In fantasy football, a kicker typically gets 1 point for each extra point (PAT) and 3 points for each field goal made. However, the exact scoring can vary slightly between different leagues, with bonus points often awarded for longer field goals.
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Deciphering Kicker Scoring in Fantasy Football
Welcome to your ultimate guide to the often-misunderstood world of fantasy football kickers! While quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends often steal the spotlight, the humble kicker plays a crucial role in your team’s success. Knowing how many points a kicker gets is essential for drafting, setting your lineup, and understanding your weekly scores. This comprehensive guide will delve deep into kicker scoring, breaking down fantasy football kicker points, and exploring the nuances of points per kick fantasy. We’ll cover everything from standard kicker points to the variations found in PPR kicker points (though kickers are rarely affected by reception rules) and provide a clear picture of how to score a kicker and their typical kicker point values.
The Fundamental Role of a Kicker
In real-life football, the kicker is the player responsible for kicking field goals and extra points. They are specialized athletes who can accurately boot the ball through the uprights for points. In fantasy football, their real-world performance is translated into points for your team based on a predefined scoring system. While their impact might seem less glamorous than a long touchdown pass, a consistent and reliable kicker can be the difference between a win and a loss. Their ability to convert crucial kicks, especially under pressure, directly contributes to your fantasy score.
Standard Kicker Points: The Baseline
The foundation of most fantasy football kicker scoring systems is built around two core actions: extra points and field goals.
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Extra Points (PATs): When a team scores a touchdown, they have the opportunity to kick an extra point. This is a relatively short kick, typically from the 33-yard line (15 yards from the goal line plus 10 yards for the end zone and 8 yards for the snap/hold).
- Standard Points: In most fantasy leagues, a successful extra point is worth 1 fantasy point. This is a consistent and straightforward rule across the board.
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Field Goals: Field goals are attempted when a team is within reasonable kicking distance of the opponent’s goal posts but doesn’t want to risk going for a touchdown or is out of downs.
- Standard Points: A made field goal is generally worth 3 fantasy points. This reflects the higher degree of difficulty and the greater number of yards typically involved compared to an extra point.
Fantasy Football Kicker Points: Beyond the Basics
While the 1 point for an extra point and 3 points for a field goal are the bedrock, many fantasy leagues introduce bonus points for kickers based on the distance of their field goals. This adds an extra layer of strategy and rewards kickers with strong legs.
Field Goal Distance Bonuses
These bonuses are designed to reward kickers for making longer kicks, which are inherently more challenging. Here’s a common breakdown of how these bonuses might be applied:
- 50-59 Yard Field Goals: Many leagues award +1 bonus point for a made field goal of 50 yards or more, up to 59 yards.
- 60+ Yard Field Goals: An even greater bonus, typically +2 bonus points, is often given for a made field goal of 60 yards or more.
Example of Kicker Scoring with Bonuses:
Let’s say a kicker makes the following kicks in a game:
- 2 Extra Points
- 1 Field Goal from 32 yards
- 1 Field Goal from 45 yards
- 1 Field Goal from 53 yards
Here’s how their fantasy points would be calculated in a league with 50+ yard bonuses:
- Extra Points: 2 PATs * 1 point/PAT = 2 points
- Field Goal (32 yards): 1 FG * 3 points/FG = 3 points
- Field Goal (45 yards): 1 FG * 3 points/FG = 3 points
- Field Goal (53 yards): 1 FG * 3 points/FG + 1 bonus point = 4 points
Total Fantasy Points for the Kicker: 2 + 3 + 3 + 4 = 12 points
Kicker Stats Fantasy: What to Look For
When evaluating kickers for your fantasy team, looking beyond just their team’s scoring opportunities is important. Several kicker stats fantasy players should consider:
- Percentage of Made Field Goals: A kicker with a high success rate is generally more reliable.
- Longest Made Field Goal: This indicates their ability to make kicks from distance, which can lead to bonus points.
- Number of Extra Points Made: While usually a set number of points, a kicker on a high-scoring offense will have more opportunities.
- Attempts from Various Distances: Seeing how often they are called upon to kick from beyond 40 or 50 yards can be telling.
- Team’s Offensive Performance: A strong offense will move the ball into field goal range more often. However, an offense that struggles to score touchdowns in the red zone can also lead to more field goal attempts.
- Indoor vs. Outdoor Games: Kickers often perform better in domed stadiums or in good weather conditions.
Points Per Kick Fantasy: The Breakdown
To fully grasp fantasy kicker points, it’s helpful to think in terms of points per kick fantasy. This means understanding the average points a kicker might generate from each type of kick.
- Extra Point: 1 point
- Field Goal (Under 40 yards): 3 points
- Field Goal (40-49 yards): 3 points (often no bonus)
- Field Goal (50-59 yards): 4 points (3 + 1 bonus)
- Field Goal (60+ yards): 5 points (3 + 2 bonus)
It’s also worth noting that some leagues might penalize kickers for missed field goals or missed extra points. These are less common but can significantly impact a kicker’s scoring.
Fantasy Kicker Scoring Rules: Variations to Consider
The beauty and frustration of fantasy football lie in its customization. Fantasy kicker scoring rules can differ significantly from league to league. Always check your specific league’s settings. Here are some common variations:
- Missed Field Goal Penalties: Some leagues deduct points for missed field goals. This can be a flat deduction (e.g., -1 point) or a deduction based on the distance of the miss.
