| Sebastian Janikowski OAK Oakland Raiders |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 1 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 8 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 27 | 37 | 52 |
|  |
| Janikowski came out of nowhere last season to finish second in kicker scoring with 142 points. The Raiders' 44 touchdowns were an amazing 27-touchdown improvement over 2009, and it was the team's highest total since 2002. Janikowski made a career-high 33 field goals in 2010 and tied for the league-lead with 41 attempts. The obvious concern is that it will be difficult for the Raiders to duplicate 2010 when almost everything went right for the offense. While the Raiders passing attack was much improved over the days of JaMarcus Russell, the combination of Jason Campbell and Bruce Gradkowski still produced just 18 passing touchdowns. Janikowski has two things going for him entering 2011, though. First, he has one of the NFL's strongest legs, making a league-leading 19 field goals beyond 50 yards the last four seasons (4-of-7 last year). Second, despite the great running game, the Raiders only scored touchdowns on 52.1 percent of their red-zone opportunities last season. Given the quarterback situation, that number can't be expected to improve significantly, which means more field goals for Janikowski. Accuracy has never been Janikowski's strong suit, but if he kicks closer to 2009's 89.7 percent than last year's 80.5 percent, it might help offset a drop in opportunities. Janikowski likely won't repeat his 2010 performance, but he should still have decent value.
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| Dan Carpenter MIA Miami Dolphins |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 2 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 9 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 28 | 31 | 51 |
|  |
| Carpenter's season could be described like the title of the epic Clint Eastwood spaghetti western: "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly." The Good was Carpenter's 30 field-goal makes, tied for fourth in the league. The Bad was Carpenter's 11 misses (tied for most in the league). The Ugly was the Dolphins offense, which produced just 25 touchdowns (down from 37 in 2009) and scored just 17.1 points per game. His first two years in the league, Carpenter converted 86.8 percent of his field goals. Last season, though, Carpenter connected on just 73 percent of his kicks, the second-lowest mark in the league. In Carpenter's defense, his average miss was nearly 49 yards - he attempted a league-high eight beyond 50, making a four, including a 60-yarder. The bigger problem for Carpenter is the Dolphins offense, which did not progress as expected with Chad Henne and Brandon Marshall. The Dolphins mounted just 34 red-zone drives last season, second fewest in the league. That gave Carpenter just 14 attempts inside 40 yards (all of which he converted). Now the running game is in flux with uncertainty surrounding both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams. A better offense with increased touchdown efficiency might give Carpenter fewer field-goal attempts, but it also would give him more chip shots or at least relieve him of so many long-range attempts, thus improving his accuracy. Carpenter's attempts, field-goal percentage and PATs the last two years varied greatly, but his total points only differed by three (112 in 2009, 115 in 2010).
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| Jay Feely ARZ Arizona Cardinals |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 3 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 8 | 6 | 10 | 2 | 24 | 30 | 50 |
|  |
| Feely managed just 101 points last season but couldn't have been much more efficient, making 24-of-27 field goals. The problem was the Cardinals' inefficiency - they ranked 24th in field-goal attempts and 28th in touchdowns with a mere 31. Quarterback was a problem all season, as the Cardinals ranked near the bottom in virtually every passing category, and it could be a headache again this year unless the team brings in a quality veteran. And the Cardinals continue to lack an elite running game. Only two teams had fewer than the Cardinals' 37 red-zone trips last season, so it's hard to imagine that mark getting worse. If it improves - likely dependent on the quarterback acquisition - Feely should see more scoring opportunities.
