NFL

3 FanDuel Kickers to Target in Week 11

Dale Redman  —  @DTRedman Nov 15th, 2017
Justin Tucker has been back to his old self in recent weeks. Who else made our short list of kickers to play in NFL DFS contests?

Kickers. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are a part of the game. Even in fantasy football.

While you may be tempted to do so, don't leave the position for last when building your FanDuel lineups. Just like you do with the rest of your roster, maximize your squad's potential by spending the extra minute and finding out the best options out there at kicker.

It's time to stop "punting" the spot and start giving the lonesome kicker the attention he deserves.

The following are the top-three kickers we are targeting in Week 11.

Justin Tucker, Baltimore Ravens

FanDuel Price: $4,900

Week 11 brings us a bevy of positive game scripts for kickers. Stephen Gostkowski, Harrison Butker, Jake Elliott, and Wil Lutz all own favorable matchups and are in line for high-scoring performances. They all also cost at least $5,000, making Justin Tucker a rare value option in the high-end price point for kickers this weekend.

Once considered an elite fantasy kicking option, Tucker was at the mercy of a sputtering Baltimore Ravens offense that scored just 60 points (15.0 per game) the first four weeks of the season. Tucker averaged only 4.7 FanDuel points per game during that time, but since Week 5, the Baltimore booter has returned to his usual self, averaging 12.2 fantasy points per game while attempting at least three field goals in four of his last five games.

On Sunday, the Ravens are 2.0-point road favorites as they travel to Wisconsin to face the Green Bay Packers. Their implied total of just 20.0 points is not ideal, but with the Pack allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to kickers and 12 field goal attempts in their last four games, Tucker is an elite level play at a slightly discounted cost.

Kai Forbath, Minnesota Vikings

FanDuel Price: $4,800

After 10 weeks, the Minnesota Vikings surprisingly have a top 10 offense (24.1 points per game) despite having Case Keenum at the helm for eight of their nine games played. The Vikes have taken it up a notch over the last four weeks, with the points coming fast and furious at an average of 29.5 per game. The scoring boom has helped Kai Forbath quietly creep into top-three status in fantasy points for kickers (98 through nine games) -- he's averaging 15.8 FanDuel points per game with 14 field goal makes in the past month.

The former Washington Redskin has been busier when at the friendly confines, attempting 3.2 field goals at home compared to only 2.0 on the road. On Sunday, the Vikings will be back in Minneapolis as they host the Los Angeles Rams as 2.5-point favorites. The Rams' defense may seem daunting, but it's worth noting they have played some of the NFL's worst offenses the last three weeks (Cardinals, Giants, Texans). When facing top-12 offenses (Redskins, Cowboys, Seahawks, Jaguars) this season, L.A. has allowed 22.5 points per game with opposing kickers attempting 2.5 field goals per contest.

Josh Lambo, Jacksonville Jaguars

FanDuel Price: $4,600

In the three games Josh Lambo has been kicking for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the former Charger has been a busy man. He has attempted seven field goals and six extra points, giving him an average of 9.7 FanDuel points per game and ranking in the top 10 among kickers. All the action for Lambo comes thanks to a Jags offense that's averaging 25.1 points per game. Blake Bortles and company rank seventh in total offensive yards but struggle in the red zone, scoring a touchdown only 51.85% of the time, the 21st-lowest rate in the NFL. That leaves them attempting 2.4 field goals per game. Expect more of the same in Week 11 against the winless Cleveland Browns.

Jacksonville heads into Week 11 against the Browns as 7.5-point favorites, the second-biggest spread of the week. Our algorithms agree, giving them a 71.5% win probability. And as we know, kickers on heavy favorites make for good fantasy targets. That's why Browns' opponents have 10 field goal tries in the last three weeks.

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Dale Redman is not a FanDuel employee. The views expressed in his articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.