Fantasy Football Week 9 Kicker Rankings: The Secret Weapon Your Team Is Missing
It’s Week 9, and your fantasy football lineup is humming along—except for that one glaring weak spot. You’ve spent hours analyzing quarterbacks, agonized over flex plays, and maybe even talked yourself into that risky sleeper wideout. But when was the last time you really thought about your kicker?
If you’re like most fantasy managers, the answer is: “Uh… never?” Kickers are the redheaded stepchildren of fantasy football—ignored until they cost you a game. But here’s the truth: In a league where 40% of matchups are decided by fewer than 10 points, the right kicker can be the difference between a heartbreaking loss and a victory dance. And in Week 9, with bye weeks thinning your roster and injuries piling up, nailing this position might just save your season.
So let’s fix that. Below, you’ll find our data-backed Week 9 kicker rankings, plus the strategies pros use to turn this “set-and-forget” position into a legitimate advantage. Because in fantasy football, the margins are razor-thin—and the devil (or in this case, the Justin Tucker) is in the details.
The Kicker Paradox: Why This Position Matters More Than You Think
Let’s start with a hard truth: Kickers are unpredictable. One week, your guy is drilling 50-yarders like it’s a video game. The next? He’s shanking extra points like a nervous rookie. But here’s the kicker (pun intended): That unpredictability is exactly why you should care.
In most leagues, the difference between the #1 kicker (say, Justin Tucker) and the #12 kicker (someone like, oh, Evan McPherson) is often just 3–5 points per game. That doesn’t sound like much—until you realize that’s the same margin that separates a win from a loss in half your matchups.
And in Week 9? The stakes are even higher. With six teams on bye (Bears, Bengals, Cowboys, Jaguars, Jets, Raiders), your usual starters might be sidelined, forcing you to scour the waiver wire for replacements. Meanwhile, injuries to key offensive players (looking at you, J.K. Dobbins and Chris Olave) could turn high-powered offenses into sputtering messes—killing your kicker’s opportunities in the process.
The Hidden Stats That Actually Predict Kicker Success
Most fantasy managers pick kickers based on two things:
- Name recognition (“Justin Tucker is good, right?”)
- Their team’s offense (“The Chiefs score a lot, so their kicker must be great!”)
But those are lazy shortcuts. The real predictors of kicker performance are:
- Red zone efficiency: Teams that stall in the red zone (looking at you, Patriots) force more field goal attempts. More attempts = more points for your kicker.
- Dome vs. outdoor games: Wind and weather can turn a surefire 45-yarder into a disaster. Dome kickers (like the Lions’ Riley Patterson) have a built-in advantage.
- Opponent’s red zone defense: If a team’s defense is great at preventing touchdowns but terrible at stopping field goals (hello, Commanders), their opponent’s kicker is in for a big day.
- Kickoff return yards allowed: Wait, what? Yep—teams that give up long returns (like the Seahawks) often see their kickers get more opportunities thanks to better field position.
Still think kickers are random? Think again.
---📊 Week 9 Kicker Rankings: Who to Start, Sit, and Stream
Below are our top 20 kickers for Week 9, ranked by matchup, offensive efficiency, and—most importantly—opportunity. We’ve also flagged the best streaming options (available in 50%+ of leagues) and the landmines to avoid.
🏆 Top 5 Must-Start Kickers
- Justin Tucker (BAL) vs. SEA – The GOAT kicker at home against a Seahawks defense that’s given up the 3rd-most field goal attempts this season. Start him always.
- Evan McPherson (CIN) – BYE – Oops, he’s on bye. If you’re scrambling, Jake Moody (SF) (vs. JAX) is your best replacement.
- Brandon Aubrey (DAL) – BYE – Another bye-week casualty. Tyler Bass (BUF) (vs. CIN) is a solid pivot.
- Jason Myers (SEA) @ BAL – Yes, he’s facing the Ravens, but Seattle’s offense is humming, and Myers has multiple 50+ yard makes this year.
- Jake Elliott (PHI) @ DAL – The Eagles’ offense is too good to ignore, even in a tough matchup. Elliott is a top-5 play.
🔥 Best Streaming Options (Available in 50%+ of Leagues)
- Riley Patterson (DET) vs. GB – Dome game + Lions’ red zone struggles = field goal bonanza.
- Chase McLaughlin (TB) @ HOU – The Texans’ defense is improving, but Tampa’s offense is still moving the ball. McLaughlin is a sneaky play.
- Greg Zuerlein (NYJ) – BYE – If you’re desperate, Matt Gay (IND) (vs. CAR) has a plus matchup.
- Cameron Dicker (LAC) @ NYJ – The Jets’ offense is a mess, but Dicker has been perfect on extra points and gets plenty of opportunities.
⚠️ Landmine Alert: Kickers to Avoid
- Wil Lutz (DEN) @ BUF – The Bills’ defense is terrifying, and Denver’s offense is anemic. Hard pass.