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| Rob Bironas TEN Tennessee Titans |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 4 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 6 | 8 | 8 | 3 | 25 | 34 | 47 |
|  |
| Bironas is at the mercy of a team in flux. The Titans used their first-round draft pick on quarterback Jake Locker with the expectation that Vince Young is out of the picture. The likely result is fewer scoring opportunities for Bironas. And it's not like Bironas had a bevy of scoring chances last season. He had a career-low 26 field-goal attempts, though he salvaged some value converting 24 on a career-high 92.3 percent kicking. His 38 PATs were middle of the pack. A decrease in touchdowns could mean more field-goal attempts for Bironas, though that could be wishful thinking. Bironas is a dependable long-range kicker even if his 50-yard attempts have fluctuated wildly the last few years. He made two from beyond 50 last season after converting five in 2009. His success, though, likely rests of the development of Locker and the Titans offense. |
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| Mason Crosby GB Green Bay Packers |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 5 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 7 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 22 | 51 | 42 |
|  |
| Crosby scored 112 points last season for the Super Bowl champions, but inaccuracy continues to depress his value. Crosby has never topped 80 percent kicking in his four-year career and hit only 78.6 percent of his field-goal attempts (22-of-28) last season. His 28 attempts were a career-low, thanks to the Packers' 60.4-percent touchdown efficiency in the red-zone (up from 54.8 percent in 2009), but his 46 PATs ranked third, lifting him to 11th in scoring. And as long as Aaron Rodgers is around to direct a prolific Packers offense, Crosby can rely on PATs to prop up his fantasy value when field goals don't - he's pushed 50 extra-point attempts in each of his four years. Crosby ends the season with five potential bad-weather games, though last season he was 6-of-7 in cold weather. Crosby has to make up in volume what he lacks in accuracy. But that's possible if the Packers' red-zone production drops slightly to its 2009 level when 20 red-zone drives resulted in field goals, as opposed to just 12 last season.
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| Nate Kaeding |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 6 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 7 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 25 | 51 | 41 |
|  |
| For the first time in his career, Kaeding did not finish in the top-12 in kicker scoring last season, ranking 14th with 109 points. However, his slide was due almost entirely to missing three games to a groin injury as he posted the league's third-highest per-game scoring average. Kaeding's accuracy dropped from 2010's career-high 91.4 percent, but one of his misses was a blocked attempt and three others came from beyond 50 yards (one of which in his first game back from injury), as he went 23-of-28 (82.1 percent) overall. Kaeding plays for one of the league's best offenses as the Chargers have scored at least 46 touchdowns in each of Kaeding's seven seasons. He also benefits from hospitable weather in San Diego and has no potential bad-weather games in December this season. With Philip Rivers at the helm, the Chargers likely will be one of the higher scoring teams in the league again this year. If Kaeding stays healthy and returns to his career-accuracy norm (86.5 percent, highest in league history), he could be the league's top-scoring kicker. |
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| Steven Hauschka SEA Seattle Seahawks |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 7 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 3 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 20 | 31 | 41 |
|  |
| Hauschka did a fine job replacing the injured Matt Prater for the final four weeks of the 2010 season, but he likely did not do enough to replace him for 2011. If Hauschka has any fantasy relevance for the upcoming season, it likely won't be in Denver.
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| Neil Rackers |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 8 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 7 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 24 | 44 | 38 |
| |
| Poor field-goal accuracy has scared off fantasy owners most of Rackers' career - he failed to top 75 percent in six of his first eight years. But he was 27-of-30 (90 percent) in 2010, and he is an equally impressive 68-of-75 (90.6 percent) since 2008. Part of the reason for his improvement is fewer long-range attempts. (Rackers totaled six 50-yard attempts the last three years after averaging eight a year the previous four seasons.) But even when excluding 50-yarders, his accuracy has improved nearly 12 percent the last three seasons vs. the rest of his career. Rackers' first season in Houston saw him post an impressive 124 points, good for seventh in the league, behind a balanced Texans offense. The Matt Schaub-Andre Johnson passing game and Arian Foster rushing attack should again provide Rackers with scoring opportunities. And it's possible he increases his 30 field goal attempts if the Texans regress slightly from their 62.3-percent red-zone touchdown rate (fifth in the NFL). Coupled with a favorable December schedule that features three indoor games (Weeks 13-16), this figures to make Rackers one of the more dependable fantasy kickers in 2011. And even though he's attempting fewer long-range kicks these days, he still made three from beyond 50 yards last season.
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| Jason Hanson |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 9 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 5 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 22 | 40 | 38 |
| |
| Hanson's 2010 was cut short mid-season by a sprained MCL in his right knee, after which Dave Rayner took over the kicking duties for the final eight games. Hanson's surgery was considered minor, and he is expected to be healthy for his 20th NFL season this year. The duo combined for 110 points last season, each totaling 55, as Detroit provided 30 field goals and 35 PATs to its kickers. The Lions appear finally to be headed in the right direction. Offensively, they increased their average points scored by more than six per game last season and scored 41 touchdowns. The offense ranked second in red-zone touchdown efficiency at 64.4 percent. With legitimate weapons in the passing game in Calvin Johnson and Brandon Pettigrew, the only thing standing in the way of further offensive production is quarterback Matthew Stafford's health. Detroit should improve last year's meager 5.1 yards per play (20th in the NFL), extending drives and giving the kicker more work. A more kicker-friendly red-zone efficiency would offer more chip-shot field goals. Hanson has served as the Detroit kicker since 1992, so he'll get the first crack to prove he's healthy and effective. And Hanson still has the big leg he's been known for, converting 3-of-4 from 50 yards last season. Just one cold-weather game down the stretch - and even that's in Week 17 - also bodes well for Hanson this season.
