Complete 2009 Projections
PROJECTED 2009 SEASON STATS
| 1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 26/28 | 9/11 | 1/1 | 36/40 | 40/40 | | 155 | | 2009 Projections | | 19/20 | 9/10 | 2/2 | 30/32 | 53/53 | | 154 | | 2009 Outlook: Gostkowski led the league in field goals in 2008 with 36, the most in the NFL since '05. So while he didn't come anywhere near his '07 record of 74 extra points, he was still an easy choice for All-Pro. He only missed four kicks all last year, though two of them were chip shots from less than 30 yards. The only chink in his fantasy armor is that he's got only two career attempts longer than 50 yards (he made each), but with Tom Brady set to return, Gostkowski continues to be an elite option. |
| 2. Ryan Longwell, Min K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 17/19 | 6/9 | 6/6 | 29/34 | 40/40 | | 140 | | 2009 Projections | | 17/19 | 8/10 | 5/8 | 30/37 | 44/44 | | 145 | | 2009 Outlook: Longwell was a perfect 6-for-6 from 50-plus yards in '07, setting a Vikings franchise record. After three years in the fantasy wilderness, during which he failed to top 100 total points, Longwell flashed the big, accurate leg we remember from his early days in Green Bay. The Vikes offer a combination of a chains-moving offense and occasional red-zone cluelessness at quarterback, which may continue to give Longwell the many attempts his fantasy owners crave. |
| 3. David Akers, Phi K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 23/25 | 8/10 | 2/5 | 33/40 | 45/45 | | 149 | | 2009 Projections | | 21/21 | 7/8 | 1/4 | 29/33 | 43/43 | | 135 | | 2009 Outlook: Akers tied Stephen Gostkowski for the most field goal attempts in 2008 (40), as Philadelphia placed in the top 10 in most offensive categories, but struggled badly in the red zone. Entering his 11th season as the Eagles kicker, Akers will never be known for drilling a ton of over-50-yard kicks, but he smashed his career high last season with 144 total points, and nailed 8-of-10 from between 40 and 49 yards. Despite the chilly winter winds in Philly, that makes Akers a fantasy starter. |
| 4. Nate Kaeding, SD K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 23/23 | 3/8 | 1/1 | 27/32 | 46/46 | | 127 | | 2009 Projections | | 20/21 | 5/8 | 2/3 | 27/32 | 46/46 | | 131 | | 2009 Outlook: Kaeding is as steady as fantasy kickers come. Four straight years, his accuracy has been between 84.4 and 89.7 percent, and his point production has always been between 112 and 136. In 2008, Kaeding took advantage of LaDainian Tomlinson's struggles, making a career-high 13 kicks (in 13 attempts) from between 20 and 29 yards, so some uncharacteristic wildness from deeper range (3-for-8 between 40 and 49 yards) didn't hurt him. Kicker can sometimes seem like a random fantasy position, but Kaeding brings dependability. |
| 5. Mason Crosby, GB K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 19/22 | 5/6 | 3/6 | 27/34 | 46/46 | | 131 | | 2009 Projections | | 17/20 | 7/9 | 3/5 | 27/34 | 45/45 | | 132 | | 2009 Outlook: Crosby led the NFL in points in 2007, his rookie year, but suffered through a less-stellar '08 season, ranking 24th in overall field goal accuracy and missing two potential game-winning kicks. The fact is, though, that the Packers offense seems to generate a ton of opportunities: Crosby's combined 73 kicks over the past two seasons lead the NFL. He should get a ton more chances in '09. |
| 6. Jason Elam, Atl K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 18/19 | 10/10 | 1/2 | 29/31 | 42/42 | | 139 | | 2009 Projections | | 18/19 | 10/10 | 0/2 | 28/31 | 41/41 | | 132 | | 2009 Outlook: Elam is 39 and entering his 17th season in the NFL, and his second in Atlanta. He missed only two kicks for the Falcons last season, and drilled two game-winners: a 48-yard bomb at the buzzer against the Bears and an overtime winner versus Tampa Bay. Even when he booted a mile high, Elam hadn't been a distance kicker for a few seasons, so it wasn't surprising to see him attempt only two from farther than 50 yards in '08. But this is a guy who's never posted fewer than 103 points in a season. |
| 7. Rob Bironas, Ten K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 13/13 | 15/19 | 1/1 | 29/33 | 40/40 | | 140 | | 2009 Projections | | 19/19 | 9/12 | 1/2 | 29/33 | 37/37 | | 131 | | 2009 Outlook: Bironas has a huge leg, but didn't get to display it much in '08, as he attempted (and made) only one field goal from beyond 50 yards. But he was a whopping 15-of-19 from between 40 and 49, which helped him follow up a 133-point '07 season with 127 points last year. We don't entirely trust Kerry Collins to post a repeat performance this season, but the Titans' excellent running game should ensure that the team is in scoring position often. That should help Bironas keep the magic going. |
