Week 15 Kicker Streamers and Starts - 2023 Fantasy Tiers, Rankings

December 14, 2023

Tony Camino breaks down all 2023 fantasy football Week 15 kickers - streamers, starts, sits, targets, avoids, and waiver wire pickups. Our Week 15 rankings and tiers for all of the NFL kickers.

The fantasy football playoffs is here for most leagues, and congrats to all of you out there who made it! Today we are back with more fantasy football advice to help you set those winning lineups with our Week 15 fantasy football kicker streamers and starts. Selecting the right kicker could be the difference between winning or losing your league matchup. 

Last week presented challenges for several kickers. Matt Gay missed both of his kicks. Blake Grupe missed his only field goal attempt but successfully hit four extra points. Jake Moody did not attempt a single field goal but made all four extra points. Greg Zuerlein had a standout performance, posting 17 points, particularly boosted by Zach Wilson and the Jets' offense unexpectedly coming alive. Additionally, Lucas Havrisik had a career-best day following the team's signing of Mason Crosby.

Let’s get back to our successful ways this week for the playoff matchups. Here are the Week 15 rankings and kickers to stream and avoid.

Week 15 Kicker Rankings for Fantasy Football

Kicker Streamers to Target in Week 15

All streamers in this article are rostered in under 60% of Yahoo leagues.

Brandon McManus (JAX) vs. Baltimore Ravens (45% Rostered)

Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Brandon McManus ranks as the fourth-best fantasy kicker this year, averaging 9.08 points per game. He has scored in double figures six times this year and has only missed two kicks since Week 3. In Week 14, he faced a very difficult matchup against the Browns in Cleveland, where all kickers and offenses struggle. The 32-year-old didn't attempt a field goal but hit all three extra points, marking just his third game under seven points all year.

The Jaguars take on the Ravens in Week 15, who have allowed the ninth-most points per game to kickers this season. While the Ravens' defense poses a tough task for the Jaguars' offense, it's worth noting that the Ravens allowed 31 points a week ago at home against the Rams. Options at kicker this week are thin, as most of the best matchups involve the highest-rostered players. McManus is an accurate kicker on a solid offense with a mostly healthy quarterback, giving him streaming value this week.

Riley Patterson (DET) vs. Denver Broncos (52% Rostered)

Detroit Lions kicker Riley Patterson has missed just two field goals all season but averages only 6.15 points per game due to a lack of volume and missed extra points. With Dan Campbell being one of the most aggressive coaches on fourth down, Patterson has had zero field goal attempts in six games this year, including three of the last four games. In Week 14, the 24-year-old went one for two on extra points with no field goal attempts, resulting in an underwhelming day.

The Lions take on the Broncos in Week 15, who allow the 12th-most points per game to kickers this season. The game takes place in Detroit, where Patterson has missed just one field goal attempt and two kicks overall all year. His only successful attempt from 50 yards or more came in Detroit in Week 8, as the dome allows the young kicker to thrive. The Broncos defense has struggled against the run all year, and the Lions rank sixth in rush rate this year. The Lions should move the ball with little resistance, and if they don't go for every fourth down, Patterson should have a solid game.

Kickers to Avoid in Week 15

Fantasy players should always stream the kicker position. However, it’s important to avoid picking up and starting a kicker that will be a bust. Let’s see which two kickers you shouldn’t pick up off the waiver wire this week.

Daniel Carlson (LV) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (40% Rostered)

Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson has been notably quiet over the last few games as the Raiders' offense has struggled to find consistency. He has scored in double figures just three times all season, with those performances coming against the Patriots, Giants, and Jets. In Week 14, the Raiders offense had a particularly challenging outing, and Carlson didn't attempt a single kick, finishing the game with zero points. Despite having at least two kicks in every other game, he was left shut out in this particular slugfest.

In Week 15, the Raiders face the Chargers, who allow the fifth-fewest points per game to kickers this season. While the dome conditions will be ideal for kicking, the Raiders offense may not inspire confidence. Josh Jacobs, who injured his knee in Week 14, is at risk of missing the game. The combination of a potentially absent Jacobs, a struggling passing attack, and a less effective running game does not bode well for the overall effectiveness of the Las Vegas offense.

Cairo Santos (CHI) at Cleveland Browns (3% Rostered)

Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos has been a significant beneficiary of the Bears' offensive improvement over the last few weeks. The 32-year-old has scored at least 10 points in four straight games, missing just one field goal and one extra point during that time. With the return of Justin Fields, the Chicago offense has notably turned things around, putting together more scoring drives than usual. In Week 14, Santos made all three field goals and was one for two on extra points.

However, the challenge lies in Week 15 as the Bears face the Browns, who allow the third-fewest points per game to kickers this season. Complicating matters, the game is in Cleveland, where the Browns boast a 6-1 record and no kicker has scored more than five points in a game this year. Cleveland's winter weather conditions can be brutal, making kicking less than ideal. Combined with the Browns' defense performing exceptionally at home, these adverse conditions are likely to slow down both offenses and kicking. Kicking in Cleveland in December is arguably one of the toughest environments in the league, and despite Santos' recent hot streak, he should be avoided in this particular matchup.

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