Stephen Gostkowski - Pats could add competition for Gostkowski

Source: The Huddle

The New England Patriots could consider adding a young kicker this offseason to compete with PK Stephen Gostkowski during training camp.
Huddle Up: While annually benefiting points-wise from the high-scoring Pats' offense, Gostkowski never has been among the league's most-accurate kickers, and this past season, he finished 20th with his 82.9 percent (29-of-35) success rate. And, hey, a little training-camp competition never hurt anybody.

Patriots | Could add competition for Stephen Gostkowski

Source: Footballguys.com

The New England Patriots could consider adding a young kicker this offseason to compete with PK Stephen Gostkowski during training camp.

Patriots | Two players fined

Source: Footballguys.com

New England Patriots SS Steve Gregory and PK Stephen Gostkowski have each been fined $15,750 for unnecessary roughness in the team's Divisional Round playoff game.

Submitted for your derision: Fantasy ranks for NFL playoff leagues

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

Perhaps the dumbest thing a fantasy manager can possibly do is publish player ranks on a mainstream sports site on the morning of a draft. Definitely not recommended. Poor strategy, requiring a special combination of stupidity and hubris. Far from ideal.

Nonetheless, I'm doing it today. My first fantasy playoff draft is coming up in just a few short hours, and I'm publishing ranks in advance. (Again: Unwise). Obviously I'd prefer to post this thing much later in the afternoon, after the draft, but my schedule is pretty jammed. I've blocked off eight-and-a-half hours to watch the Big Ten get mauled across five bowl games. The conference requires my full attention. So let's just rank the NFL playoff field right

Submitted for your derision: Fantasy ranks for 2013 playoff leagues

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

Perhaps the dumbest thing a fantasy manager can possibly do is publish up-to-date player ranks on a mainstream sports site on the morning of a draft. Not recommended. This requires a special combination of stupidity and hubris. Far from ideal.

Nonetheless, today you're getting my NFL playoff ranks just a few hours before my first postseason draft of 2013. I'd prefer to publish this thing much later in the afternoon, post-draft, but unfortunately my schedule is pretty jammed. I've blocked off most of the day to watch the Big Ten get mauled for eight-and-a-half hours, across five games. So let's just rank the field right now.

But first, a few details about league settings...

My upcoming draft is a

Stealing Points, Week 17: Sacks in San Diego

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Because some of you are still fighting that good fantasy fight, here's another batch of Stealing Points, the placekicker and defense ranks. If you feel good about your methodology at these positions, terrific. Keep doing what you're doing. If you need someone to break a tie for you, here's why you might want me to be that guy. It's your team. It's up to you.

Generally speaking, I'd like my kickers and defenses to be from teams expected to win - the bigger the favorite, the better. Let's get game flow in our corner. Additionally, I'm not sure the Falcons or

Stealing Points, Week 16: Remember the Pack, forget the Titans

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

If you're still reading our 2012 fantasy football content, good for you. This means you're still playing games of consequence this season, and that's a good thing. (Or it means we're locked into some co-dependent relationship that's oddly functional. Okay, we can live with that, too.)

You want to fight for every last point in any fantasy game, and it's common for some sharp fantasy owners to play the one-week rental game with respect to defenses and kickers. These two positions always have good options floating around the waiver wire, in part because their week-to-week value is largely matchup-dependent. With that in mind, here is my 1.0 version of rankings at the rental spots in Week 16.

Disagree with what's here?

Week 16 – K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Ed Szczepanski / USA TODAY Sports

In the midst of another year of disappointment in Oakland, fantasy owners caught a glimpse of what Sebastian Janikowski can be when the Raiders actually give him a steady dose of opportunities. Janikowski converted on five field goals scoring all fifteen of the Raiders points in the teams shutout victory over the Chiefs.

On the day Janikowski converted a long of 57-yards giving him his third week out of the past five weeks with a 50 plus conversion. The bad news is his big day came fresh off converting one field goal or fewer in five of his past six games.

