3 FanDuel Kickers to Target in Week 6
Kickers. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are a part of the game. Even in fantasy football.
While you may be tempted to do so, don't leave the position for last when building your FanDuel lineups. Just like you do with the rest of your roster, maximize your squad's potential by spending the extra minute and finding out the best options out there at kicker.
It's time to stop "punting" the spot and start giving the lonesome kicker, the attention he deserves.
The following are the top-three kickers we are targeting in Week 6.
Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos
FanDuel Price: $4,900
Fresh off a bye, the Denver Broncos and Brandon McManus get the tastiest matchup of Week 6 with the New York Giants coming to town.
Put simply, the G-Men are in shambles. They are sporting an 0-5 record and are coming off a week where they lost three wideouts -- including two starters -- to season-ending injuries. As much as the offense is hurting, the defense is in a miserable state, too -- they have given up the seventh-most yards (363.8) and ninth-most points (24.4) per game this season. Without any offense to back them up, especially against one of the league's top defenses, the Giants' D will be in for a long day once again.
The Broncos are 11.5-point favorites, the highest spread of the week, and have the sixth-largest implied point total at 25.5. Our models also see Sunday going all Denver's way, giving them an 82.1% win probability. If all holds true, McManus could be used quite frequently as the Broncos will be content to settle for field goals, much like they have the last two games. McManus attempted 7 field goals in Weeks 3 and 4 combined.
Ka'imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans
FanDuel Price: $4,800
The Houston Texans' offense has experienced a rebirth with rookie Deshaun Watson under center. After scoring just 20 total points in their first two games, the Texans have averaged 41.3 points per game since Week 3, scoring at least 33 points in each game. All that offense has led to kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn averaging 11.3 FanDuel points while racking up two performances of 15-plus points since September 24th. With the winless Cleveland Browns coming to town, the rookie from UCLA has a chance to take a few more shots at the uprights this week. After all, it doesn't seem like Cleveland has the ability to end the Texans' hot streak.
The Browns have allowed 24.8 points per game and own the league's second-worst defense, according to our metrics. Vegas also believes in Houston as well, anointing them as 10-point favorites and giving them the third-highest implied point total of the week at 28.25.
A hot offense that is a big home favorite is the perfect formula for DFS kickers, putting Fairbairn on our short list of one we'd want in our lineups.
Dustin Hopkins, Washington Redskins
FanDuel Price: $4,700
The Washington Redskins offense was potent but consistently came up short of the end zone in 2016, leading to kicker Dustin Hopkins attempting a league-high 42 field goals (2.6 per game). With eight attempts in the last three weeks, Hopkins is on a similar pace in 2017. A matchup with the San Francisco 49ers won't slow him down either.
The Niners' soft defense has allowed the fifth-most yards to opposing offenses, putting the opposition in prime position to score big each week. Opponents have also made an average of three field goals per game against the 49ers this season, the most in the NFL. In Weeks 4 and 5, San Fran allowed eight total field goals, leading directly to their last-place rank in the league with 12.4 FanDuel points per game given up to kickers.
The clincher for Hopkins is the game script in front of him in Week 6. Washington is expected to have their way with the Niners as they own third-highest implied point total of the week (28.25) and are heavy favorites at home (10.0 points) on Sunday.
