Knowing which kickers to start in fantasy football can be critical to winning your matchups. This position, arguably more so than any other, is matchup-dependent on a weekly basis, and fantasy managers can obtain the best results by being flexible with a streaming strategy. Here’s a look at our Week 18 fantasy kicker rankings and the top options to stream this week.
Week 18 Kicker Rankings for Fantasy Football
The rankings below are from Senior Fantasy Analyst Tommy Garrett. For analysis on our top kicker streamers for Week 18, scroll past the table. If you want another way to apply this advice, believe it or not, Underdog Fantasy often has kicker pick’ems in addition to the usual array of skill-position players.
The table is best viewed in landscape on mobile devices and can be sorted using the filters above the table.
Top Week 18 Kicker Streamers
Here are my top fantasy kicker streamers, all of whom are rostered in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues.
Riley Patterson, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. TEN)
Well, Riley Patterson finally made it onto the first page of Yahoo’s projections. It’s still not enough, though.
Patterson has been stellar since the Jaguars became a proficient offense. Since the Jaguars’ Week 11 bye, Patterson is averaging double-digit fantasy points per game. Last week was the first time in over two months that Patterson didn’t attempt multiple field goals. He made up for it with four extra points.
MORE: Week 18 PPR Fantasy Football Rankings
When the Jaguars beat the Titans in Week 14, Patterson hit three field goals and three extra points.
The Jaguars are touchdown home favorites on Saturday night in a de facto playoff game to decide the winner of the AFC South. They should have no shortage of scoring opportunities. Patterson is the top kicker streamer for Week 18.
Eddy Pineiro, Carolina Panthers (at NO)
We go from a game with the highest of stakes to a game without absolutely no stakes. The Panthers’ season ended last week with their loss to the Bucs. The Saints have been eliminated for weeks.
Prior to last week, Eddy Pineiro had attempted and made three field goals in four consecutive games. He’s made 94% of his kicks this season. Yet, for some reason, Pineiro has this week’s honor of not appearing on the first page of Yahoo projections.
Pineiro has been excellent all season, including a 12 fantasy point effort when these teams met in Week 2.
The Panthers’ offense has been humming with Sam Darnold under center. Although the team has nothing to play for, Darnold and company have enough motivation to play for future contracts that they should be able to move the ball plenty well against the Saints, resulting in multiple field goal opportunities for Pineiro.
Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. CLE)
This one is the riskiest of the three streamers. Chris Boswell is a great kicker, but kicking in Pittsburgh in the heart of winter doesn’t exactly present the most ideal of conditions.
Boswell has attempted four field goals in each of his last two games. The Steelers are small home favorites against the Browns, who are playing for nothing. Meanwhile, the Steelers are playing for an outside shot at a playoff berth if things break right.
When these teams last met in Week 3, Boswell attempted two field goals and made both of his extra points. With the Steelers’ offense good enough to sustain drives but not good enough to finish them, we have a perfect setup for Boswell to attempt multiple field goals once again. Other than the weather, we can’t ask for better circumstances.