- Eddy Piñeiro (CAR) @ IND – The Panthers’ offense is a dumpster fire. Piñeiro is a last-resort play.
- Any kicker in the CHI @ NO game – Both offenses are inconsistent, and the weather could be messy. Steer clear.
Pro Tip: If your kicker’s team is a home underdog (like the Cardinals’ Matt Prater this week), they’re often forced to settle for field goals. That’s good for kicker production!
---🎯 How to Pick a Kicker Like a Pro: A 3-Step Cheat Sheet
Tired of guessing? Here’s the exact process fantasy analysts use to pick kickers—no luck required.
Step 1: Target the Right Offenses (Hint: Not the Obvious Ones)
Most managers grab the kicker from the highest-scoring offense (e.g., Chiefs, Dolphins, Eagles). But the best kicker performances actually come from:
- Mid-tier offenses that move the ball well but struggle in the red zone (e.g., Lions, Chargers).
- Teams with strong defenses that create short fields (e.g., Ravens, 49ers). More turnovers = more field goal chances.
- Dome teams (or teams playing in domes). No wind = more accuracy.
Step 2: Check the Matchup (The Secret Sauce)
Use these matchup filters to find gold:
- Opponent’s red zone TD% allowed: If a defense allows TDs on <50% of red zone trips, their opponent’s kicker is in for a big day. (Check Football Outsiders for this stat.)
- Opponent’s pace of play: Fast offenses (e.g., Dolphins, Lions) create more possessions = more kicker opportunities.
- Vegas totals: Games with over/under > 45 points are kicker-friendly. (This week, BUF @ CIN and DAL @ PHI fit the bill.)
Step 3: Avoid the Traps
Steer clear of:
- Kickers on bad offenses (e.g., Panthers, Broncos). They rarely get field goal attempts.
- Outdoor games with wind/rain. Check Weather.com—if winds are >15 MPH, bench your kicker.
- Kickers in blowouts. If a team is favored by 10+ points, their kicker might not see much action in the 2nd half.
Example: In Week 8, Jake Moody (49ers) was a top-5 kicker not because San Francisco’s offense exploded, but because the Vikings’ defense forced three red zone field goals. That’s the kind of matchup you want.
---🔮 Future Trends: How Kicker Strategy Is Changing in 2023
Fantasy football evolves every year, and kicker strategy is no exception. Here’s what’s coming:
1. The Rise of “Kicker Streaming”
Gone are the days of drafting a kicker and sticking with them all season. In 2023, 60% of championship teams (per FantasyPros) used a rotating kicker strategy, picking up new ones weekly based on matchups. The waiver wire is your friend.
2. Analytics Are Taking Over
Sites like 4for4 and Fantasy Points Data now track kicker-specific metrics like:
- Field goal attempt rate per drive
- Expected points added (EPA) per kick
- Dome vs. outdoor splits
If you’re not using these, you’re playing with a handicap.
3. The “Defense-First” Approach
Smart managers are now targeting kickers on teams with elite defenses (e.g., Ravens, 49ers, Cowboys). Why? Because:
- More turnovers = better field position = more field goal attempts.
- Defensive TDs often lead to extra points (which count just as much as field goals).
Prediction: By 2024, 20% of fantasy leagues will use separate “kicker defense” stats to evaluate matchups. Get ahead now!
---🚀 Your Week 9 Kicker Game Plan
Here’s your actionable checklist to dominate Week 9:
- Check your kicker’s status: Is he on bye? Injured? (Looking at you, Harrison Butker owners.)
- Compare matchups: Use our rankings above or tools like FantasyPros’ Kicker Matchup Tool.
- Prioritize dome games: This week, DET vs. GB and ATL vs. MIN are indoors—target those kickers.
- Avoid weather risks: BUF @ CIN could be windy—monitor forecasts.
- Set a reminder: Kickers are usually the last thing you check. Don’t forget to swap yours before Sunday!
Bonus: If you’re in a best-ball league, stack your kicker with a defense that forces turnovers (e.g., Ravens D/ST + Justin Tucker). The correlation is real.
---💡 Final Thought: Why Kickers Are the Ultimate Fantasy Hack
Here’s the dirty little secret about kickers: They’re the only position where you can reliably gain an edge with minimal effort.
Think about it: While everyone else is fighting over the same top-12 running backs or praying their WR1 stays healthy, you can quietly stream the perfect kicker every week—no trade drama, no injury risk, just pure, data-driven advantage.
In Week 9, with rosters depleted and matchups tighter than ever, that edge could be the difference between a playoff push and an early offseason. So do yourself a favor: Spend 10 minutes on your kicker this week. Your future self (and your league mates) will thank you.
Now go win your matchup. And if you do? Drop a comment below and let us know which kicker saved your bacon. We love a good underdog story.
