We’ve reached the halfway point of the NFL season. Every off-season we cross days off our calendars as we get closer to that first kick-off. And every season I think “Slow down! This is going too fast!”
I’m sorry for my untimely hiatus last weekend. There were no bye weeks to maneuver, but we did have a jury duty scare. Because I missed last week, we have no streams or fades to take accountability for. So, let’s get back to our regularly scheduled programming.
Streams
Will Reichard – Minnesota Vikings (16% rostered)
Minnesota hosts Indianapolis this week inside US Bank Stadium. Only two kickers in the NFL have played every game for their team and have yet to miss a kick attempt – Will Reichard is one of them. (Nick Folk is the other, for what’s it worth.) A perfect season is hard to pull off, but Reichard did conquer the feat at Alabama in the 2020 season.
The Vikings have dropped back-to-back games after starting the season 5-0. More concerning, they lost LT Christian Darrisaw in Week 8. On Tuesday, Minnesota traded for Jacksonville’s starting left tackle, Cam Robinson, to help fill that Darrisaw void. “Why is she talking about offensive lineman? I thought this was a kicker article.” While Cam Robinson gets adjusted, I could see the Vikings’ offense struggle to get the ball into the endzone.
Reichard is attempting 2.0 field goals per game and the Colts are allowing 2.4 field goal attempts per game to opponents. Minnesota enters the weekend as 5.5-point favorites over Indianapolis.
Blake Grupe – New Orleans Saints (5% rostered)
Blake Grupe and the Saints head to Carolina to take on an abysmal Panthers team. New Orleans started the season off so hot, but they’re on a 5 game-losing streak. I think the Saints find themselves back in the win column this week.
Word on the grapevine is that Derek Carr is expected back under center this week. The Saints have been decimated by injuries, but getting their starting quarterback back is a good step in the right direction for this team.
Grupe is averaging 1.8 field goal attempts per game. More importantly, Carolina is allowing over 2 field goal attempts per game to their opponents and they’ve allowed the 3rd most points to kickers this season.
Wil Lutz – Denver Broncos (14% rostered)
It may have been a blessing in disguise that I was unable to write last week. I would have told you with my whole chest to put Wil Lutz in lineups. Hell, I put Wil Lutz in all my lineups. But that was last week, and we don’t have to talk about it.
The Broncos have attempted multiple field goals in 6 of their 8 contests this season. They are pretty big underdogs to the 5-3 Baltimore Ravens and they won’t be inside. However, the Ravens have allowed 2.5 field goal attempts to opposing teams through eight weeks.
Baltimore’s offense is lethal, but their defense is leaky. If Bo Nix and company can move the ball a little, I would expect Lutz to get at least two field goals off this Sunday.
Fades
Matt Gay – Indianapolis Colts
Our fantasy prayers were answered this week when Indianapolis announced that the team would be benching Anthony Richardson in favor of Joe Flacco this week. Flacco has shown that he can lift this offense up. That being said, the Colts get a mean defense this week in the Vikings.
Minnesota is going to come out swinging after dropping two games. Minnesota has allowed the fewest points to the kicker position this season. They haven’t given up a single double-digit performance and they’ve only allowed more than 5 fantasy points to the kicker position twice through eight weeks.
Dustin Hopkins – Cleveland Browns
Cleveland is another case of answering fantasy football prayers when Jameis Winston came in for an injured, but also struggling, Deshaun Watson. The Browns looked competent in Week 8. I expect them to come back down to earth this week.
The Chargers are the only other team besides the Vikings to have given up no double-digit games to opposing kickers.
Jason Sanders – Miami Dolphins
I guess my fades have a similar vibe this week because the Dolphins are another team that just had a quarterback change that lifted all tides. In this case, it’s a starting quarterback returning from injury but it’s the same energy as the previous two fades.
Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins will take on their division rivals, the Buffalo Bills this week in what can only be described as a must-win game for the Dolphins. Jason Sanders hasn’t been perfect this season, missing four field goals so far. In Week 9 they get a Bills team that has allowed only one double-digit fantasy kicker output.
This is the part of the season when it’s make-it-or-break-it time. With the number one fantasy kicker on bye this week, we have no choice but to make it.
