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After Week 1 saw defenses slow down rusty offenses, Week 2 had the offenses flipping the script. Offenses were scoring touchdowns and moving the ball with much more success. In Week 3, that trend is likely going to continue.
Offenses are getting more in sync especially when it comes to quarterbacks. Several starting NFL quarterbacks saw no snaps in the preseason, so it's going to take some time for them to get their offenses under their thumbs, outside of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady.
Some kickers are going to see their stock rise this week due to some unfortunate injuries to quarterbacks Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Drew Brees of the New Orleans Saints. While they may be out and see fewer opportunities, they could get just in to field goal range more often.
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Week 3 Kickers To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings
Tier 1 NFL Kickers
1. Harrison Butker (KC) vs BAL
2. Joey Slye (CAR) @ ARI
3. Justin Tucker (BAL) @ KC
4. Eddy Pineiro (CHI) @ WAS
5. Wil Lutz (NO) @ SEA
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker maintains my top spot again. He's on the NFL's best offense, and they're going to be at home against a decent defense. He could have more field goal opportunities as a result. Week 2's top kicker Joey Slye of the Carolina Panthers gets the second spot in this week's rankings. The Panthers' offense looks disjointed at times, but they're having no problems getting the ball into field goal range. That should continue against a soft Arizona Cardinals Defense.
Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker finally cracks the top tier thanks to how electric his offense has looked through two weeks. They play a questionable Chiefs Defense in a game that has shootout potential. Eddy Piniero of the Chicago Bears was the hero in Week 2. With an offense that struggles to put up consistent points, he'll get kicking opportunities. Rounding out the Top 5 is Wil Lutz of the New Orleans Saints. Without Brees, they won't have the same efficiency, but their weapons will still get them into field goal range.
Tier 2 NFL Kickers
6. Robbie Gould (SF) vs PIT
7. Greg Zuerlein (LAR) @ CLE
8. Zane Gonzalez (ARI) vs CAR
9. Brett Maher (DAL) vs MIA
10. Stephen Gostkowski (NE) vs NYJ
Robbie of the San Francisco 49ers got a bump this week up to the sixth spot. At home, against the Steelers, who will be without Roethlisberger, they shouldn't have problems moving the ball. Greg Zuerlein of the Los Angeles Rams hasn't missed a step this year. They take on the Cleveland Browns this week in a battle of two young teams with big hopes that like to score points. Zane Gonzalez of the Cardinals gets into the rankings this week. Arizona has been moving the ball, and they'll get into range for Gonzalez at home.
Brett Maher of the Dallas Cowboys is next up. He would be higher in the rankings if it wasn't for how bad the Miami Dolphins' defense has been. Stephen Gostkowski of the Patriots is our next kicker. The New York Jets could very possibly be starting their third-string quarterback. It may not be 43-0 bad, but it's not going to be pretty.
Tier 3 NFL Kickers
11. Mason Crosby (GB) vs DEN
12. Dan Bailey (MIN) vs OAK
13. Matt Bryant (ATL) @ IND
14. Jason Myers (SEA) vs NO
15. Steven Hauschka (BUF) vs CIN
Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby has been quiet thus far, but the team's offense is beginning to click. In Week 3, they could likely build on their Week 2 performance. Dan Bailey of the Minnesota Vikings had a rough Week 2, but a matchup at home with the Oakland Raiders is just what the doctor ordered. Matt Bryant of the Atlanta Falcons keeps getting older, but he remains consistent. The Indianapolis Colts Defense is better than advertised which could give him scoring opportunities.
We're nearing the end. Jason Myers of the Seattle Seahawks is in the 14th slot. His offense has shown flashes of inconsistency which you don't want to see, but they can move the ball on this Saints Defense. Stephen Hauschka of the Buffalo Bills is in our 15-spot this week. The Bills offense doesn't light up the scoreboard, but they move the ball and get into field goal range. That's all we're looking for.
Kickers to Avoid
Sam Ficken of the New York Jets went into a decent situation for kicking purposes. The situation got worse when his quarterbacks started dropping like flies. In Week 3, they have an awful matchup, and things just don't look good for him.
Dustin Hopkins of the Washington Redskins has a terrible matchup in Week 3. The Chicago Bears Defense is still one of the best in football, and they could stifle the offense in a big way which means fewer opportunities for Hopkins to score.
Randy Bullock of the Cincinnati Bengals has seen the team put up more points than expected thus far. In Week 3, they play the Bills which have a borderline top-five defense, and the game is on the road. Quarterback Andy Dalton might run out of magic this week.
