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Week 2 has wrapped up, and, while some kickers put up some great numbers, others kicked themselves out of a job. Through two weeks, we've seen multiple surprises at the top of the kicker scorers. Players like Chandler Catanzaro and Randy Bullock are making a name for themselves early this season.
Heading into Week 3, some people will have to make some changes to their lineups with Zane Gonzalez and Daniel Carlson losing their jobs Monday morning. Dan Bailey, the second most accurate kicker in NFL history, will be replacing Carlson on that Minnesota Vikings squad.
There are a lot of matchups this week with serious shootout potential. Kicker legs should be busy this week, and that makes picking the right ones all the more important. Let's rank the most valuable legs in fantasy football this week. Reminder that Greg Zuerlein is out for a few weeks, and he was omitted from these rankings.
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Week 3 Kickers To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings
Tier 1 NFL Kickers
1. Dan Bailey (MIN) vs BUF
2. Harrison Butker (KC) vs SF
3. Stephen Gostkowski (NE) @ DET
4. Mason Crosby (GB) @ WAS
5. Randy Bullock (CIN) @ CAR
The Minnesota Vikings come off a tie against the Green Bay Packers where Carlson had three field goal attempts, and he missed all three. They signed Bailey, who receives a matchup with the lowly Buffalo Bills to start his tenure. For that reason, he immediately vaults to the top of the kicker ranks.
Butker and the Kansas City Chiefs look to continue their offensive onslaught on the NFL against the San Francisco 49ers. The defense has looked rough so far, but the offense and Butker should make up for that. New England gets a matchup against the Detroit Lions who have struggled to stop anyone through two weeks. Gostkowski will be busy all game long.
If Crosby makes the game-winner in overtime, he would have finished tied for 24th overall among all players in PPR this week. This week he draws a reeling Washington Redskins team. The Cincinnati Bengals offense has looked like one of the best in football through two weeks. They should give Bullock plenty of opportunities to score this week.
Tier 2 NFL Kickers
6. Josh Lambo (JAX) vs TEN
7. Chandler Catanzaro (TB) vs PIT
8. Graham Gano (CAR) vs CIN
9. Chris Boswell (PIT) @ TB
10. Wil Lutz (NO) @ ATL
Myers and the Jacksonville Jaguars draw the struggling Tennessee Titans. If Marcus Mariota is limited or doesn't play, Myers should be on the field early and often. Catanzaro and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have lit up two defenses in two weeks. Things get even easier against the struggling Pittsburgh Steelers defense, that just gave up 42 points to Butker and the Chiefs. Gano and the Carolina Panthers take on the Bengals this week. This game has shootout potential if Andy Dalton keeps up his improved play.
Boswell has struggled to start the season, but the Buccanneers should give him more opportunities to turn things around. The Steelers offense is still one of the best in the NFL which only benefits Boswell. Lutz and the New Orleans Saints are close to putting everything together, and the Atlanta Falcons defense gives them the opportunity to do that this week. Atlanta has struggled, and multiple key starters are out, which leaves them vulnerable.
Tier 3 NFL Kickers
11. Robbie Gould (SF) @ KC
12. Justin Tucker (BAL) vs DEN
13. Matt Bryant (ATL) vs NO
14. Cody Parkey (CHI) @ ARI
15. Dustin Hopkins (WAS) vs GB
As good as the Chiefs offense has been, their defense has been equally bad. Gould and the 49ers will enjoy a soft matchup this week, as he looks to keep rolling. This ranking of Tucker is far lower than normal, but there is no way to know what the Baltimore Ravens offense will look like. If they look like last week, he won't have many opportunities to score. Bryant and the Falcons lit the Panthers up last week. They have the potential to get into a shootout with the Saints this week, but they can't slump as they have under Steve Sarkisian in the past.
The Arizona Cardinals have been one of the worst teams in football so far. Parkey and the Bears will enjoy the softer matchup after meeting with the Seattle Seahawks and Green Bay Packers. Hopkins was busy last week against the Indianapolis Colts. The Packers defense has looked vulnerable this season, but they hold up when necessary, which will usher Hopkins onto the field.
Kickers to Avoid
Ryan Succop of the Titans draws the Jaguars this week. Mariota may be limited or not play again this week, and, if he's not active, they will be further behind the 8-ball with Blaine Gabbert at quarterback. We could see a repeat of the Ravens-Bills matchup from week one in a hurry.
Aldrick Rosas and the New York Giants take on the Houston Texans this week. The offense has looked disjointed through the first two weeks of the season, and their matchup isn't any easier this week. They need to get it together before he can be counted on in your fantasy lineups.
Caleb Sturgis of the Los Angeles Chargers has a brutal matchup this week. The Los Angeles Rams have been arguably the best defense in football. While the Chargers have a good offense, this week just might be too much for them, and Sturgis will have limited opportunities to get on the field.
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