With the NFL season almost upon us, these are the players who will be leading the league in scoring. These men will be the ultimate movers and shakers this football season. Here are my first rankings of NFL kickers, this season. A few things factor into these rankings, who will help their team, consistency, and potential fantasy implications. Rich Eisen has coined the phrase, “Punters are people too”. In 2021, it’s time we treat these kickers as more than special teamers, kickers are an important piece to your favorite team.
Kickers who will probably will cost their team
32- Austin Seibert, Detroit Lions
Dan Campbell and his Motor City crew didn’t have a kicker after the roster cuts, so they settled on Seibert . Seibert doesn’t do much for me. Seibert is very good from 39 yards and in though, see you a bunch on Thanksgiving.
31- Matt Amendola, New York Jets
Metlife Stadium has historically rough turf, and the Jets besides Jason Meyers have had historically mediocre kickers. Amendola will be another one and done.
30- Sam Ficken, Tennessee Titans
I’ve watched every game of Sam Ficken’s the past two seasons, I’m not a fan. Ficken is a decent college kicker at best, he will cost Mike Vrabel’s team a game or two this year.
29- Josh Lambo, Jacksonville Jaguars
I love Tony Khan, part owner of the Jags, he’s great, between being in the NFL and the Premier League for a long time you think he’d have an eye for kickers. Lambo was 8-10 on PAT’s in 2020. I don’t see Jacksonville scoring a ton, and I think more times drives will end in a punt rather than a field goal attempt.
28- Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans
Fairbairn has a decent leg, his biggest flaw is from 40-50 plus yards. With Houston’s QB situation, and lackluster offense, I don’t except to see a ton of Ka’imi.
27- Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles
New coach Nick Siranni is going to be aggressive. I see that team being aggressive on fourth and short. This will eat into Elliott’s attempts, and he’s going to miss a bunch of them regardless.
26- Greg Joseph, Minnesota Vikings
Super Bowl Champion Greg Joseph that is, yeah he didn’t technically score a point, but hey, still a champ. Joseph hasn’t kicked a field goal since 2019, but still is 89.5 from PAT’S, and went 17-20 on field goals the year before in Cleveland.
Solid, consistency will be key
25- Chase McLaughlin, Cleveland Browns
With a nice bed of grass under his feet, I like the fit of McLaughlin in Cleveland. If McLaughlin can hit from deep, he can be a welcome addition.
24-Ryan Santoso, Carolina Panthers
In a surprising turn of events, Santoso beat Joey Slye for the starting job. Santoso has had an up and down football life. Santoso switched positions in college, being in and out of NFL locker rooms. Time will tell if he’s cut out for the NFL.
23- Quinn Nordin, New England Patriots
Nordin went 96 percent on extra points, at Michigan, and compared his job to NASCAR and cornhole. That will either result in him being replaced after a few misses, or he’s going to thrive in Foxboro.
22- Wil Lutz/ Aldrick Rosas, New Orleans Saints
Lutz solo would be higher on this list, Rosas bogs him down a but. Even with that, this is a very good kicking room. The nice cool air in the Caesars Superdome is a kickers dream. Without Brees, this could be a conservative team in field goal situations.
21- Dustin Hopkins, Washington Football Team
Hopkins is a super solid kicker. He won’t wow you, but he also won’t cost WFT any games.
20- Tristan Viscaino, Los Angeles Chargers
Viscaino beat Michael Badgley, and he will turn some heads. Words out of camp are Viscaino can hit from 57 yards. After losing many close games in 2020, a reliable kicker is necessary for the Bolts.
In the Middle
19- Brandon McManus, Denver Broncos
McManus has all the qualities you want in an NFL kicker, unfortunately he has his inconsistencies from range. If that mile high air is in his favor, McManus can be dangerous.
18- Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears
2019 wasn’t the best year for Santos, but he bounced back nicely in 2020. After the double doink, Chicago needed a kicker they can count on, and Santos is that guy.
17- Graham Gano. New York Giants
Gano had a killer 2020. Similar to the Chargers, the Giants need Gano to be consistent so they can contend in close games. The career 89.6 field goal percentage for Gano is telling. Lets see which Gano the Giants get in 2021.
