Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

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

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF DECEMBER 10, 2011::

Last week’s slate of NFL contests was interesting, to say the least, at the fantasy football kicker position. Connor Barth led the position with 18 fantasy points despite the fact his team, Tampa Bay, scored only 19 points in their loss to Carolina. And fantasy bottom-feeder Graham Gano was second with 15 points even though his Washington squad also scored just 19 points. Meanwhile, a trio of upper-tier fantasy kickers – Jason Hanson, Sebastian Janikowski, and Robbie Gould – managed just three, two, and two fantasy points, respectively. It was a mostly upside-down week for fantasy owners in the kicking department, and one that many hope isn’t repeated as the fantasy playoffs begin. So let’s take a gander at our Fantasy Football Week 14 Kicker Rankings to see what is in store this week.

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

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1.. David Akers (San Francisco 49ers) @ Arizona

Akers leads all kickers in fantasy scoring and field goals made, and was helped by going 4-for-4 last week against St. Louis, with his kicks ranging in distance from 19 to 36 yards. Oddly, Akers is just 3-for-7 in kicks from between 40 and 49 yards, but is 6-for-6 in boots from 50 yards or more. His consistency has been exactly what fantasy owners hope for, as just once this season has he had fewer than eight fantasy points in a game.
Point Projection: 15 points

2. Dan Bailey (Dallas Cowboys) vs. New York Giants

Bailey made the game-winning 49-yard field goal for the Cowboys last week in the fourth quarter – unfortunately, it didn’t count because Dallas head coach Jason Garrett called a timeout right before the kick, nullifying it. Bailey kicked again, but missed, and Dallas went on to lose. That was essentially a five-point fantasy swing (instead of four points for the kick, he lost a point for a miss), so any fantasy owners who had Bailey and lost by just a few points, you know who to blame. Still, Bailey remains an elite fantasy option who is second at his position in fantasy scoring and field goals made.
Point Projection: 14 points

3. Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers) vs. Oakland

Crosby’s league-leading 51 extra points have helped him to attain the fifth-most fantasy points in the league at his position. Over his last five games, he’s kicked at least five PATs on four occasions. He has 25 extra points in that time, which nearly double the amount that Rams kicker Josh Brown has for the entire season. He’s made just five field goals in that same span, but his steady stream of points is something that fantasy owners should value as the playoffs arrive.
Point Projection: 13 points

4. John Kasay (New Orleans Saints) @ Tennessee

The Saints whipped the Lions on Sunday night, and Kasay enjoyed the fruits of his offense’s labor, starting the scoring with a 39-yard field goal and then adding four extra points. He is tied for third among kickers in fantasy points for the season, is second in extra points made, and sixth in field goals made. Fantasy owners with Kasay on their roster have no decisions to make – just play him.
Point Projection: 11 points

5.  Jason Hanson (Detroit Lions) vs. Minnesota

Hanson’s excellent season has come crumbling down the last few weeks. He hasn’t had more than seven fantasy points in a game since Week 7, and over his last two games has a total of just four points. But all hope is not lost, at least for this week, as he faces a Vikings team this week that has allowed the most fantasy points in the league to opposing kickers, and against whom he had a season-high 17 points back in Week 3.
Point Projection: 10 points

6.. Billy Cundiff (Baltimore Ravens) vs. Indianapolis  **QUESTIONABLE - STATUS UNKNOWN FOR SUNDAY**

Cundiff did not have a good game last week against the Browns, missing field goals from 34 and 41 yards on consecutive drives. He did connect on his attempt from 21 yards, but the damage was done for his fantasy owners. But forgiveness should be in the air for his fantasy owners, because it was Cundiff’s first miss from inside 40 yards this year, and just his third miss from inside 50 yards. Oh, and he also faces the worst team in the NFL this week, and there are plenty of points to be had.
Point Projection: 10 points

7. Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears) @ Denver

Gould is tied for third at the kicker position in fantasy scoring despite his lowly two fantasy points against the Chiefs. He was 1-for-2 in the game, making a 32-yard kick but missing from 41 yards. But that was just the third miss of the season for Gould, and he has a great opportunity to turn things around this week against the Broncos, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points in the NFL to kickers.
Point Projection: 10 points

