Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

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

WEEK 3 RANKINGS  QB  |  RB  |    |  TE  |  K  |  DEF

Rookies – they’re a bane to the existence of many fantasy owners, because with the sometime exception of running backs, it’s extremely difficult to gauge how they’ll do in their initial campaigns through the NFL. There are hits and misses to be found everywhere – except, it seems this year, at the kicker position, where misses have been hard to come by. Through the first two weeks of the season, three of the league’s top eight fantasy kickers are rookies: Baltimore’s Justin Tucker (No. 1), Minnesota’s Blair Walsh (tied for No. 2), and St. Louis’s Greg Zuerlein (No. 8). They are a combined 18-for-18 in field goals this year, with each hitting all six of their attempts. So like we said, misses have been hard to come by. Eventually, all three will miss a kick, but it hasn’t happened yet, and fantasy owners should be reaping the rewards. Let’s see how these three, and the rest of the league’s kickers, will fare this week.

::RANKINGS UPDATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 21, 2012::

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

Akers had a solid total of 10 fantasy points last week in San Francisco’s win over the Lions. He’s currently tied for fourth at the kicker position in fantasy points, having made all five of his field goals, with his shortest kick being from 36 yards. We love him this week against an inferior opponent inside a dome, and so should his fantasy owners.
Point Projection: 17 points

2. Garrett Hartley (New Orleans Saints) vs. Kansas City

Hartley and the Saints lost again last week, and their season is in danger without a win against the Chiefs. But the team’s offensive players remain stalwarts for their fantasy owners, and Hartley is a part of that. He had 11 points last week after making both of his field goals, including a 53-yarder. The Chiefs and Saints are actually tied for 32nd (or dead last) in the league in points allowed, so there’s no reason to think Hartley will do anything but improve on last week’s point total.
Point Projection: 16 points

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3.  Jason Hanson (Detroit Lions) @ Tennessee

Hanson had a big week against the 49ers on Sunday night, making four field goals, from 38, 40, 41 and 48 yards. He did miss one, which prevented him from leading all kickers in scoring for the week, but still wound up with 15 points, which was tied for third. He and the Lions face a Tennessee team that is 30th in the NFL in points allowed, so Hanson and the Detroit offense have a great opportunity to rack up fantasy points.
Point Projection: 15 points

4. Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens) vs. New England

As we mentioned, Tucker leads all fantasy kickers in scoring, having accumulated 16 points in each of his first two games. If he’s still on the waiver wire, which is increasingly unlikely, pick him up. It’s not just that he’s made all six of his field goals that has been impressive, it’s the way he’s done it, with five of his six boots coming from at least 40 yards.
Point Projection: 15 points

5. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) @ Baltimore

Gostkowski was having a great game for the Patriots last week against the Cardinals, right up until he missed a 42-yard field goal that would have given New England the win. But fantasy owners who aren’t fans of the Patriots will forgive him, because up until then, he had made field goals from 34, 46, 51 and 53 yards, accumulating 16 fantasy points, which was tied for first on the week. He’s a weekly starter for fantasy owners, and his miss last week, while big, should do nothing to change that.
Point Projection: 14 points

6. Billy Cundiff (Washington Redskins) vs. Cincinnati

Robert Griffin III has totally revamped the Redskins offense, and Cundiff has reaped the benefits of that. While he missed his only field goal last week, fantasy owners should be aware that it was a 62-yard prayer at the end of the game, courtesy of Josh Morgan’s ignominious 15-yard penalty for throwing the ball at St. Louis corner Cortland Finnegan. He and the Skins play their home opener this week against a Cincinnati squad that is currently 29th in the league in points allowed.
Point Projection: 13 points

7. Nate Kaeding (San Diego Chargers) vs. Atlanta

San Diego put up 38 points on what looks like a bad Tennessee defense last week, and Kaeding added one field goal to go with his five PATs. He’s made all six of his field goals so far this season, and should expand on that against the Falcons. Kaeding is a steady kicker and his injury from last season hasn’t seemed to affect him, so there’s little reason for fantasy owners to worry about any decline in skill.
Point Projection: 12 points

8 Greg Zuerlein (St. Louis Rams) @ Chicago

Greg “The Leg” as he’s called, was one of the rookies we mentioned in the intro, and he deserves every bit of praise. He made three more field goals last week against the Redskins, from 33, 39 and 42 yards. After playing his first two games in a dome, this will be his first game in the fresh air, but we don’t believe that will be an issue, and fantasy owners should continue to have him in their lineups.
Point Projection: 12 points

9. Dan Bailey (Dallas Cowboys) vs. Tampa Bay

It’s difficult to believe after last season’s performance, but Bailey is currently dead last among fantasy kickers in scoring. He had just one point last week in the Cowboys loss to Seattle after not even attempting a field goal. But there’s no way this hollow fantasy performances are going to continue, because the Cowboys should be much better on offense against the Buccaneers. Breakout performance, here we come.
Point Projection: 11 points

10. Mike Nugent (Cincinnati Bengals) @ Washington

Nugent accumulated 10 fantasy points last week for the Bengals, making field goals from 37 and 39 yards, as well as four extra points. He’s hit all four of his field goal attempts this season, and gets to face the Redskins this week. Washington has a poor defense, made worse with the loss of Adam Carriker and Brian Orakpo last week. That should give Nugent ample chances to put plenty of footballs through the uprights.
Point Projection: 10 points

11. Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders) vs. Pittsburgh

The Raiders got surprisingly pummeled by the Dolphins and their ground game last week, and Janikowski was a disappointment, with only seven fantasy points on two field goals (each from inside 30 yards) and an extra point. But have faith fantasy owners – Janikowski maintains arguably the biggest leg in the league, and that will pay off.
Point Projection: 10 points

12. Matt Bryant (Atlanta Falcons) @ San Diego

Bryant accumulated 10 fantasy points last week against Denver by hitting field goals from 37 and 42 yards, as well as three extra points. He’s going to be a solid, dependable option all season behind Atlanta’s offense. Just plug him in your fantasy lineup and play.
Point Projection: 10 points

13. Mason Crosby (Green Bay Packers) @ Seattle

Crosby’s 14 fantasy points last week were tied for fifth at his position, and he accumulated said points in part by hitting field goals from 35, 48 and 54 yards. Crosby has a huge leg and plays for a team with a very good offense, but it’s no easy task for any squad to go into Seattle and put up a lot of points against their defense, so we’re being cautions with our prognostication for him this week.
Point Projection: 10 points

14. Alex Henery (Philadelphia Eagles) @ Arizona

Henery has been a non-factor for fantasy owners who expected him to improve in his second season. He amassed just six fantasy points last week after claiming only five the week before, and is tied for seventh to last in scoring. The Cardinals have a good defense, however it’s a bend but don’t break one, which should lead to more kicking chances than usual for Henery.
Point Projection: 10 points

15. Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears) vs. St. Louis

Gould made a 45-yard field goal and an extra point for the Bears in their loss to the Packers, but Green Bay harassed Jay Cutler to the point where he got so cranky, you could see his skin turning a very slight shade of green as he makes a full transformation to the Grinch. Cutler, Gould and Co. should have more opportunities to make plays this week against St. Louis, but it’s no sure thing, especially if Matt Forte can’t play due to his ankle injury.
Point Projection: 9 points

16. Shayne Graham (Houston Texans) @ Denver

Graham has the good fortune of playing for a team with a good offense, and this week his fortune rises as he goes to the thin air of Denver. Based on his body of work throughout his career, we don’t love Graham as an every-week option, but this week stands out as one in which fantasy owners should give him some consideration.
Point Projection: 9 points