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 7.
Wil Lutz, New Orleans Saints
FanDuel Price: $4,800
In his first NFL season, Wil Lutz was a busy man. The New Orleans Saints' kicker finished second with 50 extra-point attempts while averaging over two field goal attempts per game in 2016. Through five games this year, Lutz continues to be worked just as hard -- he is averaging 2.8 field goal attempts per game, the fourth-most in the league while being on pace for 51.2 extra points. The second-year kicker ranks sixth in the NFL, above seemingly-elite options Matt Bryant and Stephen Gostkowski, with 10.2 FanDuel points per game.
Don't expect him to slow down in Week 7, as the Saints travel to Lambeau where they are 6.0-point favorites over an Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers team. The Saints also own the second-highest implied point total of the week (26.75) as the Pack has allowed an average of 27.0 points per game the last two weeks.
Lutz will find his way into many DFS lineups this week, but is still well worth the money.
Ryan Succop, Tennessee Titans
FanDuel Price: $4,700
Ryan Succop has been on fire this season. On Monday, the Tennessee Titans' kicker went 5-for-5 on field goal attempts, moving him into second place for most field goal makes and takes on the year (16-of-17). He is averaging 11.8 FanDuel points per game as he and the Titans prepare to face the winless Cleveland Browns on Sunday.
Tennessee owns a top-five implied point total (26.0) and are 5.5-point favorites against a Browns' defense allowing 26.4 points per game, the sixth-most in the NFL. Put it all together, and Succop comes up with the perfect game script in Week 7. The only downside is after his massive performance in primetime against the Indianapolis Colts, he still costs just $4,700, making him likely the highest-owned kicking option of the week.
Nick Novak, Los Angeles Chargers
FanDuel Price: $4,500
If you are looking for a minimum-priced option or to shy away from the likely highly-owned Lutz and Succop, Nick Novak makes for a quality value play on Sunday. The Los Angeles Chargers are facing the Denver Broncos at home in Week 7 and are 2.0-point favorites against a Denver squad that's struggling on offense.
Since he took over for Younghoe Koo, Novak has attempted four field goals and five extra points in a pair of road games. On Sunday, he makes his first appearance at the StubHub Center against a Broncos team that allows the sixth-most FanDuel points per game to opposing kickers, (9.4). New York Giants kicker Aldrick Rosas attempted four field goals against Denver last week, which helped him collect 14 FanDuel points (the second-most points for a kicker in Week 6).
Other minimum-priced options for Week 7 include the Browns' Zane Gonzalez and San Francisco 49ers' kicker Robbie Gould, but with the Chargers 56.4% favorites, according to our algorithms, Novak is the one to roll with on Sunday.
Dale Redman is not a FanDuel employee. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.