Years from now, the 2024 season will be remembered as the year of the fantasy kicker. With many leagues giving out five points for field goals of 50 or more yards, having a long bomber is a must. Unfortunately, everyone seems to have one.
At the halfway point of the season, only five teams roster kickers who have missed more than 50% of their attempts from 50-plus yards – the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders.
Teams are now expecting kickers to make 60-yard field goals and, as long as they keep asking, kickers will quietly become a more important fantasy roster spot.
Fantasy football risers
Tennessee Titans RB Tony Pollard – Yes, the Titans are a fantasy dumpster fire, but Pollard is taking on a Derrick Henry-volume role. In his last five games, Pollard has rushed 103 times for 464 yards and two TDs, authoring weekly point totals in that span of 18.8, 19.8, 8.5, 14.7, and 18.4. At a minimum, he should be a flex player, if not a RB2, on a weekly basis.
Cincinnati Bengals TE Mike Gesicki – In the last two games, the Bengals needed to find someone to pick up the slack for Tee Higgins being out. Gesicki delivered with 12 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns. When Higgins plays, Gesicki goes dry, but he’s doing enough to get in Joe Burrow‘s line of vision quicker than before.
Los Angeles Rams QB Matthew Stafford – In the first game of the season – the last time Stafford had Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua together – he threw for 317 yards and a TD against a pretty good Detroit Lions team. He suffered without them, but Stafford has thrown for 577 yards and six TDs in the two games they’ve been reunited. Anyone with QB concerns should jump, if possible (see below).
Carolina Panthers WR Xavier Legette – It’s hard to leap head first into the water for a player whose numbers don’t warrant roster consideration, Legette was pushed to WR1 in Carolina and he is becoming a local favorite. In his last two games, despite catching just eight passes for 67 yards, he scored two touchdowns. For those desperate of help, you have the potential of a guy who will get targeted 10 times a game down the stretch.
Green Bay Packers TE Tucker Kraft – Kraft was drafted to be a deep No. 2 fantasy tight end, if he was selected at all. In the last six games, he has scored five touchdowns and posted weekly numbers of 17.3, 24.8, 3.3, 12.3, 16.8, and 7.4. Most fantasy managers will take that weekly total for their TE starter.
Fantasy football fallers
Arizona Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. – Widely heralded as a late-WR1 or premium WR2 on draft night, Harrison has deflated rosters in four of his last five games, posting weekly totals of 5.6, 0.0, 5.1, 23.1, and 5.4. A 20% return on investment is hard to take with must-start players.
Cleveland Browns RB Nick Chubb – Inspirational stories mean a lot in the cities where they happen, but not in the rest of the NFL. It’s not like the Browns haven’t tried. In three games, Chubb has rushed 42 times for just 113 yards (2.7 yards a carry) and one TD. The fact he’s on the field and is a focal point of the offense provides value, but the lack of production is the issue.
Houston Texans QB C.J. Stroud – In nine games, Stroud brings virtually nothing as a rusher and has one TD pass or fewer in six of nine games – including just one TD in the last three games. When Nico Collins comes back, Stroud regains value. For now, he’s poisonous as a potential starter.
Chicago Bears WR DJ Moore – Moore was off to a strong start that came to an abrupt stop three weeks ago. Over the last three games, his point totals have been 6.0, 5.4, and 7.3. Those are bad emergency tight end numbers. Moore should spend more time on the bench than in starting fantasy lineups until further notice.
Dallas Cowboys QB Dak Prescott – Dak will miss next four-plus weeks on IR and it’s time for anyone who has him on a roster to get rid of him. The Cowboys are making business decisions now. If you haven’t ridded yourself Prescott yet, do so ASAP.