- Missed Extra Point Penalties: While rarer, some leagues might deduct points for missed extra points.
- Blocked Kicks: A penalty might be applied if a kick is blocked.
- Longest Field Goal Bonus Structure: The yardage thresholds and bonus points awarded for long field goals can vary. Some leagues might offer bonuses starting at 40 or 45 yards.
- Touchbacks on Kickoffs: Some advanced leagues might award points for kickoffs that result in touchbacks, though this is very uncommon for kickers.
PPR Kicker Points: The (Mostly Irrelevant) Connection
You might see PPR kicker points mentioned, and while PPR (Points Per Reception) is a dominant scoring format for offensive skill players, its impact on kickers is minimal to non-existent. Kickers do not catch passes or run the ball, so reception-based scoring systems don’t apply to them. The term “PPR kicker points” is essentially a misnomer; kicker scoring is almost universally based on the success and distance of their kicks.
How to Score a Kicker: A Practical Approach
When you’re setting your weekly lineup or reviewing game results, how to score a kicker is straightforward if you know the league’s rules.
- Identify Extra Points: Count the number of successful extra points.
- Identify Field Goals: Count the number of successful field goals.
- Note Field Goal Distances: Record the yardage for each successful field goal.
- Apply League Bonuses: Add any bonus points for field goals based on their distance, according to your league’s specific kicker point values.
- Subtract Penalties (If Applicable): Deduct any points for missed kicks or other penalties as defined by your league.
Kicker Point Values: A General Overview
To give you a clearer picture of kicker point values, here’s a table summarizing common scoring scenarios. Remember, these are averages, and your league might have different values.
| Action | Standard Points | Common Bonus | Total Points (with Bonus) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made Extra Point (PAT) | 1 | N/A | 1 |
| Made Field Goal (<40 yds) | 3 | N/A | 3 |
| Made Field Goal (40-49 yds) | 3 | N/A | 3 |
| Made Field Goal (50-59 yds) | 3 | +1 | 4 |
| Made Field Goal (60+ yds) | 3 | +2 | 5 |
| Missed Extra Point | -1 (in some leagues) | N/A | -1 |
| Missed Field Goal (<40 yds) | -1 (in some leagues) | N/A | -1 |
| Missed Field Goal (40-49 yds) | -1 (in some leagues) | N/A | -1 |
| Missed Field Goal (50+ yds) | -1 (in some leagues) | N/A | -1 |
Note: Penalties for missed kicks are not universal. Always verify your league’s settings.
Strategic Considerations for Kickers
While kickers can be somewhat unpredictable, understanding their scoring can help you make better decisions.
- Drafting: Kickers are typically drafted in the final rounds of fantasy drafts. There’s often little difference in projected points between the top 5-10 kickers, so waiting until the very end is usually a sound strategy.
- Waiver Wire: If your starting kicker is on a bye week or underperforming, the waiver wire is your friend. Look for kickers on teams with high-powered offenses that consistently get into scoring position.
- Matchups: Consider the opposing defense’s ability to prevent touchdowns. Teams that allow many field goals but few touchdowns can be a boon for fantasy kickers. Also, consider the venue – indoor games or games in favorable weather conditions are often better for kickers.
Why Kickers Matter
It might seem strange to dedicate so much attention to a position that scores relatively few points compared to others. However, in close fantasy matchups, those extra 1-2 points from a 50-yard field goal can be the difference between winning your week and falling short. A reliable kicker provides a consistent floor of points, and a boom performance can be a welcome surprise. They represent a tangible way to convert offensive drives into fantasy points, especially when touchdowns aren’t scored.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: How many points is a typical extra point in fantasy football?
A1: A typical extra point (PAT) is worth 1 fantasy point in most leagues.
Q2: How many points is a typical field goal in fantasy football?
A2: A typical field goal is worth 3 fantasy points. This can increase with bonus points for longer kicks.
Q3: Do kickers get points for missed kicks in fantasy football?
A3: This varies by league. Some leagues deduct points for missed field goals, usually 1 point, but many do not penalize for misses. It’s crucial to check your league’s specific scoring rules.
Q4: Are there bonus points for kickers in fantasy football?
A4: Yes, many leagues award bonus points for longer field goals. Common bonuses include +1 point for field goals between 50-59 yards and +2 points for field goals of 60 yards or more.
Q5: Does PPR scoring affect kicker points?
A5: No, PPR (Points Per Reception) scoring does not affect kicker points, as kickers do not typically catch passes. Kicker scoring is based solely on their kicking performance.
Q6: How do I find out my league’s specific kicker scoring rules?
A6: You can usually find your league’s scoring rules in the league settings on your fantasy football platform (e.g., ESPN, Yahoo, Sleeper). If you’re unsure, ask your league commissioner.
Q7: Is it worth drafting a kicker early in fantasy football?
A7: Generally, no. Kickers are considered a “zero-RB” or “late-round” position. There’s often little difference in projected points between the top kickers, so it’s best to draft them in the final rounds to maximize value at other positions.
Q8: What kicker stats are most important for fantasy football?
A8: Key stats include field goal percentage, longest made field goal, the number of extra points attempted (indicating offensive opportunity), and the kicker’s team’s offensive efficiency, particularly their ability to get into field goal range.
By thoroughly fathoming these scoring mechanics and interpreting the various kicker stats fantasy managers should track, you can confidently manage your kicker position and maximize your team’s potential for success. Remember, even the smallest contributions can add up, and a solid kicker is an often-overlooked but valuable asset.