The unpredictability of kickers in fantasy football remains a well-documented issue for general managers (GMs) every season. Despite their position on the field, kickers often show a low correlation between their draft position and their end-of-season performance. This trend continues when examining their weekly scoring; there is minimal consistency in their outputs, making it challenging for GMs to rely on them from week to week.
Notably, the gap in scoring between elite kickers and those in the middle tier is quite modest, which further emphasizes the futility of investing high draft capital in a kicker. As most fantasy GMs opt to roster only one kicker, a large number of viable starting kickers often remain unclaimed on waivers. Consequently, a strategy centered around rotating kickers based on weekly matchups usually proves to be the most effective approach.
In Week 4, the performance of the top five recommended kickers from last week’s analysis revealed a mix of outcomes. Matt Prater, who managed 7 points, found himself in the middle of the scoring pack, tying for 17th position. Brandon McManus had a standout week with 10 points, tying for 6th place, thanks to a pair of game-tying field goals that came in critical moments of the game. Joshua Karty and Tyler Loop performed well, scoring 9 and 8 points respectively, while Eddy Piñeiro garnered 7 points, placing him once again in the 17th position.
Rent-a-Kicker has remained competitive throughout the season, averaging 8.17 points across 20 weekly recommendations, with the top three picks achieving a higher average of 8.58 points, outpacing the previous long-run average of 7.67. Spencer Shrader continues to stand out as the top kicker of the season with a total of 51 points, despite not being included in the preseason average draft position (ADP) rankings.
As we look ahead to Week 5, GMs should focus on kickers with favorable matchups based on projected Vegas totals and team dynamics. The next analysis will highlight players who are still widely available, helping managers secure potential scoring advantages.
This ongoing strategy of identifying productive kickers from available options encourages flexibility and an analytical approach to roster management, allowing GMs to navigate the unpredictable nature of the kicker position more effectively. The positive takeaway is that with careful monitoring of matchups, GMs can harness every opportunity for scoring, turning a traditionally neglected position into a source of fantasy points.