RADIO
The 2024 NFL season is almost here! I know that is something you have been patiently waiting for. Now, with fantasy drafts either done or finishing up, you should take another look (or 10) when setting your lineup for Week 1. Picking the right kicker to start for Week 1 is more important than you might think.
Have you ever lost by a few points because you started the wrong kicker? That is what this article aims to tackle. What kickers should you be starting this week? Should you be streaming kickers? Getting this right can be the difference between winning and losing.
Each week, I'll provide insights that can help you dominate your league. If you're not sure about matchups or tiers, don't worry. I'll also be giving you my kicker rankings for the week. All of that will be focused on in this weekly piece. Now, let's dig into kickers for Week 1! Time to start the season with a win.
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
Week 1 Kicker Rankings for Fantasy Football
| Kicker Tier |
Kicker Rank |
Player Name |
Pos. |
| 1 | 1 | Jake Elliott | K |
| 1 | 2 | Justin Tucker | K |
| 1 | 3 | Harrison Butker | K |
| 1 | 4 | Evan McPherson | K |
| 2 | 5 | Ka'imi Fairbairn | K |
| 2 | 6 | Tyler Bass | K |
| 2 | 7 | Jason Sanders | K |
| 2 | 8 | Brandon Aubrey | K |
| 3 | 9 | Jason Myers | K |
| 3 | 10 | Cairo Santos | K |
| 3 | 11 | Jake Moody | K |
| 3 | 12 | Younghoe Koo | K |
| 3 | 13 | Matt Gay | K |
| 4 | 14 | Blake Grupe | K |
| 4 | 15 | Cameron Dicker | K |
| 4 | 16 | Chase McLaughlin | K |
| 4 | 17 | Chris Boswell | K |
| 4 | 18 | Daniel Carlson | K |
| 5 | 19 | Jake Bates | K |
| 5 | 20 | Dustin Hopkins | K |
| 5 | 21 | Graham Gano | K |
| 5 | 22 | Greg Zuerlein | K |
| 5 | 23 | Matt Prater | K |
| 5 | 24 | Joshua Karty | K |
| 5 | 25 | Eddy Pineiro | K |
| 5 | 26 | Will Reichard | K |
| 6 | 27 | Brayden Narveson | K |
| 6 | 28 | Wil Lutz | K |
| 6 | 29 | Cam Little | K |
| 6 | 30 | Nick Folk | K |
| 6 | 31 | Cade York | K |
| 6 | 32 | Joey Slye | K |
Kicker Streamers to Target for Week 1
Only players rostered in fewer than 60% of fantasy football leagues are considered streamers.
Jason Myers (SEA) vs. Denver Broncos
20.6% Rostered on Sleeper
Last season, the Broncos gave up 7.71 fantasy points per game to the kicker position. For Week 1, the Seattle Seahawks are facing the Denver Broncos. Seahawks kicker Jason Myers is a great streaming option this week.
Last season, Myers made 35 of 42 field goals. He was 12-of-14 from 40-49 yards out and 4-of-8 from 50-plus. The kicker additionally connected on 19-of-20 field goals under 40 yards.
#Seahawks K Jason Myers kicks a 58-yd field goal to extend Seattle’s lead. pic.twitter.com/aoR10TInYP
— Kicker Update (@kickerupdate) August 25, 2024
Myers made 83.3% of his field goals last season, down from 91.9% in 2022. His field goal percentage last year was still higher than in 2021 when he saw his field goal percentage dip to 73.9%.
Right now, Denver has one of the best cornerbacks in the game, Patrick Surtain II. Besides Surtain, the Broncos' defense doesn't have many standouts. This should bode well for the Seattle offense, getting them into position to score field goals and extra points.
On top of that, rookie Bo Nix is starting for Denver. Look for the Seahawks' defense to try to stop Nix quickly. Seattle has a better offensive roster than Denver, with playmakers like DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. Jaxon Smith-Njigba should also see more work in his second season. With all these factors working for Seattle, Myers is a strong start in Week 1.
Cairo Santos (CHI) vs. Tennessee Titans
7.4% Rostered on Sleeper
The Chicago Bears take on the Tennessee Titans in the first week of the 2024 season. Kicker Cairo Santos faces a team ranked 32nd last season when it came to giving up points to kickers. Last year, the Titans allowed 9.82 fantasy points per game to kickers, the most in the NFL.