Hopefully savvy fantasy owners were paying attention to the competition the Raiders were playing (not

Kickers and Defenses: Stealing points in Week 15

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

It's not uncommon to hear or read grousing about the kicker and defense positions in fantasy football. It's all luck, some say. It's too freaking random, someone might offer. Just flip a coin and get it over with, that's how many seem to view this part of the game. I've seen leagues that eliminate the kickers and defenses altogether.

Those lines of reasoning never made sense to me. In my view, ranking kickers and defenses is the easiest thing a fantasy football scribe does every week. More than any other position, the success of your kicker and defense is usually tied to the success of his club. (It's not quite that simple, but that's the best way to start - follow the heavy favorite.) And while some others

Week 15 – K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Kelley L. Cox / USA TODAY Sports

With a rookie quarterback and an average at best receiving core, you know it was going to be a tough season for former Pro Bowl kicker Dan Carpenter. However if you’re looking for a waiver wire option with top kickers like David Akers, Blair Walsh, Greg Zuerlein and Justin Tucker’s production falling off in the second half of the season, give Carpenter a look this week.

The Dolphins travel back home after a competitive game in San Francisco where Carpenter nailed a 53-yard field goal. As a life long 49ers fan, I can tell you it’s no easy feat for a kicker to convert from over 50-yards in that stadium, especially one that has probably never kicked their

Week 14 – K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Joe Camporeale / USA TODAY Sports

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 PAT’s 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 the move the football, thus turning them into an undesired option for fantasy lineups.

Playing against the Texans and 49ers in the next

Week 13 – K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Andrew Weber / US PRESSWIRE

It’s been an up and down roller coaster for Shayne Graham owners in recent weeks. While the Texans have put together back to back overtime victories in high-scoring games, their veteran kicker has missed three field goals in that time, and yet he’s also converted five.

Fantasy owners will take the five field goals, but it is his lack of consistency that forced the veteran to bounce around to four different teams (Giants, Patriots, Dolphins, Ravens) total through the two previous seasons after seven years in Cincinnati.

Through it all Graham’s situation still gives him a chance to tie or even break his career best of 31 field-goal conversions (has 20 thus

WK 12 – K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Derick E. Hingle / US PRESSWIRE

As the Falcons enjoy one of their better seasons in franchise history, veteran kicker Matt Bryant is prospering with what looks to be a career year. Bryant has been one of the better kickers for fantasy football and his consistency from week to week makes him one of the more reliable options at his position.

Through ten games Bryant has converted 25 of his 28 opportunities, has at least 2 field goals in eight of those games and has posted three or more conversions in four of his past five games.

What we know up to this point in the season is that the Falcons are sure to stay close in every ball game going forward and that is a big reason for his consistency

Week 11 K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Thomas Campbell / US PRESSWIRE

We should have another defensive driven game between the Steelers and Ravens this week. After posting 55 points against the Raiders, Joe Flacco and the Ravens are flying high coming into this important contest. Of course, no one should expect the same results this week as Baltimore will face a Pittsburgh defense that has played like a top five unit in recent weeks.

No, expect the Ravens to lean on the kicking game a little more and that means Justin Tucker is set for a strong performance.

One of the emerging rookie kickers in the NFL, Tucker is 17 of 18 on the season with a long of 56 yards. Coach John Harbaugh won’t balk at long opportunities with a young

Week 10 – K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Bruce Kluckhohn / US PRESSWIRE

Last week was a big test for Blair Walsh’s fantasy value as the Vikings traveled to Seattle. While Christian Ponder continued to struggle, the Vikings offense continued to move the football because of Adrian Peterson’s outstanding play. Walsh converted both of his field-goal opportunities and yet again blasted another attempt over 50 yards, this one from 55-yards out.

Through eight games, Walsh has at least a 49-yard field goal in six of those contests and in five games he has one over 50 yards. As was the case this past week, Walsh has proven he can remain accurate during road games as he’s converted 19 of the 20 opportunities he’s had this

Shuffle Up and Redraft: Starting over with 220 picks

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

In the world of spies, they mock what they don't understand. In the world of fantasy, we want to understand, so we mock.

