Fantasy Football 2011: Don't Forget About Philadelphia Eagles Kicker Alex Henery

The Eagles have made a number of moves during the hectic free-agency period that have turned heads.

They added Ronnie Brown and Vince Young on offense. They added Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie on defense.

One player that got away may have been just a blip on the radar, considering the fast and furious pace of the free-agent signings, was former Eagles kicker David Akers.

With Akers in San Francisco there is a  fantasy hole that must be filled. While I admit that I’m not the biggest fan of kickers, Akers’ departure creates an interesting fantasy option.

Rookie Alex Henery was a star at Nebraska and was selected in the fourth round to carry the torch set by Akers. Henery certainly has the credentials. He made 18 of his 19 field goal attempts last year with his lone miss being of the 50-plus-yard variety.

He made all 54 of his PATs as well.

In all, Henery made 68 of his 76 field-goal attempts in his four years at Nebraska, which was good for 89.4 percent accuracy. Of those eight misses, six came from 50 yards or more, meaning that 63 of his 65 (97 percent) if his kicks inside the 50 have split the uprights. He also made 207 of his 208 career extra points.

Kickers, especially young ones, can be hard to judge. There are many factors that determine how good a kicker will be. Confidence is one, and Henery doesn’t seem to be lacking in that department.

I prefer a kicker that plays in a dome or warm climate, but Akers was steady. Hopefully for Birds fans, they don’t miss a beat with their new kicker.

Also check out

• 2011 Fantasy Football QB Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings
• 2011 Fantasy Football RB Rankings - PPR
• 2011 Fantasy Football WR Rankings

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