RADIO
The NFL kickoff was all but extinct until the NFL revamped the rules in preparation for the 2024 season. Before the new rules were implemented, the kickoff was one of the most dangerous plays in the game, and as such, the NFL had done everything in its power to eliminate the action of the play without fully eliminating the play itself.
Fan noise and outcries for more exciting kickoffs forced the NFL to revisit the play, as well as the success of the interesting kickoff setup in the XFL provided the NFL an opportunity to implement a proven play that is far safer than the traditional kickoff. Teams are now incentivized to kick the ball to a spot that allows for a return.
With the rate of kickoff returns sure to increase, fantasy football players are wondering how this could impact player outlooks and scoring for 2024. Let's dive into how to new rule works and the fantasy implications of it all.
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Can’t wait for all the people who forgot about the new NFL Kickoff rules 😂
If you haven’t watched the XFL before, you’re in for a treat
An unnatural treat but hey at least we’ll have returns again 🤷🏽♂️@TheColbyD you ready brother 😎?#HallOfFameGame pic.twitter.com/e8an6EOUiP
— Sebastian Fearon DPT, CSCS, OCS (@TheDegenDoc) August 1, 2024
Kickoff Rules
There are several rules and nuances to the kickoff that include penalties, specific alignment, and onside kicks. Here we will focus on the general rules involving normal kickoffs.
Zones
The area between the receiving team's 30- and 35-yard line is known as the setup zone. The area between the receiving team's goal line and the 20-yard line is known as the landing zone.
Kicking Team
Kickers will still kickoff from their own 35-yard-line. However, they will be alone as the line of the 10 other special team's players tasked with tackling the returner will now line up on the opposite 40-yard line. Kickers cannot cross the 50-yard line until the ball hits the ground, a player in the landing zone, or the endzone. The remaining 10 special team's players on the kicking team cannot move until the ball hits the ground, a player in the landing zone, or the endzone.
Receiving Team
The receiving team rules are a bit more complicated. At least nine players must line up in the setup zone and at least seven of these players must keep one foot on the 35-yard line which is known as the restraining line. Players not on the restraining line must be lined up outside the hash marks. None of these nine players can move until the ball hits the ground, a player in the landing zone, or the endzone. Two players may line up as kickoff returners in the landing zone and have the freedom to move at any time.
The Kickoff Itself
Kickers are incentivized to aim for the landing zone. Any kick short of the landing zone is treated like a kick out of bounds and the ball will be placed at the receiving team's 40-yard line. Any kick that lands in the endzone and is downed will be placed at the 30-yard line. If the ball is kicked through the back of the endzone, then the ball will be placed at the 30-yard line of the receiving team. Any kick that lands and remains in the landing zone must be returned or else it risks recovery by the kicking team. If the kick does land in the landing zone and goes into the endzone, then the kick must be returned or downed. Downing a kick in the endzone in this manner results in field position starting at the 20-yard line.
The NFL's new dynamic kickoff rules 👀 pic.twitter.com/1N02SW7e4k
— ESPN (@espn) August 2, 2024
Fantasy Football Implications of the New Kickoff Rules
The XFL had a kickoff return rate of 97% in 2023. NFL kickers are highly skilled at placing the ball where they want so there is no reason to believe that the NFL will not experience a similar kickoff return percentage. The kickoff will now function similarly to a scrimmage type of play. The layout of the kickoff will give several players a chance to gain yardage and score touchdowns.
Several players may function as both kick returners and scrimmage players. Notably, Ty Chandler, Marvin Mims Jr., Jaleel McLaughlin, Khalil Shakir, Dameon Pierce, Ray-Ray McCloud, and Antonio Gibson are all listed as kick returners on their respective teams. Now imagine if established superstars such as Tyreek Hill get a crack at a kickoff return now and then, then fantasy managers will need to watch out.
The stand-alone value of these players varies. However, Shakir, McLaughlin, Chandler, and Mims should be legitimate flex options in fantasy and will only be boosted with further opportunities to touch the ball.
Fantasy football league managers will need to decide how to handle the new rules. Most leagues award points for all touchdowns scored no matter how they are scored. Since the kickoff now mimics a scrimmage play, leagues may want to consider adding limited points for kickoff return yards as well. Adding points to kickoff return yards would add an interesting dimension to fantasy games. Since the kickoff return volume should be so high, leagues could award one point for every 25 kick return yards, similar to passing scoring.
Adding points to a kickoff return yards would boost the number of players available for potential flex consideration. This would be especially useful in 14-team and deeper leagues. Imagine if your bench running back in a deep league could be plugged into your lineup with actual confidence because you knew he would be touching the ball at least a few times per game via kickoffs.
Overall, it remains to be seen how successful kick returners will be under the new rules. Given how close the kicking team can line up to the receiving team and kickoff returners, we have no idea just how many touchdowns will be scored in this format. Nevertheless, as NFL special team's coordinators become accustomed to the new rules, the touchdowns will start to flow.
You do not need to target kick returners early on during your draft. However, if you are in the double-digit rounds of your draft, it could serve as a solid tiebreaker between multiple players. Ultimately, it will come to your league's scoring settings. Many of the players drafted in the later rounds will end up being cut at some point anyway. You might as well grab someone that you know is going to have additional opportunities as a result of this play. Keep an eye on how things develop through the preseason. NFL fans should learn a lot about kickoff return strategy and effectiveness by watching the preseason.
Not a surprise to see the Chiefs working on the new-rules kickoff during a 10-10-10 practice before a day off.
With only four TDs on kickoff returns in the entire NFL last year, won’t be surprised to see that number double this year with the new format. #NFLTrainingCamp pic.twitter.com/6uV4lrwDQa— Coach Corbin (@CoachBCorbin) July 29, 2024
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