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| Lawrence Tynes |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 10 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 6 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 23 | 45 | 38 |
| |
| Tynes' point total dropped by 26 in 2010 thanks to an offense that limited his opportunities with turnovers. His PAT attempts fell by only two, but his 23 field-goal attempts (30th in the league) were nine fewer than in 2009. He attempted a league-low 11 field goals beyond 30 yards as the Giants posted 42 turnovers compared to 31 in 2009 and suffered through injuries to key offensive weapons Steve Smith and Hakeem Nicks. Tynes' accuracy, though, 82.6 percent (19-of-23), was about in line with his previous two full seasons. The Giants have the potential to be a very good offense, as they still ranked fifth in yards, fifth in yards per play and seventh in points per game. Tynes has four likely bad-weather games down the stretch, but he's a career 9-of-9 in temperatures less than 40 degrees. If the Giants avoid excessive turnovers and severe injuries this season, Tynes is a good bet to be a useful fantasy kicker.
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| Josh Scobee JAC Jacksonville Jaguars |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 11 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 6 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 22 | 36 | 38 |
|  |
| Scobee's environment is not the climate for fantasy success. He kicked less than 80 percent on field goals for the third consecutive season last year and has not attempted more than 30 field goals since 2006. While his extra points improved last season from 30 to 41, it wasn't enough to salvage his fantasy prospects. The Jaguars' 63-percent red-zone touchdown efficiency, third in the league, was a contributing factor to the low number of field-goal attempts, and the Jaguars were minus-15 in turnover ratio (31st in the league), which limited possessions. Better quarterback play (21 interceptions, fourth in the league) would help Scobee's situation. But too many things have to go right in this anemic offense for Scobee to be fantasy relevant again. In seven seasons in Jacksonville, Scobee has had more than last year's 107 points just once.
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| Josh Brown NYG New York Giants |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 12 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 8 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 26 | 37 | 35 |
|  |
| After scoring a career-low 73 points in 2009, Brown posted 125 last season, making a career-high 33 field goals. The Rams offense experienced a dramatic turnaround under rookie quarterback Sam Bradford, increasing its touchdowns from 16 in 2009 to 27 last season. The Rams still have a great deal of room to grow offensively. They ranked 31st in red-zone touchdown efficiency last season at 35.7 percent, which gave Brown the second-most attempts (26) in the league inside 40 yards (he made 23, also ranking second). Improvement for the Rams, though, will cost Brown, who attempted a career-high 39 field goals last season. Still, a handful fewer field goals coupled with increased touchdowns won't destroy Brown's fantasy relevance. Plus, Brown has one of the stronger legs in the league, converting 28 50-yarders in his eight-year career, including 3-of-4 last year. He has a couple potential bad-weather games in December with a Week 16 trip to Pittsburgh.
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| Rian Lindell BUF Buffalo Bills |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 13 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 6 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 29 | 34 |
|  |
| Lindell endured one of the worst seasons of his career last year. His 21 field-goal attempts were his fewest as a Bill, and his 16 makes were the fewest in the league by a 16-game kicker. Lindell's accuracy (76.2 percent) was his lowest since 2003, and his streak of extra points made, fourth longest in league history, ended at 321 when a PAT was blocked mid-season. The result was a disappointing 79 points, a league low among full-time kickers. The Bills haven't ranked in the top half of the NFL in scoring since 2004, and last year their red-zone touchdown efficiency jumped from 31.6 percent to 51.4 percent, giving Lindell 10 fewer red-zone field goals than in 2009. Lindell might not have another career-worst season, but the Bills still don't have the offensive weapons to put him in a position to be a factor in fantasy in 2011.
