Fantasy Index

Ian Allan

Field goal heavy offenses

Looking at kickers on offenses that can't put it in the end zone

It’s too early to start slotting players and drawing any firm conclusions; let’s see who gets signed and drafted, and who’s starting at quarterback for some of these teams. But I am working my way through the 2016 numbers, collecting data and making some notes. And I see that three offenses were really prone to field goals last year.

The Ravens and Eagles had offenses that finished with 9 more field goal attempts than touchdowns last year. And the Texans finished with an all-time number – 18 more field goal tries than touchdowns, the 3rd-largest number of the last 10 years.

Such a stat, of course, must be taken with a grain of salt. It’s an indication of what happened last year. All three of those teams, no doubt, would like to be more effective in the red zone in 2017.

Pulling out the numbers for the last 10 years, 36 other offenses have finished with a least 8 more field goal attempts than touchdowns (that’s offensive touchdowns, setting aside defenses and kick returns). Of those 36 teams, only 10 came back and finished with 8 more field goal attempts than touchdowns again. (I’ve got them flagged with black dots.) Eight finished with slightly more field goal attempts, while the other half (18 of 36) finished with more touchdowns than field goal tries.

Still, in the fickle world of kickers, I’m guessing Justin Tucker (for sure), Nick Novak and Caleb Sturgis will all be in my top 10 for 2017.

MORE FGA THAN TOUCHDOWNS (2006-2016)
YearTeamFGATDDiffNext
2011San Francisco52322042 41 1
2008Cleveland36171925 21 4
2016Houston412318? ? ?
2012Kansas City34171728 41 -13
2008• St. Louis36191724 16 8
2010• Miami41251639 31 8
2007NY Jets36211529 42 -13
2013Baltimore41261534 43 -9
2011Washington41271430 48 -18
2010Carolina29161328 47 -19
2007Tennessee39261333 37 -4
2006Miami36231323 26 -3
2006Oakland25121332 28 4
2014NY Jets39271233 44 -11
2011St. Louis28161231 27 4
2009Oakland29171241 37 4
2010• St. Louis39271228 16 12
2011• Kansas City30181234 17 17
2015• Baltimore40291139 30 9
2013• NY Jets36251139 27 12
2009Buffalo33231021 30 -9
2007Chicago36261029 36 -7
2008Washington36261025 29 -4
2007Atlanta3425931 40 -9
2016Baltimore39309? ? ?
2016Philadelphia41329? ? ?
2013Houston3526935 34 1
2011Cleveland2920931 28 3
2015Dallas3224832 49 -17
2014Buffalo3830827 42 -15
2006Arizona3729830 42 -12
2006Green Bay3527839 43 -4
2008Cincinnati2517828 30 -2
2007Baltimore3224835 36 -1
2011Miami3931830 28 2
2008• Buffalo3830833 23 10
2009• St. Louis2416839 27 12
2008• Oakland3022829 17 12
2007• St. Louis3224836 19 17

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index