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Many fantasy leagues have completely eliminated the kicker position over the years. A large reason for that is due to the position's inconsistency. However, kickers deserve some love in fantasy football, too.
Justin Tucker has been one of the best fantasy kickers since he entered the league in 2012, finishing top-three at the position in five of the past six years. But during those last six seasons, Tucker has never finished as the top overall kicker. In 2023, Brandon Aubrey scored the most fantasy points by a kicker.
So, is it worth it to pay up for a kicker like Tucker? When should fantasy managers draft a kicker in fantasy? Let's dive in and find out.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
When Should You Draft a Kicker in Fantasy Football?
Every year, fantasy managers want to draft the best kicker. Sometimes, though, that leads to them overpaying for the top player at the position. Spending a premium on a "top" kicker isn't worth it in fantasy because most of them are the same.
Despite finishing as the K2 last season, Tucker only scored in double figures in seven of 17 games. There's no doubt that having an automatic kicker is great, but selecting him in drafts will cause most fantasy managers to overpay. While he was a solid option, other kickers like Aubrey or Cairo Santos were just as good, if not better, than the Ravens Pro Bowler.
DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?!?!
JUSTIN TUCKER 66-YARD FIELD GOAL FOR THE WIN! #RavensFlock pic.twitter.com/LyHkSUiwk9
— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2021
Aubrey and Santos also went undrafted in most fantasy leagues last year, so there really isn't a reason to spend a solid 14th or 15th-round pick on a kicker. Last year, the K2 (Tucker) only scored 11 more points than the K10 (Dustin Hopkins) in fantasy. As a result, fantasy managers shouldn't be running to draft the best kicker. Sometimes, it is best to wait until the second to last round to grab a kicker on an elite offense.
Who Are The Best Kicker Options In 2024?
The key to drafting this position in fantasy football is to target kickers on good offenses. That has never been more true in fantasy, as the top six fantasy kickers going in drafts are all a part of elite offenses. Tucker is usually the first kicker off the board in most drafts, while Harrison Butker, Evan McPherson, Aubrey, Jake Elliott, and Tyler Bass all follow in ADP.
Where does #Cowboys K Brandon Aubrey's first-year rank among other rookie seasons in NFL history? (min 10 gms):
• 17 games (T-1st)
• 157 points (1st)
• 94.7 field goal % (2nd)Aubrey’s extra point % could have been better (94.2), but that’s being picky 🤟#DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/OAdandXZhg
— Brandon Loree (@Brandoniswrite) May 20, 2024
If fantasy managers are looking to draft a top kicker, choosing one from this list seems like the most logical choice. Aubrey, though, should be every fantasy manager's target, given how impressive his rookie campaign was. He averaged 10.4 fantasy points per game and is currently the K4 in drafts.
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