Sebastian Janikowski kicked three field goals and three extra points on Sunday, including a game-winning 31-yard field goal as time expired, to give the Seahawks an upset victory on the road against the Panthers.
Janikowski ranks 10th all-time with 429 field goals in his 18-year career, just seven behind Jason Elam for ninth place. Although the former first-round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft by Al Davis and the Oakland Raiders ranks 48th all-time with a career field goal percentage of 80.337%, he owns the record for the most field goals of 50 yards or more and continues to be an excellent kicker well into his 40s.
In addition to Janikowski, here are a few other widely available kickers who finished as a top-12 kickers Week 12.
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Week 12 strong performances from widely-available kickers
Aldrick Rosas (NYG) @ Philadelphia: 19% ownership on Yahoo
Not only has Rosas been one of the more consistent kickers this season with just one game of six or fewer fantasy points, but he also has twice as many double-digit games as Stephen Gostkowski and more fantasy points on the season than Adam Vinatieri, Mason Crosby, and Robbie Gould. The Giants offense continues to improve in terms of yards per game, but Eli Manning and the G men rank in the bottom quarter of the league in red zone efficiency. Rosas should be owned in all formats and could be a difference-making player down the stretch and in the playoffs.
Michael Badgley (LAC) vs. Arizona 35% ownership on Yahoo
Badgley has quietly been a stud since taking over the starting kicking job from Caleb Sturgis with at least eight points in all five starts this season, including nine points last week against the Cardinals. With Melvin Gordon out for a few weeks with an MCL sprain, the Chargers may struggle a bit in converting red zone trips into touchdowns, making Badgley even more attractive as a fantasy option going forward.
Cairo Santos (TB) vs. San Francisco: 1% ownership on Yahoo
The kicker on the team that averages the most yards per game in the NFL should be an elite fantasy kicker based merely on the fact that his team continually places him in the position to kick field goals and extra points. The only reason why a kicker would not be a top-five play is if he struggles with accuracy, which continues to plague Dirk Cutter and the Tampa Bay Bucs. If Cairo Santos can avoid going full Caleb Sturgis and make at least 80% of his kicks, he should be a K1 the remainder of the season.
Week 12 Dud Performances from heavily-owned kickers
Matt Bryant (ATL) @ New Orleans: 76% ownership on Yahoo
The kicker who plays against the Saints continues to struggle for fantasy points based on the fact that Drew Brees and the New Orleans offense is throttling their opponents and limiting the field goal opportunities for the opposing kicker. After finishing last week as the top kicker in fantasy, Bryant became the latest victim of the Saints and ended Week 12 with a mere five points.
Matt Prater (DET) vs. Chicago: 69% ownership on Yahoo
When the Lions had a healthy trio fo Golden Tate, Kenny Golladay, and Marvin Jones to compliment Matthew Stafford, they ranked as a top-12 offense in yards per game over the first half of the season. Now that Tate is in Philly and Jones is out with a knee injury, Matthew Stafford continues to struggle, and Matt Prater is not getting many field goal opportunities. Prater owners should strongly consider dropping him in favor of Badgley or Rosas.
