When it comes to fantasy football, few positions offer less separation than the kicker. The gap between the best options and the ones sitting on your waiver wire is often much smaller than fantasy managers realize, making this a position you shouldn't spend much time or draft capital on.
That's not to say kickers don't matter. They still account for a spot in your starting lineup and can swing a matchup in any given week. But the key is understanding how little separates most of them and avoiding the temptation to overpay for last year's top scorer. To help with that process, I've outlined a tiered strategy based on the Footballguys Consensus Rankings for all 32 projected starting kickers in the NFL.
Pro Tip
I've emphasized this point in previous articles, but the message remains the same every season: If your league rules allow it, don't draft a kicker.
Over the last five seasons, the gap between the top kicker and the 15th-ranked kicker has averaged only about 2.5 fantasy points per week. There simply isn't enough variation to justify spending a draft pick on the position when that roster spot could be used to add another player with greater upside.
And that's assuming you can even count on the elite kickers to be consistent. Last year's No. 1 kicker, Jason Myers, scored 10 or fewer fantasy points in the majority of his games.
Instead of drafting a kicker, use that final roster spot on a running back or wide receiver and wait as long as possible for injuries, depth-chart changes, or other late-breaking news. Then, heading into Week 1, pick up the best available kicker from waivers by dropping or trading a player you no longer need.
PS: You should do the same with Team Defense.
Tier 1: Kickers to Target
When selecting your Week 1 starting kicker, prioritize these things in the following order:
- Job Security
- A good offense
- Home-field dome or good weather
- Late bye week
If you must draft a kicker, only consider one with your final pick. None of the players on this list, even those in Tier 1, justify spending an earlier pick in most fantasy leagues. The point variance at the position is simply too small to warrant reaching for one.
However, if your draft requires you to select a kicker, these are the three we would target first. Keep in mind that all three are likely to be drafted before the final round in many leagues. If they're gone, don't sweat it. The difference between these three and the next tier is minimal, so move on to another position and plan to address kicker on the waiver wire.
Brandon Aubrey, DAL: The fantasy world fell in love with Aubrey in 2023, and he has been the top-drafted kicker ever since. Interestingly, he was not the top-ranked kicker in either of the last two seasons, but he has been good. A Week 14 bye helps his cause even more in 2026. Someone in your draft is probably going to spend a mid-round pick on Aubrey. (Don't be that person.)
Ka'imi Fairbairn, HOU: Fairbairn has been a top-5 kicker in each of the last two seasons, and Houston's offense seems suited for big kicker days yet again this year. Fairbairn made 44 field goals in 2025, the most in the league.
Cameron Dicker, LAC: Like Fairbairn, Dicker has finished top-5 in two consecutive seasons. He is actually my favorite kicker in 2026. With Mike McDaniel calling plays, there should be even more scoring opportunities in Los Angeles. His Week 7 bye slightly hurts his value.
Tier 2: Your Fantasy Starters
This will be an extensive tier of players who will all score roughly the same number of fantasy points, which is why you can wait to draft your kicker.
Jason Myers, SEA: He was the best kicker in fantasy last season, and if the Seattle offense misses Kenneth Walker in the redzone, Myers could produce more field goals in 2026.
Tyler Loop, BAL: Loop came on strong as a rookie, finishing in the Top 12 in 2025. The Baltimore offense tends to produce strong fantasy kickers, and that Week 13 bye helps as well. You will need to pay attention to weather later in the season.
Eddy Piñeiro, SF: If Piñeiro had played all 17 games last season, he would have been a top-5 kicker based on his points per game.
Chase McLaughlin, TB: McLaughlin has back-to-back top-10 fantasy finishes. He also hit the second-longest field goal in the league last year, so he is good in leagues that reward distance.
Jake Bates, DET: Bates has been a top-10 kicker since taking over the Detroit job two years ago. He benefits from playing in quite a few dome games in the NFC North. The Lions do have a Week 6 bye, so you may have to move on quickly.
Cam Little, JAX: If your league rewards distance, Little is your guy. He knocked down a record-breaking 68-yard kick last year and made a 70-yarder in the 2025 preseason. The Week 7 bye doesn't exactly help, but the Jaguars offense should produce plenty of opportunities again in 2026. Little was the No. 5 fantasy kicker last season.
Will Reichard, MIN: Reichard showed improvement from Year 1 to 2 and benefits from the dome games the same as Jake Bates. He also has the same Week 6 bye as Bates, which hurts his fantasy stock.
Wil Lutz, DEN: Lutz fell out of the Top 10 in 2025, but the Denver offense, and thin air, are a good bet for fantasy success.
Chris Boswell, PIT: Boswell is one year removed from being the top kicker in fantasy and finished Top 10 last year. You will need to keep an eye on the weather for any kicker playing their games in the AFC North.
Tier 3: Streamers & Spot Starters
We've already named 12 kickers, meaning you shouldn't need any of these guys on draft day. They all have a red flag or two, usually a bad bye week or an untrustworthy offense, but they could be suitable for a few weeks.
This tier is also where you'll find the best streaming candidates, as they should all be on waivers in most leagues.
Streaming, in the simplest terms, is when you switch out your kicker each week for a new one with the best possible matchup.
Cairo Santos, CHI: Two missed games cost him the Top 12 last year, but I like this Chicago offense. Weather is always a concern in the Windy City, though.
Harrison Butker, KC: Fantasy managers have been drafting the Butker name for the last few years, but he has not been a top-10 kicker since 2023. The Chiefs also have a Week 5 bye, which means you'll only be playing him for the opening month.
Harrison Mevis, LAR: The rookie came out of nowhere last season and paced as a top-10 kicker over the last nine games. If you are looking for a sleeper, he is your guy.
Evan McPherson, CIN: Despite how good the Cincinnati offense is, McPherson has never lived up to his rookie year hype. You're buying a piece of Joe Burrow, but the Week 6 bye means you'll be moving on quickly.
Andy Borregales, NE: Looking at our rankings, Borregales should be in Tier 4, but I like this kid. He was a top-10 kicker last year as a rookie, and I think the Patriots could improve yet again. He did have a rough preseason outing, but I doubt New England is looking for a replacement so quickly.
Tier 4: Kickers to Avoid
Above, you'll find 17 kickers, more than half the league. There is no reason to prioritize anyone beyond this point, but here are the other 15 starters. Most of these guys weren't great last year, and a few are competing for their jobs to start the 2026 season. After we see what they can do, they could be streaming options later in the year.
- Nick Folk, ATL
- Jake Elliott, PHI
- Trey Smack, GB
- Tyler Bass, BUF
- Chad Ryland, ARZ
- Andre Szmyt, CLE
- Ryan Fitzgerald, CAR
- Charlie Smyth, NO
- Joey Slye, TEN
- Matt Gaye, LV
- Riley Patterson, MIA
- Jason Sanders, NYJ
- Blake Grupe, IND
- Dominic Zvada, NYG
- Drew Stevens, WAS
Bottom line: Don't overthink kickers. Wait until your last pick, grab one tied to a solid offense, and be ready to stream if needed.
Be sure to follow Ryan Weisse and Footballguys on X to stay up-to-date on fantasy football news this summer.
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