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Dallas Cowboys and Mike Vanderjagt. That's really all you need to know when it comes to over-valuing a kicker. On the other hand the Indianapolis Colts went out and signed the best kicker in the league and won the Super Bowl. There's a lesson to be learned there for fantasy football as well. We know that every other fantasy site in the world says take a kicker with your last pick, but we disagree. As is the case with every other position if you can get an impact player you should get him. It's as simple as that. Now we're not suggesting you should run out and draft a kicker with your fifth pick or anything crazy like that but if you can grab one of the top three kickers while your opponents are drafting "shot in the dark WRs" you'll get more points out of that pick than they will.
Jeff Wilkins XR: 1 CR: 4 BW: 9
Wilkins has averaged 33 attempts per season over the last four years and has converted just under 30 of those 33 kicks. Of particular interest is his performance from over 50yds. where he is an impressive 15 of 17 since 2003. He has the advantage of playing for a high energy offense which provides him with plenty of opportunities. In addition he kicks indoors for 9 of his 16 games this year including an extremely favorable stretch to end the season with 5 of his final 8 games in a dome and the other three games in San Francisco, Cincinnatti, and Arizona.
Matt Stover XR: 2 CR: 7 BW: 8
Like Wilkins, Stover has also averaged 33 attempts and 30 FGs over the last four years but his over 50yd. numbers have been far less impressive (3 of 6). The disparity in 50 yard attempts is a reflection of the dominance of the Ravens defense with HC Brian Billick more often electing to punt and try to pin a team deep in it's own end. The schedule is favorable in that the most difficult kicking road games (Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Buffalo) all come before winter weather becomes a factor. Stover will rarely put up monster weeks, but for a consistent point producer he's tough to beat.
Neil Rackers XR: 3 CR: 10 BW: 8
After an unbelievable season in 2005, Rackers came crashing back to earth last year and will be under-valued in most drafts. Of his 9 misses last year, 6 of them came from beyond 50yds which means he was a very acceptable 27 of 30 from 49yds. and in. (Wilkins for instance was 29 of 34 from 49yds. and in.) We look for the Cardinal offense to be improved this year which should mean less 50yd. attempts (he's had 23 such attempts over the last three years) but should also mean more points. Kicking in Arizona greatly reduces any weather related problems and 2 of his 8 road games are in domes. Over the last six weeks of the season he plays 4 games at home and one in a dome, leaving only the game at Seattle in Week 14 as a potential weather problem.
Neil Rackers XR: 3 CR: 10 BW: 8
After an unbelievable season in 2005, Rackers came crashing back to earth last year and will be under-valued in most drafts. Of his 9 misses last year, 6 of them came from beyond 50yds which means he was a very acceptable 27 of 30 from 49yds. and in. (Wilkins for instance was 29 of 34 from 49yds. and in.) We look for the Cardinal offense to be improved this year which should mean less 50yd. attempts (he's had 23 such attempts over the last three years) but should also mean more points. Kicking in Arizona greatly reduces any weather related problems and 2 of his 8 road games are in domes. Over the last six weeks of the season he plays 4 games at home and one in a dome, leaving only the game at Seattle in Week 14 as a potential weather problem.
Neil Rackers XR: 3 CR: 10 BW: 8
After an unbelievable season in 2005, Rackers came crashing back to earth last year and will be under-valued in most drafts. Of his 9 misses last year, 6 of them came from beyond 50yds which means he was a very acceptable 27 of 30 from 49yds. and in. (Wilkins for instance was 29 of 34 from 49yds. and in.) We look for the Cardinal offense to be improved this year which should mean less 50yd. attempts (he's had 23 such attempts over the last three years) but should also mean more points. Kicking in Arizona greatly reduces any weather related problems and 2 of his 8 road games are in domes. Over the last six weeks of the season he plays 4 games at home and one in a dome, leaving only the game at Seattle in Week 14 as a potential weather problem.
Jason Hanson XR: 4 CR: 13 BW: 6
Hanson had what was arguably his best season last year and we think he will top it this year. The reason? Mike Martz. The "Mad Scientist" has always produced offenses that can move the ball up and down the field, but they never have the ground game to just pound it in down close. As a result, kickers in Martz's system are guaranteed plenty of opportunities. Given those chances, we look for Hanson to convert more often than not considering that he has only missed twice inside 40yds. since 2001. Hanson also has the added advantage of playing nine of his games indoors, but he does play in Green Bay on Week 17.
Joe Nedney XR: 5 CR: 17 BW: 6
OK, some of these CRs are just ridiculous. Are we ranking the best kickers or the best fantasy kickers? Look, Nedney kicks for a team with a young QB and a new OC, now doesn't that sound like a lot of drives stalling to you? Adam Vinatieri (the # 1 CR) on the other hand plays for a team that scores TDs more often than not and hasn't had a 50yd. FG since 2003. Now that we've got that out of the way, Nedney's numbers dropped slightly last year (including 3 misses from inside 40yds.) but we expect him to rebound this year. Nedney's second half schedule is kicker friendly but he faces a difficult final game (Week 17) in Cleveland.
