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Week 7 is upon us, and the NFL kickers remain as impossible as ever to predict. A week after finishing third among kickers, Tenessee Titans kicker Ryan Succop finished with zero points. New York Jets kicker Jason Myers finished as a top-20 scorer among all players in most formats this week.
There are some juicy matchups this week, and we could see a lot of big numbers out of kickers this week. Weather could also start to play more of a factor moving forward as it starts to cool off around the country, the ball won't travel as far when it's struck. Keep that in mind when setting lineups.
There are even more players on bye this week, so take that into consideration. Sebastian Janikowski, Mason Crosby, Chris Boswell, and Matt McCrane are all out this week. This could be an opportunity for lesser-known commodities to crack your lineups this week and carry you to victory.
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Week 7 Kickers To Start & Stream: Tiers & Rankings
Tier 1 NFL Kickers
1. Greg Zuerlein (LAR) @ SF
2. Matt Bryant (ATL) vs NYG
3. Adam Vinatieri (IND) vs BUF
4. Mike Badgley (LAC) vs TEN
5. Dan Bailey (MIN) @ NYJ
A top-five offense versus a bottom-five defense gives Los Angeles Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein (groin) a great matchup in his return. The San Francisco 49ers have struggled this year, and that won't get much better against this Rams group. Matt Bryant and the Atlanta Falcons don't have an amazing record, but they have a great offense. That should hold again this week against a New York Giants team that continues to struggle this season.
The Indianapolis Colts defense struggles to stop anyone, but their offense performs well, which gives Vinatieri more opportunities, especially against a struggling Buffalo Bills team. Badgley and the Los Angeles Chargers have the Tennessee Titans that just got ran over by the Baltimore Ravens. The Chargers should score more than a few points this week. Minnesota kicker Dan Bailey is one of the most accurate kickers of all time. The New York Jets defense has been good this season, but the Vikings offense is better.
Tier 2 NFL Kickers
6. Harrison Butker (KC) vs CIN
7. Wil Lutz (NO) @ BAL
8. Brandon McManus (DEN) @ ARI
9. Jake Elliott (PHI) vs CAR
10. Graham Gano (CAR) @ PHI
No matter the matchup, the Kansas City Chiefs and Butker seem to score a lot of points. Against the Cincinnati Bengals this week, they should keep that going. Wil Lutz and the New Orleans Saints return from their bye against a stout Baltimore Ravens defense, but their offense can make up for it and give Lutz opportunities. The Denver Broncos offense has struggled mightily, but the Arizona Cardinals are worse on defense. McManus is a good option on the road this week.
Philadelphia and Elliot are getting their groove back with Carson Wentz under center. While Carolina is a good defensive group, this offense can consistently put up points. Across from Elliot, Gano isn't a bad option this week either. The Panthers can move the ball effectively, and Gano has a big leg. If they don't score touchdowns, Gano can make it from just about anywhere on the field.
Tier 3 NFL Kickers
11. Stephen Gostkowski (NE) @ CHI
12. Chandler Catanzaro (TB) @ CLE
13. Matt Prater (DET) @ MIA
14. Randy Bullock (CIN) @ KC
15. Justin Tucker (BAL) vs NO
Stephen Gostkowski and the New England Patriots are always a great pairing. The Chicago Bears defense can put the clamps down at times, but Gostkowski should still have a good week. Tampa Bay hardly missed a beat with the full return of quarterback Jameis Winston. Chandler Catanzaro draws a Cleveland Browns team that has been up-and-down so far this year.
Matt Prater and the Detroit Lions don't have a great defense, but they have a pretty good offense. The Miami Dolphins just gave up 28 to the Bears, so Prater should keep busy this week. Bullock and the Bengals are a consistent group. They score at least 20 every week, and that should hold true against a soft Kansas City defense. Justin Tucker and the Ravens can struggle on offense at times, but he always seems to be a good option in fantasy football no matter what.
Kickers to Avoid
Josh Lambo of the Jacksonville Jaguars was a strong option to start the season, but he has fell victim to the struggling offense the past couple weeks. Until they get their groove back, he can't be played because they aren't scoring enough.
Succop and the Tennessee Titans got embarrassed on Sunday, and their matchup isn't much easier next week. The Los Angeles Chargers are steadily gaining steam on both sides of the ball. It could get ugly fast next weekend.
Phil Dawson of the Arizona Cardinals plays against the Denver Broncos this week. While this isn't the Super Bowl-winning unit of a couple seasons ago, they sacked Jared Goff five times on Sunday. The Cardinals offensive line could get worked over on Thursday night, which will keep Dawson on the sideline.
More Weekly Lineup Prep
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