The kicker is the most maligned position in football. And in fantasy football, it might actually be worse.
After all, the NFL isn't lobbying to eliminate the position altogether. They moved the extra point back, but teams still need a kicker. Many fantasy leagues, however, are getting rid of kickers entirely. And plenty of owners wish their league would do the same.
I'll be honest. I don't mind the kicker position. It's luck, you say? Is it more lucky than a second wide receiver, or a typical starting tight end?
But the scoring opportunities are so random. Okay. So is every other position. A running back loses a score to a vulture. A penalty wipes out a receiver's long gain. A false start turns a quarterback sneak into a fade route in the end zone. This stuff happens every week.
So why are kickers so disrespected in fantasy football? That one's easy: Because they're annoying.
You can watch an entire game and see the kicker only a handful of times. They aren't part of the big plays, the highlight grabs, the impressive drives that rack up points for your team. They trot onto the field with a clean jersey, often embarrass themselves and head back to the bench. Not only does it hurt you if it's your kicker, but it might prevent your other players from getting more points. A team changes how they play based on the game situation. So a miss could cost you a lot of potential points, and possibly your weekly matchup. All because a guy can't do his job.
So I get it. I respect the antipathy for kickers in fantasy football. On the other hand, I cannot respect the way the NFL teams treat them. Even if it's just as annoying, even if they feel the same way you do, and even if I understand your decision, I cannot understand theirs. Teams shuffle their kickers, usually based on saving a few bucks, and end up costing themselves a few games in the process.
Take the Buccaneers. They had Connor Barth a few years back, and he was pretty good. Then he got hurt. Eventually, they ditched him for Patrick Murray. Murray played one year in the league.
Barth went to the Broncos, where he kicked five field goals in a game. Twice. So, of course, they cut him. And he went back to Tampa, where they cut him for Kyle Brindza. Brindza lasted four games this year, and the Bucs have now re-signed Barth.
You know what they could have done? Stuck with Barth in the first place. That seems to be what good teams do. Stephen Gostkowski was drafted by the Patriots in 2006. He's still with them. Mason Crosby was drafted by the Packers a year later. Still kicking up in Lambeau. Good teams seem to keep good kickers. Even bad teams get it right sometimes. The Raiders were mocked for picking Sebastian Janikowski in the first round back in 2000, but he's been with them ever since, from the Super Bowl to the cellar, and just maybe back to a level of respectability. While they lose plenty of games, it's not usually because of him.
But teams lose games every year because of their bad kickers, and those same teams sometimes miss the playoffs by one game. By shuffling around their kickers, they're costing themselves playoff spots, merchandise sales and other benefits that come with being a popular, successful franchise.
Fantasy teams often do the same thing. You might hate kickers, but if you go with an unproven no-name week after week, you might suffer missed chip shots or extra points. And if your league assigns negative points to missed kicks it can cost you a game. And, as you well know, one game can cost you a playoff spot and a title.
I bring this up because two owners in different leagues took different paths for week 4. When the Patriots were on the bye, one ditched Gostkowski and the other kept him on their roster. The owner who dropped him lost him. Someone picked him up that same week and stashed him away (I wish it was me, but it wasn't). I think the former owner made a huge mistake, and I encourage you not to make it in the coming weeks.
If you have a particularly-effective kicker, or defense for that matter, keep them through their bye. Ditch that prospect we both know isn't going to pan out. If kicker and defense are starting positions in your league, treat it that way. Keep the good ones and let your opponents struggle with the waiver wire carousel each week. You don't need that fifth receiver, but you need stability in your lineup every week.
I know some owners think this is silly, and that roster space is better-suited for a "real" player. Well, these players score real points. They help win real titles. And they can cost you real money. I say keep your special teams special, and you might have a special season. Good luck this week.
Do you keep your top kicker and/or defense through the bye, or am I crazy? Share your thoughts below.
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