Admin October 31, 2024
NFL Week 8 Overreactions
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the wildest games from Week 8.
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Fantasy football managers dealt with a difficult decision in Week 7 when Brandon Aubrey was on a bye. Now, more bye weeks are thinning the fantasy kicker rankings for Week 9 and creating some difficult start ’em, sit ’em decisions.
Notably, Chris Boswell will be out of action in Week 9. The Pittsburgh Steelers kicker is tied with Austin Seibert for the league lead in field goals made (23), so Boswell’s owners will have to pivot to a streaming option for at least one week.
The San Francisco 49ers are also off in Week 9, so that will eliminate a potential top-tier streamer. The 49ers are tied for third in the NFL with an average of 2.9 field goal attempts per game, so Anders Carlson would have been a solid pickup, pending the health of Jake Moody and Matthew Wright, if the 49ers were playing.
Instead, fantasy football owners must turn to different kickers to trust. Who are the best options among the 30 kickers in action? Here are a few to trust and to fade in Week 9.
Fantasy football start ’em: Week 9 Kickers
Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
Reichard has made at least two field goals in five of his last six games and averaged 2.9 extra points per game this season. The Vikings rookie hasn’t yet missed a kick and will now go up against a Colts defense that has allowed 2.4 field goal attempts per game. That makes Reichard a high-floor bye-week fill-in for Boswell.
Chad Ryland, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Chicago Bears)
Many will remember Ryland from his struggles as a rookie with the New England Patriots, but he has enjoyed a quality campaign in place of the injured Matt Prater. Ryland has made at least two field goals in three of his four starts and has shown a clutch ability to make game-winning kicks. As long as he’s confident, he can be trusted against a Bears defense that has allowed the second-most field goal attempts per game (2.6).
Chicago also allowed the Washington Commanders to attempt five field goals against them in Week 8. The Cardinals have a similarly built offense. Both feature mobile quarterbacks with upper-echelon arm talent, so they could also find a wealth of opportunities this week.
Dustin Hopkins, Cleveland Browns (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
Hopkins is a risky start, but he is fresh off a three-field-goal game against the Baltimore Ravens and should get more opportunities each week with Jameis Winston running the show instead of Deshaun Watson. The Chargers allow just 1.9 field goal attempts to opposing teams each game, but this is all about backing a Cleveland offense that generated a season-high 401 yards and 29 points against the Ravens.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 9 Kickers
Brandon McManus, Green Bay Packers (vs. Detroit Lions)
Trusting McManus with Malik Willis at quarterback may not seem like a bad move. Brayden Narvenson averaged three field goal attempts per game in Willis’ three starts, so he might be able to move the ball enough to get McManus chances.
There’s just one problem with that theory. The Packers are playing a Lions team averaging a league-high 33.4 points per game. It will be difficult for Green Bay to keep pace by kicking field goals, so Matt LaFleur may be more aggressive than usual when the Packers are in scoring range. That makes McManus a potential bust candidate, especially considering that the Lions have limited two of their last three opponents to 14 points or less.
Chase McLaughlin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (at Kansas City Chiefs)
McLaughlin had a decent outing in Week 8 against the Atlanta Falcons, converting on three extra points and nailing his lone field goal attempt, a 52-yarder. This matchup will be tough for Baker Mayfield and Co., as the Chiefs allow just 17.6 points per game (fifth-fewest in the league) and have fared well against receivers in 2024 (a league-low 760 yards allowed to the position). Without Chris Godwin (ankle) and Mike Evans (hamstring), the Bucs will probably struggle to move the ball, which makes McLaughlin a low-volume option in Week 9.
Blake Grupe, New Orleans Saints (at Carolina Panthers)
Many will look at Grupe’s strong Week 1 performance against the Panthers and assume he can be started. After all, he made four field goals in that contest, including two from 50-plus yards, and converted all five of his extra points.
That said, the Saints’ offense isn’t as strong now as it was in Week 1. New Orleans has dealt with several key injuries to its offensive line, while No. 2 receiver Rashid Shaheed is out for the season with a knee injury.
The Saints should still move the ball against a Panthers defense that has struggled versus quarterbacks, but Grupe won’t get nine kicking opportunities like he did in Week 1. He could still be a top-15 kicker, but safer options are available than him, especially if Derek Carr (oblique) isn’t ready to return to the lineup.
Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’ems, Week 9
Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:
→ 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 9.
→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and to sit in Week 9.
→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 9 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 9.
→ A good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent’s offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 9.