Last week's kicker rankings intro focused on the bye-week dilemma facing Justin Tucker owners. The suggestion was to hold onto him if at all possible. Heading into Week 9, we have three top-10 kickers on bye: Greg Zuerlein, Wil Lutz and Matt Bryant. It feels silly to use a second roster spot for a kicker, but we also can pretty confidently say those three will continue to be among the top-10 kickers in our rankings most weeks going forward.
If we're ranking them in order of projected value, Zuerlein would be No. 1, followed by Lutz, then Bryant. Zuerlein is usually the No. 2 kicker in our rankings, behind Tucker, and he might have as much leg talent as anyone in the NFL. Lutz plays in a good offense that has home games in a dome, and he, too, can really boot it. Bryant is still a consistent kicker, but he's nearing the end of his career and is much more likely to decline than improve as the season goes on.
(Update: Bryant has been released and should be dropped from all fantasy rosters.)
WEEK 9 NON-PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST
If it was my team and I wasn't totally in a roster crunch due to Week 9 byes, I'd probably try to hold Zuerlein. Lutz is a total toss-up -- if you can afford to hold, you might as well, but it's not as necessary. Bryant can probably be swapped straight out for someone on the waiver wire.
WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
The first thing to check is if any of the Tucker owners in your league dropped him. He could even be worth a low waiver claim, the only kicker for which that can be said. Brett Maher, another top-10 kicker, is also coming off bye, and he's the next most obvious replacement for the Week 9 kicker byes (which also include Cincinnati's Randy Bullock). Outside of the returners from bye, both Seattle's Jason Myers and Oakland's Daniel Carlson have positive matchups in Week 9.
(Update: Also check if Michael Badgley is available - he's set to make his return for the Chargers and was a preseason top-10 kicker.)
WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS:
Y! cash | Y! GPP | DK cash | DK GPP | FD cash | FD GPP
LISTEN TO THE SN FANTASY WEEK 9 PREVIEW PODCAST BELOW
Week 9 Fantasy Rankings: Kicker
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Justin Tucker, BAL vs. NE |
| 2 | Joey Slye, CAR vs. TEN |
| 3 | Harrison Butker, KC vs. MIN |
| 4 | Brett Maher, DAL @ NYG |
| 5 | Ka'imi Fairbairn, HOU @ JAX |
| 6 | Jason Myers, SEA vs. TB |
| 7 | Daniel Carlson, OAK vs. DET |
| 8 | Dan Bailey, MIN @ KC |
| 9 | Mason Crosby, GB @ LAC |
| 10 | Jake Elliott, PHI vs. CHI |
| 11 | Matt Prater, DET @ OAK |
| 12 | Michael Badgley, LAC vs. GB |
| 13 | Eddy Pineiro, CHI @ PHI |
| 14 | Austin Seibert, CLE @ DEN |
| 15 | Nick Folk, NE @ BAL |
| 16 | Josh Lambo, JAX vs. HOU |
| 17 | Brandon McManus, DEN vs. CLE |
| 18 | Aldrick Rosas, NYG vs. DAL |
| 19 | Matt Gay, TB @ SEA |
| 20 | Stephen Hauschka, BUF vs. WAS |
| 21 | Robbie Gould, SF @ ARZ |
| 22 | Chris Boswell, PIT vs. IND |
| 23 | Dustin Hopkins, WAS @ BUF |
| 24 | Sam Ficken, NYJ @ MIA |
| 25 | Ryan Succop, TEN @ CAR |
| 26 | Jason Sanders, MIA vs. NYJ |
| 27 | Adam Vinatieri, IND @ PIT |
| 28 | Zane Gonzalez, ARZ vs. SF |