What separates winning fantasy managers from the rest when it comes to streamers?
The process is not complicated, but knowing where to focus makes all the difference. Week after week, I have watched managers overthink the kickers position, treating it like some random puzzle. Here’s what I’ve learned: matchups matter, but how you define good matchups can differ dramatically. Instead of obsessing over fantasy points allowed to kickers, a stat that fluctuates wildly.
I look for something more reliable. Target teams with bad defenses that allow plenty of points. Why? Because giving your kicker more opportunities to get on the field is half the battle. It’s not revolutionary, least of all complicated, but it’s defined by results.
The idea is straightforward: find lower-level fantasy players in the right circumstances for that particular week.
Now, for Week 8, let’s identify three kickers with favorable situations who remain widely available across most fantasy leagues. You are looking for guys who can be picked up and immediately inserted into your lineup without hesitation.
Sure, it’s a bonus to find a guy who plays with a good offense and we have one of those highlighted below but beggars can’t always be choosers. Fantasy is fickle by nature, especially at this position, so sometimes you work with what’s there.
Use resources like FantasySP’s weekly projections to help identify which players are expected to perform the best at each position. Most of the stats referenced here come from NFL.com, giving you a chance to verify the matchup data yourself. Don’t give up on finding that streaming edge it doesn’t require a lot of effort, just a lot of smart targeting.
Mike Badgley, Indianapolis Colts vs. Tennessee Titans
When Shrader went down with a torn ACL and MCL after getting hit late in Week 5 against the Raiders, the fantasy world barely blinked. But here’s what I’ve learned from years of tracking special teams: sometimes the backup becomes the goldmine. Mike Badgley was quietly signed by the Colts to fill those reps, and most fantasy managers haven’t caught on yet. This guy is kicking for one of the most unstoppable offensive teams in football, and his ownership remains surprisingly low. If this were a running back situation, there would’ve been a mad scramble to pick up the replacement, but kicker moves fly under the radar.
The Indianapolis offense has been nothing short of dominant this season, and Badgley steps into a dream scenario. He’s already shown reliability, converting both his field goal attempts and seven of eight extra points in limited chances.
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What makes this even more appealing? The Colts play in a dome with perfect conditions no wind, no weather variables, just pure precision kicking. I’ve always emphasized environment when evaluating kickers, and Indy offers one of the best setups in the league. The team continues to excel offensively, which means more points and more opportunities for Badgley to deliver weekly value.
Now, let’s talk about the matchup with Tennessee. The Titans are allowing the fifth-most points per game at 27.4, and their defense has been genuinely bad. Even worse, their pitiful offense constantly sets the defense back by allowing the opposition favorable field position.
When these teams played back in Week 3, Shrader made all five extra points and two of three field goal tries as the Colts dropped 41 points on the board. This game should follow a similar script, giving Badgley plenty of kick attempts in a controlled dome environment. The Tennessee defense simply can’t handle what Indy brings offensively, and that translates directly into fantasy opportunity for your kicker position.
Is Badgley worth rostering for the long haul? Absolutely. This is not just a one-week streaming option this player has landed in an ideal situation where the offense stays aggressive and the scoring opportunities remain consistent. His low ownership won’t last much longer once managers see the volume of chances he gets weekly. Don’t wait for the scramble; keep him rostered now and enjoy the steady fantasy production from a position most people ignore until it’s too late.
Nick Folk, New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals
Let’s be honest are you totally comfortable trusting the Jets offense right now? I’m not either. New York has scored the fifth-fewest points per game this season, combining for just 17 over the past two weeks. One of those games came against the tough Broncos defense, while last week they faced the Panthers.
Now, Carolina might look like an easy matchup on paper, but this surprising 4-3 team is actually better than average in points allowed. So yes, the offense struggles, but context matters. When the competition softens up, even struggling teams find ways to move the ball and this matchup against Cincinnati represents exactly that kind of opportunity.
Here’s what I’ve learned from years of tracking special teams value: sometimes a bad offense creates the perfect storm for kicker production. Cincinnati has allowed the second-most points per game and the most points overall this season.
While everyone focuses on whether Joe Flacco can save the team’s season, the real story is a defense that’s been bleeding points all year. Even with Joe Burrow under center, there would still be issues on that side of the ball. This is one of those rare instances where a struggling offense meets a vulnerable defense, and Folk is in line to capitalize on multiple scoring opportunities.
Nick Folk has been a steady hand all season, making all 14 of his field goals and all seven of his extra points. His 14 FGs are tied for fifth most in the league—a perfect example of that old axiom about finding a kicker on a team that isn’t good enough to consistently score touchdowns but moves the ball well enough to generate field goal attempts.
The offense remains a serious hindrance, no question about it, but the matchup is so favorable here that Folk should get plenty of chances. One thing worth checking before game time: weather reports. It’s getting to that time of year when early winter weather can start affecting outcomes in places like Cincinnati, so keep an eye on conditions as kickoff approaches.
Parker Romo, Atlanta Falcons vs. Miami Dolphins
I’m more excited about facing the Dolphins with fantasy players than every other team this season—and yes, that includes the kicker position. Miami regularly looks like a dumpster fire on defense, having just given up 31 points to the Browns (though a pick-six was involved).
The Dolphins are giving up 29.3 points per game, the fourth most in the league. This is not a recent problem either it started back in Week 1 against the Colts and has continued through every game since. Miami has allowed at least 27 points in every contest except for one, when the Jets scored just 21. When a team bleeds points like this, any player facing them becomes instantly more valuable in fantasy.
Parker Romo took over for the Falcons in Week 2 and has been fine. He’s made all nine of his extra points and nine of 12 field goal attempts. The consistency is there, but Atlanta’s offense presents an ongoing issue.
They are averaging the fifth-fewest points per game, which means Romo is not someone you’d typically trust as a weekly starter. However, context changes everything in fantasy, and this matchup represents a perfect storm. When a struggling offense faces one of the worst teams in football, the opportunity for major damage becomes real.
Atlanta is likely to put up significant numbers in this game, making Romo a strong fantasy player for this week specifically. The Dolphins’ defense can’t stop anyone, and the Falcons offense despite its season-long struggles should find plenty of scoring opportunities.
Romo is in line for what could be a big game here, even if he’s not a long-term solution at the position. I have learned over the years that streaming kickers based on matchup rather than team quality often produces the best results, and this is exactly the type of spot where that strategy pays off. Don’t overthink it facing Miami makes almost any fantasy player worth considering, and Romo should capitalize on multiple chances to put points on the board.