Streaming Kickers: Week 9 Fantasy Football Targets

Oct 31, 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 8 wasn’t too shabby. My highest streamer (who was also the league’s top scorer), was Harrison Butker with 19 points, followed by Blair Walsh with 11. 4for4’s optimal streaming kicker has 115 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.

Graham Gano (CAR) vs. ATL

Gano’s been limited to just eight fantasy points over the past two games, but this week’s matchup should change things for the Panthers’ offense. Carolina gets a home contest against an Atlanta team ranked 29^st in the NFL versus kickers, with an aFPA of 9.6 points. The Panthers are predicted to win on Sunday with an implied total of 22.75 points, which bodes well for Gano’s potential success. Owned by 44% of Yahoo fantasy players, the ninth-year NFL veteran makes a quality streamer for Week 9.

Adam Vinatieri (IND) @ HOU

Indianapolis has struggled at times to put points on the board this season, but certainly has the player talent to move the ball. With the second-highest over/under of the week set at 49 points, this Week 9 division rivalry could prove to be a shoot-out.

The Texans are ranked 22nd versus kickers with an aFPA of 8.0 to the position this season. In his 22^nd NFL season, the 44-year-old veteran makes a decent play this week, if the Colts offense can get rolling.