The kicker position may be one of the most hated in fantasy football. I get it. It is hard to make a logical and analytical decision most of the time on a kicker that will lead to consistent results. But I also know that every single person reading this article has been in that one tight matchup you’ll never forget. Maybe it was to get into the playoffs; perhaps it was to avoid getting last, heck; maybe it was to win the whole thing!
And who saved you? The kicker. For me, it was Jake Elliot in 2017, week 16. In a season wrecked by injuries, my team relied on his final kick of the game to not finish in last place and suffer the consequences of the last-place punishment. So here I am saying something I never thought I would…kickers matter! Just make sure you wait until the last few rounds before you get your guy. Let’s dive in.
Kicker Rankings
1. Justin Tucker (K, BAL) – Justin Tucker is the best kicker in NFL history. He is on a prolific offense that just got better. Draft him, and you will never be upset with your kicker.
2. Brandon Aubrey (K, DAL) – Brandon Aubrey may be the next great kicker in the NFL. Last season, he hit 35 consecutive field goals and ended the season as the number one kicker in fantasy football.
3. Harrison Butker (K, KC) – Butker just signed an extension with the Chiefs after recording 12 field goals from 40 yards or more (five over 50 yards).
4. Jake Elliott (K, PHI) – Jake Elliot missed only two kicks all last season. He also hit seven field goals beyond 50 yards, including one from 61 yards out.
5. Jason Sanders (K, MIA) – Jason Sanders is a strong kicker who will get the scoring opportunities to help you win. He falls just below the elite tier of kickers and is a fine last pick of your draft.
6. Ka’imi Fairbairn (K, HOU) – Ka’imi Fairbairn wasn’t prolific for fantasy football last season, but as the Texans continue to improve their offense, he should see increased opportunity.
7. Younghoe Koo (K, ATL) – Younghoe Koo, along with all of the other Falcons, stands to benefit significantly from the addition of Kirk Cousins. He hit 86% of his attempts last season and will benefit from a lot of games inside a dome in 2024.
8. Cairo Santos (K, CHI) – Cairo Santos was a kicker breakout in 2023. That should continue as the Bears offense, even with a rookie quarterback, is one that should take a big step forward.
9. Evan McPherson (K, CIN) – Evan McPherson could stand to see increased field goal opportunities in 2024. The Bengals offense should improve and they have plenty of questions at the running back position. McPherson has shown that when given the chance, he can be a top-12 option for the position.
10. Jake Moody (K, SF) – Jake Moody led the league in PAT’s last season, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him do the same in 2024. His only knock is that he wasn’t able to see too many attempts from 50+ yards.
11. Tyler Bass (K, BUF) – The shine has faded for Tyler Bass to some extent, but he is still a powerful kicker. If he can forget the end of his 2023 season, he should contend to be a top-12 kicker in 2024.
12. Matt Gay (K, IND) – Matt Gay was able to hit eight field goals beyond 50 yards in 2023. He should continue to see those chances even with an improved offense in 2024.
13. Cameron Dicker (K, LAC) – Cameron Dicker has hit 52 of 55 field goals during his time as the Chargers place kicker. He is likely to see decreased opportunity in 2024 as the offense tries to redefine itself under Harbaugh and Greg Roman.
14. Dustin Hopkins (K, CLE) – Dustin Hopkins hit 18 field goals beyond 40 yards last season.
15. Greg Zuerlein (K, NYJ) – Greg Zuerlein had a strong season with the Jets in 2023. If the Jets can stay healthy, he may see a big jump in his extra-point attempts.
16. Jason Myers (K, SEA) – Jason Myers finished the season as the K6 last year, but the Seahawks look to be converting on a lot more of their red zone trips this season with new OC Ryan Grubb.
17. Daniel Carlson (K, LV) – Daniel Carlson is probably best left on waivers. The Raiders have lots of concerns on offense and the opportunity will be low.
18. Blake Grupe (K, NO) – Blake Grupe should benefit from playing in a dome often, but there are better options with more upside and a higher floor.
19. Wil Lutz (K. DEN) – The Broncos have a lot of things to worry about in 2024. Wil Lutz may not be something they need to worry about, but he isn’t likely to eclipse his 31 extra-point attempts.
20. Chris Boswell (K, PIT) – Chris Boswell is a middle-of-the-road player in fantasy football. The Steelers’ offense should be improved, but it still may not be enough to give Boswell the chances he needs to impact your fantasy rosters.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)