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| Matt Prater DEN Denver Broncos |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 14 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 7 | 8 | 6 | 2 | 23 | 31 | 34 |
|  |
| A late-season groin injury capped a disappointing season for Prater last year as he was on pace to score 20 points fewer than in 2009 when he totaled 122. The culprit was a lack of field goals. Prater attempted just 18 in 12 games, a pace that would have left him 11 shy of his previous year's total. Denver jumped from 23rd to 13th in the league in red-zone touchdown efficiency at the expense of Prater's fantasy status. Prater's accuracy was again in good shape as he converted 88.9 percent of his attempts. The thin air at Prater's home stadium gives him a good opportunity to make long kicks - he hit five from 50-plus in 2008 - but he hit just two all season from that distance last year, only one of which was at home. The Broncos don't have a lot of star power on offense and look to have a quarterback battle between Kyle Orton and Tim Tebow. For Prater to return to fantasy relevance, he needs more scoring opportunities, especially inside 40 yards where he had just 10 attempts last season after seeing 22 in 2009.
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| Mike Nugent CIN Cincinatti Bengals |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 15 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 6 | 7 | 6 | 2 | 21 | 30 | 34 |
|  |
| In nine games last season with the Bengals before a season-ending knee injury, Nugent was a decent 15-of-19 on field goals and scored 62 points. However, Nugent was just 3-of-7 from beyond 40 yards last season and is just 4-of-11 from beyond 40 yards the last two seasons. Couple this with the uncertain future of Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer, the declining production of Cedric Benson and major questions at wide receiver and the Bengals offense could suffer a major drop from what was already an average unit at best. While the Bengals addressed needs in the draft with wide receiver A.J. Green and quarterback Andy Dalton, the thought of two rookies starting cannot give fantasy owners hope that this will translate into production for Nugent this season.
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| David Akers DET Detroit Lions |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 16 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 9 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 25 | 39 | 33 |
|  |
| Some questioned last season whether the Eagles' transition from Donovan McNabb would hurt Akers' production. Akers responded with a league-leading 143 points, his third consecutive year with at least 139 points. Now the question is whether Akers' transition from the Eagles will hurt his production. The Eagles selected Nebraska All-American Alex Henery in the fourth round of April's NFL Draft. It's unlikely the team would spend that high a draft pick on a kicker if it still intended to retain Akers. That's too bad for Akers, because the Eagles have the perfect offense for kickers as they combine a high number of touchdowns with high a number of field-goal attempts. Few teams have the balance of the Eagles in this area. Akers took advantage last season, ranking third in field goals with 32 and second in PATs with 47. Akers, whose 97 makes the last three seasons are tops in the league, made 22 field goals inside 40 yards last season, including a league-high 12 from 20-29 yards. The 36-year-old Akers has made only one field goal from 50-plus yards each of the last two seasons, so his value may decline behind the San Francisco offense.
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| Matt Bryant ATL Atlanta Falcons |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 17 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 9 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 45 | 33 |
|  |
| Bryant had to win the place-kicking job in training camp last season, but he won't have to compete for it this year. Bryant finished fourth in kicker scoring last season with 128 points and was an impressive 28-of-31 on field-goal attempts. The Falcons ranked third in red-zone touchdowns with 35, which probably cost Bryant a few field-goal attempts; his 31 attempts were ninth in the league while his 90.3 field-goal percentage ranked fourth. The Falcons have a solid offensive nucleus with quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael Turner and wide receiver Roddy White. Adding playmaking receiver Julio Jones through the draft figures to help the Falcons' explosiveness. Atlanta ranked eighth with 56 red-zone trips in 2010, and the Falcons should give Bryant plenty of scoring opportunities this season. Bryant is not a long-range threat - he's made four 50-plus-yard field goals in his nine-year career - but he's missed just one field goal inside 30 yards the last five years, and his only miss from 30-39 yards since 2003 came on a blocked kick last season. Bryant has the benefit of kicking in a dome and no potential late-season bad-weather games with two domes on the road schedule in December. Bryant should be one of the top kickers again in 2011.
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| Robbie Gould CHI Chicago Bears |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 18 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 9 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 39 | 31 |
|  |
| Consistently a fringe fantasy kicker, Gould has finished between 12th and 15th in kicker scoring in each of the last three seasons. Everything about Gould's numbers scream average. His 25 field-goal conversions and 36.3 extra points per season are almost right at the NFL average. Last season, Gould was 25-of-30 on field goals, good for 13th at 83.3 percent. The Bears did not have the expected increase in offensive production in Year 2 under offensive coordinator Mike Martz with just two more touchdowns than the previous season. While Chicago's red-zone inefficiency (45.1 percent, 26th) created field-goal opportunities for Gould, the Bears, for the second year in a row, only mounted 51 red-zone drives (14th). Gould doesn't get any help from the December schedule as the only game with suitable weather is likely to be Week 17, indoors at Minnesota. After attempting only two 50-yard field goals in his first four years in the league, Gould has converted five 50-yarders the last two years.
