The fantasy football landscape is heating up as we approach the playoffs, and one position that often gets overlooked is the kicker spot. Many fantasy managers tend to ignore kickers, leaving a wealth of opportunity for those who are willing to dive in and stream effectively. The kicker position remains the easiest one to stream in fantasy football. Streaming kickers won’t make or break your fantasy matchup most weeks, but passing up on a few points’ worth of value isn’t a luxury most of us can afford with the playoffs fast approaching.
In Week 14, there are several kickers available in over 50% of leagues who can help you maximize your scoring potential. Here are the top fantasy football streaming kickers to consider:
1. Evan McPherson, Cincinnati Bengals (@ DAL) — 57.3% Available
Evan McPherson is one of my favorite kicker plays of the week, streamer or not, so seeing him nearly 60% available is an absolute treat. The Bengals promise to be one of the highest-scoring teams in action in Week 14, coming in as 5.5-point favorites in a game with a 49.5-point over/under (giving them an implied total of 27 points).
But why is this matchup so appealing? The Cowboys have allowed 10, 10, 9, and 10 fantasy points to kickers in the four games that Cooper Rush has started. Even on a season-long view, they’re allowing the seventh most fantasy points per game to the position. Obviously, teams don’t "defend" kickers in the traditional way, but factors like poor defenses and even poor offenses (which give up favorable starting field position) absolutely contribute to how good a matchup is.
A Monday Night Football shootout is a great get-right spot for McPherson in fantasy in the midst of what has been a disappointing season. With the Cowboys’ struggles, McPherson could easily find himself racking up points.
2. Tyler Bass, Buffalo Bills (@ LAR) — 56.1% Available
I know you’re tired of reading about Tyler Bass in this column almost every single week, but he continues to be available in over 50% of leagues while being a clear top-12 option. He’s tied for No. 10 at the position in fantasy scoring this year, and the Bills are in another great matchup for him to put up big points in Week 14.
Bass is escaping the snow that hindered his performance last week, where he only scored 5 fantasy points. This week, he heads to L.A. to face the Rams. The Bills are right behind the Bengals in terms of implied totals this week, as this game also has a 49.5-point over/under and the Bills are favored by 4.5.
His matchup is even comparable to McPherson, with the Rams ranking one spot behind the Cowboys in terms of fantasy points per game allowed to kickers. The last four weeks have seen them allow a staggering 12.25 fantasy points per game, not holding any opposing kicker under 10 points in that time. Considering Bass will be at least partially involved in almost every scoring drive, those are obviously some favorable numbers for his fantasy upside.
3. Brandon McManus, Green Bay Packers (@ DET) — 93.4% Available
Featured in last week’s kicker streaming column, Brandon McManus delivered with 13 fantasy points, finishing tied for sixth at the position. That’s back-to-back weeks in the double digits, and the Packers kicker position remains a good one for fantasy production. Even the highly inaccurate Brayden Narveson’s 9.5 points per game still ranks No. 10 at the position this year.
While McManus’s matchup isn’t quite as juicy as McPherson or Bass, he’s also a lot more likely to be available even in deeper or sharper leagues. The two above almost feel like cheating to call "streamers" because they check so many boxes, but McManus is more of a true streaming option.
One thing he does have in common with them is a potential shootout this week, as the 51.5-point over/under for Packers-Lions is the highest on the board at FanDuel Sportsbook in Week 14. The Pack are underdogs here, but at +3.5, it’s not like they’re projected to be getting blown out. There will be plenty of points to go around on Thursday, and McManus once again should have his fair share of them.
As we look ahead to the playoffs, remember that the kicker position can provide a significant edge if played wisely. Here are some key takeaways:
- **Evan McPherson** is poised for a strong performance against the Cowboys, who have struggled against kickers.
- **Tyler Bass** is consistently undervalued and has a favorable matchup against the Rams.
- **Brandon McManus** offers a solid streaming option with a high over/under game against the Lions.
In the world of fantasy football, every point counts, especially as we inch closer to the playoffs. So don’t overlook the kicker position; it could be the difference between advancing or going home. Odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMB.
