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Robert Lorge breaks down all 2021 fantasy football Week 16 kickers -- streamers, starts, sits, targets, avoids, and waiver wire pickups. His Week 16 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL kickers.
What a cluster Week 15 was. Not only did fantasy managers have to deal with countless Covid-19 cases, but three games were delayed adding even more intrigue.....or frustration. We haven't even gotten to the actual games yet. You know, the one where the Buccaneers were shut out and Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Leonard Fournette all left the game early. Or how about the Cardinals getting destroyed by the lowly Lions?
The craziness carried over to the kickers because well, why not? Ka'imi Fairbairn, the Houston Texans kicker, led all kickers in points scored through Sunday evening. Think about that – the Texans kicker! If that just wasn't crazy enough, Riley Patterson, the Lions' kicker, was the third-best kicker. We're not done yet, Matthew Wright, the Jaguars' kicker, was the sixth-best kicker off the week.
Ryan Succop of the Buccaneers ended up with negative points, so there was that. Justin Tucker, Matt Prater and Nick Folk all finished with six points or less. If you happened to have a bye during the first week of the playoffs, well, lucky you. No, seriously. Lucky you. Week 15 was filled with a bunch of randomness and Covid-19 landmines. If you managed to win your Week 15 – well done. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back because you deserve it.
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Week 16 Kicker Rankings for Fantasy Football
| Tier | Kicker | Opponent | PPG | Over/Under | Confidence |
| 1 | Matt Gay | @ MIN | 9.8 | 49 | 9.9 |
| Greg Joseph | vs LAR | 9.3 | 49 | 9.8 | |
| Justin Tucker | @ CIN | 9.6 | 44.5 | 9.8 | |
| Harrison Butker | vs PIT | 8.6 | 46.5 | 9.7 | |
| Daniel Carlson | vs DEN | 9.2 | 42.5 | 9.5 | |
| Nick Folk | vs BUF | 10.6 | 43.5 | 9.4 | |
| 2 | Matt Prater | vs IND | 8.4 | 49 | 8.9 |
| Greg Zuerlein | vs WAS | 8.1 | 47.5 | 8.8 | |
| Tyler Bass | @ NE | 8.4 | 43.5 | 8.7 | |
| Chris Boswell | @ KC | 9.1 | 46.5 | 8.5 | |
| Dustin Hopkins | @ HOU | 8.2 | 47.5 | 8.4 | |
| Evan McPherson | vs BAL | 9.1 | 44.5 | 8.3 | |
| Jake Elliott | vs NYG | 8.5 | 42 | 8.3 | |
| 3 | Robbie Gould | @ TEN | 8.2 | 44.5 | 7.8 |
| Ryan Succop | @ CAR | 7.0 | 47.5 | 7.8 | |
| Mason Crosby | vs CLE | 7.3 | 45 | 7.7 | |
| Michael Badgley | @ ARI | 7.6 | 49 | 7.6 | |
| Randy Bullock | vs SF | 7.8 | 44.5 | 7.4 | |
| Younghoe Koo | vs DET | 6.7 | 44.5 | 7.4 | |
| Brian Johnson | @ DAL | 6.2 | 47.5 | 7.3 | |
| 4 | Riley Patterson | @ ATL | 8.3 | 44.5 | 6.8 |
| Brett Maher | vs MIA | 6.4 | 40.5 | 6.8 | |
| Jason Sanders | @ NO | 6.2 | 40.5 | 6.7 | |
| Panthers Kicker | vs TB | TBD | 47.5 | 6.5 | |
| Jason Myers | vs CHI | 4.8 | 44 | 6.3 | |
| Chase McLaughlin | @ GB | 6.2 | 45 | 6.3 | |
| Brandon McManus | @ LVR | 7.1 | 42.5 | 6.1 | |
| 5 | Ka’imi Fairbairn | vs LAC | 5.5 | 47.5 | 5.6 |
| Cairo Santos | @ SEA | 6.4 | 44 | 5.4 | |
| Matthew Wright | @ NYJ | 5.0 | 41.5 | 5.3 | |
| Matt Ammendola | vs JAX | 4.1 | 41.5 | 5.2 | |
| Graham Gano | @ PHI | 7.3 | 42 | 5.0 |
Kicker Streamers to Target for Week 16
Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons
It's not easy to recommend Koo this season as he's averaging just 6.7 points per game, but the matchup is one of the best in the NFL. The Detroit Lions have allowed the second-most points to opposing kickers at 10.5 points per game and that's really what fantasy managers are betting on here. The Falcons have largely struggled on offense, averaging just 18.4 points per game, which ranks 26th across the league. On the flip side, the Lions' defense has allowed the seventh-most points per game at 26.1.
Harrison Butker, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs' offense had been struggling a bit, but no more. They've scored 32.7 points per game since their bye week. They have a matchup against the Steelers in Week 16 who haven't been able to come close to replicating their defensive performance from 2020. They're allowing the 11th-most points per game to opposing offenses. This is an excellent matchup for Butker with an implied point total of 46.5 points at home. The Steelers have also been extremely generous to kickers this season, giving up 10 points per game, which is the third-highest.
Jake Elliott, Philadelphia
Elliott has become a staple in this category the past few weeks and it's for good reason. Since Week 8, he's been the No. 2 kicker with a 12.2 point per game average. That includes four games of 14 points or more. Talk about upside, am I right? Not to mention, the Eagles are in the playoff hunt, which is always a good thing. Meanwhile, the Giants are an absolute disaster. They're giving up the 12th-most points to opposing offenses and they've been even more generous to opposing kickers. They've allowed 9.8 points per game to kickers this season, which is the fourth-highest in the NFL. Fire up Elliott again.
Kicker Busts to Avoid for Week 16
Matt, Prater, Arizona Cardinals
Prater has really struggled lately. He started off the season on fire, scoring 12 or more points in three of his first games. In five of his next six games, he scored seven or less with the lone game being nine. Since Week 7, he's tied for 16th among kickers in points per game with just 7.7. The Cardinals' offense has not looked good the past couple of games and now will be adjusting to the loss of DeAndre Hopkins. In Week 16, the Cardinals play against the Colts who have largely struggled in pass defense, but have been exceptional defending the run. That's not ideal for the Cardinals as they have struggled to move the ball through the air in recent weeks. The Colts are allowing the third-fewest points to opposing kickers this season at just 5.6 points per game. Until we see the Cardinals' offense get back on track, Prater is best avoided.
Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Boswell has attempted the fourth-most field goals this season, which has helped him be an extremely dependable kicker. This is because of the struggles of the Pittsburgh offense. They've failed to finish drives and have often had to settle for field goals. They're scoring just 20.8 points per game, which ranks just 21st in the NFL. The problem is they're running into quite possibly the hottest defense in the NFL in Week 16, the Kansas City Chiefs. In their past seven games, they've given up just 13.2 points per game. On the season, they're allowing the sixth-fewest points to kickers at just 6.5 points per game. Avoid Boswell at all costs.
Randy Bullock, Tennessee Titans
Bullock started the season really well and through the first eight weeks of the season, he was the No. 4. Then Derrick Henry went on IR. From Weeks 9–14, he's been No 26 with a 5.2 point per game average. It's been really ugly. Since Week 9, the Titans' offense is averaging just 18.3 points per game. Just for a point of reference, the Jets are averaging 17.9 points per game. In Week 16, the Titans face off against the 49ers, who have allowed the eighth-fewest points to opposing kickers at just 6.8 points per game.
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