If you want to play the kicker contest this week on Fanduel it is a tiered contest and I am going to give you my best takes to help you.
Tier 1 – Zuerlein / Gostkowski / Tucker / Prater
My top picks are Zuerlein and Tucker.
Gostkowski is a fine kicker but he requires volume more than any of the other 3 options. Kickers are risky enough so pick kickers who can go from distance and build bigger scores from fewer attempts.
Prater can kick the ball from distance and has what should be a solid matchup for him to get kicks. He is really tied right there with the other two, but if I am going to bet on a kicker it is hard to bet against Zuerlein or Tucker.
Tucker is actually my top pick for Tier 1 because he is at home. He can kick the ball from 203492304 yards out and has proven it time after time. Last year Tucker was the highest scoring player for the Ravens and that will probably continue again this season. As long as the Ravens defense is still a solid unit count on Tucker to go off.
Zuerlein has a leg that just amazes me. When the Rams are doing good things Zuerlein gets a lot of use. He can kick from 60 yards and gets great value. He is not the top pick because Tucker is at home and you always want to lean home kickers.
Tier 2 – Lutz / Boswell / Bailey / Crosby
My top picks are Lutz or Boswell
BAILEY HAS BEEN CUT AND IS NOT KICKING THE BALL FOR THE COWBOYS DO NOT USE HIM.
Lutz is home and I do not think that NO will fall behind in this game. I also believe they will be able to move the ball which should lead to at least a couple kicks. Lutz is not a kicker you normally trust but with those, he is facing he is an easy pick.
Boswell is a great kicker but I like him at home more than the road. As Pitt struggles so does Boswell and to boot, no one goes for more 2 pts than Pitt. XP is the floor for a kicker and Boswell often misses his.
Crosby would be a top pick in some tiers but last year he only attempted 19 FGs. That is not enough volume and it is not something you want to risk when trying to find the top kicker in a group of 3. Go with the numbers.
Tier 3 – Sturgis / Butker / Succop / Janikowski / Lambo / Vinatieri / Gano / McManus
This ones gets complicated, but my top pick is Vinatieri.
Sturgis is right at the top but we do not have enough info to give him the top nod. Still if you are looking for a good pick Sturgis has a good offense and is at home. He won his job this preseason which means the team believes in him. Just remember that LAC has a kicker curse so who knows what actually happens.
Butker is a great kicker but is on the road and there are to many question marks behind his offense with the changes made. This does not mean he is not playable but he is a tad on the risky side. I would rather skip playing him and let him beat me than risk playing him
Succop if at home would be an easy top pick contender. Even on the road he is a great pick. One of the most used kickers last season and facing MIA is about as safe a choice as you can make. He is not a sexy pick but is a solid 10 point pick almost any week.
Janikowski gets a look but I do not take kickers on the road against DEN. At least not until someone prooves to me that their defense has weakened enough to make it worth the risk.
Lambo has the matchup and defense to stand behind but does not have a lot of attempts. If he gets used he is a fine kicker but he can go many games without being used a lot.
Gano is a home pick GPP winning kicker. He is also a home pick GPP losing kicker. Gano is that kicker you love to take, but always have to admit you are doing it at your own risk. If I were building more than 1 lineup Gano would find his way in 25% of this tier.
McManus at home should be a lock but until DEN offense proves to me they can move the ball I will just skip him.
Vinatieri gets the top nod being at home. The crowd should be crazy with Luck coming back to the field for the first time in forever. VIny gets kicks and can kick from further than his age (HE IS OLD). Anyways Viny gets my top pick for this tier but there is no hate from me if you go a different way as this tier is loaded.
Tier 4 – Forbath / Dawson / Hopkins / Nugent / Gonzalez
There is way too many kickers to list here so I am just going with the ones that stand out.
These kickers are the best options from this tier but honestly, they are all a crap shoot. This is the hardest one to lock down.
I like home kickers so Forbath, Dawson, Nugent, and Gonzalez get the extra look. I will say from matchups the kicker I like most is Forbath and that is who I will be using here. Hopkins is on the road but I like him as a kicker and as long as Washington plays well he can get kicks. Smith does not turn the ball over much and that can play well for him if Wash is not behind by a few scores.