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| Stephen Gostkowski NE New England Patriots |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 19 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 7 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 23 | 50 | 30 |
|  |
| A mid-season quadriceps injury ended Gostkowski's 2010 season after eight games, which was unfortunate considering the Patriots' league-leading 32.4 points per game. Veteran Shayne Graham replaced Gostkowski, and together the duo totaled 131 points, third most among kickers. The Gostkowski/Graham tandem saw only 25 field-goal attempts but combined for 67 point-after attempts, far and away the most in the league. The Patriots likely will witness a drop in offensive production, as they'll be hard pressed to their incredible plus-28 turnover margin. While that could hurt Gostkowski, he likely will benefit from fewer red-zone touchdowns. The Patriots scored a league-leading 42 touchdowns there last season, more than in any season in the Tom Brady era, save for New England's record-breaking 2007. Fewer PATs and more field goals would increase Gostkowski's value. Gostkowski owners will be faced with five potentially bad-weather games as the Patriots have three December/January home games and road dates at Washington and Denver. While Gostkowski is a career 84.3-percent kicker, his accuracy drops to 70.8 percent (17-of-24) kicking in temperatures less than 40 degrees. Gostkowski rehabbed his surgically repaired quad this offseason and is expected to be 100 percent healthy.
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| Connor Barth TB Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 20 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 7 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 24 | 40 | 29 |
|  |
| Barth posted a career-high 105 points last year in his first full season as place kicker, taking advantage of a Buccaneers offense that was one of the most improved units in the NFL. Tampa Bay increased its scoring from 15.2 points per game in 2009 to 21.3 points per game last season. The Buccaneers found their quarterback of the future in Josh Freeman, a big-play running back in LeGarrette Blount and a legitimate No. 1 receiver in Mike Williams. The resulting offensive production provided Barth with 28 field-goal attempts, of which he made 23, and 36 PATs. Barth's five misses all came from beyond 40 yards, and he was 1-of-2 from 50-plus. All told, Tampa Bay increased its kicker scoring by 33 points over the previous year. For Barth to become a fantasy factor, though, the Buccaneers need to make similar strides this season. That's possible with the aforementioned trio leading the resurgent Buccaneers.
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| Olindo Mare |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 21 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 10 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 24 | 32 | 29 |
| |
| Mare's biggest weakness is the Seahawks offense. Seattle finished 29th in the league with 4.9 yards per play last season and scored just 33 touchdowns. And even though the Seahawks were 29th in red-zone touchdown efficiency at 42 percent, which theoretically should have offered Mare copious field-goal opportunities, Mare still attempted just 14 kicks inside 40 yards. Mare, who was 25-of-30 last season, has made 88 percent of his field goals in three seasons in Seattle, and last year added a 50-yarder. Mare has never missed an extra point in Seattle but has never attempted more than the paltry 31 he did last season. Mare is accurate enough, but the opportunities just aren't there. And unless Seattle, which is still seeking a quarterback solution, makes a huge offensive upgrade, Mare will continue to be a lower-tier fantasy kicker.
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| Ryan Succop KC Kansas City Chiefs |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 22 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 7 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 22 | 40 | 29 |
|  |
| The Chiefs enjoyed major offensive improvement in 2010, increasing their touchdowns from 31 to 44 and their scoring by 4.5 points per game. Matt Cassel had an excellent 27-to-7 touchdown-to-interception ratio while the Chiefs running game, led by Jamaal Charles, paced the league in rushing. That didn't mean great things for the second-year kicker, though. Succup was nothing more than an average fantasy kicker, scoring just 102 points. The most glaring problem was a below-average number of field-goal attempts (26 in 16 games). Succup compounded the problem by only converting 76.9 percent, fifth lowest among full-time kickers. Among those who played 16 games, only two kickers made fewer than Succup's 20 field goals last season. Field-goal opportunities could continue to be a problem as the Chiefs posted a solid 59.6-percent red-zone touchdown clip, a trend that has produced less than 30 field-goal attempts each of the last four seasons for the Chiefs. Succup is 3-of-8 on 50-yard field goals in his two NFL seasons. The schedule does him no favors, either, as the team's last eight games are at cold-weather sites.
