Kickers Corner

Are you ready to continue to build your lineups from the bottom up?  If you have not yet done so, check out my posting for Defenses Here.  For many, the way to build is to start from the top, pick out the QB that they want. They leave Def and Kicker to the end and just take whomever you can fit.  For some, they choose to start at the bottom and work their way to the top.  This way no spot goes without proper thought.  I am here to help you by doing that research for you with the focus at the bottom of the roster.

Before the Pick Research

I love to play on Fanduel and one of those reasons is that I believe that the Kicker gives us an advantage.  So many people roster whatever cheap kicker they can place.  About as much thought goes into who they play kicker as they do who’s the boss.  The best thing is, the Kicker might be one of the easiest spots to select.  If you want to know what I look for in selecting a kicker I have you covered in my How to Pick a Kicker to find out.

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For a quick refresher remember these tips

1. Teams expected to score over 24 points and favored to win preferably at home.
2. Teams who play indoors or where the weather is not an issue.
3. Kickers who can actually kick the ball from distance with high accuracy.
4. forget about the price, and focus on the skill.

The main reason we want to focus on everything but ignore the price is that no other position on your roster will have more chance to return points based on the difference in salary.  Top priced kickers are 5100, the bottom price is 4500.  Many top options will fall into the 4700 range, that means for 200 more you could easily grab a 15 point kicker whereas the 4500 guys may only be good for 8.

INJURY NOTE:

Dan Bailey is doubtful and will probably be out week 11.

Cash Kickers

Cash kickers will be kickers who can score us a solid 8-10 points.  If they get more that is great, but we really need that safety floor just like any other roster spot.  This could be 1 FG and 3 XP or it could be all FGs.  To find these we will strictly follow the rules laid out above.

• Stephen Gostkowski
• Wil Lutz
• Josh Lambo

Stephen Gostkowski

The week 11 matchup for Gostkowski might be one of the best matchups he has had all season.  NE is practicing in Denver all week this week to help prepare for the altitude of Mexico City.  That should help keep the offense moving the ball the whole game.  New England has proven that they can move the ball pretty much on any team, and Oakland does not bring a scary defense to the table.  A high total game should make this one a safe floor for Gostkowski.

Wil Lutz

I say 10 points, you say floor. Ten points…FLOOR, 10-points…FLOOR! Lutz is a 10-point machine. If you want to know that you are bringing home a safe kicker you simply roster Lutz.  The problem is that 10 points is not really something we want for GPP.  Lutz is bound to have a big week sooner or later and that will always keep him interesting.

Josh Lambo

I don’t have a fun cheer here to get you all excited about using Lambo.  Week 10 was a rough outing for Lambo in a match that seemed like a great spot for a field goal battle. Instead, it just turned into a really boring game.  Lambo did miss his first kick of the season for Jac with a missed extra point try.  If his two field goals were a little further out Lambo’s day would have been saved.  I like him this week to carry that 10-12 point cushion we like for cash.  Limited upside does exist. Lambo should only be used in lineups with his defense as it will probably require a strong outing from the defense to nail a big score.

Hybrid Plays

If you are not sure why a hybrid play is I suggest checking out a Geek Favorite to understand what I am talking about.  A quick breakdown, however, is these are players who carry a little more risk for more upside. This is an area where we can kind of skip some of the rules or interpret them our own way.

• Greg Zuerlein
• Matt Prater
• Jake Elliott
• Harrison Butker

Greg Zuerlein

Until someone proves to me that Zuerlein can be stopped I am going to keep putting him on this list.  I will say that this week my first reaction was GPP.  The implied total is under 24 and we really do not know how the Rams will play against Min.  If this game were at home I would be a little more excited to break out the Leg for all contests.  Zuerlein just has 20-points upside every week, and to boot, his price dropped to match the matchup.  If you can afford him grab him, but do not go all in either.

 

Matt Prater

Prater starts the week with a 15 point upside.  Should have 2-5 FG attempts a game and combined with accuracy.  If he is kicking five he is most likely kicking at least one of those from 50 yards.  This is what makes Prater so worth the play at 5000.  In a matchup on the road against Chicago, I believe Prater can show off that leg and will.  I would be surprised to find Chicago puts up a large enough lead to put the breaks on Prater.  I also do not think that the defense of Chicago is bad enough to allow Detroit to start scoring on every drive.

Jake Elliot

The only thing that would sweeten the pot here is if Elliot were at home.  Philly defense has been playing very good football.  The offense is moving the ball at will with Wentz at the helm.  Elliot has proven he can kick a ball from distance and Elliot is given the support of Vegas checking all of those boxes.  I think a 5100 price tag is actually a little on the low side for Elliot making him an easy fit even at the higher salary.

Harrison Butker

Anytime I think of NYG right now I think of the Undertaker music.  Twenty-Seven point implied total 10.5 road favorites and 19/20 field goals made.  The only thing I would want more from Butker is 50-yard attempts, but with eight attempts from 40-49, I can live with the two from 50+.  Vegas sees this game as a very one-sided match, which is actually one of the biggest issues with using Butker this week.  I plan to use a lot of Smith/Hill/Kelcee this week and if I am using them, I will find it hard to use Butker.  I can say any lineup not using Smith will probably find Butker in it.

GPP Kickers

This group of kickers may score you 0 points but they offer the upside of 20 points if things go your way.  These are the guys you may only play if you are going MME and looking to be different.  They are also the kickers who may win you that 30,000 person contest.  Of course, they are also the same ones who could lose it for you.  RISK BE WARNED!

• Justin Tucker
• Giorgio Tavecchio
• Kai Forbath

These kickers are risky.  Each offers something that I see where we could end up with a great score.  For more on that join me in Slack and let’s talk about them together.