After several good weeks in a row, I fell off harder than Justin Tucker in Week 14. But I’m about to make an Anders Carlson-type of comeback (this is a good joke, it might be too niche, but this is my stream/sit blog and I can make any joke I want.) NFL bye weeks are over. The playoffs are here. If you’re fortunate, you’ve secured a bye in round one.
There are a lot of matchups this week that are great for kickers that are rostered in 90% of leagues. Ka’imi Fairbairn and Younghoe Koo, in particular. So check your waiver wires, but be prepared to pivot.
“But Linda, who do I pivot to?” Let’s take a look.
Streams
Wil Lutz – Denver Broncos (11% rostered)
Wil Lutz has had a handful of good streaming weeks this season. In the last three weeks, he’s had finishes of K13, K1, and K12. Lutz has attempted multiple field goals in 9-of-13 weeks. The Broncos are 4.5-point favorites against the Colts this weekend in a must-win game for Denver. Lutz will have the luxury of kicking inside in Week 15, something he’s surely used to after his career in New Orleans.
Indianapolis allows an average of 2.5 field goal attempts per game to their opponents, 2.7 over the last three games.
My biggest reservation about picking up Lutz this week is that the Broncos have a divisional game against the Chargers in Week 16, who have been good against opposing kickers all season (less last week when Matthew Wright was the first kicker to put a double-digit fantasy performance against LAC).
Matthew Wright or Harrison Butker – Kansas City Chiefs (27% and 45% rostered)
Speaking of Matthew Wright, he’s been an excellent stand-in for incumbent kicker, Harrison Butker. Butker’s practice window was opened on Wednesday. Both Butker and Wright are rostered in less than 50% of leagues. The Kansas Chiefs have lived by the foot of their kickers this season.
On the season, Kansas City is averaging 2.7 field goal attempts per game. In the last three weeks, they’re averaging 4.0 field goal attempts per game. This is not the Chiefs team that we’ve been accustomed to over the last two years, not that it seems to matter as they keep raking up wins. Their offensive line is banged up and they face off against a Cleveland defense that can show up and show out in any given game.
I expect the Browns to stall the Chiefs from time to time, and for Kansas City to continue to rely on their special teams. Keep an eye on practice reports coming out of KC this week, but whoever is booting it is worth starting in your fantasy lineups.
Joey Slye or John Parker Romo – New England Patriots (1% and 2% rostered)
Every week I back myself into a “Yes, this team is not very good, BUT” situation. And this week is no different. This is a play for those desperate and deep leagues. Maybe you’re an absolute degenerate and in a league where you have to start two kickers. You laugh, but I’m in one of those and I’m not even the commissioner.
New England faces off against Arizona this week. Over the last five weeks, the Patriots have attempted several field goals every week but one. That one outlier week was the last time I suggested streaming Joey Slye, but I will not be deterred.
Arizona is allowing 2.4 field goal attempts to opposing kickers on average. New England aren’t favorites to win, but they will be inside. The Patriots did sign John Parker Romo to the practice squad earlier this week, that’s something to keep an eye on. JPR was great in his time playing in Minnesota for the injured Will Reichard and Slye has had some struggles this season.
Fades
This week I’m doing fades a little differently. These are not guys I’m itching to bench, but they are guys I’m tempering my expectations for.
Both Jake Bates and Tyler Bass
The Bills versus Lions matchup is probably the game most football fans are looking forward to in Week 15. It’s a game football fans would love to see replayed in February for the “whole enchilada” (shout out Dan Campbell).
But, both these teams are on a war path. The Bills just dropped their third game of the season in a shootout against the Rams. The Lions just got their 12th win of the year, sparking debates across all social media and broadcasts on Dan Campbell’s 4th down decision-making.
I won’t be surprised if this is another shootout and I won’t be surprised if neither team folds to field goal attempts.
Chris Boswell
You are obviously not benching Chris Boswell, but Philidelphia’s defense has taken a massive step forward after a shaky start to the season. I see this contest going one or two ways for Boswell this weekend. He either scores every point the Steelers put up or he kicks two PATs. Tempering expectations, that’s all.
I’ve had a blast writing this blog this season. I hope somewhere along the way I helped you or at least made you chortle. Go get those championship belts. I’ll see y’all on the other side.
