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Factoid

Kickers

Looking at kickers in performance scoring systems

Some leagues use complex, performance-driven scoring systems for kickers. Most notably, you get more points for longer field goals (typically an extra point for every 10 yards – a 40-yarder is worth 4 points and a 52-yarder is worth 5.2 points). But does such a format create any significant difference between players?

Not really, as far as I can see. There’s always the chance some kicker will happen to get the opportunity to kick 8-10 field goals from 50 yards, but there’s no way to accurately forecast which kicker that will be. They’re all so good nowadays.

The more important driver is workload. The guys who are kicking the most field goals (regardless of distance) will tend to be the best scorers.

Stephen Gostkowski and Cody Parkey were the top 2 scoring kickers last year, regardless of format.

Comparing traditional scoring (NFL points) against the tiered bonus system, almost all kickers scored 15-22 percent more points.

KICKERS - COMPLEX SCORING
PlayerComplexNFLDiffPct
Stephen Gostkowski183.215627.217%
Cody Parkey170.315020.314%
Dan Carpenter162.713329.722%
Adam Vinatieri160.114020.114%
Dan Bailey157.813126.820%
Randy Bullock155.713025.720%
Steven Hauschka154.913420.916%
Matt Bryant154.612727.622%
Mason Crosby154.413420.415%
Shaun Suisham151.413219.415%
Justin Tucker148.812919.815%
Caleb Sturgis146.512818.514%
Graham Gano141.812120.817%
Nick Folk141.611922.619%
Chandler Catanzaro138.611424.622%
Mike Nugent136.611719.617%
Josh Brown135.211619.217%
Blair Walsh131.210724.223%
Phil Dawson130.910822.921%
Greg Zuerlein127.410621.420%
Cairo Santos127.211314.213%
Nick Novak121.410615.415%
Kai Forbath115.510312.512%
Patrick Murray114.79123.726%
Shayne Graham111.91038.99%
Sebastian Janikowski109.28524.228%
Billy Cundiff107.89413.815%
Josh Scobee102.28319.223%
Matt Prater101.18417.120%
Ryan Succop98.18414.117%

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index