Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again…consistent points from your kicker position can propel you victory in your fantasy football league. In fact, in Week 15, with many teams needing a win to stay alive in the postseason, we saw 10 kickers score 10 or more fantasy points in standard scoring leagues. In comparison, only six tight ends were able to score double-digit fantasy points last week. So for those of you who said finding a fantasy kicker is a dime a dozen you are probably better off thinking twice before you speak. Now it’s time to find out if your kicker makes the final cut in our Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Week 16 Kicker Rankings.

1. David Akers (Philadelphia Eagles) vs. Denver

It’s hard to argue against Akers regardless of the match-up at this point. He is second amongst all NFL kickers with 135 fantasy points and has scored seven or more fantasy points in all but one game this year. Look for Akers to once again be the staple in the heart of fantasy lineups as he is likely to combined 2-3 field goals with a few extra points.
Point Projection: 12 points

2. Shayne Graham (Cincinnati Bengals) vs. Kansas City

Before inserting Graham into your lineup make sure to check the weather because there is a storm that is projected to hit Cincinnati Sunday. However, if the weather holds up Graham is a kicker you can rely to produce at a high level. He’s converted on 15-of-17 field goal attempts over the last six games and has scored 10+ fantasy points in four of his last six. As you can see, Graham is rolling and a match-up against a Chiefs team that allows 9.1 fantasy football points per game to the kicker is one to take advantage of.
Point Projection: 11 points

3. Garrett Hartley (New Orleans Saints) vs. Tampa Bay

Expected to have a big game in a projected shootout last week, Hartley disappointed his owners and could knock in only five fantasy football points. Since taking over as the starer in New Orleans the second year kicker has converted on 7-of-8 FG chances to go along with seven extra points. His nine points per game average over the last three weeks is towards the top at the kicker position and he should have no problem reaching that total this week against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that allows 8.4 fantasy points per game.
Point Projection: 11 points

4. Nate Kaeding (San Diego Chargers) @ Tennessee

Through 14 weeks Kaeding leads all kickers with 136 fantasy points and with the San Diego offense clicking on cylinders there is no slowing him down. Look for this game on Christmas night to feature plenty of points and for Kaeding to combine a handful of extra points with a field goal or two. If you own him, start him with confidence.
Point Projection: 10 points

5. Lawrence Tynes (New York Giants) vs. Carolina

Consistency wins in fantasy football and if you’re a Tynes owner you have reaped the benefits of his success. Tynes has kicked at least one field goal in all 14 Giants games this season and has scores eight or more fantasy points in six straight games. While he spent the start of the season kicking three pointers the Giants offense has scored 15 touchdowns over the last three games and Tynes has had just three FG chances. Still, he’s racking up the points at a consistent rate and nothing should change in Week 16.
Point Projection: 10 points

6. Rob Bironas (Tennessee Titans) vs. San Diego

The Tennessee Titans face a tough task this Christmas Day with the San Diego Chargers’ coming to town. Since starting the season 2-3, the Chargers have gone on to win nine straight contests. Part of the reason for San Diego’s success during that span has been defense, as the Chargers have only allowed opponents to rack up 16.3 points per game during their last nine games. Even with that said, there is no way you can sit Bironas, who has enjoyed his own success recently with seven double digit performances in his last eight games.
Point Projection: 9 points

7. Ryan Longwell (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Chicago

Longwell picked a bad time to notch his worst fantasy outing of the year in the Vikings’ Week 15 loss to the Carolina Panthers. In the game, Longwell missed his only field goal attempt and made just one extra point. He should bounce back in week 16, though, as the Vikings take on a Bears’ team allowing 23 points per game on the year. In a previous meeting this season, Longwell tallied 14 points against Chicago, connecting on three field goal attempts, while also hammering home three extra points.
Point Projection: 9 points

8. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots) vs. Jacksonville

With the Patriots’ offense sputtering a bit of late, Gostkowski’s fantasy numbers have also taken a hit as three of the kicker’s four outings of five or less fantasy points have come in the last four weeks. This week, though, the Patriots’ offense should get things rolling as Tom Brady and Co. will be going against the 27th ranked pass defense in the form of the Jacksonville Jaguars. With Brady and the offense able to move the ball, look for Gostkowski to post a solid fantasy day here in week 16.
Point Projection: 9 points

9. Kris Brown (Houston Texans) @ Miami

With rookies at both of the cornerback positions, the Miami Dolphins are going to find it difficult to contain stud wide receiver, Andre Johnson, which should mean good things for Kris Brown as the Texans’ offense will be able to move the ball throughout this game. Look for Brown to go for 8+ fantasy points for the fourth time in the last five weeks this coming Sunday.
Point Projection: 9 points

10. Matt Prater (Denver Broncos) @ Philadelphia

Heading to Philly to take on an Eagles’ team that has limited opposing kickers to just 6.5 fantasy points per game is not an ideal situation for any kicker to be in, but if anyone can thrive in that situation, it’s Prater, who has amassed 15+ fantasy points in three of his last four games. Also, working in Prater’s favor is the fact that Philly has allowed totals of 8 and 9 fantasy points to opposing kickers over the last two weeks.
Point Projection: 9 points

11. Ricky Schmitt (San Francisco 49ers) vs. Detroit

Fantasy owners may be wondering, who Schmitt is? After all, many formats like ESPN still don’t have the kicker in their player pool; however, if your league does, you may want to scoop him up. While little is known about Schmitt, much is known about the Niners’ opponent this weekend, the Detroit Lions. And, one thing that is known about them is that they allow the most fantasy points to opposing kickers in the NFL at 9.9 per contest. 
Point Projection: 9 points

12. Jeff Reed (Pittsburgh Steelers) vs. Baltimore

Reed’s previous outing against the Ravens yielded just six fantasy points, but the Steelers’ now seem to grasp the concept that to win they’re going to need to score points as they just can’t rely on their defense without Troy Polamalu roaming the secondary. With that being the case, look for the Steelers to try and strike often, which should lead to a nice day for Reed when all is said and done.
Point Projection: 8 points

13. Mike Nugent (Arizona Cardinals) vs. St. Louis

“Whooley’s Super Sleeper Stud Kicker” of Week 15 was solid but not spectacular in the Cardinals’ win against the Lions, as he amassed eight fantasy points. Still, the kicker’s lack of production was no fault of his own as he nailed his one field goal attempt on the day. Instead, Nugent was burned by turnovers by Kurt Warner while Arizona was in scoring position. Feel confident using Nugent again in Week 16 as the Cardinals take on a Rams’ defensive unit that has allowed 28 points to the kicker position over the past two weeks.
Point Projection: 8 points

14. Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders) @ Cleveland

Good news for Janikowski’s owners at it appears Charlie Frye will be under center for the Silver and Black this weekend, rather than JaMarcus Russell. What that means is that the Raiders should be able to continue to get the ball in field goal range, much as they have done over the past three weeks, a span that has seen Janikowski nail six of seven field goals.
Point Projection: 8 points

15. Dan Carpenter (Miami Dolphins) vs. Houston

The consistency that Carpenter demonstrated over the beginning part of the season has faded of late as the Dolphins’ kicker has gone for 2,11,1, and 11 fantasy points over the last four weeks respectively. This week we believe Carpenter finishes the day somewhere in the middle of all that against a Texans’ defense that is allowing 6.8 points to the kicker position per game this season.
Point Projection: 8 points

16. Billy Cundiff (Baltimore Ravens) @ Pittsburgh

In his first go around this season against the Steelers, Cundiff connected on two of three field goals and added two extra points for a solid seven point day in standard fantasy formats. We expect similar numbers this time around, making Cundiff a middle of the road type option this weekend.
Point Projection: 8 points