Kicker Rankings: Week Seventeen

There is a good chance that Aaron Rodgers won’t play in week 17 as his Packers have the top seed all sewn up. Many other starters will see limited time or sit all together as well. One vital component to the Packers that won’t sit is Mason Crosby. Since most players will argue that sitting is what kickers do 90% of the time, they are the one position that is largely immune to the week 17 “resting players” strategy that many teams apply. Players like Mason Crosby might even get a bump up in relevance since the backups are not as likely to punch it into the endzone as the starters like Aaron Rodgers who threw for 45 touchdowns this season. So here we go, the all important week 17 kicker rankings.

1. David Akers, SF @ STL
A really good defense and a solid ball control offense contributed to David Akers knocking in 10 more field goals then the next closest kicker over the course of the season. San Francisco needs a win or a New Orleans loss to lock in their first round bye and both teams play in the early games so the 49ers should approach this week like any other. Akers is on a roll over lately knocking down four field goals in three of the past four weeks including four against this weeks opponent the Rams in week 13. The Rams have allowed teams to score anyway possible and have allowed the fourth most field goals this season.

2. John Kasay, NO vs. CAR
New Orleans can still pass San Fran for the second first round bye if they beat the Panthers and the 49ers lose to St. Louis. The odds of the 49ers losing isn’t very good but as both teams face off during the early games I expect both of them to play hard for that playoff slot. John Kasay has ridden the wave of Saints scoring to the second most extra points scored this season. Cam Newton has the rookie record for passing yards locked in already but I don’t expect him to slow down and this game could turn into a track meet. When they met in week five New Orleans squeaked by 30-27 and this should be much of the same giving Kasay another shot at multiple field goals and extra points.

3. Dan Bailey, DAL vs. NYG
Points will be scored in bunches this week as Dallas’s passing attack faces New Yorks struggling defensive secondary. It’s a win or go home scenario as the winner of this game heads to the playoffs as the NFC East Championship and the loser joins the Eagles on the couch. The Cowboys offense has had some issues punching the ball in the end zone this season, which has given Dan Bailey the second most field goals made in the league. He was shut out for only the second time last week against the Eagles but with the high stakes this week Romo should play and they should be able to move the ball on the Giants.

4. Stephen Gostkowski, NE vs. BUF
A win for New England gives them home field advantage for the playoffs, but even if that wasn’t on the line I’m not sure that Bill Belichek would just roll over for a division rival, especially one that beat them in week three. Stephen Gostkowski had the third highest extra point total but because New England was so prolific in scoring he didn’t have as many field goal opportunities. With both defenses playing poorly this should be another high scoring affair and if Belichek can bury the Bills he will which will give Gostkowski plenty of chances to score.

5. Mason Crosby, GB vs. DET
With the top seed locked up in the NFC the Packers aren’t going to start a lot of their key players, and those that do won’t play the whole game. That being said Matt Flynn is a competent backup who is a free agent next year so this is his audition for a big contract. Detroit has the Wild Card locked up so they might be resting players as well. No matter what Mason Crosby will be kicking and this years extra point king should get a few more field goal opportunities with the backups running the show.

6. Neil Rackers, HOU vs. TEN
Houston has the division locked up and will be resting whatever starters aren’t already hurt. The Titans need help from multiple teams to get in but bottom line is they need a win to even have a chance so they will be playing all out. Neil Rackers has had a good couple of weeks with three field goal attempts in each of the past three weeks. Houston won’t be going all out to score but that could mean a lot of stalled drives in field goal range for Rackers to mop up.

7. Jason Hanson, DET @ GB
With the Packers treating this game like a pre-season game, Aaron Rodgers will see limited, if any time. The Lions are talking a big game heading into Sunday about taking this seriously, and if they win they do get the more favorably matchup of either New York or the Cowboys rather than the Saints. This means Jason Hanson will get to add to his extra point total. While he only has three field goals in the last three weeks, he has 13 extra points during that same period. Playing against Packer backups, Matthew Stafford should be able to put up some decent points, giving Hanson plenty of opportunities to put his kicking leg to work.

8.