Kicker Rankings
| Rank | ECR | Name | TEAM | Opponent | Spread | O/U | OPP RZ D | RZ EFF* | OFF RNK | K Score** | Weather |
| 1 | 1 | Harrison Butker | KC | at OAK | -15 | 57 | 10 | 27 | 3 | 40 | 52F, Light Wind |
| 2 | 2 | Greg Zuerlein | LAR | at DET | -9 | 55 | 19 | 13 | 2 | 34 | Dome |
| 3 | 3 | Wil Lutz | NO | at DAL | -7 | 52 | 4 | 28 | 5 | 37 | Dome |
| 4 | 4 | Justin Tucker | BAL | at ATL | -3 | 49 | 30 | 19 | 11 | 60 | Dome |
| 5 | 5 | Stephen Gostkowski | NE | vs. MIN | -7.5 | 49 | 1 | 18 | 9 | 28 | 55F, Rain, Light Wind |
| 6 | 9 | Ka’imi Fairbairn | HOU | vs. CLE | -4.5 | 45 | 23 | 4 | 12 | 39 | Dome |
| 7 | 6 | Matt Bryant | ATL | vs. BAL | 3 | 49 | 22 | 20 | 7 | 49 | Dome |
| 8 | 7 | Mason Crosby | GB | vs. ARI | -14.5 | 46 | 20 | 17 | 10 | 47 | 35F, 14 MPH Wind |
| 9 | 8 | Graham Gano | CAR | at TB | -4 | 56 | 32 | 24 | 13 | 69 | 81F, 11 MPH Wind |
| 10 | 16 | Michael Badgley | LAC | at PIT | 3.5 | 53 | 15 | 16 | 6 | 37 | 51F, 10 MPH Wind |
| 11 | 10 | Jake Elliott | PHI | vs. WAS | -6.5 | 44 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 36 | 45F, Rain, 11 MPH Wind |
| 12 | 27 | Jason Myers | NYJ | at TEN | 9 | 41 | 5 | 1 | 29 | 35 | 60F, 10 MPH Wind |
| 13 | 11 | Adam Vinatieri | IND | at JAC | -3 | 49 | 13 | 26 | 8 | 47 | 78F, 10 MPH Wind |
| 14 | 12 | Chris Boswell | PIT | vs. LAC | -3.5 | 53 | 2 | 29 | 4 | 35 | 51F, 10 MPH Wind |
| 15 | 13 | Cody Parkey | CHI | at NYG | -4 | 45 | 8 | 22 | 21 | 51 | 57F, Rain, 8 PMH Wind |
| 16 | 14 | Sebastian Janikowski | SEA | vs. SF | -11 | 44 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 55 | 42F, Light Wind |
| 17 | 15 | Ryan Succop | TEN | vs. NYJ | -9 | 41 | 6 | 9 | 30 | 45 | 60F, 10 MPH Wind |
| 18 | 20 | Dan Bailey | MIN | at NE | 7.5 | 49 | 17 | 6 | 14 | 37 | 55F, Rain, Light Wind |
| 19 | 17 | Brandon McManus | DEN | at CIN | -3.5 | 42 | 29 | 11 | 15 | 55 | 49F, 12 MPH Wind |
| 20 | 18 | Matt Prater | DET | vs. LAR | 9 | 55 | 26 | 5 | 23 | 54 | Dome |
| 21 | 19 | Cairo Santos | TB | vs. CAR | 4 | 56 | 31 | 15 | 1 | 47 | 81F, 11 MPH Wind |
| 22 | 23 | Robbie Gould | SF | at SEA | 11 | 44 | 12 | 2 | 17 | 31 | 42F, Light Wind |
| 23 | 21 | Brett Maher | DAL | vs. NO | 7 | 52 | 24 | 8 | 25 | 57 | Dome |
| 24 | 22 | Josh Lambo | JAC | vs. IND | 3 | 49 | 9 | 7 | 22 | 38 | 78F, 10 MPH Wind |
| 25 | 24 | Aldrick Rosas | NYG | vs. CHI | 4 | 45 | 21 | 3 | 20 | 44 | 57F, Rain, 8 PMH Wind |
| 26 | 25 | Dustin Hopkins | WAS | at PHI | 6.5 | 44 | 3 | 12 | 27 | 42 | 45F, Rain, 11 MPH Wind |
| 27 | 26 | Greg Joseph | CLE | at HOU | 4.5 | 45 | 27 | 23 | 18 | 68 | Dome |
| 28 | 28 | Jason Sanders | MIA | vs. BUF | -6 | 39 | 25 | 0 | 28 | 53 | 82F, 8 MPH Wind |
| 29 | 29 | Steven Hauschka | BUF | at MIA | 6 | 39 | 16 | 14 | 31 | 61 | 82F, 8 MPH Wind |
| 30 | 30 | Daniel Carlson | OAK | 15 | 57 | 28 | 2 | 24 | 54 | 52F, Light Wind | |
| 31 | 31 | Randy Bullock | CIN | vs. DEN | 3.5 | 42 | 14 | 30 | 26 | 70 | 49F, 12 MPH Wind |
| 32 | 32 | Zane Gonzalez | ARI | at GB | 14.5 | 46 | 11 | 25 | 32 | 68 | 35F, 14 MPH Wind |
*Red Zone Efficiency is based on the inverse of how well the kicker’s offense does in the red zone. For example, the Ravens rank second in red zone efficiency; therefore Justin Tucker has a RZ EFF score of 31. The lower number, the better for kickers, as playing on a team that struggles to score touchdowns in the red zone equates to more field goal opportunities.
