Kickers
July 23rd, 2007 | by aaron |Here’s how you rate top kickers; you take last seasons stats and select the top 15 kickers. You then figure what type of range they have, accuracy, attempts, and what type of team they play on. Then, mix their names in a hat, close your eyes, and remove them one at a time until you reach twelve.
Not really, but you could justify doing it that way because you really have no clue as to how the pace of each game will materialize.
However, the fact remains that kickers are just as important, if not more important, than any other position on your fantasy roster.
Top offenses generally provide kickers with multiple opportunities, therefore, you normally want to draft a kicker whose offense can move the ball. On the other hand, defensive minded teams tend to always play on a shorter field thus, providing multiple opportunities for their respective kickers.
Indoor kickers vs. outdoor kickers, turf vs. grass, who knows? However, come time for fantasy postseason, I personally favor indoor kickers or at least kickers whose final 3 games are in a warm environment.
How do kickers end up with so much ink?
TOP 12 Kickers you can rely on for this years fantasy season.
1. Adam Vinatieri: Always consistent and on the high powered Colts offense Vinatieri will become a greater aspect to these 2007 Colts. As defending Super-Bowl Champs, defenses will play the Colts much tougher this season, forcing Vinatieri to prove why he’s the most reliable kicker in the business.
2. Jeff Wilkins: Wilkins has been consistent good for a long period of time in this prolific Rams offense. He has range and accuracy so expect much of the same production from this 14 year veteran.
3. Robbie Gould: Who would’ve ever thought that the Bears would attempt 47 Pat’s with Grossman as their quarterback? Well defense and special teams played a tremendous role in Gould’s production and I definitely do not see that happening again. Gould doesn’t have great range, but he is accurate and lead the league last season with 32 FG’s.
4. Matt Stover: With the Ravens consistently creating “short field” opportunities and their offenses ability to get into scoring position, Stover will remain consistent and score plenty of points.
5. Jason Hanson: The Lions have never been afraid of attempting 50+ yard field-goals with Hanson on their roster. In leagues where bonus points are awarded to kickers, this could be a major factor when deciding when to draft Hanson.
6. Neil Rackers: Rackers managed to finish the season in the top 5 in field goals last season on a below .500 team. Look for the ’Cards’ to remain competitive and Rackers to “Rack-up” plenty of fantasy points.
7. Joe Nedney: Only attempted 29 Pat’s last season but managed to make 29 field goals. The 49ers will score touchdowns this season and Nedney will continue to produce points.
8. Josh Scobee: With the Jaguars improvement this season on the offensive side of the ball and an upper-echelon defense, Scobee should see close to 35 + field goal opportunities this season.
9. John Kasay: Talk about range! Kasay has been doing it for years. Playing with a quality team in a relatively weak defensive division, Kasay will get his fair share of attempts.
10. Jason Elam: Always steady! As a career 80% kicker, Elam hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. The Broncos will compete this season as leaders in the AFC West, thus providing Elam with multiple scoring opportunities. He will increase his last seasons totals where he only attempted 29 field-goals.
11. Olindo Mare: When an entire franchise plays without a winning attitude the effect trickles all the way down to the kicker. Miami is better in 2007 and even though Mare struggled off and on last season, under new circumstances look for his numbers to improve.
12. Josh Brown: May not be the team to beat this year in the NFC, but everybody is healthy and the Seahawks are determined to find their way back to the Super Bowl. However, the big question remains; will Alexander maintain his ability to breakdown defenses? If not, he’ll bend them and give Brown plenty of situations to score.
