This is Week 16 Fantasy Kicker Strategy! Are you looking for another edge in your playoff matchups? The often-overlooked kicker position can be one of the most frustrating positions to analyze. But the difference between a 13-point game and a six-point game from your kicker can be the difference between winning and advancing to the championship or heading home for the offseason.
There are a few no-brainer starts every week, and these are usually kickers in fantastic situations. Players like Brandon Aubrey and Justin Tucker are in the top six in scoring and on efficient offenses. Others like Jake Moody, Tyler Bass, and Harrison Butker are almost always in your lineup.
But most of the time, certain kickers will be in advantageous matchups and certain kickers will be in disadvantageous matchups. There are also specific teams that allow more field goals on a weekly basis for whatever reason. Some of these defenses are generally generous to offenses, while some defenses have a bend but don’t break nature that lends itself to teams settling for field goals.
We also can chase games with high totals, which insulates our opportunities and should provide us with a floor. And lastly, this time of season, we need to keep an eye on Mother Nature as weather can destroy our kicker scoring.
Here are a few kicker options for Week 16 that are all available in more than 75% of Yahoo Leagues.
Lucas Havrisik | LA Rams (4%)
Havrisik has missed some longer field goals lately, but that has not affected his bottom line. He has scored at least eight fantasy points in three straight games. This includes a kicker No. 3 overall finish in Week 14 and a kicker No. 6 overall finish in Week 13. The Rams are 4-point favorites at home with a fantasy-friendly 46-point total.
Cairo Santos | Chicago (5%)
Santos was on a heater with three straight games of double-digit fantasy points before his six-point performance in Week 15’s loss to Cleveland. Santos will look to get back on track this week against an Arizona team that just allowed 45 points to San Francisco.
The Bears are 4-point home favorites.
Kai’Mi Fairbairn | Houston (3%)
Fairbairn finished as kicker No. 1 overall last week with two 50+ yard field goals to go along with two shorter ones. Houston is at home and will most likely miss C.J. Stroud for a second consecutive week. They also face off against a stout Cleveland defense. Fairbairn is a reliable weapon for them. Fairbairn also faces off against Tennessee in Week 17. The Titans are allowing the most field goals in the NFL.
Blake Grupe | New Orleans (7%)
The Rams have allowed the No. 5-most field goals in the league. Grupe has been reliable all season long.
He hit a 50+ yarder last week against the New York Giants and has been consistent all season on long field goals with 13 made FGs from 40+ yards.
Will Lutz | Denver (24%)
Denver is coming off a disappointing blowout loss in Detroit and will now return to Mile High Stadium looking to get back on track against a New England team they should be able to handle. This could lead to more field goal opportunities for Lutz who is “due” for a big game after three straight quiet outings. The Broncos are nearly a TD favorite.
