With the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Francisco 49ers on bye this week, you may be scrambling for a kicker replacement. Chris Boswell, currently sitting at K3 in fantasy football, has been a reliable force for Pittsburgh, and his absence could leave a noticeable gap in your lineup.
Meanwhile, Anders Carlson of the 49ers, who just had a standout performance against the Dallas Cowboys, will also be missed. Though Carlson may lose the starting role once Jake Moody returns from his ankle injury, his recent performance made him an appealing pickup for managers needing kicker depth.
If you are among the many managers searching for a substitute this week, it is a prime time to consider streaming kickers. This strategy can work wonders if you do not have a top-tier option, letting you target players with favorable contests or kickers on high-scoring teams.
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Week 9 Kicker Rankings for Fantasy Football
Kicker Tier |
Kicker Rank |
Player Name |
Pos. |
1 | 1 | Brandon Aubrey | K |
1 | 2 | Younghoe Koo | K |
1 | 3 | Tyler Bass | K |
1 | 4 | Ka'imi Fairbairn | K |
1 | 5 | Chase McLaughlin | K |
2 | 6 | Will Reichard | K |
2 | 7 | Evan McPherson | K |
2 | 8 | Harrison Butker | K |
2 | 9 | Austin Seibert | K |
2 | 10 | Cameron Dicker | K |
3 | 11 | Jake Bates | K |
3 | 12 | Justin Tucker | K |
3 | 13 | Brandon McManus | K |
3 | 14 | Jake Elliott | K |
3 | 15 | Jason Myers | K |
4 | 16 | Daniel Carlson | K |
4 | 17 | Cairo Santos | K |
4 | 18 | Cam Little | K |
4 | 19 | Blake Grupe | K |
4 | 20 | Chad Ryland | K |
4 | 21 | Joshua Karty | K |
5 | 22 | Jason Sanders | K |
5 | 23 | Jude McAtamney | K |
5 | 24 | Wil Lutz | K |
5 | 25 | Joey Slye | K |
6 | 26 | Riley Patterson | K |
6 | 27 | Eddy Pineiro | K |
6 | 28 | Dustin Hopkins | K |
6 | 29 | Matt Gay | K |
6 | 30 | Nick Folk | K |
Fantasy Football Kicker Streamers to Target for Week 9
Only players rostered in fewer than 60% of fantasy football leagues are considered streamers.
Will Reichard (MIN) vs. Indianapolis Colts
16% Rostered on Sleeper
Will Reichard has quickly made a name for himself as a trustworthy option in fantasy football, currently ranking as the K8. The Minnesota Vikings kicker averages 10.43 fantasy points per game.
In Thursday's 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the 23-year-old made both field-goal tries and converted both extra points. The rookie kicker is off to a perfect start in his NFL career, successfully hitting all 14 field-goal attempts and knocking through all 20 extra points this season.
Will Reichard record tracking Week 8:
- Tied longest by rookie at 58 yards
- On track to make more than 15 consecutive 50 yarders in a row, now at 5/16
- On track to beat rookie season percentage of 94.7, now at 100% https://t.co/FcraDUc60G— Matt Schiessl (@SchiesslFuel) October 25, 2024
Reichard's longest kick in 2024 has come from an impressive 58 yards. Although all four of his kicks in Week 8 were from shorter distances, his consistency was still on display.
He is a great starter this week as he faces the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts are allowing the 10th-most fantasy points per game to kickers.
With the combination of Reichard's accuracy and the Vikings' high-powered offense, he should be rostered in more leagues. This matchup against a Colts defense that gives up points to kickers only enhances his appeal as a dependable fantasy option.
Chase McLaughlin (TB) at Kansas City Chiefs
41% Rostered on Sleeper
An excellent kicker option for Week 9 is the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Chase McLaughlin, who takes on the Kansas City Chiefs. He remains available in many leagues, making him a solid pickup.
While he did miss his first field goal attempt of the season during Week 7's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, McLaughlin has been a consistent fantasy option overall.
Chase McLaughlin converts from 52 yards out.
It is McLaughlin's 15th field goal make of 50+ yards since joining the Buccaneers, tied with Connor Barth for the most such field goals made in Tampa Bay's franchise history.