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| Adam Vinatieri IND Indianapolis Colts |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 23 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 7 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 22 | 50 | 28 |
|  |
| Vinatieri enjoyed his best season since joining the Colts in 2006, as he made an outstanding 26-of-28 field goals (92.9 percent, second in the league) while making a league-high 51 extra-point attempts. His 92.9-percent accuracy and 129 points, which ranked second and third, respectively, were the highest of his career, save for his 2004 season in New England. Accuracy is paramount for Vinatieri, who will never be ranked among the league leaders in field-goal attempts while kicking for the efficient Colts offense. The Colts were tops in the league last season with an outstanding 67.9 percent red-zone touchdown rate. What's more, they're the only team in the league to post a red-zone TD rate of at least 60 percent each of the last three seasons, averaging 67.3 percent from 2008-10 and never scoring less than 66 percent in that span. Unfortunately for Vinatieri, he's a career 82.7-percent kicker. And he's never had a big leg, making just 10 field goals beyond 50 yards in his 15-year career (no attempts last season). He still has fantasy value in a high-scoring offense, but don't expect another top-3 finish in points.
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| Graham Gano CAR Carolina Panthers |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 24 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 8 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 23 | 27 | 28 |
|  |
| Gano finished 2010 as the league's most inaccurate kicker, making only 24-of-35 attempts (68.6 percent) and missing five kicks of less than 40 yards. As a result, Gano likely will face competition for the job in training camp this season. Even if Gano keeps the job, his prospects for 2011 aren't bright. The Redskins have major issues at quarterback as Donovan McNabb isn't expected to return. After they solve the QB issue, the Redskins then will have to fix an offense that has been one of the poorer scoring units in the league the last few seasons, averaging less than 21 points per game since 2007.
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| Billy Cundiff |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 25 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 9 | 8 | 7 | 0 | 24 | 42 | 28 |
| |
| Cundiff resurrected his NFL career last season with a career-high 117 points. He converted 26-of-29 field goals after missing five field goals in 17 attempts in limited duty for the Ravens in 2009. Cundiff benefited from receiving 20 field-goal attempts from inside 40 yards last season, including 11 inside 30 yards, as the Ravens struggled in the red zone. Baltimore finished in the bottom third of the league with a 49-percent red zone touchdown rate. If the Ravens improve in the red zone, it'll likely be to Cundiff's determent. A career 77-percent kicker, Cundiff's high accuracy last season probably won't be repeated. Cundiff also doesn't provide value in leagues that reward bonus points for distance kicking (0-for-1 last year from 50-plus), and weather could be a factor as four of his last five games are at cold-weather sites. But at least he knows his job is safe after signing a five-year contract in January.
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| Alex Henery PHI Philadelphia Eagles |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 26 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 10 | 9 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 45 | 26 |
|  |
| That the Eagles used a fourth-round pick on Henery very likely means David Akers will be plying his trade elsewhere in 2011. The Eagles offense consistently generates field-goal attempts - in fact the team has attempted an average of 37 tries per season, tops in the NFL over that span - and also has a high floor for extra points. Henery made 18-of-19 field-goal attempts at Nebraska last year, to set an NCAA career accuracy record of 89.5 percent (68-for-76), and hit all 54 of his extra points. He's also got a strong leg, with a career-long of 57 yards. Only his lack of experience keeps him from ranking in the top-10.
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| Ryan Longwell SEA Seattle Seahawks |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 27 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 8 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 32 | 25 |
| |
| Longwell is the poster child for why you should not draft a kicker before the last round. Coming off 132 points in 2009, Longwell plummeted to just 81 points last season as the Vikings offense collapsed. Minnesota averaged almost 12 points less per game in 2010 than the previous year. Longwell still has one of the more accurate legs in the league, converting 17-of-18 field goals last season and posting a three-year average of 90 percent. But Longwell's 18 attempts were the fewest of any full-time kicker. In fact, three kickers who played less than a full season had more than 18 field goals and another who played only 12 games tied Longwell's mark. The Vikings dropped to 27th in the league in red-zone touchdown efficiency last year, but it was a wash for Longwell because the team had 15 fewer red-zone drives than in 2009 - in fact, Longwell attempted 16 field goals inside 40 yards last season, the same as the year before. What really hurt was the absolute dearth of long-range field goals. In the previous three seasons, Longwell averaged nearly 14 attempts from 40-plus yards. Last season, that number shrank to two, including, for the first time in his career, not a single 50-yard attempt. For Longwell, and the Vikings, to bounce back, the team must solve its significant quarterback problem. First-round pick Christian Ponder likely won't be the answer as a rookie, and none of the remaining options inspire great confidence.
