Rent-a-Kicker: Week 12

The Unpredictability of Fantasy Football Kickers

In fantasy football, no position is more unpredictable than kickers. This year has been a prime example of this variability. Year after year, the performance correlation between draft picks and final results is low for kickers.

Additionally, their weekly scoring can fluctuate significantly due to various factors such as injuries, field conditions, and strategic decisions by coaches.

Adam Harstad’s column “Rent-a-Kicker: Week 12” delves into this unpredictability by analyzing the situations each kicker faces. The column identifies waiver wire kickers with favorable matchups who deserve a spot in starting lineups for the upcoming week. Harstad’s goal is to help fantasy football managers make informed decisions based on these weekly opportunities.

Week 11 Kickers Recap

Last week, several kickers had notable performances:

• Alex Borregales, with a solid day in a routine win for the Patriots, finished with 9 points, tying for 13th place.
• Lucas Havrisik, despite setting the franchise record with a 61-yard field goal, struggled to score due to missing extra point attempts and losing his opportunity for a third attempt as Green Bay went for a two-point conversion. His 1 point ranked last among all kickers.
• Harrison Mevis has attempted nine extra points in his two games since joining the Rams but failed to convert any field goals, resulting in a 26th-place ranking overall.
• Riley Patterson, with an anemic performance against the Washington Commanders, still managed to get 10 points due to the Dolphins’ offensive struggles in the red zone.
• Jake Elliott contributed 10 points through three field goals and one touchdown, making him part of a select group that finished with 16 points.

The average of the top three kickers recommended by Rent-a-Kicker for Week 11 scored 82.3 points to date, which matched or exceeded seven of the top twelve kickers by preseason ADP.

Week 12 Kickers Recommendations

Harstad’s column also ranks teams based on their matchups and expected kickers:

• Baltimore Ravens vs. Cincinnati Bengals
• Tennessee Titans vs. Detroit Lions
• Cleveland Browns vs.

  Buffalo Bills

• Denver Broncos vs. Los Angeles Chargers
• Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints

The top five players on waivers in over 50% of leagues will be highlighted next week, and the top three will be included in their running average.

These kickers are expected to provide favorable matchups for fantasy managers.

Harstad emphasizes that while these rankings apply specifically to situations, teams may occasionally change kickers mid-week. Therefore, it’s essential to follow any last-minute changes before making decisions.

Conclusion

Adam Harstad’s “Rent-a-Kicker” column is a valuable resource for fantasy football managers looking to optimize their lineups based on the unpredictable nature of kicker performance. By focusing on matchups and available kickers, Harstad helps managers make informed choices that can significantly impact their team’s success in the coming week.