Matt Bryant, ATL vs. TB
The early game is going to heavily dictate what the Falcons plan on doing Sunday afternoon as a Lions loss will give them a chance to lock in the 5th spot and face avoid the Niners or the Saints. Either way Tampa has been pretty terrible this season and Matt Bryant will get his chances to score. Tampa beat Atlanta in week three and if Matt Ryan sits you can expect the score to be similar. Bryant should get at least two field goal opportunities, maybe more depending on the Lions game.

9. Billy Cundiff, BAL @ CIN
The Ravens are in the drivers seat this weekend and can decide their own fate with a win. They own the tiebreaker with Pittsburg so a win gets them the AFC North and a first-round bye without any help from anyone else. The Ravens put up 31 points on the Bengals in week 11 but Cincinnati needs this win even more than they do so it should be another close game. Points will be precious which is always good for kickers as teams are more liable to take the three than go for more. Billy Cundiff has had a quiet couple of weeks with only two field goals in the past three weeks but had one and four extra points in their week 11 matchup.

10. Mike Nugent, CIN vs. BAL
Cincinnati’s offense has been similar to the 49ers, all about ball control. This has pushed Mike Nugent to tally the third most field goals in the league this season. He’s had 11 field goal attempts in the past three weeks and a tough matchup against Baltimore who has a division title and first round bye on the line. The Bengals only scored 17 points in their last matchup and this one is going be as tough. The Nuge only had one field goal attempt last time but I expect him to get more as the Bengals offense has an entire season under their belt.

Sleepers:

1. Robbie Gould, CHI @ MIN
If there was a Toilet Bowl in the NFL, this might be it. Both teams are missing the playoffs, and are dealing with injuries to their starting quarterback and running back. Robbie Gould had a big game agains the Vikings in week six with three field goals and four extra points. Their offense isn’t as dynamic as it was back then but they should still be able to move the ball against the Vikings who have nothing to play for other than making sure they are a full win away from the worst Vikings record in team history. Gould won’t have the big game he did in week six but several field goals and a couple extra points are certainly in the cards.

2. Sebastian Janikowski, OAK vs. SD
This should be a very tough matchup, and at this point it’s very difficult to make an accurate call. Will Sebastian Janikowski kick more field goals than there are stabbings in the stands? At this point it really anyone’s game. Everyone’s favorite drinking buddy has had a solid season and is tied for the 5th most field goals in the NFL. Over the past two weeks Janikowski has excelled with five field goals on seven attempts. Oakland needs help to get in the payoffs so expect them to throw the book at a San Diego squad with nothing to play for.

3. Shaun Suisham, PIT @ CLE
Pittsburgh is in the playoffs no matter what but they can make a gigantic jump from the wild card to a first round bye with a little help from the Ravens. Pittsburgh dominated Cleveland two weeks ago but with Big Ben ailing the offense will be a little less dynamic and should give Cleveland a chance to at least put some points on the board. This game could be closer than people expect which means the Steelers will need to rely on Shawn Suisham to put up some points if they stall out. Suisham is coming off a good week against St. Louis with two field goals and three extra points and Cleveland has a few players like Peyton Hillis who have some things to prove yet this season.

4. Nick Folk, NYJ @ MIA
Surprisingly Nick Folk is tied for the 5th most extra points with Alex Henery and Olindo Mare this season. The Jets are a long shot for the playoffs, needing help from at least three other teams but all signs point to them gearing up to play full bore this week as Rex Ryan tries to salvage what he can from a potentially disappointing season. Only three other kickers have fewer field goals than Folk but Miami is much improved since the first time they faced the Jets in week six so this game should be tough in Miami. Folk only has one game of more than three field goals but with Miami upping its game he could definitely see more action this week.

5. Graham Gano, WAS @ PHI
Washington’s offense has sputtered for much of the second half of the season, much to the liking of Graham Gano who has tallied the third most field goals in the league so far this year. He has six games of three or more field goals in 15 weeks. Over the past four weeks he has put up 13 field goals including four last weeks against Minnesota. Neither of these teams have anything to play for, but since it’s a divisional game I expect them to both put out an effort. The Eagles especially could be playing for Andy Reid’s job, and Shanahan could use