Fantasy Index

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Factoid

Rookie kickers

Can Jake Moody be a viable scorer in his first year?

I have some interest in Jake Moody, with him being drafted by the 49ers (when kickers play for the better teams, good things tend to happen). But I will concede that the track record of rookie kickers has been underwhelming.

Since I started playing fantasy football, 14 kickers have been selected in the first three rounds of drafts. Only three of those guys have really hit it big – Jason Hanson, Nate Kaeding and Jason Elam. Sebastian Janikowski, Chip Lohmiller and Martin Gramatica also had some success but didn’t measure up to where they were chosen.

Just as commonly, teams have missed with early picks on kickers, including some guys who hardly played (John Lee, Roberto Aguayo, Steve McLaughlin and Brett Conway).

Using a draft pick on a kicker looks even iffier when considering that undrafted players have tended to perform well at the position.

In the 32-team era, 33 rookie kickers have scored at least 100 points. Just over half of those guys (17) weren’t drafted. Of the remaining 16 who were obtained by draft picks, two ended up playing for other teams. (Harrison Butker and Jake Elliott are best known for their work with Kansas City and Philadelphia, but they were drafted by Carolina and Cincinnati.)

There are three drafted rookie kickers in play this year. The 49ers selected Moody at the end of the third round. The Patriots picked Chad Ryland a half round later. And the Packers chose Anders Carlson in the sixth.

In the chart below, teams who were able to successfully pick kickers who scored 100-plus points in their first year are tagged with black dots.

ROOKIE KICKERS, FIRST-YEAR PRODUCTION
YearPlayerRdGXP-AFG-APts
2014Cody Parkey, Phi.FA1654-5432-36150
2017Harrison Butker, K.C. (Car.)71328-2838-42142
2012• Blair Walsh, Min.61636-3635-38141
2007• Mason Crosby, G.B.61648-4831-39141
2020• Tyler Bass, Buff.61657-5928-34141
2020Rodrigo Blankenship, Ind.FA1643-4532-37139
2011Dan Bailey, Dall.FA1639-3932-37135
2016Wil Lutz, N.O.FA1649-5028-34133
2012Justin Tucker, Balt.FA1642-4230-33132
2007• Nick Folk, Dall.61653-5326-31131
2021• Evan McPherson, Cin.51646-4828-33130
2019• Matt Gay, T.B.51643-4827-35124
2018Brett Maher, Dall.FA1632-3329-36119
2011• Alex Henery, Phi.41646-4624-27118
2017Jake Elliott, Phi. (Cin.)51539-4226-31117
2014Chandler Catanzaro, Ari.FA1627-2729-33114
2003• Josh Brown, Sea.71648-4822-30114
2004• Nate Kaeding, S.D.31654-5520-25114
2014Cairo Santos, K.C.FA1638-3825-30113
2015Chris Boswell, Pitt.FA1226-2729-32113
2013• Caleb Sturgis, Mia.51633-3326-34111
2015Jason Myers, Jac.FA1632-3926-30110
2004Lawrence Tynes, K.C.FA1658-6017-23109
2002Matt Bryant, NYGFA1630-3226-32108
2022• Cade York, Cle.41735-3724-32107
2019Joey Slye, Car,FA1631-3525-32106
2015Josh Lambo, S.D.FA1628-3226-32106
2015Travis Coons, Cle.FA1622-2428-32106
2019• Austin Seibert, Cle.51630-3525-29105
2009• Ryan Succop, K.C.71629-2925-29104
2008Dan Carpenter, Mia.FA1640-4021-25103
2006• Stephen Gostkowski, N.E.41643-4420-26103
2003Aaron Elling, Min.FA1648-4818-25102
2022Jake Moody, S.F.3??-??-??
2022Chad Ryland, N.E.4??-??-??
2022Anders Carlson, G.B.6??-??-??

—Ian Allan

Fantasy Index