3 FanDuel Kickers to Target in Week 5
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 5.
Jake Elliott, Philadelphia Eagles
FanDuel Price: $4,700
Jake Elliott has been a machine for the Philadelphia Eagles over the last three weeks. The rookie placekicker has averaged 13.3 FanDuel points -- second-most in the NFL -- since replacing an injured Caleb Sturgis in Week 2. He has attempted 10 field goals -- an average of over 3 per game -- and has made 8 of them, including a 61-yard game winner in Week 3. With a weary Arizona Cardinals team heading to town in Week 5, expect more of the same from Elliott.
The Eagles go into Sunday's showdown as a 6.5-point favorite and our algorithms agree, giving Philly the biggest win probability of any team this week (72.9%). With the over/under set at 45.0 points, Philadelphia is also looking at the third-highest implied point total on Sunday with 25.75 points. It's worth noting that Arizona is coming off a game where the allowed Robbie Gould to take and make five field goals, as well.
Costing only $4,700, Elliott is shaping up to be an absolute steal and a great alternative to the higher-priced kickers out there.
Aldrick Rosas, New York Giants
FanDuel Price: $4,500
Despite being 0-4, the New York Giants' offense has been much improved over the last two weeks. They have averaged 23.5 points and 397.0 yards per game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Eagles, the 10th- and 13th-best defenses in the NFL (per our metrics). In Week 5, they get a much easier matchup in the 24th-ranked defense of the Los Angeles Chargers.
In addition to having a porous defense -- 23.3 points allowed per game -- the Chargers also have a weakness for opposing kickers. They rank in the top four in both field goal attempts allowed (2.8) and FanDuel points allowed (11.5) per game this season, leaving Aldrick Rosas in line for a heavy workload on Sunday.
In the battle of winless teams, the Giants are a 4.0-point favorite and own one of the highest implied point totals (24.25) Sunday. Add it all up and Rosas has the kind of game script we would pay up for in DFS. But there's no need to do that since he costs the site minimum, allowing you to spread your cash elsewhere.
Cody Parkey, Miami Dolphins
FanDuel Price: $4,500
Using Cody Parkey this week is not for the faint of heart. The Miami Dolphins kicker is coming off back-to-back weeks where he has not even attempted a kick as the Jay Cutler-led offense has been an abomination. With their first real home game of the year on tap this Sunday, the Fins are in line to get back on track against the Tennessee Titans in Week 5.
The only unit in the NFL playing as bad as the Miami offense is perhaps the Titans defense. Tennessee has allowed at least 26 points in three of their four games, including a humiliating drubbing at the hands of the Houston Texans last Sunday, who put 57 points up on the board. They've also given up 11.3 FanDuel points per game to opposing kickers, the third-highest mark in the league.
Back in Week 2, Parkey went 4-for-4 on field goals for a league-high 15 FanDuel points. The former Eagle could do it again this week and he costs the minimum, leaving him dripping with value. He's not likely to carry high ownership based off Miami's recent play, making him a great contrarian play.
