The NFL would just as soon get rid of kickoffs altogether. There are too many injuries on those kinds of plays. They moved kickoffs from the 30-yard-line to the 35, and most of today's big-legged kickers knock those deep into or through the end zone.
Kickoff return touchdowns, naturally, are down. We've played a half a season, and there have been only 3 touchdowns on kickoff returns. Back in 2010, before they moved kickoffs to the 35, there were 23.
Still, they do happen, and especially if you're in a touchdown-only league, you want to latch onto a defense/special teams unit that has a shot of bringing a kickoff back for a score.
Below are our rankings of the league's kickoff returners, from 1-32. Some are elite returners (Harvin, Jones), some happen to play for teams that are annually really good in that area (Kansas City, Philadelphia). The rankings are based on which returners/teams are most likely to bring a kick or two back for a touchdown in the second half of the season. Take a look and let us know who you think are over- are underrated.
In the next few days we'll do the same thing with the league's punt returners, and post it here on the website.
| TOP KICKOFF RETURNERS | ||
|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Kickoff Returner |
| 1. | NYJ | Percy Harvin |
| 2. | MIN | Cordarrelle Patterson |
| 3. | BAL | Jacoby Jones |
| 4. | MIA | Jarvis Landry |
| 5. | KC | Knile Davis |
| 6. | PHI | Chris Polk |
| 7. | ATL | Devin Hester |
| 8. | TB | Trindon Holliday |
| 9. | CAR | Philly Brown |
| 10. | ARI | Ted Ginn |
| 11. | DET | Jeremy Ross |
| 12. | SEA | Paul Richardson |
| 13. | DAL | Dwayne Harris |
| 14. | WAS | Andre Roberts |
| 15. | STL | Benny Cunningham |
| 16. | BUF | Leodis McKelvin |
| 17. | PIT | Dri Archer |
| 18 | SF | Bruce Ellington |
| 19. | NYG | Quintin Demps |
| 20. | TEN | Leon Washington |
| 21. | IND | Griff Whalen |
| 22. | CIN | Brandon Tate |
| 23. | CHI | Chris Williams |
| 24. | CLE | Travis Benjamin |
| 25. | JAC | Jordan Todman |
| 26. | HOU | Danieal Manning |
| 27. | GB | DuJuan Harris |
| 28. | NO | Travaris Cadet |
| 29. | OAK | Latavius Murray |
| 30. | NE | Patrick Chung |
| 31. | SD | Shaun Draughn |
| 32. | DEN | Andre Caldwell |
--Andy Richardson