8. Nick Novak (San Diego Chargers) vs. Buffalo

Novak’s Chargers walloped the Jaguars 38-14 last week, with Novak accounting for five extra points and a 29-yard field goal. His eight fantasy points marked the seventh time in 10 games that he accumulated at least that many, and if he hadn’t missed four of his previous nine field goals, his fantasy numbers would have been higher. If San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers is on and not throwing interceptions, the Chargers have a potentially potent offense and the Bills don’t have the type of defense to stand in their way, meaning Novak has a chance to have a very solid game.
Point Projection: 10 points

9. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) @ Washington

Gostkowski hit a 39-yard field goal last week against the Colts, and added four extra points, giving him 42 for the season, which is the third-most in the NFL. He is eighth among kickers in fantasy scoring this season, but could easily vault into the top-five this week as he goes up against the Redskins. Just one NFL team has given up more fantasy points to kickers than they have.
Point Projection: 9 points

10. Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders) @ Green Bay

Janikowski followed up his 23 fantasy point performance in Week 12 with just two points last week in Oakland’s loss to the Dolphins. He didn’t make or even attempt a field goal, with a pair of PATs being his only opportunities to score. We like him a lot more than that this week against the Packers, who aren’t great defensively, and against whom Oakland will need plenty of points to keep up with. Our only fear is that at some point the Raiders will need to score touchdowns to catchup and this leads to less field goal opportunities.
Point Projection: 9 points

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We’ve partnered with DraftStreet.com to provide our fans an opportunity to play WEEKLY salary cap fantasy football against the Bruno Boys Staff.  Through the first nine weeks of the NFL season we have given away over $5,600 in cash prizes. This week, we are offering a $350 free roll in which the TOP 20 win prize money. Make sure to sign-up now for a chance to win money and take on the Bruno Boys… IT’S FREE!!

Please use this link to enter:  Week 14 $350 Contest  (click to register)

11. Connor Barth (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) @ Jacksonville

Barth is tied for fourth in the league in field goals made, and second in field goal percentage. His 18 fantasy points last week helped move him into a tie for 10th at the position in fantasy scoring even though he’s just 25th in the league in PATs made. But no kicker has made more field goals from between 40 and 49 yards (11 made) than he has, and his accuracy and strong leg are desirable qualities for fantasy owners.
Point Projection: 9 points

12. Matt Bryant (Atlanta Falcons) @ Carolina

Bryant is number one in the NFL in field goal percentage, having made 20 of his 21 kicks (95.2 percent). His 19-yard field goal last week was his only attempt of the game, and he also made just a single extra point as Atlanta managed to score just 10 points against the Texans. It should be different this time around versus Carolina, and Bryant should be able to take advantage of the team that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points in the league to opposing kickers.
Point Projection: 9 points

13. Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans) vs. New Orleans

Bironas accumulated 13 fantasy points last week on three field goals – from 27, 44 and 48 yards – and a pair of extra points. He’s been hot lately, with either 12 or 13 fantasy points in four of his last six games. He’s 13th among kickers in fantasy scoring, and has just one miss since Week 3. With Chris Johnson finally running like he’s capable, Bironas is once again a viable option for fantasy owners.
Point Projection: 9 points

14. Ryan Longwell (Minnesota Vikings) @ Detroit

Longwell’s 13 fantasy points last week was tied for the most he had in one game this year. And considering that he had a total of just 10 fantasy points from Weeks 8-12, it was a welcome respite for his fantasy owners (how few they may be) from the bowels of fantasy kickers. The last time that Longwell had 13 points was against the Lions back in Week 3, and Detroit gives up a lot of fantasy points to kickers, so it’s not out of the question for Longwell to have a decent game this week.
Point Projection: 9 points

15. Nick Folk (New York Jets) vs. Kansas City

Folk, who is tied for fifth in the league in extra points made, connected on two of the three field goals he attempted last week against the Redskins, hitting on kicks from 45 and 51 yards while adding four extra points, leading to 12 fantasy points. It was his second-highest total of the season, and against the Chiefs, he should be able to have another decent game.
Point Projection: 8 points

16. Neil Rackers (Houston Texans) @ Cincinnati

We figured that the fantasy value of Rackers may take a hit with T.J. Yates at quarterback, and that was true, for one week at least. He made a 43-yard field goal, but also missed a 54-yard attempt while making just two PATs. The Bengals got rocked by the Steelers last week but their defense is solid, so Rackers isn’t likely to be in store for a great game this week either.
Point Projection: 7 points