Truth be told, this 220-pick exercise wasn't really a mock — it's a real thing. I assembled 10 of my flatliner roto friends (industry and non-industry folks included) and we're all standing behind our teams. While we won't do any maintenance to the rosters we drafted Tuesday night, we are keeping score and we are playing for a financial stake. If you can't go full out, why go at all?

We'll use best-ball scoring to determine the winners; everyone will have their best theoretical score assigned to them after each go-round. It's a total-points grab, there are no head-to-head games. We're using the

Week 8 K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Christopher Hanewinckel / US PRESSWIRE

Those fantasy owners who picked up Nick Novak a few weeks back can breathe a sigh of relief as usual starter Nate Kaeding has been placed on injured reserve. For the second season in a row, Kaeding has had a lower leg issue that has cost him a majority of the season and Novak has been there to fill in.

The Chargers have had some wild games of late but look for Novak to remain as one of the safer K1 plays weekly. San Diego may turn the football over and give away a few games, but Novak will continue to receive two or more

Patriots | Stephen Gostkowski clutch in Week 7

Source: Footballguys.com

New England Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski kicked the game-tying 43-yard field goal to force overtime in Week 7 against the New York Jets, and then he knocked through the game-winner in OT from 48 yards out. 'Steve came through big. He hit some big kicks and he kicked off well. Yup, did a good job,' head coach Bill Belichick said.

Week 7 – K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Brace Hemmelgarn / US PRESSWIRE

It’s been a good year for rookie kickers and Vikings Blair Walsh is one of them. It didn’t appear we should expect much from Walsh coming into the season as Minnesota was projected to be one of the worst teams in football.

Outside of last weeks meltdown the Vikings defense has played well and with Adrian Peterson coming back faster than many thought after his injury last winter, Walsh has turned out to be in a terrific situation.

Despite the loss in Washington, Walsh converted on all four of his field-goal attempts giving him 16 conversions on the young season and only one miss. A long of 55-yards tells us the kid has a strong leg and kicking in a dome

Week 6 K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Jim Brown / US PRESSWIRE

In recent weeks fantasy owners with Stephan Gostkowski have relied more on PAT’s than field goals to get points on the board. This week should be different as the Patriots head out to Seattle and play against a tough defense.

Seattle won’t be a threat to post more than 20 points in the game, and we should expect New England to win time of possession. Still early October, we should have good weather out in Seattle so Gostkowski shouldn’t be held back from opportunities past 45 yards.

What Did We Learn From Week Five?

- Once again the Broncos fell behind early on the road against a playoff caliber team. Expect this week to be closer as

Mostly NFL Notes: Week 4 Recap

Source: Roto Arcade by deldon

What a dominant performance by the 49ers, holding the Jets to just 2.9 yards per play on defense while rushing for 245 yards on offense (the most the Jets have allowed since Rex Ryan took over). Tim Tebow completed his first pass attempt of the season for nine yards (resulting in his vulnerable receiver getting blown up and losing a fumble), but it was Colin Kaepernick who continues to be the bigger threat when entering the game, although his deep ball to a triple-teamed Randy Moss wasn't the best decision. As a runner, he looks like a problem for defensive coordinators moving forward. And how nice was he sliding down before a sure touchdown at the end of the game?…Michael Crabtree is San Francisco's most reliable wide

Week 5 K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Scott Rovak / US PRESSWIRE

The Rams rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein had a terrific preseason but the question was, could the Rams play competitive football to make Zuerlein a starter in fantasy leagues? Through four games the answer is yes, as the Rams look more like the team that competed for a division title in 2010 then there abysmal performance last year.

Their success and Head Coach Jeff Fisher’s trust to use Zuerlein any chance he gets (even up to 60 yards), has made the youngster one of the top fantasy options at his position. One of the better big legs in the game Zuerlein is proving he has the accuracy to be trusted as well. Look to Zuerlein as one of the elites at his position as long as

Week 4 K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Evan Habeeb / US PRESSWIRE

The Patriots have their problems on offense, and that means we should expect Stephen Gostkowski to continue with his three plus field-goal attempts per game. Leg strength hasn’t been a problem as Gostkowski has already matched his career long of 53-yards this season.

