It’s Week 6 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 making 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 more Week 6 waiver wire recommendations, for all other positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Week 6 Kickers To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings

Tier 1 NFL Kickers

1. Dustin Hopkins (vs PHI)
2. Stephen Gostkowski (vs CIN)
3. Adam Vinatieri (@ HOU)
4. Chandler Catanzaro (vs NYJ)
5. Steven Hauschka (vs ATL)

Angry Brady has returned, and true to his name he is coming for blood. The poor Browns were only the first of what looks to be many casualties in Brady’s march to the SuperBowl, and a struggling Bengals team are up next. While the Bengals will put up more of a fight than the Browns (read: any fight at all), Brady should tear them limb from limb and Stephen GOATkowski will only be the beneficiary.

Hoosh-Money returns to our kicker rankings after the Seahawks bye and is in line for a big day against a red hot Atlanta team (get it, the Falcons wear red) that should force Seattle’s offense into putting up points with great frequency to keep up. After beating the Broncos in Denver, Atlanta has proven they can score on whoever they want to (and the LOB isn’t as good as CHJ and Da Bois anyway), so Hauschka is going to be integral to Seattle staying in the game.

 
Tier 2 NFL Kickers

6. Josh Brown (vs BAL)
7. Justin Tucker (@ NYG)
8. Chris Boswell (@ MIA)
9. Cairo Santos (@ OAK)
10. Dan Bailey (@ GB)

Streaming kickers against Miami is never a bad idea, and the trend continues as the high-powered Steelers offense takes on the sad, sad Dolphins. The Steelers offense has been outstanding following the return of Le’Veon Bell and they couldn’t ask for an easier matchup to keep the electricity flowing. Boswell is a great play this week, and could even be underrated on our rankings. Fun Fact: Dwyane Wade didn’t leave Miami for money, he wanted to get as far away from the Dolphins as possible.

Another guy sorely missed from kicker rankings is Cairo Santos. After taking a week off to dramatically stare into still lake water, analyze their reflections and ask themselves who they really are after a crushing loss to the Steelers Week 4, the Chiefs are back in action playing a surprising 4-1 Oakland team in OakTown. Oakland’s defense has started to look better, but remains hot garbage until proven otherwise. Their point differential on the season is only +12, so expect this game to be very close until the last moments, which means Santos should be seeing the field plenty as the teams trade blows.

 
Tier 3 NFL Kickers

11. Graham Gano (@ NO)
12. Josh Lambo (vs DEN)
13. Mason Crosby (vs DAL)
14. Matt Bryant (@ SEA)

Another week, another blurb about my son, Josh Lambo. I predicted a solid outing from him last week, and he delivered. He could have had an extra field goal added onto his total score, but the Chargers in true Charger fashion managed to botch the hold on a perfectly snapped ball. (I may be able to predict how kickers will play, but I can’t predict how the Chargers will lose next) Regardless, kicker rankings fan favorite Josh Lambo should be a solid play once again as the Chargers look to exploit the same weaknesses Atlanta found against Denver and put themselves in prime position to shoot themselves in the foot once more.

Most would expect Matt Bryant to be a little higher on my kicker rankings, seeing as Atlanta is on fire and tearing through anyone who dares stand before them, but unfortunately, this success isn’t going to lead to Matt Bryant being a great kicker play. Atlanta is just too good at finishing drives with TDs. Bryant will get a lot of XP work, and a field goal here and there, but until Atlanta’s wheels fall off in a couple weeks per usual for them, he isn’t going to be the elite play people want him to be.

 
Tier 4 NFL Kickers

15. Caleb Sturgis (@ WAS)
16. Ryan Succop (vs CLE)
17. Matt Prater (vs LA)
18. Greg Zuerlein (@ DET)

Caleb Sturgis is a name not many may recognize, but one people should start paying attention to. Carson Wentz turned Philly from an expected 2 win team into an NFC contender and Sturgis is all the beneficiary. While he won’t get a ton of field goals, his XP work will be consistent (ala Matt Bryant) and offers interesting streaming value for those looking for a one-week play any given Sunday.

 
Tier 5 NFL Kickers

19. Wil Lutz (vs CAR)
20. Sebastian Janikowski (vs KC)
21. Nick Novak (vs IND)
22. Mike Nugent (@ NE)
23. Dan Carpenter (vs SF)
24. Brandon McManus (@ SD)

While Sebastian Janikowski had a great, 4 FG day against San Diego last week, he hasn’t had that kind of success all season. The Raiders offense is usually much more efficient in the red zone, but the Chargers surprisingly managed to slow them down enough to require Janikowski’s help (the first team to really do so). This can’t be expected week to week, however, and Janikowski remains a boom/bust play.