Skip to main content

Week 2 Kickers to Stream (Fantasy Football)

Week 2 Kickers to Stream (Fantasy Football)

Week 1 of the NFL regular season went exactly like we all predicted, with Alex Smith leading all quarterbacks in fantasy points after his tough road matchup against the Patriots on Thursday Night Football, while DeShone Kizer, Jared Goff, and Mike Glennon scored more fantasy points than Tom Brady.

Seth Roberts, Andre Holmes, Nelson Agholor, and Russell Shepard all scored more fantasy points than first-round pick A.J. Green, and the lowly Buffalo Bills sit atop the AFC East all alone in the standings after a week of action

I kid, of course, as very few of these crazy outcomes were predicted by fantasy analysts and writers, and Week 1 was a testament to the unpredictable nature of the National Football League. Kickers were not immune to the craziness, with Giorgio Tavecchio, a rookie filling in for the injured Sebastian Janikowski, making all four of his kicks against the Titans.

The 27-year-old undrafted rookie from Cal set an NFL record as the only rookie kicker to make two field goals of 50-yards or more in their debut, a pretty impressive feat for a guy who was added to the 53-man roster less than 24 hours before kickoff. Tavecchio’s breakout performance is a reminder that picking kickers is often a crapshoot, as heavily owned kickers like Mason Crosby and Chris Boswell managed just six and three points respectively, while two kickers with single-digit ownership rates in Tavecchio and Greg Zuerlein posted double-digit points.

Here are a few kicker streams that I am targeting in Week 2.

Get free start/sit and waiver wire advice for your fantasy team partner-arrow

Graham Gano (CAR) vs. BUF (22% ownership on Yahoo)
After winning a preseason kicking competition over rookie seventh-round pick Harrison Butker, veteran Graham Gano came through with three field goals and two extra points against the 49ers. Cam Newton’s erratic play after missing most of training camp and the preseason led to the Panthers’ offensive woes, which in turn led to three short field goal opportunities for Gano.

The Panthers take on a Buffalo defense that is not as strong with the loss of top cornerback Ronald Darby, who left the team as part of the Jordan Matthews trade. But the Bills are still good enough on defense to stifle more than a few Carolina drives, opening the door for Gano to have another good day.

Greg Zuerlein (LAR) vs. WAS (1% ownership on Yahoo)
The Jared Goff offense was surprisingly effective on Sunday, albeit against an Indy team that resembles a college club more than an NFL squad. Cooper Kupp is a legit possession receiver that will help the Rams move the ball, and the offensive line changes Los Angeles made with the addition of Andrew Whitworth have somewhat paid off.

Greg the leg Zuerlein road the Rams’ newfound ability to move the ball to three field goals and five extra points, including a 50-plus yard kick. I would not feel comfortable using Zuerlein on a weekly basis, but in home matchups against average or below average defenses, I like his chances of making a few long field goals while posting a couple of extra points. The Redskin defense looked mediocre in their home opener against the Eagles, with 30 points allowed and three field goals given up to Caleb Sturgis. I anticipate Goff and the offense will be able to move the ball into field goal range often against Washington, giving Greg the leg multiple chances for either a field goal or extra point.

Phil Dawson (ARI) @ IND: (14% ownership on Yahoo)
It may sound crazy to double down on Dawson after he burned me with a Week 1 missed short field goal. But I believe in his talent and the ability of the Arizona offense to bounce back against a terrible Indianapolis defense that made Jared Goff look like a competent quarterback.

The likely absence of David Johnson will no doubt hurt Arizona’s chances of scoring touchdowns, but Carson Palmer and the passing game should still be able to move the ball into field goal range multiple times this game. I also like that this game is being played indoors, although that did not seem to help old man Dawson last week. You have one more chance Phill, don’t let me down again or you are out of the circle of trust for good.

Giorgio Tavecchio (OAK) vs. NYJ: (1% ownership on Yahoo)
Recommending to stream Tavecchio may appear to be a no brainer based on his four field goals from Week 1, as his ownership percentage will no doubt skyrocket when unhappy kicker owners look for another option.

But some people will be doubters and may not want to give up on their kicker just yet, and Giorgio (My inner voice says Giorgio like the cashmere cleaning lady from Seinfeld) has a great home matchup against the hapless Jets at home. Also, I love to ride the hot hand when it comes to kickers, and the confidence for the rookie could not be any higher.

 


SubscribeiTunes | Stitcher | SoundCloud | Google Play | TuneIn | RSS

Andrew Swanson is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive or follow him @FantasyProsAndy.

More Articles

18 Dynasty Players to Buy Low & Sell High (2024 Fantasy Football)

18 Dynasty Players to Buy Low & Sell High (2024 Fantasy Football)

fp-headshot by FantasyPros Staff | 7 min read
Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: PPR (Fantasy Football 2024)

Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft: PPR (Fantasy Football 2024)

fp-headshot by Tom Strachan | 6 min read
Players I’m Already Sold on for 2024 (Fantasy Football)

Players I’m Already Sold on for 2024 (Fantasy Football)

fp-headshot by Tera Roberts | 2 min read
Best Ball Ideal Roster Construction & Strategy (2024 Fantasy Football)

Best Ball Ideal Roster Construction & Strategy (2024 Fantasy Football)

fp-headshot by Tom Strachan | 3 min read

About Author

Hide

Current Article

3 min read

18 Dynasty Players to Buy Low & Sell High (2024 Fantasy Football)

Next Up - 18 Dynasty Players to Buy Low & Sell High (2024 Fantasy Football)

Next Article