Week 12 Kicker Start, Sit: Who to Play at Kicker
In this breakdown, I will focus on matchups and game scripts with a special focus on the games I project to be the highest-scoring on the week. Remember that most kickers are tough to depend on week-to-week, and it’s important to optimize your chances for success at the position with weekly management. I’m going to assume guys like Justin Tucker, Wil Lutz, and Harrison Butker are already owned and started in your league without hesitation, so I’m focusing on lesser-relied upon players here.
Contents
Start ‘Em
Joey Slye: The Panthers’ kicker is coming off his first game with double-digit fantasy points in over a month, and he seems to have put some of his woes behind him as he hasn’t missed a field goal or extra point in either of his last two games. This week, he faces the Vikings, who have allowed the most fantasy points per game to kickers. With Matt Rhule and Joe Brady’s offense producing no matter who lines up at quarterback or running back, Slye should have plenty of opportunities to put up points this week.
Rodrigo Blankenship: Rodrigo Rocket Ship is back to being an elite fantasy option as he has scored 10+ fantasy points in each of the last two games. He has drained 6 of 7 field goals over that span, including the Colts’ game-winning field goal on Sunday. Blankenship faces the Titans this week, not necessarily a great matchup, but he finished with 10 fantasy points when these teams met a couple of weeks ago. He’s a must-start option this week.
Cody Parkey: The Browns’ kicker hasn’t been a great fantasy option this season as he hasn’t finished with double-digit fantasy points in any of his last five games. However, there was a stretch of three weeks earlier in the year when he had 10+ fantasy points in three straight games. The Jaguars have allowed the 4th-most fantasy points per game to opposing kickers, and the Browns’ offense should be better this week as they play in much better weather conditions in sunny Duval County. Parkey is a strong option this week.
Matt Gay: The Rams have cycled through a few different kickers this season with Sam Sloman underwhelming and Kai Forbath now on Injured Reserve. Matt Gay started last week against the Buccaneers and finished with 9 fantasy points. This week, the Rams face the 49ers, who have allowed the 6th-most fantasy points per game to kickers. Gay is available in most leagues and is a strong option if you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel.
Sit ‘Em
Robbie Gould: With the 49ers missing seemingly every offensive starter from the beginning of the season, things have completely stalled out in recent weeks. This week against the Rams, the Niners will be facing one of the better defensive teams in the NFL that is allowing the 2nd-fewest points per game. The Rams have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to kickers and are not a matchup to target, despite Gould’s pristine 92.9% success rate on field goals.
Chris Boswell: The Steelers’ kicker has scored 8+ fantasy points in three straight games, but I’m avoiding him for fantasy purposes this week. He faces the Ravens in one of the projected lowest-scoring games of the week. Baltimore allows the second-fewest fantasy points per game to kickers, and Boswell finished with just 4 fantasy points the last time these teams played. Despite being attached to one of the highest-scoring offenses in football, I’m not thrilled about Boswell’s fantasy prospects this week.
Randy Bullock: With Joe Burrow leading this offense to some early-season success, Bullock averaged 10.1 fantasy points per game over the first seven weeks of the season. However, Burrow will be out for the remainder of the season, and I’m expecting this offense to take a massive step back whether it’s Ryan Finley or Brandon Allen under center. Bullock is off the radar for fantasy football until further notice.
Michael Badgley: I generally don’t like playing inefficient kickers in fantasy, and Badgley has made just 76.2% of his field goals this season. Badgley has been an up-and-down fantasy option and has scored 10+ fantasy points in just three of ten games this season. This week, he faces the Bills, who have been middle-of-the-pack against kickers in fantasy, but Badgley’s inefficiency as a kicker and a relatively tough matchup will have me looking for other options.