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| Garrett Hartley NO New Orleans Saints |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 28 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 3 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 13 | 25 | 21 |
|  |
| New Orleans' offense predictably slowed last year after its league-leading 31.9 points per game during its Super Bowl season. But the Saints' drop to 24.3 points per game wasn't Hartley's only problem. Hartley missed five field goals (20-of-25), including four inside 40 yards, which helped him lose his job for two weeks early in the season to free-agent John Carney. Sitting those two games cost him six attempts, though a half dozen extra would have only vaulted him to ninth in attempts, largely because the Saints offense is so proficient. The Saints have averaged more than 28 points per game the last three seasons, but less than 4.5 points per game (69 field goals in 48 games) have come via field goal. And last season, the Saints scored 31 red-zone touchdowns, seventh most in the NFL. After signing a five-year contract in March, Hartley won't have to worry about Carney this season. And Hartley made his final 13 field goals last season, including three in the playoffs. Plus, the Saints should continue to provide plenty of PATs (43 last year, sixth in the league). Kicking in a dome only helps his status, as does a favorable late-season schedule that places the Saints indoors for six of the last seven games. Hartley only attempted two kicks beyond 50 yards, but he made them both.
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| Nick Folk NYJ New York Jets |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 29 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 9 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 24 | 40 | 21 |
|  |
| Folk totaled 127 points last season, which likely will make him of the more overvalued fantasy kickers this year. Folk finished fifth in the league in kicker scoring thanks to volume, not accuracy. He missed nine field goals last season, nearly losing his job. His 39 field-goal attempts ranked third in the NFL, supported by a league-high 27 inside 40 yards. It's doubtful Folk will get that kind of advantage this season. The Jets ranked 28th in red-zone touchdown efficiency last year, finding the end zone on just 44.3 percent of those possessions. If the Jets improve merely to the league average of 53 percent - a reasonable expectation under third-year quarterback Mark Sanchez - Folk could lose five or six chip-shot attempts. Accuracy has always been a major issue with Folk as he has made just eight of his last 18 attempts between 40-49 yards. Unless his accuracy dramatically improves, Folk is likely facing a drop in production in 2011, and his job could be at risk.
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|
| Phil Dawson SF San Francisco 49ers |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 30 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 8 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 23 | 31 | 20 |
|  |
| Dawson's 97 points in 2010 were far from impressive, but the Browns might have finally found some offensive promise in running back Peyton Hillis and quarterback Colt McCoy. And that will help Dawson as much as anything. The Browns ranked 31st in the league in scoring (16.9 ppg) but still improved their point total from 2009 and their yards per play by nearly a full yard. The Browns had trouble sustaining drives, though, running just 927 offensive plays, 31st in the NFL. Dawson just doesn't get enough opportunities. He was 23-of-28 last year and converted 28 PATs. He hasn't made a 50-yarder in two seasons. The Browns might again make strides, but it likely won't be enough to make Dawson a fantasy consideration.
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| Shaun Suisham PIT Pittsburgh Steelers |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 31 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 12 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 46 | 12 |
|  |
| Suisham replaced an ineffective Jeff Reed midseason last year and scored an impressive 61 points in seven games, making all but one of his 15 field-goal attempts. The Steelers provided a healthy 37 field-goal attempts last season, up from 31 the previous two seasons, though 12 came during Ben Roethlisberger's four-game suspension. Suisham struggled with long-range kicks in his only two years as a full-time kicker in 2007-08, but he's made 14 of his last 16 attempts from 40-plus yards. He won't offer bonus points for 50-yarders, though - just 3-of-9 in his career (0-for-1 last year). Heinz Field is a notoriously difficult stadium for kickers, and three of Pittsburgh's last five games are at home with another bad-weather game at Cleveland mixed in. Expect fewer field-goal opportunities for Suisham, who's only an 80.5-percent career kicker anyway.
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|
| Dave Rayner |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 32 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 8 |
| |
| Rayner was serviceable as an injury replacement for Jason Hanson. He finished 2010 13-of-16 on field goal attempts and 16-of-16 on PATs. Rayner will compete with Hanson for the kicking duties in 2011. The winner of the job should be in a decent fantasy position as the Lions will likely put some points on the board if Matt Stafford can stay healthy.
