2012 Fantasy Football Week 14: Kicker Rankings / Projections

After converting just one field goal in his two previous games, Patriots kicker Stephen Gostkowski was successful on three of his four attempts against the Dolphins. While inconsistencies in attempts have been an issue for Gostkowski over the years, his problems are more to do with offensive drives producing touchdowns, as Gostkowski totaled 15 PATs in the previous two weeks.

Conversely, most kickers around the league struggle with consistency issues more because the team they play for is either bad or the offense fails to move the football, thus turning them into an undesired option for fantasy lineups.

Playing against the Texans and 49ers in the next two weeks, we should anticipate more Patriot drives stopping short of the end zone, which should give Gostkowski three to four attempts per game.

What Did We Learn From Week 13?

- Only nine field goals before Thursday’s game against the Falcons, Hartley posted two as the Saints struggled to put the football in the end zone. It was nice to see Harley land a 52-yarder (even though he was actually going against me in one of my leagues), and hopefully the Saints will trust him with more opportunities going forward.

Playing the Giants this coming week, the Saints will likely struggle in pass protection, so look to Hartley as a low-end starting option.

- After his worst performance of the season in Tampa Bay, Matt Bryant came back big against the Saints, landing all three of his field-goal opportunities. One of those attempts was from 55 yards out, giving him yet another field goal from over 50 yards this season. Keep him in the lineup through the playoffs, as the Falcons play in Carolina this week and then in dome stadiums the two weeks there after.

Sean’s Week 14 Watch List

- The Vikings refuse to bench Christian Ponder, and as a result, rookie Blair Walsh is suffering, as Ponder threw two interceptions inside the red zone last week. Walsh has one of the better legs in the game, but the Vikings are clearly struggling in the passing game without Percy Harvin.

Walsh is a low-end starter at best until Ponder’s play improves and Harvin gets back in the lineup.

- David Akers struggles continued on Sunday, as he missed a 51-yard field goal in overtime that would’ve given the 49ers a win. It’s been a tough last month for Akers, as he did the exact same thing in an overtime tie to the Rams four weeks ago and missed two field goals against the Saints.

Clearly not himself, Akers is playing through injury, but he should have respectable numbers this week, as the 49ers play at home against the Dolphins.

1	Matt Bryant	at Panthers
2	Stephen Gostkowski	Texans
3	Lawrence Tynes	Saints
4	Justin Tucker	at Redskins
5	Matt Prater	at Raiders
6	Robbie Gould	at Vikings
7	Jason Hanson	at Packers
8	Shayne Graham	at Patriots
9	Garrett Hartley	at Giants
10	Blair Walsh	Bears
11	David Akers (I)	Dolphins
12	Connor Barth	Eagles
13	Dan Bailey	at Bengals
14	Rob Bironas	at Colts
15	Greg Zuerlein	at Bills
16	Mike Nugent	Cowboys

Week 14 Standard Rankings – QB | RB | WR | K | D |