Streaming Kickers: Week 6 Fantasy Football Targets

Oct 10, 2017

If you’re like most fantasy football players, kicker is a position you put zero thought into, and wish wasn’t a part of the draft altogether. Some leagues have done away with the kicker position, but for those who haven’t, there are actually a few ways to get an edge over your opponents when it comes to streaming kickers weekly.

Projecting a kicker’s output isn’t as difficult or random as you may think—in fact, taking a look at Vegas odds is the best way to accurately predict a kicker’s weekly potential. By focusing in on the team implied point totals, game totals and favorites, we can get a cumulative idea of how an offense will perform when it comes to settling for field goals, distance of kicks, and the like. For a more detailed explanation on using Vegas odds for successfully streaming kickers, I suggest checking out Chris Raybon’s DFS Playbook Strategy article, which is packed with info on the most profitable way to predict the position.

Another metric useful in projecting a kicker’s output is 4for4’s schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed or aFPA. By removing the schedule bias, we can compare matchups in an apples-to-apples manner. By Week 4, there’s a solid sample size to work from, and the info gets more trustworthy with each data-filled week.

The goal in streaming is to roster a player who will return starting kicker fantasy points, and Week 5 wasn’t exactly the strongest. My highest streamer was Jake Elliott with 10 points, followed by Chris Boswell and Graham Gano with 9. 4for4’s optimal streaming kicker has 68 total points on the season, enough for first place among all kickers in the league.

In order to provide advice that you can actually implement, candidates for streaming must be available in at least 40% of Yahoo fantasy leagues.

Wil Lutz (NO) vs. DET

Coming off a bye week, Lutz’s leg is fresh and rejuvenated for this Week 6 matchup with the Lions. (Ok, that’s a bit of a stretch but kickers need rest, too) For now, the over/under on this game is the highest on the slate at 50 points, with the Saints projected to put up 27.25 points. Lutz is having a solid season, sitting as kicker No. 13 on the year, even with a bye factored in.

Owned in just 24% of leagues, Lutz is a great streamer this week that you may want to hang on to, as long as the Saints continue to produce points at this volume weekly.

Harrison Butker (KC) vs. PIT

The wheels seem to have come off the Steeler’s offense bus, with Ben Roethlisberger and company unable to score a touchdown in Week 5, settling for just three field goals. Things won’t get much easier for Pittsburgh as they face a tough Chiefs’ DST in Arrowhead, one of the most difficult venues to play in. Kansas City however, is rolling along undefeated, boasting QB1, RB1, WR9 and TE2 numbers so far this season.

Even if Pittsburgh manages to get it together this weekend, the Chiefs will continue to move the ball and put up points, meaning another good day for place-kicker Butker. Only 10% of fantasy owners have the KC kicker on their current roster, so chances are he’s there for you.

Continue reading for four more kicker streamers and four deep league streamer candidates...