Santos is starting with a rookie under center in Caleb Williams. Although rookie quarterbacks get picked on often, Williams has the ability and weapons to take on the Titans' defense. On the other hand, Will Levis, quarterback for the Titans, tossed multiple touchdowns in only two of his nine games played last year.
Cairo Santos. #ProBowlVote pic.twitter.com/IDJqrDCUeg
— NFL Brasil (@NFLBrasil) December 24, 2023
Levis averaged 16 points a game last season when he was healthy. The Titans ended the season as 27th in scoring offense and 28th in yards. Look for them to struggle again coming out of the gate in Week 1.
The Bears have an advantage in Week 1, playing at home. This season, Chicago also has an improved pass rush, seeing a fully healthy DE Montez Sweat. Sweat had six sacks in his first six games when he joined the Bears.
Santos should see plenty of opportunities to put up fantasy points. He ranked third in fantasy points scored by kickers last season. Keep him for Week 1 and hold him for the future.
Blake Grupe (NO) vs. Carolina Panthers
2.1% Rostered on Sleeper
Last season, the Carolina Panthers were 0-9 on the road. To start Week 1, Carolina travels to New Orleans. The Saints should be able to put up points against a Panthers team ranked 20th in fantasy points per game allowed to the kicker. Last season, the Panthers allowed 7.06 fantasy points per game to kickers.
During the off-season, there has been a kicker battle between second-year kicker Blake Grupe and rookie Charlie Smyth. Smyth was just sent to waivers, giving Grupe the starting job. Grupe made 100% of his field goal attempts and 100% of his extra points in the preseason.
“Blake Grupe, he keeps making field goals like this he’s gonna start to have groupies.” pic.twitter.com/M44ll3yQdE
— Ross Tucker Podcast (@RossTuckerPod) September 11, 2023
The undrafted Grupe had a field goal percentage of 81.1% in his first season with the Saints. He made 30-of-37 field goals last year. One standout moment for Grupe last year was in Week 5 when he hit two 50-plus-yard field goals and made all four extra-point attempts.
Last season, the Panthers were ranked 31st in scoring and 32nd in yards. Their offense should struggle in the first game, especially on the road.
Grupe had six games of double-digit points in games last season, something he has a good chance of repeating against Carolina. The New Orleans kicker ranked ninth in fantasy points at the position last year and had seven double-digit fantasy weeks.
Kickers to Avoid for Week 1
Daniel Carlson (LV) at Los Angeles Chargers
22.2% Rostered on Sleeper
Daniel Carlson of the Las Vegas Raiders ended the 2023 NFL season as K24 in fantasy leagues. He had an average of 7.1 fantasy points per game.
Last season, the Raiders ranked 28th in field goal attempts per game with 1.8. Additionally, the team attempted 1.9 extra points per game, ranking 23rd.
In Week 1, Carlson travels to play the Los Angeles Chargers. The Raiders have a rough time at SoFi Stadium, with a 1-4 record there.
Last season, consistency was a significant factor in Carlson's production. The first five weeks of 2023 saw the kicker score at most five fantasy points per outing. He had four games of double-digit points.
But he also had to deal with games like the Week 14 matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. The Raiders scored zero points, and Carlson ended with zero fantasy points. It's not even the matchup against the Chargers that scares me, but more so the offense Carlson is a part of.
Greg Zuerlein (NYJ) at San Francisco 49ers
18.3% Rostered on Sleeper
Greg The Leg takes on the San Francisco 49ers in the season's first week. Zuerlein ended the 2023 season as the K13 in fantasy. He had an average of 8.9 fantasy points per game but had a few low-scoring games to pair with very high-scoring games.
Twice, Zuerlein had no chance to score. In Week 11 at Buffalo, the Jets scored a touchdown but attempted a failed two-point conversion. In Week 15, the Jets didn't score, nor was Zuerlein put in a position to do so.
The veteran kicker did connect on 35-of-38 field goals in his second season with New York. The Jets had abysmal quarterback play last season. Aaron Rodgers suffered a torn left Achilles tendon on his fourth snap, ending the Pro Bowler's 2023 season before it started.
Taking on San Francisco in Week 1 will be challenging for the Jets. Although the 49ers struggled against the run last season, they did have a solid pass rush. This strong defense includes Nick Bosa, Leonard Floyd, and Yetur Gross-Matos.
Rodgers is back and healthy this season, and expectations are high. We are still determining what this team will look like with Rodgers fully under the helm. You might wait to start Zuerlein until he has a better matchup and until you can see what this offense can do.
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