Brett Favre will look to vault up these rankings. He plays for an offense that can move the ball and he also kicks in a dome. Longwell had an incredible 54 extra points last year, which tells you that this team can score.
 
10) Nick Folk – NYJ – KI

Folk was absolutely dreadful last year for the Cowboys and they cut him and his leg. He was 18 for 28 on field goal attempts, that’s .643 percent. The Jets are hoping that he can regain his form and be the kicker he was in the past. At 25 years of age his career could be done if he can’t find himself. I am betting that he can and a bounceback season is in store.
 
11) Jeff Reed – PIT – KI

Reed doesn’t display the best accuracy numbers over his career, but kicking at Heinz Field is a bitch, with tricky winds and shoddy turf, the field looks like it’s a quagmire. Reed will get his chances as the Steelers’ offense might struggle in the red-zone with Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension and some turnover on the offensive side of the ball.
 
12) Rian Lindell – BUF – KI

The Buffalo offense isn’t going to put up alot of points and that’s fine with us…what we want are stalls in the red-zones that can give Lindell chances. He has been a fairly accurate kicker over his career and with the swirling winds in Orchard Park that alone is impressive.
 
13) Neil Rackers – HOU – KI

Rackers goes from one high flying offense to another. He battled through a groin injury last year that forced him to miss some games. He will have competition from Kris Brown which is why he shows up at 13 in our rankings. If (when) he wins the job he will vault up these rankings. With his strong leg and accuracy he should have no trouble kicking Brown to the ‘curb.
 
14) Kris Brown – HOU – KI

Brown was 21 of 32 on field goals last year, that’s .656 percent. For you non-math majors that’s horrible. Brown will be taking on veteran Neil Rackers in camp and fantasy owners should be ready to grab the last man standing because that is 125 points.
 
15) Matt Prater – DEN – KI

Prater could be handcuffed by a rebuilding offense, but the guy shows a strong leg (7 of 9 from 50+ last two seasons). He stuggles with accuracy so he could end up hurting you from week to week, but last year he was 30 of 35, which is .857 percent so the accuracy part might be coming around. He is one to watch.
 
16) Sebastian Janikowski – OAK – KI

Janikowski just might be worth the first round pick the Raiders used on him….Al Davis could be on to something. Then again it’s the Raiders. Janikowski hasn’t scored 100 points since the 2004 season, but that has more to do with the anemic offense. He hit .897, 26 of 29 kicks last year and was 6 of 8 from 50+ yards, so the leg strength is still there. He just might get to 100 with Jason Campbell engineering the offense.
 
17) Ryan Succop – KAN – KI

Ryan Succop had a successful rookie campaign for what was a pretty bad offense. He has a big leg and is deadly accurate. Succop kicked at a .862 percent rate, which was 25 of 29, impressive that three of those misses was from 50+ yards. If the Chiefs can be better offensively, then Succop will move up these rankings.
 
18) Dan Carpenter – MIA – KI

Carpenter has gone over 100 total points in his first two years in the league and finds himself in a good position. The Miami offense should be better and he kicks in a great environment. Carpenter doesn’t have a huge leg, but what he does have is pinpoint accuracy. He kicked at a .893 percent rate last year, nailing 25 of 28 field goals. He is a kicker on the rise.
 
19) Jay Feely – ARI – KI

Jay Feely finds himself in Arizona after a whirlwind tour of the league that has taken him to Atlanta, both New York teams, Miami, and Kansas City. Feely has been a solid kicker throughout his career and kicked at a .833 percent rate, 30 for 36, for 122 points last season. In Arizona he finds himself in an offense that is in a transition period with a new quarterback, so maybe some of those drives will end within the red-zone and Feely will continue his success.
 
20) Adam Vinatieri – IND – KI

Vinatieri was hampered by injuries last year and this is not the same kicker we saw in year’s past. His leg strength is no longer what it was and he even struggles with his accuracy now. Once the league’s premier kicker, at 37 he appears to be slowing down. He does kick for a potent offense and in a controlled environment. It could be a bounceback season for Vinatieri, but let some other sucker take him at your draft on name recongnition alone.
 
21) Billy Cundiff – BAL – KI

Cundiff has been around the league and after several stops in his career now finds himself in Baltimore. Cundiff kicked at a .783 percent rate last season, 18 of 23 for a bad Cleveland offense. While we expect more field goals this year playing for the Ravens, he is hard to recommend fantasy wise given his track record.
 
22) Matt Bryant – ATL – KI

Bryant finished with 131 total points in 2008 while he was in Tampa Bay. He suffered through injuries and the team replaced him. He now finds himself in Atlanta where he will kick for a good offense and inside a dome. He has been an accurate kicker throughout his career and we think he can reach 100 points again if he is healthy.
 
23) Josh Scobee – JAC – KI

Scobee has one of the more powerful legs in the NFL, but he plays for a punching Judy offense. He hasn’t been over 100 points since 2006 when he finished with 119 points, but this is a different Jaguar team than year’s past. Scobee kicked at a .643 percent rate, 18 of 28 last season, which is horrible. In distance leagues he holds more value than he does in leagues that penalize for missed field goals.
 
