Admin December 12, 2024
NFL Overreactions Week 14
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the biggest NFL storylines from Week 14.
Sports Seriously
Most weeks, kickers don’t take up much space in the minds of fantasy football managers, but come playoff time it’s even more important to investigate kicker matchups.
At this stage of the season, the No. 1 issue to watch is the weather. Snow, rain and freezing temperatures often have a major impact on kickers’ success, so where applicable, trusting kickers in domed stadiums can be preferable.
It’s still important to evaluate which kickers will get the most opportunities to score. Typically, the best way to go is to trust a kicker playing on a good offense with red-zone issues. Short of that, finding a kicker facing a leaky defense that allows a lot of points can produce some quality sleepers.
Who are the best kickers to trust in Week 15? Here’s is USA TODAY Sports’ start ’em, sit ’em advice at kicker for this week’s slate.
Fantasy football start ’em: Week 15 Kickers
Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
The Buccaneers are allowing 2.6 field goals per game this season. Only the Miami Dolphins (2.8) have allowed more thus far. Dicker saw a streak of four straight games with multiple field goals end against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14, but the accurate kicker (28-of-30 in 2024) should have more kicking opportunities in a matchup against a leakier pass defense.
Matthew Wright, Kansas City Chiefs (at Cleveland Browns)
Wright doesn’t have the biggest leg, but he has attempted a whopping nine field goals in his two games with the Chiefs. As long as he keeps getting that volume – and he should, given the Chiefs’ 25th-ranked red-zone touchdown percentage (50.98%) – he can be trusted in any matchup.
The only thing to watch this week is whether Harrison Butker will return from injury and displace Wright. If Butker is playing, he becomes an obvious start while Wright will likely be relegated to practice squad detail as a backup.
Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins (at Houston Texans)
Sanders has multiple field goal attempts in all but two games this season. He has also made 9-of-11 kicks from 50-plus yards, including two in the Dolphins’ Week 14 win over the New York Jets. The Texans are allowing just 1.6 field goal attempts per game, but few teams have been able to hold Sanders to just one attempt this season. The odds are that he will get multiple cracks at field goals in what could be a high-scoring contest, so don’t be afraid to back him in this spot.
Zane Gonzalez, Washington Commanders (at New Orleans Saints)
The Commanders are averaging 2.8 field goal attempts per game this season. That’s tied for the second-most in the NFL behind only the San Francisco 49ers. Some may be reluctant to trust Gonzalez given that he is just 3-of-5 on field goal attempts during his brief stint in Washington, but the Saints allow 2.4 field goal attempts per game. That should allow Gonzalez to establish himself as a top-10 fantasy kicker, especially with Washington’s high-powered offense set to be well-rested coming off a bye.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 15 Kickers
Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
Elliott has shockingly gone 0-for-5 on field goals of 50-plus yards this season after making 7-of-8 from that distance last year. Now, he gets a tough matchup against a good Steelers defense that has allowed just 1.8 field goals per game this season, tied for the sixth-fewest in the NFL. Between his struggles from distance and potential lack of opportunities in this matchup, sitting Elliott seems like the right choice.
Cade York, Cincinnati Bengals (at Tennessee Titans)
York had a strong game against the Dallas Cowboys, making two field goals and three extra points in Cincinnati’s win. He may still get a solid amount of opportunities in Cincinnati’s high-scoring offense, but the Titans are allowing just 1.9 field goal attempts per game, while York is just 10-of-17 in his career on kicks from 40-plus yards. It’s probably best to go with a more proven, consistent kicker with the NFL’s bye weeks now over.
Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’ems, Week 15
Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:
Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:
→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 15.
→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here’s who to start and who to sit in Week 15.
→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 15 with start ’em, sit ’em advice for wideouts.
→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here’s who you should start and sit in Week 15.
→ A good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent’s offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 15.