Week 3 Kicker Rankings & Pickups: Zane Gonzalez In Line For Big Week

The continuing trend I look for with kickers each week is volume and facing defenses that allow a ton of yards. While we often look at the position as one tough to predict, there is a method to the madness. High total games, kickers who get volume, and positive weather is a recipe for fantasy points at the kicker position. This week there is no shortage of options with several games over a 50 point total. Scoring has also been at a record pace by teams throughout the first two weeks.

Week 3 Kicker Rankings & Projections

Top Week 3 Kickers

With the Chiefs and the Ravens facing off this week, Justin Tucker and Harrison Butker are the 1-2 options in the fantasy football world. This goes for the weekly rankings but also how we viewed them heading into the season. Teams that push the ball and score a ton of points just simply translate to fantasy points for kickers. These guys also add strong accuracy as well. While the kicker position is less exciting, Tucker and Butker are the Mahomes and Jackson of the kicker position. Wil Lutz is also in that same position where the Saints move the ball well and it results in a ton of volume for him.

The options in other high scoring games are great as well. Greg Zuerlein has had a couple of average weeks but not his fault given the offense has been so efficient. Both him and Jason Myers of Seattle have been hardly used given all the touchdowns scored. However, both are continuously in play as I will talk about Myers as a streaming option.

Zane Gonzalez is one of the higher owned kickers and playing with this Cardinals offense rolling there will continue to be plenty of opportunities. Even going back to last year Gonzalez was one of the higher volume kickers and even with the offense scoring more touchdowns the opportunity is still there. On the opposite side of this one, Matt Prater is involved in a high scoring game and Matthew Stafford will be able to move the ball.

Streaming Options

Mason Crosby is one of the guys I am looking at this week heading down to New Orleans. He is being picked up due to the hot start to the season but this Packers offense is moving the ball and New Orleans is a friendly environment for higher scoring games and field goal attempts. He is less than 60% owned and is the first choice before we start to dive into some lesser owned options.

Indianapolis has moved the ball extremely well through two games but red zone efficiency and the occasional Philip Rivers turnover have led to a 1-1 start. Rodrigo Blankenship had an excellent start to the season otherwise despite missing a kick in Week 1. He was one of the top kickers at the University of Georgia and already a fan favorite in Indy. The Colts are big home favorites with a high total against one of the weaker defenses in the league.

As mentioned above Jason Myers has hardly been used this season. He has ten extra points and just one field goal attempt. With Russell Wilson completing 90% of his passes, it is tough to kick field goals when you have more passing touchdowns than interceptions. This is bound to correct itself a bit so in another highs coring shootout we can take a chance.

Jake Elliott has been quiet alongside the rest of the Eagles offense. This is a get right game for the Eagles offense and I expect them to move the ball well. The Bengals allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing kickers last season. A few other teams that were noteworthy defenses giving up more points are Tampa, Miami, Carolina, Arizona, and Denver.

Tough Week 3 Kicking Matchups

Daniel Carlson had a hot Week 2 but he faces the Patriots who have limited kicker production dating back to last season. I expect this to be a slower game and the Raiders will not be able to move the ball as well against one of the tougher defenses. His ownership saw a small jump already and the recency bias is kicking in for some. There are plenty of better options this week.

Defenses that limit yards against are generally going to be tough on kickers. Avoiding kickers against defenses like the Steelers, Bills, Patriots, and Bears is something to note. However, with a lot of injuries, you might be able to take some chances against better defenses who are now missing some key players.