Check out Marc Caviglia’s fantasy football rankings and hot takes on the Week 3 kicker matchups:
- If I don’t own one of Harrison Butker, Justin Tucker or Will Lutz I tend to use the waiver wire on a weekly basis to find a favorable kicker matchup. In Week 3, I am all in on Michael Badgley of the Los Angeles Chargers. Badgley has converted on 6-of-7 field goal attempts and 3 PATs over the Chargers first two games and has an excellent Week 3 matchup. The Panthers have given up 30-plus points in two straight games and opposing kickers are averaging 9.5 fantasy points per game against Carolina. Look for Badgley has a perfect opportunity to be a double-digit fantasy scorer for the 2nd time in three weeks.
- Stephen Gostkowski rebounded after a dismal Week 1 (1-of-4 on FG attempts) to drill a 40-plus and 50-plus yard field goal en route to 12 fantasy points in a Week 2 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Titans offense shouldn’t have any problem moving the football in Week 3 against the Minnesota Vikings and Gostkowski will benefit. The Vikings have allowed opposing kickers to convert on 6 field goals and 7 extra points so far on the season. Their 13.5 fantasy points per game allowed to the kicking position is dead last in the NFL. Gostkowski is a solid streaming kicker this week.
- Staying in the same game, a kicker to avoid this week is Dan Bailey of the Vikings. The veteran kicker has two things going against him in Week 3. One being the Vikings struggles on offense has led to just 2 field goal attempts and 1 extra point over two games for Bailey. The other, is that the Titans have been stubborn against opposing kickers. They’ve allowed just 1 field goal attempt on the young season. If the Vikings don’t change anything on defense, this game could be over by halftime and the Vikings will need touchdowns, not field goals, thus limiting Bailey’s opportunity to produce.
- Through two week, Daniel Carlson of the Oakland Raiders has been the big surprise at the position. His 24 fantasy points are 3rd among kickers and the youngster has drilled 2 field goals from 50 plus (4 total FGs) and a league-high 8 PATs. With the Raiders banged up on offense and a tough assignment traveling East to Foxboro to take on the New England Patriots, this is likely the week that Carlson comes back to reality.
Rankings are based on standard scoring:
1 point per PAT
3 points per FG under 39 yards
4 points for FG 40-49 yards
5 points for FG over 50 yards