What an exciting start we have had to this NFL football season. There have been many ups and downs. Quarterbacks like Jay Cutler and Phillip Rivers have come into their own right before our eyes, while Tom Brady has been lost for the season and Peyton Manning has struggled to return to form from off-season surgery. Rookies like Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton, Jonathan Stewart, and Darren McFadden all have shown the potential to be stars in this league.
While many fantasy football weeks, even seasons may hinge on the production of skill players like the ones mentioned above, any veteran fantasy footballer knows that it takes a complete team to win a championship. Many fantasy football games are decided by a few points, so not only do you need to make sure you start the right skill players, you better make sure you start the best possible option as kicker.
That being said, please enjoy the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 4 Kicker Rankings!
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1. Nate Kaeding (San Diego Chargers) @ Oakland
Kaeding is 5 for 5 on field goal attempts the last two weeks for a total of 24 points. Now, the Chargers head to Oakland to play a Raiders team that fell apart in the 4th quarter in a week 3 loss to the Bills. Kaeding should once again post double-digit points as the Chargers will continue to pour on the hurt on Oakland.
Point Projection: 11 points
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2. Nick Folk (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Washington
Folk will remain towards the top of these rankings all season. He is an accurate kicker with a strong leg on a high-powered offense. Folk is a must start kicking option each and every week.
Point Projection: 10 points
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3. Josh Scobee (Jacksonville Jaguars) vs. Houston
Scobee topped the Bruno Boys “Snooze Alarm” sleeper picks this year and he is showing why. He is 6/6 on field goal attempts in the past two weeks, including two over 50 yards. Look for a third consecutive strong outing from Scobee as the Jags host the Texans.
Point Projection: 10 points
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4. Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers) vs. Tampa Bay
There were questions about Crosby’s production this season with Aaron Rodgers replacing Brett Favre as the Packer’s QB. The Packers offense has not missed a beat with Rodgers at QB and that makes Crosby a productive kicker.
Point Projection: 9 points
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5. Ryan Longwell (Minnesota Vikings) @ Tennessee
The Vikings did actually make it in the end zone in week 3 with Gus Frerotte at the helm, but they play a stubborn Titans defense this week. Longwell will likely get more field goals the extra points.
Point Projection: 9 points
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6. Matt Prater (Denver Broncos) @ Kansas City
Prater could top the list this week, but Denver may get into the end zone at will against the winless Chiefs. He will get a lot of kicking opportunities, but mostly extra points.
Point Projection: 9 points
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7. Neil Rackers (Arizona Cardinals) @ New York Jets
Rackers is another kicker that could be higher on these rankings, but the Cardinals explosive offense tends to put the ball in the end zone more often then they settle for field goal attempts. That should happen again this week against the Jets, who just got smoked by Philip Rivers and the Chargers' passing game.
Point Projection: 9 points
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8. Rian Lindell (Buffalo Bills) @ St. Louis
The 3-0 Bills visit the 0-3 Rams. Expect a lot of opportunities for Lindell this week as the Rams have been giving up a ton of points on the year, as in 116.
Point Projection: 9 points
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9. Shayne Graham (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Cleveland
With the Bengals offense showing signs of life, Graham makes his way back up the charts. Plus, the Bengals host a Cleveland team that is struggling more then they are.
Point Projection: 8 points
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10. David Akers (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Chicago
Eagles RB Brian Westbrook is listed as day-to-day with an ankle injury. If Westbrook does not play, the Eagles offense could struggle some, which could actually lead to more field goal attempts for Akers, meaning an increase in the kickers' value.
Point Projection: 8 points
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11. Jon Kasay (Carolina Panthers) vs. Atlanta
Kasay has been solid thus far in 2008, hitting all seven field goal attempts. He is once again a solid kicking option as the Panthers host the Falcons.
Point Projection: 8 points
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12. Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans) vs. Minnesota
The Titans have been one of the surprise teams early this season. They have not had trouble scoring touchdowns, especially with LenDale White barreling into the endzone, but when Bironas is asked to kick, he has not missed.
Point Projection: 8 points
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13. Phil Dawson (Cleveland Browns) @ Cincinnati
The Browns have been struggling, but so has the Bengals defense. This could be the Browns’ breakout week and Dawson should get more opportunities, perhaps with Brady Quinn leading the scoring drives.
Point Projection: 8 points
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14. Jason Elam (Atlanta Falcons) @ Carolina
Elam has been perfect on all 15 of his kicking attempts so far in 2008. With the emergence of Michael Turner and a running game, Elam is getting more opportunities than originally expected.
Point Projection: 7 points
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15. Joe Nedney (San Francisco 49ers) @ New Orleans
The 49ers offense has showed vast improvement under new OC Mike Martz and the Saints defense has been giving up a lot of points, 83 in 3 games to be exact. Nedney should have a solid outing.
