The season's opening week was full of its usual excitement -- breakouts, disappointments, injuries -- but nothing was more thrilling than all those wonderful made field goals and PATs. The arc, the accuracy, the athleticism -- is there anything those kickers can't do? Our Week 2 fantasy kicker rankings attempt to quantify the best of the best from these magnificent players.
Look, we know no one likes or cares about kickers, but as long as people have a kicker spot in their fantasy lineups, we'll be here ranking them. After all, kickers can make a difference in your weekly matchup, whether we like it or not.
Just ask anyone who faced Nick Folk and his five FGs last week -- kickers matter! Let's try to figure out which will matter most in Week 2.
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Who are the best fantasy kickers in Week 2?
This early in the season, stats are still unreliable, both in terms of kickers themselves and defenses. Ultimately, we're still looking at the most proven kickers as the top options. Justin Tucker (@ Bengals), Daniel Carlson (@ Bills), Wil Lutz (vs. Commanders), Tyler Bass (vs. Raiders), and Harrison Butker (@ Jaguars) make up our top five, but at this position, there isn't much that separates No. 15 from No. 5, at least heading into the week.
WEEK 2 STANDARD RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs
It's important to remember that no matter what happened in Week 1, a significant reversal of fortunes can occur in Week 2. That's true for every position, but it's especially common for kickers. It's not uncommon to see a relatively low-ranked kicker connect on four field-goal attempts in Week 1 and follow that up with just a couple of PATs the following week (and vice/versa). As such, it's usually best to just stick with your drafted kicker, regardless of where we have him ranked below.
WEEK 2 PPR RANKINGS:
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs
Who are the best fantasy kicker sleepers in Week 2?
However, if you're the type who just has to tinker with your lineup, there are a few kickers who are rising in our rankings. Joey Slye (@ Broncos) is already known for his big leg, but in the thin air of Denver, it would be a shock to see him connect on a 50-yarder or two. Graham Gano (@ Cardinals) gets a soft defense in a stadium with a roof, making him a safer-than-usual option.
Riley Patterson (vs. Seahawks), Matt Gay (@ Texans), and Jason Myers (@ Lions) are among the more widely available kickers who have the advantage of kicking in stadiums with roofs. Going deeper, Jake Moody (@ Rams), Brandon Aubrey (vs. Jets), Austin Seibert (@ Cowboys), Anders Carlson (@ Falcons), Matt Prater (vs. Giants), and Brett Maher (vs. 49ers) will also be optimal conditions, so if you don't want to worry about late-week weather issues, you can try one of them.
We'll be updating these kicker rankings throughout the week, so check back for the latest player movement and analysis.
Fantasy Kicker Rankings Week 2: Who to start, sit at kicker
Rank Player
1 Justin Tucker, Ravens @ Bengals
2 Daniel Carlson, Raiders @ Bills
3 Wil Lutz, Broncos vs. Commanders
4 Tyler Bass, Bills vs. Raiders
5 Harrison Butker, Chiefs @ Jaguars
6 Cameron Dicker, Chargers @ Titans
7 Riley Patterson, Lions vs. Seahawks
8 Graham Gano, Giants @ Cardinals
9 Evan McPherson, Bengals vs. Ravens
10 Matt Gay, Colts @ Texans
11 Younghoe Koo, Falcons vs. Packers
12 Joey Slye, Commanders @ Broncos
13 Jason Myers, Seahawks @ Lions
14 Nick Folk, Titans vs. Chargers
15 Jason Sanders, Dolphins @ Patriots
16 Brandon McManus, Jaguars vs. Chiefs
17 Jake Moody, 49ers @ Rams
18 Jake Elliott, Eagles vs. Vikings
19 Greg Joseph, Vikings @ Eagles
20 Eddy Pineiro, Panthers vs. Saints
21 Blake Grupe, Saints @ Panthers
22 Chase McLaughlin, Buccaneers vs. Bears
23 Chris Boswell, Steelers vs. Browns
24 Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys vs. Jets
25 Anders Carlson, Packers @ Falcons
26 Brett Maher, Rams vs. 49ers
27 Ka'imi Fairbairn, Texans vs. Colts
28 Matt Prater, Cardinals vs. Giants
29 Austin Seibert, Jets @ Cowboys
30 Dustin Hopkins, Browns @ Steelers
31 Chad Ryland, Patriots vs. Dolphins
32 Cairo Santos, Bears @ Buccaneers
