Cairo Santos had the big game against the Bengals, knocking in 7 field goals – one short of the NFL record. But does this mean that we should now think of Santos as a top-5 kicker? Or is this simply a case of a pretty ordinary kicker lucking into a career day?

I tend to think it’s more of the latter.

In this century, 35 kickers have had games of at least 18 points. Of that group, only 7 came back the next week and again scored in double figures. So only 20 percent had another big game in their next one.

If a player is to score 7 points, that’s kind of average. You score 7 in all 16 games, and it gets you to 112 in a season. So note that in this group of 35 high-scoring kickers, only 10 in their following game was an above-average scorer.

Twenty of those same kickers, on the other hand, didn’t even score 7 points – definitely below average.

I do not see Santos as much of a big deal for fantasy purposes. I like the matchup this week, however (home against the Bears) so I have no problem rolling with him in Week 5.

HIGH-SCORING KICKERS IN NEXT GAME
YearPlayerOpponentPts
2000Wilkins, St.L.Atl. 45-291
2000Andersen, Atl.at Den. 14-422
2000Hollis, Jac.Cin. 13-07
2001Akers, Phil.Wash. 3-133
2002Peterson, Pitt.Hou. 6-246
2002Feely, Atl.at Clev. 16-2410
2003Cundiff, Dall.at NYJ 17-65
2003Chandler, S.F.at St.L. 24-276
2004Kasay, Car.St.L. 20-78
2004Vinatieri, N.E.Buff. 29-617
2005Feely, NYGat S.F. 24-66
2005Rackers, Ariz.Car. 20-248
2006Anderson, Atl.NYG 14-272
2006Dawson, Clev.at Atl. 17-135
2006Wilkins, St.L.at S.F. 13-207
2007Scobee, Jac.at Ind. 25-285
2007Bironas, Ten.Oak. 13-97
2007Graham, Cin.Ariz. 27-359
2008Lindell, Buff.S.F. 3-103
2010Scobee, Jac.Ten. 3-303
2010Feely, Ariz.at Car. 12-196
2010Kaeding, S.D.Oak. 13-287
2010Mare, Sea.at N.O. 19-3413
2011Janikowski, Oak.at Mia. 14-342
2011Bailey, Dall.Det. 30-3412
2012Succop, K.C.S.D. 20-372
2012Tynes, NYGat Phil. 17-195
2012Walsh, Minn.at Hou. 23-611
2013Tucker, Balt.N.E. 7-411
2013Bailey, Dall.at Wash. 24-236
2013Henery, Phil.at T.B. 31-207
2014Bullock, Hou.Jac. 23-173
2014Brown, NYGWash. 24-136
2014Gostkowski, N.E.at Buff. 37-2213
2014Parkey, Phil.at Dall. 33-1015
2015Santos, K.C.vs. Chicago?

—Ian Allan