Point Projection: 7 points
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16. Jeff Reed (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Baltimore
Don’t expect another high scoring Monday Night Football game. Reed is accurate, but he may not get a lot of attempts this week as the Steelers go up against a tough Ravens defense, which is tops in the league, without Fast Willie.
Point Projection: 7 points
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17. Josh Brown (St. Louis Rams) vs. Buffalo
This is the case of another accurate kicker who gets limited opportunities. Brown has struggled to score points along with the entire Rams’ offense, which has managed just 29 points through 3 weeks.
Point Projection: 7 points
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18. Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears) vs. Philadelphia
Gould could be a nice starting kicker option if he played in a better offense, but he plays for the Bears. Though, you should still consider Gould a solid bye week replacement.
Point Projection: 7 points
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19. Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders) vs. San Diego
Janikowski is starting to turn into a solid kicking option again. He is 6 for 6 on field goal attempts this season, including a bomb for 56 yards in week 2. If the match-up is right, he may be worth a spot start. The Chargers though are not a good match-up.
Point Projection: 6 points
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20. Matt Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) vs. Green Bay
Bryant is another kicker having a solid year. He has not missed a kick yet this season. With bye weeks starting, keep an eye on the Buccaneers match-ups; he could also be a solid bye week replacement. For week 4, keep your eye on Bryant's status as the kicker deals with the death of his 3-month old son. The Bruno Boys prayers are with him.
Point Projection: 6 points
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21. Martin Gramatica (New Orleans Saints) vs. San Francisco
The Saints offense has been scoring points, but Gramatica has only had five field goal attempts and he has missed two of them. There are more accurate kickers available. After all, if you're getting limited field goal opportunities to begin with, you have to capitalize on them all.
Point Projection: 6 points
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22. Kris Brown (Houston Texans) @ Jacksonville
Granted they have only played two games on the season, but the Texans offense is struggling. Keep Brown reserved until the Texans can find their groove on offense.
Point Projection: 5 points
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23. Shawn Suisham (Washington Redskins) @ Dallas
The Redskins offense is starting to click under new HC Jim Zorn, but Suisham is only 4 for 7 on field goal attempts. That's a mere 57% for those of you who can't do the math.
Point Projection: 5 points
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24. Matt Stover (Baltimore Ravens) @ Pittsburgh
Stover has missed more field goals (2) than he has made (1) and the Ravens do not score a lot of points. The veteran kicker has little value at this point.
Point Projection: 4 points
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25. Jay Feely (New York Jets) vs. Arizona
Feely has two field goals and three extra points in his two weeks with the Jets. Not exactly starting kicker numbers. Feely is not worth a roster spot and will be out of a job as soon as Mike Nugent is healthy.
Point Projection: 3 points
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26. Nick Novak (Kansas City Chiefs) vs. Denver
Does it really matter who the Chiefs are playing? If you are considering using Novak as a kicker, you must be real desperate.
Point Projection: 2 points
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WEEK 4 BYE WEEK KICKERS
John Carney (New York Giants) – BYE
Carney has been a pleasant surprise for the defending Super Bowl champions after they lost kicker Lawrence Tynes to injury. Carney has kicked his way into a top kicking option in the first three weeks of the season. It will be interesting to see what the Giants do when Tynes is healthy. As long as Carney is starting for the Giants, he is a viable starting kicker option.
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Olindo Mare (Seattle Seahawks) – BYE
Mare has been a pleasant surprise on the season hitting all seven field goal attempts (including a 51-yarder) and all 8 extras points. If the Seahawks keep producing points after the bye, Mare could become a starting kicking option.
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Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) – BYE
The loss of Tom Brady for the season hurts the entire Patriots team. The bye week came at the right time for the Patriots after getting routed by the lowly Dolphins. Gostkowski will remain a starting kicker option after the bye week as the Patriots should have a new game plan going for that highlights Matt Cassel's talents.
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Adam Vinatieri (Indianapolis Colts) – BYE
The Colts are 1-2 on the season and have been struggling compared to previous seasons. The bye should help the struggling Colts right the ship. Vinateri is still a solid starting kicker option.
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Jason Hanson (Detroit Lions) – BYE
As usual Hanson is one of the few bright spots on a sad Lions team. He has made all five field goal attempts, including two kicks over 50 yards. If the Lions team was any better Hanson would be a must start. Consider him a low-end starting kicker.
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Dan Carpenter (Miami Dolphins) – BYE
Despite Miami’s offensive explosion against the Patriots, Carpenter is not worth a roster spot. The Dolphins will not score 38 points in a week too many times.
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WEEK 4 RANKINGS (click to view)
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense
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Also, check our the Week 4 Start 'Em & Sit 'Em Article (click to view)
Current Waiver Wire Articles (click to view)
Waiver Wire - Week 3 Edition
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