December 26, 2016

Jacob Valov's Week 17 tiered rankings & streamers for all NFL kickers. Fantasy football starts, sits, and waiver wire pickups for week fourteen of the 2016 season.

It’s Week 17 and it’s once again time for kicker rankings! This list is here to help all of us figure out who’s gonna kick for our teams this week, and make those streaming or start/sit decisions easier.

While finding a good FLEX and starting the right QB are crucial to winning your matchups, anyone who’s worth their salt will tell you the true X-factor in fantasy matchups can be the kicker.

Picking the right guy could net you 10 extra points any given Sunday, clinching you a victory, frustrating your opponents, and making you seem like a god amongst men - for you have proven to be the true Prophet of Special Teams. So buckle up buckaroos, things are bound to get wild as we dive into the mysterious world of kicker rankings...

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 17 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - CUTS

Week 17 Kickers To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Tier 1 NFL Kickers

1. Chris Boswell (vs CLE)
2. Justin Tucker (@ CIN)
3. Steven Hauschka (@ SF)
4. Matt Bryant (vs NO)

While the Steelers don’t have anything to play for in this game, the Browns are still the Browns. They won their game against San Diego, they didn’t go winless, now it’s time to stink up the joint and lock in that No. 1 pick. Even with their backups in, the Steelers should roll the Browns, and when they get stopped on drives early on before they find their rhythm, Boswell will be there to keep the train rolling.

While the Falcons hold the tiebreaker over the Lions and Packers, the Seahawks are hot on their tails for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs. The Falcons are going to need to put the Saints away to lock up their first round bye, and Bryant is just the man to get the job done. He nailed two 50-yard kicks last week, and is prime to do so again as the Red Birds should flush the Saints out into the bayou.

Tier 2 NFL Kickers

5. Stephen Gostkowski (@ MIA)
6. Graham Gano (@ TB)
7. Dan Bailey (@ PHI)
8. Mason Crosby (@ DET)
9. Josh Lambo (vs KC)
10. Sebastian Janikowski (@ DEN)

The Patriots need a win to lock up the No. 1 seed, and the Dolphins can’t improve their playoff seeding-- simple as that. The ‘Phins ought to rest their starters and the Pats should cruise to a victory, leading to many Gostkowski points.

After losing to Cleveland last week on a missed kick, my beautiful son Josh Lambo (forever RotoBaller Kicker Rankings' favorite kicker) is going to kick himself dizzy against a Chiefs team looking to whoop ass and take names in their quest for the No. 2 seed in the AFC. Will the Chargers hold off the Chiefs? Not a chance. Will Filipe Rios and Co. make it interesting? You bet your bottom dollar. Lambo is gonna have a fun one.

Tier 3 NFL Kickers

11. Chandler Catanzaro (@ LA)
12. Adam Vinatieri (vs JAX)
13. Dan Carpenter (@ NYJ)
14. Wil Lutz (@ ATL)
15. Jason Myers (@ IND)
16. Robbie Gould (@ WAS)

Buffalo fighting for Rex Ryan’s job against a team whose coach admitted to being a bad coach? Sign me up, sir. The Carpenter has entered the shop, and is going to dismantle 53 Jets before our very eyes.

Tier 4 NFL Kickers

17. Dustin Hopkins (vs NYG)
18. Matt Prater (vs GB)
19. Ryan Succop (vs HOU)
20. Caleb Sturgis (vs DAL)

Aaron Rodgers is back to being Aaron Rodgers, and if the Detroit Lions want to have any hope of staying alive and making the playoffs, they’re going to need to score on almost every drive. Enter Matt Prater: 195 lbs of lean, mean, kicking machine.

Tier 5 NFL Kickers

21. Andrew Franks (vs NE)
22. Roberto Aguayo (vs CAR)
23. Brandon McManus (vs OAK)
24. Randy Bullock (vs BAL)