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We're through three weeks of the NFL season, but we'll never get to a place where we can ignore the streamer game at the kicker position in fantasy football. Even though we have three games of data for each team, kicker projections are very elastic week-to-week and it's too early to draw definitive conclusions. Things like whether the game is indoors or outdoors and the projected point total can steer us in the right direction with this frustrating position to predict.
Kicker statistics vary widely year to year and even week-to-week, but if you were one of the first fantasy managers to draft a kicker such as Justin Tucker, Tyler Bass, or Daniel Carlson, you're likely starting them every week. It's worth noting Harrison Butker could be back for the Chiefs this week after injuring his ankle in Week 1 (Update 10/1: Butker has officially been ruled out). He's missed the last two games but was a close call for the Week 3 contest with the Colts. Austin Seibert is out for Week 4, with Dominik Eberle stepping in.
For the rest of us who are playing the weekly streamer game at kicker, we're relying on a lot of variables for our kicker to deliver a solid fantasy performance, but that's just the name of the game for leagues that utilize the position. Kickers such as Riley Patterson and Cade York have been the biggest surprises thus far, so it's time they enter the fantasy radar.
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Week 4 Kicker Rankings for Fantasy Football
| Rank | Tier | Kicker | Opponent | Over/Under |
| 1 | 1 | Tyler Bass | @ BAL | 51.5 |
| 2 | 1 | Justin Tucker | vs. BUF | 51.5 |
| 3 | 1 | Matt Gay | @ ARI | 51 |
| 4 | 1 | Younghoe Koo | vs. CLE | 48 |
| 5 | 2 | Daniel Carlson | vs. DEN | 44 |
| 7 | 2 | Evan McPherson | vs. MIA | 47.5 |
| 8 | 2 | Ryan Succop | vs. KC | 44 |
| 9 | 2 | Jason Sanders | @ CIN | 47.5 |
| 10 | 2 | Jake Elliott | vs. JAX | 48.5 |
| 11 | 2 | Riley Patterson | @ PHI | 48.5 |
| 12 | 3 | Matt Prater | @ CAR | 44 |
| 13 | 3 | Dustin Hopkins | @ HOU | 46 |
| 14 | 3 | Brandon McManus | @ LV | 44 |
| 15 | 3 | Dominik Eberle | vs. SEA | 50 |
| 16 | 3 | Greg Joseph | vs. NO* | 44 |
| 17 | 3 | Ka'imi Fairbairn | vs. LAC | 46 |
| 18 | 3 | Cade York | @ ATL | 48 |
| 19 | 3 | Chris Boswell | vs. NYJ | 41.5 |
| 20 | 3 | Jason Myers | @ DET | 50 |
| 21 | 4 | Robbie Gould | @ DEN | 43.5 |
| 22 | 4 | Chase McLaughlin | vs. TEN | 42.5 |
| 23 | 4 | Joey Slye | @ DAL | 42.5 |
| 24 | 4 | Eddy Piñeiro | vs. ARI | 44 |
| 25 | 4 | Graham Gano | vs. CHI | 39.5 |
| 26 | 4 | Mason Crosby | vs. NE | 44 |
| 27 | 4 | Wil Lutz | vs. MIN* | 44 |
| 28 | 4 | Nick Folk | @ GB | 44 |
| 29 | 4 | Randy Bullock | @ IND | 42.5 |
| 30 | 5 | Brett Maher | vs. WAS | 42.5 |
| 31 | 5 | Greg Zuerlein | @ PIT | 41.5 |
| 32 | 5 | Cairo Santos | @ NYG | 39.5 |
* Game in London
Kicker Streamers to Target for Week 4
Note: Only players who are rostered in fewer than 50 percent of fantasy football leagues are considered streamers.
Riley Patterson, Jacksonville Jaguars (at Eagles)
Patterson is one of the least-rostered fantasy kickers in the NFL, despite placing as a top-five scoring player at the position through three weeks. The Jaguars offense looks alive and well under Doug Peterson after they stomped the Los Angeles Chargers, so Patterson's breakout could continue in the Peterson revenge game in Philadelphia.
Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks (at Lions)
Myers is in a good spot in the Seahawks-Lions matchup since the total is projected at 50 points and the game is indoors. Myers hasn't delivered a great fantasy performance yet, but the situation is right for an adequate fantasy showing in Week 4.
Kicker Busts to Avoid for Week 4
Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Jets)
Boswell is a top-12 fantasy kicker through three weeks, but the matchup with the Jets could prove problematic for all fantasy-relevant players involved. The total is set at 41.5 and even though the Jets' defense looks atrocious, there's no guarantee the Steelers' offense can take advantage in this spot. If you trust Mitchell Trubisky and company to get it together, Boswell is a fine option, but he carries plenty of bust risk.
Graham Gano, New York Giants (vs. Bears)
Gano is probably one of the best "real-life" kickers in the NFL, but with outdoor kicking conditions and a 39.5 projected point total, this isn't the game to trust him. This could be one of the ugliest offensive matchups throughout the entire NFL season and there are plenty of kickers on waivers that could be a part of all-out shootouts.
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