YCS Fantasy Football Guide 2007 - K's

About a week ago, I provided my expert opinions on what RB's you should choose in your fantasy draft. Now, I'm helping you out with the ultra-important choice of kickers. Remember, a lot of fantasy football games are decided by only a few points (and many more are decided by more outrageous disparities), so having a good kicker can make or break yours season.

As I mentioned in my last Fantasy Football Guide, I'm actually not a football expert at all. In fact, I follow NFL football almost exclusively during the fantasy football season (which means weeks 16 and 17 are irrelevant to me).

Yet, I feel more than adequately informed to provide you with my oustanding advice that is based on unfounded favoritism, unabashed subjectivity, and tidbits I picked up at the draft I attended last weekend.

Now, picking kickers is a little easier than choosing RB's; there's not much difference between a top tier kicker and a shanker... except Robbie God, I mean Gould, who is easily the most precious, adorbable kicker of all time.

Must-Have Kickers
Obviously, Robbie Gould falls into this class. He's amazing. You can throw Adam Vinatieri in here as he is "The Greatest Clutch Kicker of All-Time Plus He Played for an East-Coast Team When He Garnered This Title". I really believe these kickers are worth going out of your way to grab in the seventh or eight round of your draft when other guys are picking third-string running backs. Fantasy football isn't only about scoring the most points, but it's also about fielding the best guys at each position. I'm not sure how it works out, but it does.

Good Kickers on Good Teams
Football teams need to score points to win games, and good teams find ways to score (talk about insight!). You can't go wrong with a kicker who falls in this category. Of course, I'm not going to tell you who they are as I'm unqualified to do so.

Kickers Who Score a Ton of Points Because No One Else on Their Teams Do
Here's a good category. Often, these kickers can be more rewarding than good kickers on good teams because their teams have no other way of putting points on the board. This year, in horrible Berman-ism style, I'll pick Matt "Pot-Belly" Stover (Baltimore), Jason "Electric" Elam (Denver), Jeff Reed "Between the Lines" (Pittsburgh), and Ryan "Fourth and" Longwell (Minnesota).

Kickers to Avoid Because Their Teams Can't Even Find the End Zone
Here's another good rule. Don't choose a kicker on a team that never scores. And this year, I predict New Orleans' offense will bomb. Thus, you should avoid Olindo Mare.

Very Easily Confused Because They All Have Generic First Names that Start with "J" and Relatively Generic Last Names
I don't know about you, but I have a hell of a time keeping Jason Hanson, Josh Brown, Jeff Reed, and Jeff Wilkins straight. Throw in Josh Scobee, Jason Elam, John Kasay, Jay Feely, Justin Medlock, and Sebastian Janiksowski, and you could end up bewildered on draft day. I suggest avoiding all of them, and don't ever draft more than one of them. If you're strapped for time, you could end up starting Jason Hanson instead of Justin Medlock... Just imagine how devastating that could be for your team.

Hope that helps. And remember, if you win your league based on my advice, you can give me a cut. Please, I'm serious. I have more gambling debts than Bill Simmons.