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USATSI

In many leagues, kickers are becoming afterthoughts. Kind of ironic since the name of the game is FOOTball, isn't it?

But it makes sense. There's hardly any relevant data that would suggest whether a kicker is reliable from week to week other than past performance. Maybe the easiest way to trust a kicker is to start one in what's expected to be a high-scoring game, but that could lead to a lot of extra points, not field goals. It's why Justin Tucker, who has been a top-10 Fantasy kicker his entire career, is basically the first one taken every year. But even HE doesn't give a decided advantage in Fantasy like Travis Kelce does with tight ends.

So kickers are starting to fall by the wayside. And DSTs might be next.

There are solid data points that can help Fantasy managers decipher when a DST is a good start. The easiest one, obviously, is the matchup against a certain opponent. Using a DST against the Chiefs or Bills really doesn't seem like a great idea. Using one against a less explosive offense like the Cardinals or Texans, at least at this point of the preseason, seems a heck of a lot better. You get the gist. Of course, elite-level DSTs with strong pass rushes like the Eagles and Cowboys are probably worth starting against everybody.

I happen to like using DSTs and am indifferent to kickers. But your league may use both and for those folks I present these special tiers that combine both the kickers and DSTs. This shows you WHEN to take your kickers and DSTs, and in what order. You may not love starting them, but there is some rationale as to when you draft them.

And remember, outside of the best of the best these are disposable positions. You could literally spend your last two picks on a kicker and DST that have favorable matchups in Week 1 and then hit waivers to replace them. I'll highlight some of those options after the tiers below.

Kicker and DST tiers

Third-to-last round

  • Eagles DST
  • Cowboys DST
  • 49ers DST
  • Justin Tucker

Second-to-last round

  • Daniel Carlson
  • Bills DST
  • Tyler Bass
  • Harrison Butker
  • Younghoe Koo
  • Jason Myers
  • Saints DST
  • Commanders DST

Last round

  • Dolphins DST
  • Packers DST
  • Greg Zuerlein
  • Greg Joseph
  • Cameron Dicker
  • Riley Patterson
  • Chargers DST
  • Chris Boswell
  • Chiefs DST
  • Browns DST
  • Jets DST
  • Evan McPherson

Early-season DST matchups to target:

  • Saints DST: One of my favorites to go after. They open 2023 against the Titans before seeing, in order, the Panthers, Packers, Bucs, Patriots, Texans, Jaguars, Colts and Bears. How many elite-level QBs are in that stretch? How many offenses that can post 24-plus points are in that stretch?
  • Chiefs DST: They take on the Lions in Week 1 before matchups against the Jaguars and Bears before the Jets. Chris Jones' arrival would solidify this DST as one you could trust to begin the year.
  • Packers DST: Begin 2023 against the Bears, Falcons, Saints, Lions and Raiders before a bye. Obviously they'll be better if they get Rashan Gary in a uniform for the start of the season.

Kickers with stats that might mean something:

  • Justin Tucker, Ravens: Top-10 kicker every year of his career!
  • Daniel Carlson, Raiders: 9.5 Fantasy points per game in 2022, top-three kicker per-game each of past three years.
  • Tyler Bass, Bills: Top-six kicker per-game in each of the past three years.
  • Harrison Butker, Chiefs: Top-12 kicker per-game in each of the past three years.
  • Younghoe Koo, Falcons: Top-six kicker per-game in 2022 and 2020, plus has a fun name.
  • Jason Myers, Seahawks: Exploded with 9.4 Fantasy points per game in 2022.
  • Greg Zuerlein, Jets: Exceeded 8.0 Fantasy points per game each of the past three years.
  • Greg Joseph, Vikings: 7.8 Fantasy points per game each of the past two years.
  • Riley Patterson, Lions: 8.2 Fantasy points per game with Jacksonville last year; ex-Lions kicker Mike Badgley had 9.1 in 2022.
  • Chris Boswell, Steelers: Exceeded 8.0 Fantasy points per game each of the past two years.
  • Evan McPherson, Bengals: Stunk last year, was third in Fantasy points per game in 2021.