Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings Week 13: Who to start, best sleepers at kicker

Matt Lutovsky

Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings Week 13: Who to start, best sleepers at kicker image

Welcome to "Justin Tucker Week" -- the week where fantasy football owners have to decide between cutting the league's best kicker or committing the ultimate sin of carrying two kickers on their roster for a week (more on that in a minute). Maybe it's because it's so late in the season or maybe it's because Tucker hasn't been quite as good this year, but the choice doesn't seem quite as tough as it was in the past. Either way, Tucker owners will need to consult our Week 13 fantasy kicker rankings to find a solid replacement.

Fortunately, there's no shortage of solid options despite six byes. That's the blessing and curse of kicker -- there's always someone to slot in, but finding the best option is never easy.

We're here to help you complete your lineup with the best booter, so let's get to it and break down our Week 13 rankings.

MORE: Watch NFL RedZone live with Sling (50% off first month)

Which kickers are on bye in Week 13?

The Bills (Tyler Bass), Ravens (Justin Tucker), Bears (Cairo Santos), Raiders (Daniel Carlson), Vikings (Greg Joseph), and Giants (Randy Bullock) are off this week, taking away two of fantasy's highest-owned kickers in Bass and Tucker. 

WEEK 13 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs

As we've been saying all season, you shouldn't hold your kicker through his bye week, so even if you own Tucker, don't waste two roster spots on him and a replacement. You're better off having an RB handcuff or a matchup-based streamer at WR or TE (for either this week or next week) on your bench. You might be able to get Tucker back in free agency next week, and if someone else in your league picks him up, then so be it. You'll find another good kicker.

WEEK 13 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs

Who are the best fantasy kickers in Week 13?

Dustin Hopkins (@ Rams in Week 13), Matt Gay (@ Titans), Brandon McManus (vs. Bengals), Nick Folk (vs. Colts), and Younghoe Koo (@ Jets) make up our top five this week. All have been steady, high-scoring options this year, and all face defenses that entered last week in the top 10 in fantasy points per game (FPPG) allowed to kickers. We wish more than Hopkins was playing indoors (and technically SoFi Stadium is open-air), but unless the weather is particularly ugly, all should be solid.

Brandon Aubrey (vs. Seahawks), Jake Elliott (vs. 49ers), Blake Grupe (vs. Lions), Cameron Dicker (@ Patriots), and Harrison Butker (@ Packers) round out our top 10. Aubrey and Grupe are indoors, which is nice, while Dicker has a highly favorable matchup. Ultimately, though, this group largely consists of high-scoring kickers we're trusting regardless of matchups.

WEEK 13 FANTASY ADVICE: Sleepers | Busts | Projections | Start-sit

Who are the best fantasy kicker sleepers in Week 13?

McManus (vs. Bengals), Folk (vs. Colts), Grupe (vs. Lions), and Dicker (@ Patriots) are all owned in fewer than 50 percent of fantasy leagues, so they qualify as the top sleepers. Grupe is especially safe since he's indoors, but his matchup isn't as statistically strong as Folk's, Dicker's, or McManus's.

If you fully trust the matchup numbers, you could also go for Jason Sanders (@ Commanders), Matt Ammendola (vs. Broncos), and Greg Zuerlein (vs. Falcons), all of whom face defenses that entered Week 12 in the top 10 in FPPG allowed to kickers. Ammendola is indoors, giving him a nice boost.

If your No. 1 goal is avoiding weather worries and you can't get Grupe or Ammendola, you can try Riley Patterson (@ Saints), Wil Lutz (@ Texans), or Lucas Havrisik (vs. Browns).

WEEK 13 DFS:
DK lineup | FD lineup | Best stacks | Best values

Fantasy Kicker Rankings Week 13: Who to start, sit at kicker

Rank    Player
1    Dustin Hopkins, Browns @ Rams
2    Matt Gay, Colts @ Titans
3    Brandon McManus, Jaguars vs. Bengals
4    Nick Folk, Titans vs. Colts
5    Younghoe Koo, Falcons @ Jets
6    Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys vs. Seahawks
7    Jake Elliott, Eagles vs. 49ers
8    Blake Grupe, Saints vs. Lions
9    Cameron Dicker, Chargers @ Patriots
10    Harrison Butker, Chiefs @ Packers
11    Jason Myers, Seahawks @ Cowboys
12    Jason Sanders, Dolphins @ Commanders
13    Matt Ammendola, Texans vs. Broncos
14    Greg Zuerlein, Jets vs. Falcons
15    Riley Patterson, Lions @ Saints
16    Chase McLaughlin, Buccaneers vs. Panthers
17    Jake Moody, 49ers @ Eagles
18    Evan McPherson, Bengals @ Jaguars
19    Wil Lutz, Broncos @ Texans
20    Matt Prater, Cardinals @ Steelers
21    Lucas Havrisik, Rams vs. Browns
22    Joey Slye, Commanders vs. Dolphins
23    Eddy Pineiro, Panthers @ Buccaneers
24    Chris Boswell, Steelers vs. Cardinals
25    Chad Ryland, Patriots vs. Chargers
26    Anders Carlson, Packers vs. Chiefs

Week 13 Kicker fantasy projections, rankings from Draft Sharks

Draft Sharks projections for the new week will update every Tuesday and be constantly adjusted throughout the week

We're proud to offer SN Fantasy readers an exclusive look at Draft Sharks’ award-winning projections and rankings every week. To see Draft Sharks' Week 13 3D floor-to-ceiling projections for kickers -- plus get access to all of Draft Sharks' industry-leading tools -- become a Draft Sharks' member today at the link below!

TRY DRAFT SHARKS FREE: Dominate with exclusive tools, including Free-Agent Finder & Trade Navigator!

Matt Lutovsky

Matt Lutovsky Photo

Matt Lutovsky has been a writer and editor for The Sporting News since 2007, primarily writing about fantasy sports, betting, and gaming.