— Buccaneers Communications (@BuccaneersComms) October 27, 2024
One challenge the former undrafted free agent faces is the absence of star wide receivers Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Godwin is out for the season due to a dislocated ankle, while Evans has re-aggravated a hamstring injury and is expected to be sidelined until after the Week 11 bye.
Despite these injuries, Baker Mayfield made the most of his offense, connecting on 37-of-50 passes for 330 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in the recent 31-26 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
This week, taking on the Chiefs, McLaughlin should still be in a position to score. The Buccaneers offense has enough firepower to generate chances for him, so confidence in starting the Illinois alum remains high despite the injury issues. He is set to keep contributing to fantasy teams, even without the top receivers.
Austin Seibert (WAS) at New York Giants
49% Rostered on Sleeper
A must-start kicker this week is Austin Seibert, currently ranked K1 in fantasy leagues yet rostered in under 50% of them. This situation needs to change quickly.
Seibert has tallied double-digit fantasy points in six of his seven games with the Washington Commanders, including a standout performance in Week 2 against the New York Giants. In that contest, he racked up 22 fantasy points.
Battling the Chicago Bears in Week 8, the Commanders had difficulty finding the end zone until the game's very last play. Despite those hardships, Seibert still had a productive outing.
With that made field goal, K Austin Seibert now has 82 total points through Week 8. He passes K Mark Moseley (81 points through Week 8 in 1983) for the most points in franchise history through eight weeks of a single season.
— Washington Commanders PR (@Wash_PR) October 27, 2024
The Oklahoma product connected on four of his five field goal attempts in that game. Chicago blocked the one field goal he missed. The kicker has only missed two field goals all season while being perfect from within 49 yards.
While the Commanders have had red-zone struggles, Seibert's Week 2 performance, which set a franchise record with seven field goals, showcased how vital he can be to the team's scoring efforts.
The 27-year-old should be on everyone's radar, and if he is available in your league, he needs to be added to your starting lineup. With his incredible scoring ability and the potential for more opportunities, he is a kicker not to overlook this week.
Fantasy Football Kickers to Avoid for Week 9
Greg Zuerlein (NYJ) vs. Houston Texans
16% Rostered on Sleeper
You really should not be starting Greg Zuerlein. The 36-year-old kicker for the New York Jets has not been a trustworthy option for fantasy and real football.
This season, Zuerlein has already missed six field goals, a sharp decline from last year when he missed just three. His inconsistency was on full display in the Jets' recent 25-22 loss to the New England Patriots, where he missed a 44-yard field goal attempt and an extra point.
The Jets signed the veteran kicker to a two-year, $8.4 million contract in March, but he is falling well short of those expectations. Many are calling for the team to move on from him.
Through the first eight weeks, no other kicker has missed more field goals. The points lost have likely cost the Jets crucial game wins. His recent misses include a missed field goal against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7, two facing the Buffalo Bills in Week 6, and a missed game-winner versus the Denver Broncos in Week 4.
These struggles show he is not the "Greg the Leg" fantasy managers remember. Jets interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich may stand by his kicker, but fantasy managers should not. His 16% roster percentage on Sleeper is simply too high for the unreliability he brings.
Zuerlein's history and name value might tempt managers to hold onto him, but his recent performance makes him unplayable. Save yourself the frustration, and find a more sturdy kicker this week.
Cairo Santos (CHI) at Arizona Cardinals
6% Rostered on Sleeper
Cairo Santos should be benched this week as the Chicago Bears head to Arizona to take on the Cardinals. Santos has managed just three field goals over his last five games, showing a limited ceiling and little consistency to rely on for fantasy points.
Though he had two double-digit performances to start the season (13 points in Week 1 and 11 in Week 2), he has since averaged a meager 6.57 points per game and currently sits as the K27 in fantasy.
In Week 8 against the Washington Commanders, he did not even attempt a field goal. This contest is just one example of Santos not seeing the opportunities needed to score fantasy points.
While Arizona allows 2.3 field goal attempts per game, Santos' low usage makes him a risky play. The Bears have attempted the second-fewest field goals in the league, tied with the Carolina Panthers, and Santos has hit only eight field goals all season.
Despite connecting on five kicks in the first two games, Santos has become a boom-or-bust play in this offense. There are better options available, so consider streaming someone with a more dependable floor and better field-goal volume.
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