The kicker pick that will make your draft...

[Vince Mullins]

I am hiding this article here to benefit those of you on the Forum specifically.

Wait as long as possible to draft your Kicker, and when you do grab Arizona K Jason Bondzio.

Dude is at the helm of an emerging offense, they have a ridiculously easy start to the season (Idaho, Toledo, at New Mexico and at UCLA) and he was 8-10 from 40+ last year!

Nice mix of opportunities there, and you know you can always get a solid K on free agency (see Weber, Thomas and Summers, Chris from 2007)

I should reset my fantasy kicker theories:

1) Only draft one and draft late
2) Find a decent one with a favorable early season schedule and no byes for at least the first two weeks.
3) Keep your head on a swivel for free agents and matchups ALWAYS.
4) When in doubt, hedge your QB with his kicker - it is rare in college that both will do poorly.

Others that fit:

Austin Starr - Indiana
Lones Sieber - Kentucky
Kevin Kelly - Penn State
Joel Monroe - Minnesota
???? - Northwestern (struggling to name starter, great fit on other rules)
Dan Bailey - Oklahoma State
Alex Henery - Nebraska
Delbert Alvarado - USF
Ryan Harrison - Air Force (3-4 50+!)
Matt Reagan - Memphis
Swayze Waters - UAB
??? - Ball State (Daniel Freer likes Ian McGarvey)


Popular Kickers (fit all criteria but are well known and might require an earlier pick)

Donnie Carona - Texas Tech
Colt David - LSU
Ryan Bailey - Texas
Jeff Woffert - Missouri
Mark Buchholz - Clemson
Thomas Weber - Arizona State
Jarod Tracy - Tulsa

[GoVolsKickSomeAss]

One thing that doesn't change from high school to college is the size of the uprights, so have no fear drafting true freshman kickers.
Arguably the best new foot to hit the turf this year will be Justin Sorensen of BYU. Dude hit 60+ yarders in high-A high school with regularity and is on one of the top offenses in college.

Also keep an eye out for Caleb Sturgis at Florida. He was in for spring and also has a few 60 yarders to his credit.

[GoVolsKickSomeAss]

And as a side note to drafting strategy, if you're in a league that places any sort of a premium on distance, you might wanna think about taking one higher. There are precious few guys who can hit 40+ with regularity, and less who get even get attempts from beyond 50 yards.

[Vince Mullins]

and if you get distance premium, focus on good weather or indoor kickers. Except at Syracuse...
[/ducks to avoid an errant Troy Nunes pass]

Harrison, Waters, Bondzio and Monroe fit the bill for the long ball.

[Neil Young]

LOL, Vince . . .in my league where ex points = 0 . . . and 20y=4. 30y=5 40y = 8...50 = 10, even though I told everyone that Waters was the best kicker! I got Waters and Bondzio for a song at the very end of the DRAFT! (AND I told them a month ago, that Waters was the best kicker for distance in the NCAA (8-10 from +40, 3-4 +50) but they must have forgotten! LOL and took the MISSOU clown as the 2nd overall kicker (as if they were ignoring my rules . . .LOL) Well, I bonused there!

Gonzo drafted the AIR FORCE kicker as we both think he could lead the nation in +40yarders made this season (no C HALL replacement means more FGs we feel)!

By the way, under any system . . .Colt David is the SAFEST Kicker pick in all the NCAA (he's going to book those stats again and with a down in offense . . more FG chances I feel!)

[GoVolsKickSomeAss]

Why is Sam Swank getting no preseason love anywhere?