The top 5 greatest Fantasy Football Kicker Seasons of All Time

By Jason Bolton August 20, 2024 22:53

Photo by Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

Kickers are a funny sort in the world of fantasy football. Kickers get left until the end in fantasy football and when it comes to setting your lineup, but field goals alone can be the difference between victory and defeat on any given week. While often overlooked, they can make a huge difference to the team's success in close games. Locating the best-ever kicker campaigns helps paint a picture of how fantasy football has changed over time and the types of kickers we most want to have in our fantasy starting lineups.

If we were to evaluate what the top five fantasy kicker seasons are, here is how I would weigh a few factors:

Total Fantasy Points (Points for, fantasy points) scored: The defining number by which kickers are judged in a given season
Consistency: The measure of delivering reliable points week in and week out.
Fantasy Impact: A kicker's effectiveness in terms of how having him was or wasn't beneficial to fantasy teams for that year.

1. Justin Tucker (2016)

Performance and Key Data Points

Total Fantasy Points: 166
Field Goals Made: 38
Field Goal Percentage: 90.5%
Extra Points Made: 34

During his time as a member of the Baltimore Ravens, Tucker displayed proficient legwork by converting 38-of-42 field goal attempts. That accuracy was a big reason he also finished as strong in the first place. His field goal percentage that year, 90.5%, clocked among the league's best.

Analysis

Beyond the metrics, Tucker's steady consistency also made his performance stand out. His point scoring was pretty consistent, as he scored in double digits four times, which is always a solid filler for Fantasy managers. He also hit long field goals, including a few 50-plus yard kicks, increasing his fantasy value. Considering how many kickers struggled to stay accurate throughout the year, having a guy like Tucker, who was always money, must have made him an option on many fantasy squads.

2. David Akers (2011)

Performance and Key Data Points

Total Fantasy Points: 166
Field Goals Made: 44
Field Goal Percentage: 87.5%
Extra Points Made: 33

He performed very well during the 2011 season with the San Fransisco 49ers. He hit a franchise record 44 field goals and demonstrated how to take advantage of scoring opportunities. That record-setting 87.5% field goal percentage only cemented Tucker's standing as the NFL's best kicker.

Analysis

That 2011 campaign was a big season for Akers, not just in terms of all his points but because those plays impacted San Francisco's success that year. His consistent effort in converting field goals paved the way for his team to qualify for a playoff spot, which worked wonders for any fantasy manager who selected him. In a year where many teams had difficulty finding stability at the position, Akers' performance was an urgent reminder of just how valuable having that one steady kicker can be.

3. Stephen Gostkowski (2016)

Performance and Key Data Points

Total Fantasy Points: 166
Field Goals Made: 37
Field Goal Percentage: 92.5%
Extra Points Made: 35

A year with the New England Patriots like Stephen Gostkowski's in 2016 was a special one. He was 37-for-40 on his field goals, for a stellar accuracy of 92.5%.

Analysis

The Patriots had one of the most explosive offenses that season and were frequently able to put points up, so Gostkowski was huge for them. His 2016 season was also one of the best in fantasy football history thanks to that combination of accuracy and volume, and it definitively solidified his status as being at least among the top kickers ever, if not outright.

4. Matt Prater (2013)

Performance and Key Data Points

Total Fantasy Points: 171
Field Goals Made: 34
Field Goal Percentage: 86.6%
Extra Points Made: 57

In 2013, Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos set an NFL record when he booted a 64-yard field goal. He was exceptional over the entire season, scoring 171 fantasy points on his way to a Top 3 finish amongst kickers in fantasy football.

Analysis

Prater is a fantasy superstar due in no small part to his ability to make long-distance kicks at such high volume. He had plenty of chances to score with the Broncos' fast-paced attack and made the most of them throughout.

5. Tucker (2019)

Performance and Key Data Points

Total Fantasy Points: 174
Field Goals Made: 35
Field Goal Percentage: 89.7%
Extra Points Made: 49

Tucker scored 174 fantasy points this year, which ranks first among all kickers and set the bar for high-water marks at that position. He scored a lot for the Ravens, recording 35 field goals and an additional 49 extra points.

Analysis

2019 was all about consistency and clutch for Tucker. He double-doubled in several games and carried fantasy worries with him. It further proved his skill and consistency, making him the greatest fantasy kicker ever.

The moments created by these standout performances effectively show why it makes sense to look at kickers in the case of fantasy drafts and just how they may be difference-makers. The statistics will wither, and the producers of these great kicker seasons will leave a tiny dent in our memory as fantasy football only continues to evolve.