It's Week 2 RotoBallers and we're obsessing over place kickers again! Yes, that’s right – kickers. After all, points are points, and even though kickers are very difficult to predict for fantasy points week to week, having the right one in your Week 2 lineup could be a difference maker.
We're here to give you that life changing analysis you so dearly covet, and help make your kicker start/sit and streaming decisions for Week 2. Who doesn't need a little help making those dreaded lineup decisions a bit easier, especially in the fantasy leg department?
This season we are going to narrow down our tiers to the Top 15 kickers broken down into 3 tiers. Some of these kickers may have good Week 2 matchups, and be available on your league’s waiver wire, so don't sleep on your chance to cash in a few extra points via the leg.
Week 2 Kicker Tiered Rankings
Tier 1 NFL Kickers: New England Patriots (Stephen Gostkowski), Indianapolis Colts (Adam Vinatieri), Dallas Cowboys (Dan Bailey), Cleveland Browns (Travis Coons), Denver Broncos (Brandon McManus).
New England and Mr. Gostkowski take their high powered show on the road for Week 2 for a favorable matchup with the Bills. Although he may have crapped the bed for trusting fantasy owners in Week 1, he still remains an elite option in an elite offense and stays a must start for Week 2. Arguably the greatest leg to ever grace an NFL field, Adam Vinatieri and the Colts diesel offense look to rebound vs the Jets for Week 2 after the Bills elite defense stuffed them and held the former Patriots great to a pathetic 1 fantasy point. Look for a solid 8-10 output for Week 2.
Dan "The Man" Bailey is still our #1 man crush as we start the 2015 and is most likely owned in 100% of fantasy leagues that use kickers (and for good reason). In Week 2 he takes his leg on the road for a favorable matchup versus the Eagles mediocre defense. Don't even think about getting cute here folks; he remains a must start each and every week he's active. Travis "The Unknown" Coons draws a home start versus the Titans lowly defensive unit and looks to capitalize and improve on Week 1's 4 point output versus the Jets suffocating defensive unit.
Rounding out tier 1 for Week 2 is non other than Brandon "Big Mac" McManus who is proving that he can win games for the Broncos even if Peyton Manning can't throw a touchdown pass to save his life. He was the big scorer versus the Ravens putting up 18 delicious fantasy points on the strength of two 50+ yard field goals, proving to fantasy owners that he certainly does have leg for days. Continue to view him as a top 3 option until further notice.
Tier 2 NFL Kickers: New York Giants (Josh Brown), New Orleans Saints (Zach Hocker), Atlanta Falcons (Matt Bryant), Chicago Bears (Robbie Gould).
Josh Brown had a nice game in the friendly confines of Cowboys stadium in Week 1 and was the second leading scorer on the day with 17 fantasy points. For Week 2 he draws a home start versus the Falcons in a game where touchdowns may be plentiful.
The Saints novice kicker Zach "The Knocker" Hocker banged in 14 sexy fantasy points in Week 1 and has another strong matchup versus the Bucanneers weak defense in Week 2. This a home game and we love the Saints offense at home which means we always like the Saints kicker (even if you never heard of him until the season started).
The Falcons and Matt "AARP" Bryant is still racking up fantasy points despite being so old he witnessed building of the pyramids. In Week 2 he takes his leg on the road for a showdown and potential shootout with the Giants and their above average offense, so we predict a high scoring game and good opportunities. Rounding off tier 2 is Bears veteran kicker Robbie Gould who put up a very solid 14 fantasy points in Week 1 and should be relied upon as a consistent option even versus the Cardinals above average defense.
Tier 3 NFL Kickers: St. Louis Rams (Greg Zuerlein), Baltimore Ravens (Justin Tucker), Buffalo Bills (Dan Carpenter), Seattle Seahawks (Steven Hauschka), Carolina Panthers (Graham Gano).
Greg "The Leg" Zuerlein doesn't have that nickname by accident and he showed us why right out the gate in Week 1 versus the Seahawks elite defense as he put up a healthy 10 fantasy points. You can bet Legatron will be in the fantasy mix for Week 2 as the Rams take their show on the road to face off against the Redskins and their mediocre defensive unit. Ravens great "Justin Time" Tucker is always flying under the radar as far as fantasy kickers are concerned, but he is always on our mind when considering the weekly options.
After putting up a solid 10 fantasy points in Week 1, he'll go to work in Oakland versus the Raiders in what should be a kicker friendly contest if both defenses perform as we anticipate. Dan Carpenter and the Bills get to stay in Western New York for a home game versus the big time Patriots offense in Week 2 in what should provide a great opportunity to repeat his 11 point output from the opening game of the 2015 season.
The Seahawks can always be relied on to give Steven Haushka plenty of opportunities to show off some leg like he did in Week 1 as he scored 11 fantasy points versus the St. Luis Rams. He's pretty much a must start every game and draws the Packers on the road in one of the most favorable matchups out of any kicker for Week 2. Carolina's "Insta" Graham Gano gets a tough defense on paper versus the Texans in Week 2, but we still like his chances to boot a few in as rushing and passing touchdowns may be hard for Cam Newton and company to come by.
If you don't see someone who's leg you adore in this week's article, you can assume we view them as having a less favorable matchup than our top choices for Week 2. Good luck streaming and dreaming RotoBallers and may the leg be with you.
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