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 16.
Greg Zuerlein, Los Angeles Rams
FanDuel Price: $5,400
Through 14 games, Greg Zuerlein has been far and away the best kicker in all aspects of the game as he has gone 38 for 40 on field goal tries for 13.0 FanDuel points per game, tops among kickers in all three categories. Not only has Legatron been consistent -- at least 17 FanDuel points in half of his games (7) while scoring at least 9 FanDuel points in 11 of 14 games -- he has the highest single-game performance of the year with 27 points (7 field goals, 2 extra points) in Week 4.
This Sunday, we get to experience kicker nirvana as the position's most productive player gets to face the team allowing the most FanDuel points per game to opposing kickers when the Los Angeles Rams face the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans have allowed 11.4 FanDuel points per game to kickers plus the most field goal makes (36) and attempts (39) this season. They are coming off a week was Robbie Gould booted 6 field goals, finishing with the second-best kicker score of the year (24). Add on the Rams' being 6.5-point favorites in the game with the second highest over/under of the week (48), and you see why Week 16 is the time to pay up and plug Zuerlein into your lineups.
Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles
FanDuel Price: $4,900
After scoring at least 9 FanDuel points in his first eight games played, Jake Elliott went through a bit of a lull, totaling only 13 fantasy points in Weeks 11 through 13. However, in his last two games, the kicker has gotten back on track, averaging 12.0 FanDuel points while connecting on 5 field goal tries and 8 extra point attempts.
For the year, Elliot has been a top-10 kicking option, averaging 10.1 FanDuel points per game. With the Oakland Raiders coming to town, he gets a top-10 matchup as well this week.
The Philadelphia Eagles are sitting pretty as 9.0-point favorites while holding the fourth-highest implied point total of the week (28.0). Just two weeks ago, in a similar game script, the Raiders were big road underdogs to the Kansas City Chiefs and allowed Harrison Butker to kick 4 field goals for 17 FanDuel points.
For the year, Oakland has allowed the second-most FanDuel points to opposing kickers while giving up the fourth-most field goal attempts (35) in the league.
Phil Dawson, Arizona Cardinals
FanDuel Price: $4,600
In a week where the low-price options are not very appealing, Phil Dawson stands out with his matchup with the New York Giants on Sunday. The Giants allow 2.4 field goal and 2.8 extra point attempts per game, ranking in the bottom-five of the league in both categories. They can thank their bendable defense for the flurry of kicks, as the G-Men have been gouged for the most yards of any NFL team (391.8) by opposing offenses this season and have given up 29.3 points per game the last three weeks.
At first glance, there may be concern about the Arizona Cardinals' offensive struggles -- 14.3 points per game the last three weeks -- affecting Dawson's production, but the veteran kicker has thrived this season despite the instability at running back and quarterback for the Cardinals. He ranks 15th in the NFL with 113 FanDuel points on the season. Dawson has been smoking lately, too, racking up at least 4 field goal attempts and 13 FanDuel points in three of his last four games.
If you need to save money in you kicker slot, Dawson is the way to go this week.
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.