24) Joe Nedney – SFO – KI

Nedney had a career season in 2008 which he tallied 121 total points. He then went out and had one of the worst year’s of his career. His field goal percentage of .810 was respectable, but he didn’t get alot of chances as he was 17 of 21. He was 2 of 3 from 50+ so the leg strength is still there at age 37. Look for a bounceback season with an improved 49ers offense.
 
25) David Buehler – DAL – KI

Buehler is built like a linebacker and anyone who saw his rookie combine would be confused as to why he isn’t a middle linebacker. The guy has a huge leg and the Cowboys primarily used him on kickoffs last year, which he led the league in touchbacks with 29. He will enter camp as the odds on favorite to win the job, but the Cowboys are saying he will have competition. If he wins the job, move him up the board as he plays for one of the better offenses in the NFL.
 
26) Olindo Mare – SEA – KI

Mare has been a steady and reliable kicker throughout his career with only one blip on the radar which was 2007 in New Orleans, he was awful. He usually averages at least 100 points a season and the last two years he has kicked at a .889 and .923 percentage rate, a combined 48 for 53. His season depends on the Seahawks offense that has looked dismal the last couple of seasons.
 
27) Phil Dawson – CLE – KI

Dawson plays on one of the worst offenses in the NFL, he has seen 18 extra points the last two seasons which hampers his fantasy value. Otherwise he is a decent kicker who simply doesn’t get enough work. He had 108 points in 2008, but in 2009 he finished with 69 points. He cashed in and kicked at a .923 percent rate, converting 17 of 19 field goals, but he is tied to the Browns’ offense which is not a good thing.
 
28) Mike Nugent – CIN – KI

Nugent was a second round pick of the Jets…second round…oh, the list of guys that were available. Nugent hasn’t done a great deal of kicking in the past two seasons as he has been derailed by injuries. But, never the less he is a reclamation project for a team full of reclamation projects and that’s just the way they like it.
 
29) John Kasay – CAR – KI

Kasay looks to be showing his age (40) and is probably nearing the end. He didn’t crack 100 points last season and finished with 97. Kasay’s accuracy suffered last season as he kicked at a .815 percent rate. He did finish with 130 points in 2008, but that was a different Panther team. Now the team finds themselves with Matt Moore at quarterback, so maybe a bounceback season is in store for one more year under the sun.
 
30) Graham Gano – WAS – KI

Gano took over for the train wreck that was Shaun Suisham who overextended his stay in Washington. Gano has a strong leg and displayed accuracy last year in his short stint, hitting 4 of 4 field goals, 2 of those were from 40-49+ yards. Gano will have upside if the Redskins’ offense can get it going with Donovan McNabb. Gano is a sleeper in the kicking ranks if there is such a thing.
 
31) Josh Brown – STL – KI

Brown is one of the better kickers in the NFL and he usually goes over 100 points. Last season was dreadful as he finished with 73 total points, kicked at a .792 percent rate and was 19 of 24 on field goals. He only saw 16 extra point chances last season which says more about the state of the Rams’ offense than it does Brown. In distance leagues Brown is fantasy gold as he has nailed 12 of 15 field goals the last two seasons from 50+ yards. If the Rams’ offense can take a step forward with rookie Sam Bradford then Brown vaults up these rankings, but that is a tall task.
 
32) Jason Hanson – DET – KI

Jason Hanson is the closest thing to the Energizer Bunny when it comes to kickers. It seems like he has been playing forever and was once a teammate of Barry Sanders. Hanson has scored 88 total points the last two seasons, and last year he struggled with accuracy, kicking at a .750 percent rate, only converting 21 of 28 field goals. If Stafford can take a leap forward this year, then Hanson’s value goes up, until then he is relegated to bye week filler.
 
33) Connor Barth – TAM – KI

Barth finds himself with the Buccaneers where chances will be far and few between. He displays a strong leg as last year he converted 3 of 4 field goals from 50+ yards. He tends to struggle with accuracy as he kicked at a .737 percent rate last year, 14 of 19 on limited chances. He only saw 12 extra points last season which was in part because he started kicking in week 9 for the Buccaneers. Barth kicks in a good environment so we expect his numbers to slightly rise, just not enough to warrant sliding him up these ranks.

Fantasy Football Brother’s will be dropping Defenses/Special Teams soon. Stay Tuned!

Adam Vinatieri, Billy Cundiff, Connor Barth, Dan Carpenter, David Akers, David Buehler, Garrett Hartley, Graham Gano, Jason Hanson, Jay Feely, Jeff Reed, Joe Nedney, John Kasay, Josh Brown, Josh Scobee, Kris Brown, Lawrence Tynes, Mason Crosby, Matt Bryant, Matt Prater, Mike Nugent, Nate Kaeding, Neil Rackers, Nick Folk, Olindo Mare, Phil Dawson, Rian Lindell, Rob Bironas, Robbie Gould, Ryan Longwell, Ryan Succop, Sebastian Janikowski, Stephen Gostkowski