I notice that 13 different teams used multiple kickers this year. That seems weird. Checking the numbers, I see that 30 years ago, all but two teams went with just one player at the position.
I would have thought it would be the opposite. With better trainers, facilities and nutrition in play, I would have guessed that more teams would have one player going the distance, but it’s been the opposite. The norm now seems to be for double-digit teams to be making changes over the course of the season.
Checking the numbers for the 32-team era, I see seven seasons with only 3-5 teams using multiple kickers, and they all occurred between 2004 and 2016. Since that time, we’ve seen double-digit kickers in six of eight seasons.
| Teams using multiple PKs | |
|---|---|
| Year | No |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 10 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 11 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 11 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 10 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 13 |
Changes aren’t always injury related, of course. The Packers simply pulled the plug on Brayden Narveson about halfway through the season. But all of the other teams using multiple kickers had at least one week where their preferred option was out with an injury. Matt Prater (Ariz), Younghoe Koo (Atl), Evan McPherson (Cin), Dustin Hopkins (Cle), Matt Gay (Ind), Harrison Butker (KC), Will Reichard (Min), Graham Gano (NYG), Greg Zuerlein (NYJ), Jake Moody (SF), Nick Folk (Ten), Austin Seibert (Was).
I don’t get it, and there’s a little bit too much data to suggest we just ran into an unfortunate blip. It’s weird.
For fantasy purposes, it might be generous to figure that your draft pick at the position will last the season. Those players, after all, can get replaced not only because of injury but also because they’re not scoring enough or perhaps have an unfavorable stretch of games coming up on the schedule.
The position is more volatile than it’s been in the past.
Justin Tucker (pictured) has had his struggles this year, but he’s been the iron man at the position, not missing any games since signing with the Ravens in 2012.
—Ian Allan