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topicnews · October 25, 2024

6 km to start or sit

6 km to start or sit

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Fantasy football managers can breathe a sigh of relief heading into Week 8 of the 2024 NFL season. There are no bye weeks, so teams won’t be forced to make difficult lineup decisions about their kickers, at least this week.

It is always difficult to decide whether to field two kickers when the top player is on a bye, or whether it is better to simply put the player on a bye to have another option. After all, there are a dime a dozen kickers in fantasy football leagues.

However, with kickers’ performance peaking in 2024, many fantasy owners wanted to keep their top options as some – like the Dallas Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey – posted legitimate double-digit scoring averages. That has made starting and sitting decisions at the position more difficult, but all options will be on the table in Week 8.

Which of these options are the best kickers for Week 8? Here are a few kickers you can trust and a few you can trust to build your lineups in the final no-bye week through Week 13.

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Fantasy Football starts them: Week 8 Kickers

Cameron Dicker, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. New Orleans Saints)

“Dicker the Kicker” has been on a roll the last two weeks, making all eight of his field goal attempts, including two attempts from over 50 yards. Now he faces a Saints defense that is allowing an NFL-high 2.9 field goal attempts per game and has given up at least 26 points in four straight games. That should allow him to easily rack up double-digit points and compete for a spot in the top five among kickers.

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings (at Los Angeles Rams)

Reichard hasn’t missed a single shot in his rookie season and has made four field goals of over 50 yards in his last four games. The Alabama product has also hit at least two extra points in all of his games this season, which should give him a higher ranking than most. Trust him on a short week against a Rams defense that has allowed 25.7 points per game this season, tied for the sixth-most points in the NFL.

Wil Lutz, Denver Broncos (vs. Carolina Panthers)

Lutz will get the typical elevation boost associated with playing in Denver, while also being able to compete against a Panthers team that is allowing 2.4 field goal attempts per game, tied for eighth in the NFL. The Broncos are trying to make 2.6 field goals per game this season, so if conditions are favorable at Mile High Stadium, Lutz should have a high ceiling.

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Fantasy Football Sit ‘Em: Week 8 Kickers

Austin Seibert, Washington Commanders (vs. Chicago Bears)

Seibert was one of fantasy football’s surprisingly best kickers in 2024, but his Week 8 matchup will be difficult. This isn’t necessarily because the Bears are great against kickers; They allow 2.2 field goal attempts per game at midfield. It’s more about the possible absence of Jayden Daniels (ribs) and how that could impact Washington against a strong Chicago defense.

The Commanders have averaged 3.1 field goal attempts per game this season, second in the NFL, behind only the Cowboys. That average could drop if Marcus Mariota can’t lead the team with the same efficiency as Daniels, so Seibert might not be the normally strong volume-based option his owners are hoping for in Week 8.

Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears (at Washington Commanders)

Speaking of the Bears-Commanders game, sitting Santos might not be the worst option. The Commanders have only allowed 1.6 field goal attempts per game, the fourth-fewest in the NFL, so Santos may not get the chances he needs to impact the game. The Bears have averaged just one field goal attempt per game over the last three games, leaving Santos with a more than reasonable loss on Sunday.

Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. New York Giants)

Boswell has been an elite kicker this season, but he faces an oddly tough matchup against the Giants. New York has allowed just 1.3 field goal attempts per game in its last three games and has allowed 21 points or fewer in five of its seven games this season. That could result in a lower scoring Giants-Steelers game, and while Boswell is fully capable of making long field goals, he may not get the chances he needs to cement himself in his typical top-10 spot .

Fantasy Football: Start’em, Sit’ems, Week 8

Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports offers you:

→ A good running back makes the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here’s who to start with and who to attend in Week 8.

→ Do you need an edge under the center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and sit in Week 8.

→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 8 with start ’em, sit ’em advice for wideouts.

→ Tight ends can be the perfect x-factor for any fantasy team. Here’s who you should start and sit with in Week 8.

→ Good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent’s offense. Here are some D/ST options for starting and participating in Week 8.

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