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|
| Joe Nedney |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 33 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| |
| Nedney scored 50 points in nine games last season before being sidelined with a knee injury. Jeff Reed, who was cut by the Steelers mid-season, was signed to replace Nedney and made 9-of-10 field goals. Between the two, the 49ers scored just 99 kicker points. After six consecutive seasons with no more than 34 touchdowns, the 49ers are starting over again this season. New coach Jim Harbaugh faces questions at quarterback, and the team's best offensive player, Frank Gore, played just 11 games in 2010 and hasn't made it through a full 16 games since 2006. Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree need help if the team is to exploit their explosiveness. Harbaugh might eventually get it done, but don't expect great strides in 2011. That leaves whoever wins the kicker competition in a difficult spot.
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|
| John Kasay |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 34 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 4 |
| |
| Carolina's offensive futility last season at least kept Kasay working. He ranked 13th in field-goal attempts with 29, converting 25 (86.2 percent) on his way to 92 points - nearly half of the Panthers' league-low season total. Kasay's work wasn't steady, though. Four games he went without a field-goal attempt, and his 17 PATs were by far the fewest of any 16-game kicker thanks to one of the most miserable offenses in recent memory that scored just 12.2 points per game. Kasay was released by the Panthers and it's possible he'll retire at age 42.
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| Nick Novak SD San Diego Chargers |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 35 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
|  |
| Novak led the UFL in scoring with 69 points through 10 games in 2010 and connected on 15-of-18 field goal attempts. Novak will compete for kicking duties with Nick Folk, who wasn't exactly the model of consistency in 2010.
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|
| Jeff Reed |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 36 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| |
| Reed, who was cut by the Steelers mid-season, was signed to replace Joe Nedney and made 9-of-10 field goals. Between the two, the 49ers scored just 99 kicker points. After six consecutive seasons with no more than 34 touchdowns, the 49ers are starting over again this season. New coach Jim Harbaugh faces questions at quarterback, and the team's best offensive player, Frank Gore, played just 11 games in 2010 and hasn't made it through a full 16 games since 2006. Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree need help if the team is to exploit their explosiveness. Harbaugh might eventually get it done, but don't expect great strides in 2011. That leaves whoever wins the kicker competition in a difficult spot.
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|
| Matt Bosher ATL Atlanta Falcons |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 37 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| |
| Rookie Matt Bosher comes into his first season with the Falcons as an asset with a background in both punting and field goal kicking. It's still uncertain how the Falcons plan to use Bosher in his first year, but if the club decides to part ways with free agent Matt Bryant the field goal duties would likely fall to Bosher. Bosher played at the University of Miami where he showcased a strong and relatively accurate leg, as he made 4-of-5 kicks from 50+ range in his career. However, it seems unlikely that the top team in the NFC last season would enter 2011 without a proven kicker on their squad, so look for Atlanta to re-sign Bryant or sign another veteran. Assuming that's the case, Bosher will challenge Michael Koenen for the punting duties in 2011. Bosher averaged 44.0 yards per punt during his senior season while Koenen averaged a career-low 40.7 yards per punt. Don't be surprised if Bosher is Atlanta's Week 1 punter.
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| David Buehler NYG New York Giants |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 38 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| |
| Buehler scored 114 points (10th in the league) in his first year as the Cowboys starter last season, despite missing eight field goals and two extra points. Buehler's erratic kicking, though, moved the Cowboys to sign Kris Brown late in the season as insurance. What's more, Brown signed a two-year deal, meaning he could compete with Buehler in training camp this season, though Buehler is the obvious favorite. Buehler displayed one of the strongest legs in the league last season, connecting on a league-high four field goals from 50 and beyond. An excellent athlete, Buehler made 10 special teams tackles last year, though playing with that kind of abandon increases his injury risk. With Tony Romo's return from injury, a dynamic Cowboys offense should provide Buehler with plenty of scoring opportunities. Last season, even though Romo missed the last 10 games, Buehler still ranked seventh in the league with 32 field-goal attempts and fourth with 44 PAT attempts. But if Buehler is to increase his fantasy value, he'll have to improve his accuracy. He missed three field goals in the 30-39 range and three in the 40-49 range last season. Late-season weather concerns are a minimum, and Buehler has the potential to be a top-five fantasy kicker with a more accurate leg and a healthy Romo.
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| Clint Stitser |
| RANK | PLAYER | TEAM |
| 39 |  |
| | FGM29 | FGM39 | FGM49 | FGM50 | FGM | XPM | PTS |
| 2013 Projected | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| |
| Stitser made 7-of-8 field goals in five games with the Bengals in 2010. His long was only from 47 yards away, so he didn't demonstrate a great deal of upside. Cincinnati released him in July and he has yet to sign with another team.
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