Week 3 Rankings (2018): Top 15 Kickers

by Ray Kuhn

It never fails… Kickers just can’t leave well enough alone as they always seem to find a way to blow the game and miss critical kicks (and it led to multiple teams making changes during the week). Let’s take a shot at finding who at the position will have the potential to return some value this week:

1. Stephen Gostkowski – New England Patriots – at Detroit
2. Justin Tucker – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Denver
3. Robbie Gould – San Francisco 49ers – at Kansas City
4. Matt Prater – Detroit Lions – vs. New England
5. Harrison Butker – Kansas City Chiefs – vs. San Francisco
6. Chris Boswell – Pittsburgh Steelers – at Tampa Bay
7. Dan Bailey – Minnesota Vikings – vs. Buffalo
8. Sam Ficken – Los Angeles Rams – vs. LA Chargers
9. Jake Elliott – Philadelphia Eagles – vs. Indianapolis
10. Randy Bullock – Cincinnati Benglas – at Carolina
11. Cody Parkey – Chicago Bears – at Arizona
12. Will Lutz – New Orleans Saints – at Atlanta
13. Dustin Hopkins – Washington Redskins – vs. Green Bay
14. Mason Crosby – Green Bay Packers – at Washington
15. Ka’imi Fairbairn – Houston Texans – vs. New York Giants

Notes:

• Entering the season Dan Bailey was a popular option as he had a track record of success with the Cowboys. Instead Dallas released him in a salary cap crunch and it took two weeks for someone to give him an opportunity. It was the Vikings who went to the waiver wire for the veteran after spending a fifth round pick on Daniel Carlson, only to see the rookie miss multiple kicks last week prior to his release. Bailey has a proven track record of reliability, and of greater importance Minnesota will likely score early and often against Buffalo. That makes him an attractive option.
• When Greg Zuerlein missed time last season we got a good look at what Sam Ficken can do, and unfortunately we will have that same opportunity again this week. For those who missed out on Zuerlein, it might be fortunate as you have a chance at grabbing a piece of an explosive Rams’ offense. Owners of Zuerlein aren’t sharing that same sentiment as, thanks to the late scratch, they likely were left without a kicker last week. In two games last year Ficken connected on two of his three field goal attempts and four of five extra points.
• Last week Jake Elliot missed his lone field goal attempt, from 42 yards out, but he did connect on all three of his extra point attempts. That came after he converted his only two kicks in the opening week of the season; a field goal and an extra point. After the Philadelphia offense struggle thed first two weeks of the season, they get a boost this week as Carson Wentz returns.

Make sure to check out all of our Week 3 rankings: