Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Wondering how the kicker position stacks up against the rest in terms of fantasy football points? Well, the Bruno Boys have done their homework. Through 16 weeks, David Akers leads all kickers with 148 fantasy points in standard scoring leagues, which is 52nd amongst all NFL players. Akers would rank tied for 20th at the quarterback, tied for 15th at the running back, tied for tied for 13th at wide receiver, fourth at tight end and fifth at Team Defense. So for those of you who think you can draw your kicker out of a hat…you’re wrong! Akers success proves that if you find the right kicker you have yourself a consistent option from start to finish. With that being said, it’s time to see where Akers and the 31 other kickers rank in the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 17 Kicker Rankings.

1. Matt Prater (Denver Broncos) vs. Kansas City

No kicker in the NFL has been hotter than Prater over the last five weeks. With the Broncos offense starting to find it’s groove Prater has scored double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five games and he should have no trouble adding to his total against a Kansas City Chiefs team that he scored 15 fantasy points against in Week 13.
Point Projection: 13 points

2. Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears) @ Detroit

Last week Gould surprised those owners’ brave enough to play him with three field goals, three extra points and 13 fantasy football points. This week there will be no surprises as Gould should be in your fantasy lineup. The game is in a dome so weather isn’t a concern and no other team allows more fantasy points to the kicker position than the Detroit Lions, a team Gould scored a season high 14 points against in Week 4.
Point Projection: 12 points

3. Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans) @ Seattle

The Seattle Seahawks defense has packed it in for the season and while doing so has allowed opposing kickers to score 24 fantasy points against them over the last two weeks. Despite Bironas scoring just six fantasy points in Week 16, he is still one of the NFL’s best kickers and with Tennessee likely to have no problem moving the football, we like his chances for his eighth game with 10 or more fantasy points in 10 tries.
Point Projection: 11 points

4. David Akers (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Dallas

With a big Week 16, in which he went for 13 fantasy points, Akers enters Week 17 as the top overall kicker in fantasy football. The veteran has knocked down at least one field goal in every game this year and he has converted on multiple field goals in all but four games. With the division on the line, and both offenses likely to steal the show, you can count on your consistent kicker to once again be a top performer at the kicker position.
Point Projection: 11 points

5. Jeff Reed (Pittsburgh Steelers) @ Miami

Two big weeks, in which he has converted on all six field goal attempts, has Reed on the cusp of finishing the season as a top-10 fantasy kicker. He currently sits just three points out of that spot, but a match-up against a Miami Dolphins team that has allowed a league high 36 FG attempts should propel him into the top-10. Plus, Reed will reward his fantasy football owners while trying to accomplish his feat.
Point Projection: 10 points

6. Billy Cundiff (Baltimore Ravens) @ Oakland

Anytime your kicker has a match-up against the Oakland Raiders you should exploit it. Oakland has allowed 12 or more fantasy points to the kicker position in three straight games and Cundiff has been consistent of late. Cundiff has averages 8.6 points-per-game since being signed by Baltimore, but with Ray Rice and the Ravens offense being too much for Oakland to handle, he should exceed his per game average.
Point Projection: 10 points

7. Ryan Longwell (Minnesota Vikings) vs. New York Giants

In what can be considered a mini slump, Longwell has just seven fantasy points and one made field goal over the Vikings last two games. With Minnesota’s offense failing to score points at the rate they did to start the season it’s led to Longwell being an inconsistent play over the past six weeks. Look for the reliable veteran to bounce back, in a big way, this week against a New York Giants defense that has allowed nine touchdowns over their last three games.
Point Projection: 9 points

8. Jay Feely (New York Jets) vs. Cincinnati

After scoring -1 fantasy points two weeks ago Feely bounced back and chipped in two field goals and an extra point in the Jets Week 16 victory over the previously undefeated Indianapolis Colts. This week Feely is faced with another tough match-up as the Cincinnati Bengals have done an excellent job of limiting kicking chances to their opponents. Still, the Jets have a lot to play for and their offense could spend the majority of the game taking on second stringers, as Cincy rests up their players for the playoffs.
Point Projection: 9 points

9. Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders) vs. Baltimore

As bad as the Raiders have been, their kicker has been great. Janikowski has missed just three field goal attempts (two of them over 60 yards) on the season and his 106 fantasy points rank 12th amongst kickers, despite Oakland ranking 31st in points scored. Look for the Raiders to sport enough offense to move the football against a solid Baltimore Ravens defense but ultimately their drives will stall and Janikowski will need to chip in some three pointers, making him a low-end No.1 kicker.
Point Projection: 9 points

10. John Kasay (Carolina Panthers) vs. New Orleans

The recent surge in production from the Panthers offense has actually made Kasay fantasy relevant of late. He booted two field goals and five extra points in a Week 16 blowout victory over the New York Giants and has a better match-up then most would think. The New Orleans Saints allow over seven points-per-game to the kicker position and given up 37 fantasy football points to kickers over their last four games. Look for Kasay to 2-3 chances at three pointers as the Panthers are a win away from finishing the season 8-8.
Point Projection: 8 points

11. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) @ Houston

To some extent Gostkowski has been a disappointment in 2009. Owners who snagged him as the first kicker taken in August thought he’d be a lock for 2-3 field goals and 3-4 extra points a week but that hasn’t been the case. He does rank eight amongst kickers in fantasy football points but Gostkowski has had eight games with six or less fantasy points and five of those games have came over the past six weeks. With the Patrions likely to sit their starters at some point it could lead to Gostkowski getting some additional field goal chances, thus the ranking in our top-12.
Point Projection: 8 points

12. Lawrence Tynes (New York Giants) @ Minnesota

Like David Akers, Tynes has made at least one field goal in all 15 games this year. Unlike Akers, his FG chances have been scarce lately as Tynes has attempted just one field goal in each of the Giants last four games. The Minnesota Vikings have been stubborn to opposing kickers. Only twice, has a kicker scored 10+ fantasy points against the Vikings and we’d be surprised if Tynes bucked that trend. Still, the Giants should be able to present enough offense for Tynes to convert on a few field goal tries and extra points.
Point Projection: 8 points

13. Nate Kaeding (San Diego Chargers) vs. Washington

Kaeding rarely exits the top-10 of our weekly kicker rankings but the reasoning for this one is simple. With San Diego having nothing to play for they are likely to use their back-ups early on Sunday and it could prevent Kaeding from seeing his usual workload. If you’ve been benefiting from his 142 fantasy points all season it’s tough to bench him but don’t be surprised if he makes it three of four games with less than eight fantasy points. Plus, the Washington Redskins have been allowing tons of point-after-touchdowns and not field goals over the last two games.
Point Projection: 8 points

14. Ryan Succop (Kansas City Chiefs) @ Denver

One things for sure, Succop won’t win you a fantasy game but he isn’t going to lose you one. The rookie averages 6.3 points-per-game and has made at least one field goal and extra point in four straight games. Succop nailed two FGs and an extra point en route to eight fantasy points the last time Kansas City took on the Denver Broncos. His owners’ are likely to see a similar game the second time around.
Point Projection: 7 points

15. Matt Bryant (Atlanta Falcons) @ Tampa Bay **CHECK INJURY STATUS**

Bryant is nursing a hamstring injury that he suffered in a Week 16 victory over the Buffalo Bills. He has practiced sporadically throughout the week and looks to be a true game-time decision. With there being so many good kickers to choose from it’s probably best staying away from Bryant and his nagging hamstring. After all, kickers use their legs to score points. 
Point Projection: 7 points

16. Shane Andrus (San Francisco 49ers) @ St. Louis

With Ricky Schmitt pulling his groin in a victory over the Detroit Lions it put an end to his kicking chances in San Francisco. The 49ers signed him in Week 16 to take over for injured kicker Joe Nedney. With Schmitt not making the trip to St. Louis, San Francisco has signed Shane Andrus. Andrus spent three games kicking for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this season and he missed his lone field goal attempt. Despite a good match-up, is it worth the risk of playing an unproven kicker at this stage of the season? You make the call but keep in mind there are plenty of proven option available.
Point Projection: 7 points