| 8. Nick Folk, Dal K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 8/9 | 10/11 | 2/2 | 20/22 | 42/42 | | 114 | | 2009 Projections | | 16/17 | 7/8 | 2/2 | 25/27 | 48/48 | | 132 | | 2009 Outlook: Folk was the consensus top fantasy kicker before '08, but simply didn't get nearly enough opportunities to repeat his solid rookie year: his 22 attempts last season ranked tied for 29th in the NFL. Hey, the Dallas offense is still strong, but maybe without its top receiving threat, Terrell Owens, they'll stall out a bit more. Folk is young and has a cannon for a leg, so we expect him to bounce back to fantasy starter territory. |
| 9. Neil Rackers, Ari K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 18/20 | 6/6 | 1/2 | 25/28 | 44/44 | | 124 | | 2009 Projections | | 16/16 | 5/7 | 3/5 | 24/28 | 47/47 | | 126 | | 2009 Outlook: Rackers has four straight seasons with at least 110 points, which definitely makes him a fantasy option, but it was a bit disappointing that amid the NFL's most explosive passing offense, Rackers only managed 28 field goal attempts, tied for 22nd in the league. We guess the Cardinals were just too darned efficient. But history tells us that very good offenses usually boast very good fantasy kickers, so Rackers is certainly draftable. |
| 10. Robbie Gould, Chi K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 18/18 | 8/11 | 0/0 | 26/29 | 41/41 | | 124 | | 2009 Projections | | 16/17 | 11/14 | 0/1 | 27/32 | 38/38 | | 125 | | 2009 Outlook: Gould set expectations way too high when he was fantasy's leading kicker in 2006; that came as a result of an uncharacteristically good Chicago offense. The fact is Gould is a very steady option because he's very precise from in close: he's never missed an NFL kick from inside 30 yards, and last season he was perfect on 18 kicks from inside the 40. The tradeoff is that he's never made a pro kick from beyond 50. |
| 11. John Kasay, Car K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 16/16 | 11/12 | 1/3 | 28/31 | 46/46 | | 140 | | 2009 Projections | | 16/16 | 8/10 | 2/3 | 26/29 | 39/39 | | 126 | | 2009 Outlook: Kasay tied for the league lead in PATs in '08, plus had the most accurate season of his 18-year career: he missed only three kicks, and two of those came from outside 50 yards. He's now made 84 percent of his kicks in five of the past six seasons, so while he's lost the Panthers' kickoff duties because he doesn't have the big boomer he once did, he's still a good late-game fantasy option on what should be a pretty strong offense. |
| 12. John Carney, NO K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 29/30 | 5/7 | 1/1 | 35/38 | 38/38 | | 147 | | 2009 Projections | | 14/14 | 8/9 | 0/1 | 23/27 | 50/50 | | 120 | | 2009 Outlook: Have foot, will travel. Carney just finished his 21st season, and it was his best. He scored 143 points for the Giants despite the presence of Lawrence Tynes; once Tynes was injured in training camp, Carney came in, played 15 games and made the Pro Bowl. He's 45 now, so temper your enthusiasm, but history has a chance to repeat itself with the high-flying Saints, who signed Carney in the wake of Garrett Hartley being suspended for four games to start the season. That's plenty of time for Carney to establish himself as the Saints' legman. |
| 13. Kris Brown, Hou K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 19/20 | 8/10 | 2/3 | 29/33 | 37/37 | | 132 | | 2009 Projections | | 15/15 | 8/11 | 2/2 | 25/28 | 42/42 | | 126 | | 2009 Outlook: As the Texans offense has blossomed, Brown's fantasy status has started to resemble his heyday in Pittsburgh. In his first five seasons in Houston, Brown topped 85 points just once; the past two years, he's gone for 115 and 124. He's 7-for-8 from 50-plus yards during that time, and he's cut down on the missed chippies that plagued him a few years ago. Of course, if and when Matt Schaub gets hurt and the Texans' offense grinds to a halt, Brown would surely suffer. |
| 14. Joe Nedney, SF K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 19/19 | 8/11 | 2/3 | 29/33 | 34/34 | | 129 | | 2009 Projections | | 14/15 | 11/12 | 2/4 | 27/31 | 34/34 | | 126 | | 2009 Outlook: Big Joe Nedney posted the highest point total of his career in '08 and was 19-of-19 from inside 40 yards. But before you get carried away, realize that this is the 49ers. Though he put up a very similar conversion rate in '07, Nedney scored 48 fewer points that year, which shows you: (a) how fickle the Niners offense is, and (b) how random fantasy kickers can be. Nedney can drill long ones, but will he get enough attempts? |
| 15. Josh Brown, StL K | YEAR | | 1-39 | 40-49 | 50+ | TOT | XP | | PTS |   | 2008 Statistics | | 15/15 | 10/13 | 6/8 | 31/36 | 19/19 | | 129 | | 2009 Projections | | 16/16 | 8/10 | 5/6 | 29/32 | 28/28 | | 130 | | 2009 Outlook: Brown has a big leg (a career 19-of-30 from 50-plus yards), a favorable dome kicking environment and has never scored fewer than 109 points in a season. What hurt Brown during '08 wasn't field goal attempts, his 36 was tied for sixth in the NFL. No, the problem was a shockingly low 19 extra points, third-fewest in the league, behind only Phil Dawson and Shayne Graham. He's got a big contract and a lot of ability; if the Rams turn things around on offense, Brown becomes an option. |
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