Viva Murillo!

Are you tired of losing games by just a couple of points, knowing that each one might be the game that keeps you out of the playoffs? Are you so frustrated with your season that you’ll do anything to get an edge? Are you willing to try something unusual, even if it means you’ll have to commit fantasy blasphemy?

Okay, here goes: It’s time to really pay attention to your kicker.

I know, it’s a waste of time. Kickers are unimportant, useless and barely deserve the roster spot that could easily be used on a sixth running back. You’re not alone in that sentiment; NFL teams feel the same way. Paying a kicker seems painful for them, a signing bonus feels like thrown-away money and each year starters find themselves out of a job on a Tuesday. Like circus animals, free agents fly form city to city for the privilege of trotting onto a practice field and getting worked out by a desperate franchise. One guy might get signed, and the rest of the herd shuffles to the airport to await the next cattle call.

The only thing more pathetic than that scene is the fact that kickers cost NFL teams playoff spots all the time. The teams that pay their kickers well normally have good kicking games, and the better teams usually have good kickers. Even mediocre teams owe a lot to their kicking game: How many games has Josh Brown won for the Seahawks in his career?

Personally, I have no idea why NFL franchises save a few bucks on a kicker, only to miss the playoffs by a game or two because they got what they paid for. But you don’t have to be that silly. You can focus on your kicking game, try to squeeze out a few extra points out of your lineup, and maybe win an extra game because of it. You can usually find a number of good options on the waiver wire, or you can often get one as a throw-in part of a trade (if your deadline hasn’t passed yet). In any case, here’s what you should look for:

* Dome games down the stretch: It never hurts to start a guy who doesn’t have to worry about the nasty weather or swirling winds. Adam Vinatieri and the Colts have three straight dome games coming up. Atlanta’s Morten Andersen will have four straight (including three at home) beginning this week. And if you count Texas Stadium as “dome-ish,” Nick Folk and the Cowboys will have five such games (including four at home) starting in week 11.

* Dome games during the playoffs. If you can afford to think ahead, why not secure a nice kicking match-up when other teams play cold-weather games? Jeff Wilkins’ Rams and Ryan Longwell’s Vikings are home for the fantasy playoffs, for example. If you count retractable roofs, Houston’s Kris Brown and Arizona’s Neil Rackers have dome games in weeks 15 and 16. Also, Philly’s David Akers plays at Dallas and at New Orleans.

* Nice weather options. Looking outside the domes, some teams have games scheduled in mild locales during the fantasy playoffs. Nate Kaeding and the Chargers play two home games (Detroit and Denver), while Jason Hanson and the Lions travel to San Diego before hosting Kansas City. And while you can expect snow in Denver, Jason Elam should have decent match-ups on the road at Houston and San Diego. Even the Raiders have a dome game (Indianapolis) before traveling to Jacksonville in week 16. Contrast that to Buffalo (on the road against Cleveland before hosting the Giants) and you can see that thee weather could play a role in a kicker’s fortunes.

Now, I’m not saying these are all great match-ups. You have to balance the team’s capabilities and competitiveness against your other options. But there might be a guy on the waiver wire who will add four points to your score, turning a two-point loss into a two-point win. That win could put you into the playoffs, where you knock off the competition and claim the title. There are no guarantees and you might get mocked by fantasy purists who claim kickers don’t matter, but the possibilities are worth a few extra minutes as you set your lineups. Good luck this week.

Ever been saved by a kicker, or lost due to a great kicking performance? Feel free to share your stories below, and you can reach Michael Murillo at vivamurillo@gmail.com.

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