Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

- Written by Kyle Smith
- Edited by Marc Caviglia
- Predictions are based on Staff Consensus

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF JANUARY 20, 2012::

The four kickers remaining for fantasy owners to choose from each had good games in the divisional round of the playoffs. They went a combined 9-for-10 in field goal tries, with the lone miss coming from a blocked Lawrence Tynes attempt. It helped that seven of the kicks were from inside 40 yards, though that did cost fantasy owners a few points. We should see kickers have an impact again this week, so let’s take a look at what’s in store.

Standard Scoring

17-39 Yard Field Goal: 3 points  |  40-49 Yard Field Goal: 4 points
50-plus Yard Field Goal: 5 points  |  Extra Point: 1 point

1.  David Akers (San Francisco 49ers) vs. New York Giants

The top fantasy kicker during the regular season, Akers continued to pile on points for his fantasy owners last week against the Saints. He made each of his three field goal tries, from 25, 37, and 41 yards, as well as a trio of extra points. When the Giants and 49ers squared off back in Week 10, Akers had a big game, with four field goals and one PAT. The 15 fantasy points he accrued in that contest were tied for the second-most he had in a game all season. We don’t think Akers will quite get there this week, but he should be good for double digits.
Point Projection: 12 points

2. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) vs. Baltimore

Gostkowski had seven kick attempts last week against Denver, but didn’t attempt one that was longer than 20 yards. The simple reason for that is he only booted one 20-yard field goal, with the other six kicks being extra points. That won’t happen this week against the Ravens, who are a bit stouter defensively than the Broncos. New England will still score touchdowns, but some of those PATs will transfer over into field goals for Gostkowski.
Point Projection: 10 points

3. Billy Cundiff (Baltimore Ravens) @ New England

Cundiff didn’t have to make a field goal from at least 50 yards last week against Houston, so there was nothing to worry about (he was just 1-for-6 in 50+ yarders during the regular season). He was 2-for-2 against the Texans, with each kick coming from beyond 40 yards, and also made a pair of PATs, so it was a solid day for Cundiff and his fantasy owners. The Patriots have a defense that should allow the Ravens to move the ball, and that sets things up nicely for Cundiff to have a pretty successful day.
Point Projection: 9 points

4. Lawrence Tynes (New York Giants) @ San Francisco

Tynes was 3-for-4 in field goals against the Packers, with his one miss being a 40-yarder that was blocked. Nonetheless, he’s the weakest kicker in the field, and has the toughest match-up. Tynes – who made less than 80 percent of his field goals during the regular season and is at 66 percent in his two playoff games – faces a 49ers team that allowed the second-fewest fantasy points in the league to opposing kickers this year. He made two field goals and a pair of PATs when the Giants and Niners played in Week 10, adding up to eight fantasy points, but we think it’s more likely than not that he falls just below that mark this week.
Point Projection: 7 points