**The K Score is the sum of a player’s opponent red zone, the red zone efficiency of his offense, and the overall rank of his respective team in terms of total yards. A low score indicates that a kicker has variables working in his favor for a good fantasy kicking performance.
Kicker rankings are based on numerous factors, including matchups, Vegas lines and score projections, weather conditions, the ability of a kicker’s team offense and their ability to move the ball into field goal range, offensive red zone efficiency, and how well the opposing defense limits touchdowns in the red zone. These factors are a guide, but not a definitive way to predict kicking success, as other variables and negative game scripts significantly impact the outcome.
Based on all of the variables mentioned above, the following two kickers are players ranked outside of the FantasyPros ECR top 10 who could be an excellent play Week 13.
Jason Myers (NYJ) vs. Tennessee: 42% Ownership on Yahoo
Outside of a 27-point outburst Week 6 against the Colts, Jason Myers has been an ok, but not great fantasy kicker. He has provided a nice floor of at least five points in every game this week and is a strong play in weeks like this one in a favorable matchup. The Jets are the worst team in the league in terms of red zone efficiency and the Titans boast the fifth-best red zone defense. If Josh McCown and the Jets offense can avoid a negative game script due to turnovers, Myers should garner multiple field goal opportunities and could be a sneaky play this week.
Michael Badgley (LAC) 35% ownership on Yahoo
For weeks now I have been tooting my horn to anyone who will listen when it came to the fantasy value of Ka’imi Fairbairn. Although the Chargers are far more efficient in the red zone than the Texans, any kicker on a top-five offense in terms of yards per game is worthy of a start. Badgley is my new Fairbairn and should be rostered in all leagues. My only worry this week is the fact that Heinz Field can be a tricky place to kick field goals. The opportunity will be there. Let’s just hope the rookie can fight the elements and make his kicks.
Prediction Review
Each week I suggest two kickers ranked outside the FantasyPros ECR top 10 who I believe will be solid performers based on the variables described in the K Score section. The following is a review of my picks from the previous week to see where I was successful and where I missed the mark.
Ka’imi Fairbairn (HOU) vs. Tennessee
ECR Rank: 14 / My Rank: 4
Week 12 Finish: Tied #1
Fairbairn’s K Score of 18 was one of the lowest this season for any kicker, indicating that he was in store for multiple field goal and PAT opportunities. With two field goals and four extra points, Fairbairn came through with his sixth double-figure week of the season and second in as many weeks. With an offense that moves the ball well but struggles to put the ball in the end zone when they get into scoring range, Fairbairn has been one of the best and most reliable fantasy kickers this season. I scratch my head each week when I see him ranked outside the top 12 by the fantasy industry.
Brett Maher (DAL) vs. Washington
ECR Rank: 16 / My Rank: 11
Week 12 Finish: Tied #12
Although my ranking of Maher proved to be more accurate than the ECR, I was not happy with his performance on Thanksgiving against Washington. Dak Prescott and the offense proved to be too efficient in scoring touchdowns, and the 90-yard touchdown reception by Amari Cooper changed the game script and limited Maher’s attempts. Seven points were not bad, and Maher technically finished as a K1, but I was expecting at least 10 points from the first-year kicker.
Waiver Wired
Top Add
Michael Badgley (LAC) @ Pittsburgh: 35% ownership on Yahoo
Badgley has no fewer than eight fantasy points in all five of his starts this season and 20 combined points his last two games. Not only does he provide a high floor, but he could also get a higher ceiling over the next few weeks with Melvin Gordon out of the lineup with a knee injury as the Chargers may struggle in the red zone.
Others to Consider
- Jason Myers (NYJ) @ Tennessee 11% ownership on Yahoo
- Aldrick Rosas (NYG) vs. Chicago: 19% ownership on Yahoo
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Andrew Swanson is a correspondent at FantasyPros. For more from Andrew, check out his archive or follow him @FFtoday_Andy.