What Did We Learn From Week Three?

- Perhaps all is not lost for Rob Bironas as the Titans bounced back in a big way at home. Bironas had three field goals on the day, but it could’ve been better than that as he missed on two other opportunities. Don’t expect that to be the norm as Bironas has proven over the years, missing no more than three attempts in each of the past two

Mostly NFL Notes: Week 2 Recap

Source: Roto Arcade by deldon

What an impressive performance by Reggie Bush, highlighted by his terrific 23-yard touchdown run when he broke multiple tackles. After averaging 3.98 YPC while with New Orleans, Bush has averaged 5.18 since joining Miami. He's also been much more involved as a receiver so far this year compared to last, so his fantasy value continues to climb…I'm beginning to think Denarius Moore might be injury prone…According to Pro Football Focus, Darren McFadden has been the worst running back in the league over the first two weeks of the season by a wide margin. He's getting an anemic 1.3 YPC after contact while also grading out poorly as a receiver and blocker. In such an unpredictable sport, it would be fitting if McFadden played in

Week 3 K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Evan Habeeb / US PRESSWIRE

If you don’t know the name Justin Tucker, you will soon. Tucker beat-out Billy Cundiff to start for the Ravens and looked good against the Bengals flashing a strong leg and accuracy. Then his week two performance made him a top five fantasy kicker as he went off for three field goals from distances of 56, 51 and 48 yards.

Tuckers situation is attractive for fantasy leagues, but what impresses me most is John Harbaugh’s willingness to use him at will. A former special-teams coach, Harbaugh must really love his young kicker to display so much trust at this point in his career, and we should view Tucker as a top five fantasy option at his position going

Patriots | Stephen Gostkowski usually clutch

Source: Footballguys.com

New England Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski had made 38 straight fourth-quarter, regular-season field goals prior to missing a potential game-winning kick in Week 2.

Week 2 Observations

Source: RotoSynthesis

Even though Stephen Gostkowski's shanked field goal knocked me out of all five of my survivor pools, it didn't affect me the way it would have were it not preceded by an unbelievably bad fumble by Ryan Williams that made the attempt even possible. Once you've already accepted your fate, you no longer dread it in the same way. And even the possibility that I would survive the New England pick cheered me up to the point that the eventual loss didn't especially bother me. It also helped that the Giants had just had their own dramatic comeback and unlike the Patriots saw it through.

Patriots | Stephen Gostkowski misses GW FG

Source: Footballguys.com

New England Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski had four field goals (46, 34, 51, 53) in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals. However, he misfired badly on the game-winning field goal at the end of regulation from 42 yards out to give the Cardinals the huge upset. 'I felt good going out there and it wasn't the smoothest hit, and I looked up and I saw it was left, and you know, sometimes the ball just doesn't fly your way,' Gostkowski said.

Sunday Scene, Week 2: That’s more like it, Trent Richardson

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

Trent Richardson had a rough NFL debut against Philadelphia last Sunday (19 carries, 39 yards), prompting many of us to question what his fantasy ceiling could possibly be in Cleveland. Richardson was without question the premier back in the 2012 draft class, but he's now tied to a not-so-star-studded offense and a sketchy rookie quarterback (Brandon Weeden). It's not the best possible fantasy setup.

Richardson faced Cincinnati on Sunday, and the Bengals didn't seem unusually concerned with him. These were a few of linebacker Rey Maualuga's mid-week comments:

"[Richardson] can run you

Week 2 K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Rafael Suanes / US PRESSWIRE

Maybe the Ravens didn’t like what Billy Cundiff brought to the table, but Washington has to feel good about having him after he went four for four against the Saints. Cundiff doesn’t have one of the stronger legs in the game, but we should feel good about his chances for quality production, if the Redskins remain competitive in most football games.

Look to Cundiff as a solid starter this week as the Redskins play the Rams, a team they destroyed last season.

