Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings: Week 1 2026

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Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings: Week 1 2026

Chris Spiering, ClutchPoints · ClutchPoints

Tue, Sep 8, 2026 ·

5 min read

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Ranking fantasy football kickers isn't easy. The best real-life kicker doesn't necessarily produce the most fantasy points every week, and matchups can completely change the equation.

Sometimes an offense being stopped in scoring territory is exactly what fantasy managers need. Three field goals can quickly become more valuable than a kicker whose offense scores touchdowns all afternoon.

For Week 1, we're ranking the top 15 kickers for fantasy leagues with extended rosters. Sleeper's projected points and projected ranking are included, but my rankings don't completely align with the numbers.

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Let's count them down.

Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings: Week 1 2026

15. Chase McLaughlin, Buccaneers — 6.2 (20th)

Tampa Bay should have opportunities to score against Cincinnati, but that's also why McLaughlin isn't higher. The Buccaneers could turn too many of those possessions into touchdowns instead of field goals.

14. Cairo Santos, Bears — 6.5 (14th)

Santos draws Carolina to begin the season and should have enough scoring opportunities to justify starting him. Chicago's ability to consistently move the football will determine whether those possessions produce field goals or extra points.

13. Will Reichard, Vikings — 6.7 (12th)

Reichard gets an NFC North matchup against Green Bay where points could be valuable throughout the afternoon. If Minnesota struggles to finish drives against the Packers' defense, Reichard could benefit tremendously.

12. Cam Little, Jaguars — 6.5 (13th)

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Cleveland's defense makes Little an interesting Week 1 play because Jacksonville could move the football without consistently reaching the end zone. That's exactly the type of matchup fantasy managers should target at kicker.

11. Ka'imi Fairbairn, Texans — 6.9 (T-8th)

Houston-Buffalo has the potential to produce plenty of points, giving Fairbairn a solid floor through extra points alone. A couple of stalled Texans drives could push him into double-digit fantasy territory.

10. Evan McPherson, Bengals — 6.9 (T-8th)

McPherson should benefit from Cincinnati's explosive offense against Tampa Bay, especially if this matchup becomes a shootout. He remains capable of delivering a huge fantasy performance whenever the Bengals cross midfield.

9. Harrison Mevis, Rams — 7.1 (T-5th)

The Rams have one of the NFL's best offenses, but San Francisco's defense should be good enough to force Matthew Stafford and company to settle for three occasionally. That's a promising combination for Mevis in Melbourne.

8. Jason Myers, Seahawks — 6.9 (T-8th)

New England's defense could make Seattle work for every point Wednesday night. Myers could become one of the biggest fantasy beneficiaries if the Seahawks repeatedly move into scoring range but can't finish drives.

7. Trey Smack, Packers — 7.1 (T-5th)

Smack gets a divisional matchup against Minnesota to begin his NFL career. Green Bay should provide him with enough scoring opportunities to make him a strong Week 1 option.

6. Tyler Loop, Ravens — 7.0 (7th)

Baltimore should move the football consistently against Indianapolis, putting Loop in position for a busy afternoon. Even if many of his attempts are extra points, the scoring volume gives him plenty of fantasy appeal.

5. Brandon Aubrey , Cowboys — 6.9 (T-8th)

Aubrey remains the best kicker in football and is always capable of drilling a long field goal, but Dallas' loaded offense could actually limit his Week 1 ceiling. Against the Giants, the Cowboys may score too many touchdowns for Aubrey to attempt more than a couple of field goals.

4. Spencer Shrader, Colts — 7.3 (2nd)

Sleeper loves Shrader this week, ranking him second among kickers, and it's easy to understand why. Baltimore's defense could prevent Indianapolis from finishing several promising drives, creating valuable field-goal opportunities.

3. Cameron Dicker, Chargers — 7.2 (T-3rd)

Dicker should have plenty of work against Arizona as Mike McDaniel unveils his Chargers offense. Los Angeles could score a lot of points in Week 1, and Dicker has the accuracy and range to capitalize on nearly every opportunity.

2. Jake Bates, Lions — 7.2 (T-3rd)

Detroit against New Orleans might be one of the most attractive fantasy matchups of Week 1. The only concern for Bates is that the Lions' offense could be so dominant that he's kicking extra points instead of field goals.

1. Matt Gay, Raiders — 7.7 (1st)

Sleeper agrees with this one, projecting Gay as the top fantasy kicker of Week 1, yet he's rostered in only six percent of leagues on the platform.

Las Vegas faces a vulnerable Miami defense, creating an excellent opportunity for the Raiders to consistently reach scoring territory. The Raiders should look like a competent offense Sunday, but that doesn't mean every promising drive will end in the end zone.

That's where Gay comes in. Four or more field goals isn't an outrageous possibility, and adding one or two extra points could give him a massive fantasy performance. Week 1 might also represent Las Vegas' most favorable matchup of the season, making this the perfect time to stream him.

If you're looking for a kicker still sitting on waivers, Gay is my favorite Week 1 option. Don't be surprised if the six-percent-rostered kicker finishes Sunday as the highest-scoring player at his position.

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