Fantasy Football players may not think of kickers as important, but the truth is that they are an important piece of the fantasy puzzle as well. Some kickers offer owners the ability to score double digit points in nearly every game, a luxury that not many players on the fantasy landscape are capable of doing. Let's take a look at which kickers would be best to play in week 1 of the NFL season.
1. Justin Tucker
The Baltimore Ravens will play the Bengals in the first week of the year in what will likely be a low scoring game with plenty of field goals.
Tucker averaged nearly 11 fantasy points per game last season, and scored 19 points in the Ravens home game against Cincinnati. If you have Tucker, he's the best option to start in week 1.
2. Dan Bailey
Even without Ezekiel Elliot, the Cowboys are capable of putting up solid numbers against the Giants at home in week 1. Because of that, I'll take my chances with one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history in Bailey.
3. Matt Bryant
The Falcons kicker was the best in fantasy football last season, averaging 11 Points Per Game. In week 1, he'll get to take on a Chicago Bears defense that allowed the 3rd highest number of fantasy points to opposing kickers last year.
4. Stephen Gostkowski
Prior to last season, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski had posted three straight top five fantasy finishes.
Last season, he wasn't as good, but I'd be willing to bet that was an outlier. In week 1, he'll have plenty of opportunities to score field goals against a Chiefs defense that is pretty solid in the red zone.
5. Wil Lutz
Last season, I was a big fan of Wil Lutz. This year, I still love the Saints kicker, as he will have plenty of opportunities to score points in the Saints' dynamic offense.
It doesn't hurt that he will be playing against a Minnesota defense that doesn't allow many touchdowns in week 1.
6. Nick Novak
This selection is purely based on matchup and nothing else. Novak scored a whopping 15 fantasy points against the Jaguars last season, and Jacksonville let up the most points to opposing fantasy kickers last year.
I'm betting Novak can put up similar numbers in a week one home date with the Jags.
7. Blair Walsh
Walsh is a prime bounce back candidate for this season. With the Seahawks now, it already looks like Walsh is out to prove something. In week 1, he'll have plenty of chances to score fantasy points against a Green Bay defense that is still filled with holes.
8. Matt Prater
Prater finished with the fifth highest number of fantasy points in 2016, and he's primed for a similar year in 2017. The Lions offense hasn't changed much, and neither will Prater's accuracy. That makes the Detroit Lions kicker a solid option in week 1.
9. Adam Vinatieri
He might be old, but Vinatieri showed no signs of slowing down in terms of scoring last year.
Unfortunately, his accuracy did slip to about 87%. Still, he finished as the 3rd best fantasy kicker last season, and that makes him worthy of a spot on this list for week 1.
10. Stephen Hauschka
Anybody who watched the Bills offense in week 2 of the preseason knows that things aren't going to go well in the regular season. Thankfully, Buffalo gets to play the New York Jets, which makes Hauschka a solid sleeper for week 1.