Sean’s Watch List For Week 2

- Rob Bironas and Alex Henery have the talent to be weekly starting options in fantasy leagues. However, there are problems for both kickers if

2012 Week 1 Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

The smell of football is in the air. Here are my 2012 Week 1 fantasy football kicker rankings.

1. David Akers, San Francisco 49ers
League’s top kicker last year with 44 field goals and 34 extra points. Plays Green Bay.

2. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots
Pats offense should be even better. Gostkowski kicked 28 FGs last year with 59 PATs. Plays Tennessee.

3. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers
Kicked 28 FGs last year with a ridiculous 68 PATs. Against SF he should have multiple FGs.

4. Sebastian Janikwoski, Oakland Raiders
Seabass kicked 31 FGs with 36 PATs last year. Plus, he continually drills long FGs. Plays San

2012 Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings – Week 1

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

The smell of football is in the air. Here are my 2012 Week 1 fantasy football kicker rankings.

1. David Akers, San Francisco 49ers
League’s top kicker last year with 44 field goals and 34 extra points. Plays Green Bay.

2. Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots
Pats offense should be even better. Gostkowski kicked 28 FGs last year with 59 PATs. Plays Tennessee.

3. Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers
Kicked 28 FGs last year with a ridiculous 68 PATs. Against SF he should have multiple FGs.

4. Sebastian Janikwoski, Oakland Raiders
Seabass kicked 31 FGs with 36 PATs last year. Plus, he continually drills long FGs. Plays San

2012 NFL Week 1 Fantasy Projections: Matthew Stafford and Tom Brady Top List

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Using the WhatIfSports.com NFL simulation engine, the individual fantasy players and defensive teams are ranked based entirely on projected fantasy points using the FOXSports.com Fantasy Football default scoring where:

QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs: TDs are 6 points.

QBs: 25 passing yards is 1 point.

QBs: Interceptions are -2 points.

RBs: 10 rushing yards is 1 point.

QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs: Fumbles lost are -2 points.

WRs, TE and RBs: 10 yards

Fantasy Football 2012 Week 1: Kicker Rankings, Projections

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

No doubt David Akers should still be viewed as the top option at kicker in fantasy leagues. Akers faces a challenge in Week 1, as the game scripts could easily tilt toward the San Francisco 49ers—who are playing on the road against the Packers—falling behind.

It will be up to the 49ers defense to hold down one of the better offenses in the league, and I think that’s a tall order, especially the first week of the season.

Expect marginal numbers from Akers this week, but he should get back to his dominant ways in the team's first home game, against the Lions in Week 2.

 

Sean’s Watch List

We witnessed some

Week 1 – K Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Icon SMI

No doubt David Akers should still be viewed as the top option at kicker in fantasy leagues. Week one, Akers faces a challenge as the game scripts could easily tilt towards the 49ers falling behind, playing on the road against the Packers.

It will be up to the 49ers defense to hold down one of the better offenses in the league and I think that’s a tall order, especially week one. Expect marginal numbers from Akers this week, but he should get back to his dominant ways in the teams first home game against the Lions, week two.

Sean’s Watch List

We witnessed some veteran kickers who got there walking papers last week as well as talented Texans rookie Randy

Draft Review: The Fantasy Pros Invitational, 2012

Source: Roto Arcade by Andy Behrens

OK, this post requires a warning, right at the top: If you have zero interest in reading a few thousand words about another man's fantasy draft, then you'll want to check out right now. Go. Beat it. Scram.

I'm guessing you could assemble another team or two in the time it would take to get through this thing. Fantasy draft recaps aren't everyone's cup of Yoo-hoo.  I get it. They actually read these things aloud to enemy combatants in secret prisons. The tactic, while cruel, has been highly effective.

But if you're willing to invest

Fantasy Football 2012: Ranking the Best Fantasy Football Strategies

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Everyone wants to win their fantasy football leagues. The $100 question is how is the best way to go about it? 

