Fantasy football is basically a giant game of chicken. You spend months obsessing over wide receiver depth and high-upside running backs only to find yourself in the playoffs, or at least the home stretch, wondering why on earth you’re trusting your entire season to a guy whose name you can barely pronounce. It’s stressful. Honestly, kickers are the most disrespected position in the game until they miss a 34-yarder in a dome and your Monday night lead evaporates into thin air.
If you're looking for rest of season kicker rankings, you’ve probably realized that "set it and forget it" is a lie. The landscape changes. Weather gets nasty. Offenses that were red-hot in October start settling for field goals in the January cold because they can't punch it in from the red zone.
Why the Big Names Aren’t Always the Best Bets
We need to talk about Justin Tucker. It’s hard to say, but the GOAT has had a rough 2025. He’s been uncharacteristically shaky. After being released by the Ravens earlier in the year and dealing with off-field baggage, he's just not the lock he used to be. In 2024, he finished with a 73.3% conversion rate, which is basically a nightmare for a guy we used to consider automatic. If you're still ranking him in your top five based on reputation alone, you're playing a dangerous game.
Then there’s Jake Elliott. He was a hero in Super Bowl LIX, but the 2025 regular season was a different story. He hit just about 74% of his field goals. That’s a massive drop-off. You’ve got to look at the "now," not the "then."
Rest of Season Kicker Rankings: The Elite Tier
When we look at the guys who actually win you weeks, it’s all about opportunity and leg strength. Brandon Aubrey is the gold standard right now. Period. The Dallas Cowboys kicker has been a machine, especially from long distance.
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1. Brandon Aubrey (DAL)
Aubrey is the closest thing to a "cheat code" at the position. In 2025, he led the league in 50+ yard attempts and makes. He’s got the range that makes a 60-yarder look like a chip shot. The Cowboys' offense moves the ball well enough to get him in range but stalls enough to give him plenty of work. He’s the undisputed #1.
2. Ka’imi Fairbairn (HOU)
Fairbairn is one of those players who quietly wins people championships. He’s incredibly accurate. In 2025, he hovered around a 92% success rate. The Texans' offense is high-powered with C.J. Stroud, but Fairbairn is the safety net. He’s consistent, he plays in a dome half the time, and he’s almost never the reason you lose a matchup.
3. Will Reichard (MIN)
The rookie season for Reichard was nothing short of spectacular. He finished the 2025 regular season with a 94.3% field goal percentage. That is absurd. Minnesota’s offense creates high-scoring environments, and Reichard has shown he can handle the pressure. He’s a top-tier option for the rest of the way.
The Middle Class: High Ceiling, Low Floor
This is where things get tricky. You're looking at guys who might give you 15 points one week and 2 the next. It’s all about matchups and atmospheric conditions here.
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- Cameron Dicker (LAC): "Dicker the Kicker" is remarkably efficient. He’s usually over 90% for a reason. The Chargers' offense under Jim Harbaugh is designed to be physical and move the chains, which often results in long drives that end in three points. He’s safe.
- Jake Bates (DET): Playing in a dome in Detroit is a huge advantage late in the year. The Lions score a lot of touchdowns, which limits his field goal ceiling, but he’s basically guaranteed 4-5 extra points a game plus a couple of long-range tries.
- Chris Boswell (PIT): The Steelers' offense can be a slog. That’s actually good for Boswell. He’s often the only reason they have points on the board. He has the range and the "clutch" factor that coaches trust in the fourth quarter.
What Most People Get Wrong About Kicker Scouting
Stop looking at "Points Per Game" as your only metric. It’s deceptive. A kicker could be averaging 10 points per game because his team played three games in Florida and California, but if their rest of season schedule involves Buffalo, Cleveland, and Chicago in late December, that average is going to plummet.
Weather is everything. Wind is the real kicker-killer. Rain is annoying, but a 20 mph crosswind in an open-air stadium makes every kick over 40 yards a coin flip. If you’re holding onto a guy like Tyler Bass or Jake Elliott for the playoffs, look at where they’re playing. If it’s an outdoor game in the Northeast or Midwest, you might want to stream a dome kicker instead.
The Red Zone Paradox
You actually want a kicker on a team with a mediocre red-zone conversion rate. If a team is too good at scoring touchdowns (looking at you, Detroit or Philadelphia at times), your kicker is just an extra-point bot. You want the offense that moves the ball to the 25-yard line and then falls apart. That is the sweet spot for fantasy production.
The Streaming Strategy for the Final Weeks
If you don't have Aubrey or Fairbairn, you shouldn't be married to your kicker. Honestly, you shouldn't even have an emotional attachment to them.
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- Check the Over/Under: Vegas knows things. High over/under totals usually mean more scoring opportunities.
- Indoor vs. Outdoor: Prioritize kickers in domes. It eliminates the variables.
- The "Bad Defense" Rule: Target kickers playing against defenses that are "bend but don't break." These teams allow a lot of yards but tighten up near the goal line, leading to field goal attempts.
Rest of Season Outlook: Who to Fade
I’d be very careful with Harrison Butker. Not because he isn't talented—he’s great—but because the Chiefs are so efficient in the postseason that he often ends up with five extra points and zero field goals. In a standard scoring league, that’s only 5 points. You can find more upside on the waiver wire.
Also, Younghoe Koo. His 2025 season was a mess after moving to the Giants. He hit only about 66% of his kicks in limited action. The Giants' offense is struggling to even get into scoring position, which makes Koo a total "avoid" right now.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Roster
If you're making a push for the title, take five minutes to look at your kicker’s schedule for the next three weeks. If you see "Away @ Buffalo" or "Away @ Green Bay," it’s time to move on. Search your waiver wire for anyone playing in a dome or a warm-weather stadium.
Check for guys like Chase McLaughlin or Cairo Santos. They might not be "sexy" picks, but they are consistent and often play in favorable conditions. McLaughlin, in particular, has been one of the best long-range kickers over the last few seasons and is usually available in a surprising number of leagues.
Verify your league’s scoring settings too. If your league gives 5 points for a 50-yarder, Brandon Aubrey is effectively a WR2. If it’s just 3 points regardless of distance, your strategy should shift toward kickers on high-volume offenses, even if they don't have the massive legs. Fix your roster now before the Sunday morning panic sets in.