Rotisserie By The Numbers: Top 20 kickers, team defense
By Craig Rondinone SportsTicker Contributing Writer
BRISTOL, Connecticut (Ticker) - This is the last of 2005 fantasy football preview columns, and I did not save the best for last. The best positions, that is.
The kicker and team defense positions are usually the last ones filled at fantasy football drafts. This does not mean that they are not important, though. I am sure many fantasy football owners have won because of a kicker who nailed five field goals or a defense that pitched a shutout and recorded eight sacks.
But when it is time to draft a kicker or defense, you know it is because all the great running backs, quarterbacks and receivers are off the board.
Here are the top 20 kickers...
1. David Akers, Eagles: The southpaw kicker led all booters by a mile in 40-plus field goals in 2004. He can make the short kicks, too.
2. Mike Vanderjagt, Colts: He had an "off-year" in 2004 because of a bad hamstring, his off-year being 59 extra points and making 80 percent of his field goal attempts.
3. Adam Vinatieri, Patriots: The best money kicker in NFL history is just as accurate in the first quarter as he is in the fourth.
4. Ryan Longwell, Packers: The best bad weather kicker in the business always connects on 80 percent of his attempts no matter how windy, rainy or snowy it is.
5. Jason Elam, Broncos: Consistently racks up over 100 points every season and is ageless.
6. Josh Brown, Seahawks: He made 92 percent of his field goals last season, so it stands to reason if Seattle gives him more chances he could become one of the best fantasy kickers around.
7. Jeff Reed, Steelers: Went from being almost drummed out of the league to hitting all 40 extra point attempts and making 28 out of 33 of his field goal attempts in 2004.
8. Matt Stover, Ravens: The Baltimore offense always stalls out before it reaches the end zone.
9. Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders: Oakland's acquisitions of Randy Moss and LaMont Jordan should mean more point-scoring opportunities for "The Polish Prince."
10. Jeff Wilkins, Rams: This is why field goal kickers are hard to figure. Wilkins made 39 field goals in 2003, but because of a lack of chances he only made 19 in 2004.
11. Shayne Graham, Bengals: Improving Bengals, improving kicker.
12. Lawrence Tynes, Chiefs: Needs to stay out of bar fights so he can be a league leader in extra points.
13. Nate Kaeding, Chargers: Will his terrible playoff performance last year ruin his psyche?
14. Mike Nugent, Jets: When a kicker is drafted in the second round of the NFL draft, he must be good.
15. John Carney, Saints: He is over 40 years old but can still make field goals from 40 yards away.
16. Jason Hanson, Lions: The man loves kicking indoors and off artificial turf.
17. Jay Feely, Giants: His five-FG effort in the preseason against the Jets might have bumped up his value.
18. Kris Brown, Texans: Only 10-of-16 from beyond 30 yards last season.
19. John Kasay, Panthers: His body seems to be breaking down on him a lot lately.
20. Todd Petersen, Falcons: Jim Mora Jr. brings an old friend to Atlanta.
And the top 20 defenses...
1. Baltimore: The Ravens are now going to employ a "46" defense, and with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed making plays and Samari Rolle and Chris McAlister on the corners, this defense has to be rated tops in fantasy.
2. Pittsburgh: The defending top-rated total defense looks like it will become the new "Steel Curtain."
3. Carolina: I love their linebackers, their secondary, Julius Peppers and the fact that defensive tackle Kris Jenkins returns.
4. Buffalo: The Bills ranked first in takeaways, second in total defense and tied for third in sacks in 2004, and almost everybody from last year's unit is back.
5. New England: Tedy Bruschi and Ty Law might be gone, but as long as Bill Belichick is there the Pats D should be just fine.
6. Philadelphia: The blitzing birds are so deep on the defensive line that they were able to just let Corey Simon go.
7. New York Jets: The Jets' talented front seven deserves some serious props.
8. Washington: The Skins had a top-five unit all last season, and captain LaVar Arrington barely played. Now he is healthy.
9. Atlanta: The only defenders Michael Vick likes led the NFL with 48 sacks last season.
10. Tampa Bay: When you have Derrick Brooks and Simeon Rice leading the way, you do not need much more to have a great defense.
11. Dallas: Bill Parcells' Cowboys should be young and swift, thanks to rookie standouts Marcus Spears and Demarcus Ware.
12. Minnesota: No team spent more money and revamped their defense more in the offseason than the Vikings did. But dollars do not always translate into sacks and interceptions.
13. Denver: The Broncos' offseason strategy was to sign every Cleveland Browns reject and retread they could find.
14. San Diego: The Chargers can really stuff the run, but they have big problems stopping the pass.
15. Jacksonville: The Jags have a weird defense to figure, because their unit does not allow much in the way of yardage, but they do not get nearly as many sacks and turnovers as you would think.
16. Cincinnati: Marvin Lewis is a defensive genius, so maybe this is finally the year his defense becomes as smart as he is.
17. Indianapolis: This defense is porous against good offenses, but the Colts gets tons of sacks (especially from Dwight Freeney), interceptions and fumble recoveries when the offense builds big leads and opponents are forced to throw every down.
18. Miami: The Dolphins D is down from what it used to be three years ago, but new coach Nick Saban still has brothers-in-law Jason Taylor and Zach Thomas.
19. Kansas City: Many new additions and the threat of Dante Hall special teams touchdowns make K.C. a frontrunner for most improved fantasy defense.
20. Arizona: Everyone's darlings to win the NFC Worst, I mean West, has an underrated defense led by superb pass rusher Bertrand Berry.
For more information on Craig and his columns, visit www.publishedauthors.net/craigrondinone.