Millions of fantasy football drafts are rapidly approaching, and there are differences of opinion on how to build a championship team. Do you try to load up at one position?  Do you heavily factor in players’ bye weeks?  Do you stay way from New York Jets like they are contagious colds? 

Fantasy owners will always debate which strategy is the best. With a week or less to go before your drafts, it is time for you to make your own decision. Here are several fantasy football

2012 NFL Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings by Tier

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Here’s a look at the LestersLegends 2012 team kicker rankings by tier. 

 

Tier One: Top kickers in high-powered offenses. Seabass is an exception because he kicks so many long FGs. You may have to draft them prior to the last round of your draft.

Alex Henery, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles offense seem to take a little while to get going, but I expect it'll

Fantasy Football 2012: 3 Kickers to Consider on Draft Day

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

A fantasy football team can win a championship without a great kicker, but it certainly does not hurt to have one. 

Kickers are the low men on the fantasy totem pole. They trail quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, tight ends and even defenses and/or individual defensive players. They are normally drafted in late rounds, if not final rounds. And they are never considered the main reason a fantasy team wins a title, unless it is because a kicker makes six field goals during a league’s Super Bowl week. 

I do not subscribe to the pick-kickers-last theory. I think you can select a premier kicker a round or two earlier and this way have a slight leg up (pun intended) on other fantasy squads.

While it is

SiriusXM Experts Football League – 2012

Source: Baseball Guys by Ray Flowers

In 2010 I was the SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio Experts Football League Champion (you can listen to the channel at Sirius 210 or XM 87. You can also hear my daily show, from 7-10 PM EDT, Monday through Friday). I failed to win last season, but I’m back to reclaim my throne in 2012. In what follows I’ll run through the participants and the rules, before breaking down the team that I put together for the coming campaign.

Here are the

Predicting the Top 5 Fantasy Football Scorers of 2012 at Each Position

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

It is never too early to try to be the Mel Kiper of fantasy football. 
 
Can you believe that fantasy-football drafts and auctions are less than two months away? My fantasy baseball teams better start wrapping up their championships or begin tanking so I do not have them distracting me while I rank the top 20 kickers for my September cheat sheets. 

So, do you want some early thoughts on which players will be the most dominant in fantasy football this upcoming season? 

Here are my predictions for the top five fantasy scorers of 2012 at the major positions. 

 

Running Backs 

1. LeSean McCoy, Philadelphia Eagles

2012 Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Here’s a look at the LestersLegends 2012 team kicker rankings.

1.  David Akers, San Francisco 49ers:  He was a top-tier kicker with Philly and took it to a new level with the Niners last year, kicking 44 field goals with 34 extra points.

2.  Stephen Gostkowski, New England Patriots:  The Pats should be an offensive force again and Gostkowski should reap the benefits. He kicked 28 FGs last year with 59 PATs.

3.  Mason Crosby, Green Bay Packers:  Kicked 28 FGs last year with a ridiculous 68 PATs. The Packers should be one of the top offensive teams once again.

4.  Alex Henery, Philadelphia Eagles:  The Eagles offense seemed to take

Kickers – 2012 Fantasy Football Projected Stats

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Photo By: Icon SMI

After his final game with the Eagles, we had to wonder if David Akers best days were behind him. After all, Akers would be turning 36 years old as he headed into free agency as Philadelphia went with Alex Henery in the draft.

As the lockout ended and free agency finally got underway, Akers landed with the 49ers after Joe Nedney called it a career. San Francisco clearly wasn’t going to have the same high-scoring offense we saw in Philadelphia, and we had to wonder if Akers would be good for 30 field conversions in a season.

For the first time in as long as I can remember, I had Akers listed outside the top ten kickers to target on draft day. Boy was I wrong, as the 49ers finally had the breakout

Patriots | Stephen Gostkowski awaits his big chance

Source: Footballguys.com

New England Patriots PK Stephen Gostkowski is hopeful to get his chance at a clutch kick in Super Bowl XLVI against the New York Giants Sunday, Feb. 5. 'I just wanna win,' Gostkowski said Tuesday, Jan. 31. 'I want to be able to call myself a champion. If I get to make a big play, even better.'