16- Ryan Succop, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The former Mr. Irrelevant will be busy this year. The Bucs will score, and that’s where Succop scares me. His biggest flaw is his extra points since they were moved back.
Absolute Belters
15- Matt Prater. Arizona Cardinals
This team will either score a lot, or combust. Either way somebody has to kick the extra points, and occasionally when Kingsbury doesn’t go for it, Prater will bang it in from however far.
14- Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals
McPherson by the end of the season could be the kicker who proves to have the most moxie. The former Gator decided to declare early from Florida, then he gets selected in the fifth round. McPherson has a crazy leg, and I think he could be much higher in a few weeks. Rookie of the year potential in these cleats.
13- Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks
Jason Myers had the longest field goal of 2020. Myers also had 121 points last season. The final cherry on top is Myers didn’t miss a field goal either, 24-24. Seattle has a history of great right footed men in Lumen Field. Once this season is over, Myers makes his case for the face of that club.
12- Jason Sanders, Miami Dolphins
22 million dollar man Jason Sanders is ageing like the most fine red wine. Every year in his young career, the soon to be 26 year old has gotten better. Sanders has yet to miss an extra point in his career, and was an All Pro last year. A rising star in the kicking game.
Gray hair, no hair, don’t care
11- Robbie Gould, San Francisco 49ers
Gould had a bounce-back 2020 season, and I think he’s got another season like that in him. Gould will get back to low 90 percent on field goals. Then he will take the Golden Gate Bridge into retirement.
10- Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Backed by a pretty good scoring offense his entire career, Boswell has been equally good at his part. Having a 93.5 percent field goal percentage in 2019, then to raise it to 95 percent in 2020 is what you want to compete.
9- Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers
We all talk about Aaron Rodgers’ Packers career, why not the same for Mason Crosby? The past two years Crosby has been very good from longer than 40 yards. Going 16-16 last season isn’t bad either.
Can’t go wrong
8- Daniel Carlson , Las Vegas Raiders
Carlson is great at extra points, and automatic from 29 and in. Jon Gruden wants to dazzle in Las Vegas this season. Carlson may not get to pull the trigger as much, but Gruden has a guy to count on when he plays it safe inside the 30.
7- Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills
Bass like McPherson has the swag. Bass also singlehandedly won a game for the Bills last season. There will be no sophomore slump for this Bill.
6- Greg Zuerlein, Dallas Cowboys
Legatron wasn’t the best from 50 yards and beyond last season. That aside, if Dallas replicates their offense with Dak from last season, Greg the Leg will be adding to his career 97.1 extra point percentage.
Premium Kickers
5- Rodrigo Blankenship, Indianapolis Colts
I can’t believe Frank Reich didn’t trust Hot Rod. Few players bring fans as much joy as Blankenship, and he’s one of the best at his craft. Indianapolis is a special teams royal family, the newest member is going to explode this season.
4- Matt Gay, Los Angeles Rams
Coming off a 4-4 field goal attempts in the Playoffs, Matt Gay will be another Ram to benefit from Matthew Stafford. Reliable QB play means more attempts for the Utah to score. High scoring offense, big leg, gets you in the top five.
3- Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons
First the Chargers moved to LA, then they got rid of Younghoe Koo. Poor decisions reigned supreme in the old Chargers regime. Koo got out of there, and the former YouTube kicker has become a cult hero. Koo shares that nice Mercedes Benz Stadium turf with Kanye West, and Josef Martinez. What a place to use your feet to make a living.
2- Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens
Justin Tucker misses a couple extra points and field goals, and we forget about him? The disrespect is real, there are few things Tucker can’t do. Tucker will show why he’s a first ballot Hall of Famer in 2021.
1- Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs
I’ve preached, good offenses need good kickers. Well, good kickers also need a good offense. For Harrison Butker he has the best offense in the league, and I believe the Chiefs will have the best kicker in the league. Best quarterback, best tight end, best barbeque, and best kicker. What a time to be a Kansas City resident.
Best of luck to all the kickers, keep those hamstrings loose. Let’s really belt it this season. Someone’s getting a 65 yarder in 2021. See you after week one.