Super Bowl 2012: Fantasy Football Defense and Kicker Rankings

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Here are the Lester’s Legends Super Bowl XLVI fantasy football team defense rankings.

This one is tough. Both offenses have the ability to score big time.

I give the New York Giants the advantage for their ability to get to the quarterback. I think the Patriots handle the pressure better than the last Super Bowl, but Brady will still see a lot of pressure. If he makes the same mistakes he made against Baltimore it could be a long day.

The New England Patriots have improved on defense and have the “bend, don’t break” thing down. I’m expecting a Patriots’ victory, and I can see the defense making some key plays along the way.

Still, I think this one will be more

NFL Playoffs 2012: Fantasy Football K Rankings for Conference Championships

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Here are the Lester’s Legends kicker rankings for the conference championship round of the NFL playoffs.

1.  David Akers vs. New York Giants

Akers set the NFL record with 44 FGs during the regular season and tacked on another three in the Niners win over the Saints, and he has had double-digit points in ten of his last thirteen games. The Giants allowed 25 FGs during the regular season and two in their win over the Packers.

 

2.  Stephen Gostkowski vs. Baltimore Ravens

Gostkowski had six extra points and a field goal in the rout of

Championship Round – K/D Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

What a wild week of games in the NFC, and while many figured we would be talking about the Saints and Packers playing this Sunday, instead we have a very interesting game between the 49ers and Giants. Both teams are red hot, and both teams won last week with opportunistic defenses that creating turnovers throughout the game.

All that said, it’s going to be a hard challenge going forward for any team defense to give you big production. While the 49ers and Giants will have their turnovers, you might be better off rolling the dice with the Patriots defense, if you’re willing to play the odds that they can bring the pressure like Houston did last week. That will be a gamble as one has to figure the Ravens will have an easier time

2011-12 NFL Playoffs: Divisional Round Fantasy Kicker Rankings

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Here are the Lester’s Legends kicker rankings for the divisional round of the NFL playoffs.

 

1.  David Akers vs. New Orleans Saints

Set the NFL record with 44 FGs. Had 19 more points than the next kicker. The Saints allowed 27 FGs this year.

 

2.  John Kasay @ San Francisco 49ers

Kasay is that next kicker with 147 points (28 FGs, 63 PATs). The Niners allowed just 22 FGs, but the Saints are a lock to put points on the board.

 

3.  Mason Crosby vs. New York Giants

Ranked fourth in scoring behind 24 FGs and 68 PATs. The Giants allowed 25 FGs. This one figures to be a pretty high-scoring affair.

 

4. 

2012 Playoff NFL Fantasy Football: Team Defense, Kicker Division Round Rankings

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Last week the Steelers were a trendy top defense to draft in playoff fantasy leagues for the Wild Card Round, as it appeared teams had caught up to Tim Tebow’s tendencies and surely Pittsburgh would capitalize with a solid performance. Well, Tebow Time struck again with another surprising victory, as the Steelers did a poor job of setting the edge on the left side of the field, which allowed Tebow to make key first downs.

A respectable corner most of the year, Steelers top man Ike Taylor was abused by Demaryius Thomas throughout as the Steelers were selling out to stuff the run and consistently leaving him in single coverage. The Broncos' win over the Steelers just goes to show you that no matter how cold a team is,

Division Round – K/D Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

Last week the Steelers were a trendy top defense to draft in playoff fantasy leagues for the wild-card round, as it appeared teams had caught up to Tim Tebow’s tendency’s and surely Pittsurgh would capitalize with a solid performance. Well, Tebow Time struck again with another surprising victory, as the Steelers did a poor job of setting the edge on the left side of the field, which allowed Tebow to make key first downs.

A respectable corner most of the year, Steelers top man Ike Taylor was abused by Demaryius Thomas throughout as the Steelers were selling out to stuff the run and consistently leaving him in single coverage. The Broncos win over the Steelers just goes to show you that no matter how cold a team is; they’re