FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT KIT

Kicking indoors agrees with Bryant, who missed just thrice all of last season and has faltered on only one Georgia Dome attempt since joining the Falcons. He'll see the sky just once after Atlanta's Week 8 bye (Week 14 at Carolina); add to that the Falcons' potent offense and you've got a recipe for a money fantasy kicker.

08-19-11 Update: Julio Jones is looking good and the entire Falcons offense looks like it is ready for the next level.

The quad injury that cut Gostkowski's 2010 season in half has healed, meaning he'll be back in the triple-digit points range where he's spent each of his previous four seasons. Weather could be a concern, as his November and December consists of home games in New England and trips to New York, Philly, DC, and Denver. That's a small risk to take for a guy who's averaging better than three PATs a game for his career.

Three misses from 50-plus yards out contributed to Kaeding posting his lowest accuracy rate since his rookie campaign. But he's hit 95 percent of his career kicks from 40 yards and in, he's tacking on points for one of the league's most prolific offenses, and after a Week 11 trip to Chicago he'll be indoors or in sunshine.

Crosby's consistency--between 46 and 48 PATs each of his four NFL seasons, an accuracy rate hovering between 75 and 79 percent--earned him a new contract in Green Bay. Last year Crosby's point total dipped to a career-low 112 points, but given the prolific Green Bay offense that feels like an aberration. He'll be on the frozen tundra for most of the fantasy playoffs, but last year he converted nine of 11 tries in Green Bay so that's a mere quibble.

Despite getting the boot from Arizona and barely edging Kris Brown for the Texans' job last preseason, Rackers has been on a tremendous roll in converting 90 percent of his field goal attempts over the past three seasons. He also returned to triple digits last season, and with Houston sporting elite offensive talent Rackers should remain among the league's top-scoring kickers.

My Cousin Vinny has been playing from the ladies' tee for years--just two 50- yard field goals in the last eight seasons--but his short game remains strong. The Colts were confident enough in his staying power to ink him to a three-year deal, which means three more seasons of tacking on points for a Peyton Manning offense. As an added bonus, Vinatieri will kick indoors only twice from Week 9 through Week 16

Folk hit a rough patch midway through last season, at one point connecting on just five of 10 field goal attempts, but unlike his struggles in Dallas this one didn't cost him his job. Instead, he won a playoff game for the Jets and re-signed during the offseason. He'll need an assist from Mother Nature, as every game from Week 9 on poses a threat of inclement weather, but the Jets should give him plenty of opportunities to play the hero once again.

All it took was an eighth franchise in nine pro seasons for Cundiff to reach triple-digit points. Billy parlayed his career year into a five-year, $15 million contract, but don't expect someone who's bounced around the league as much as he has to get complacent. Kickers always seem to fare well in Baltimore, where the Ravens aren't afraid to settle for three and play defense, so don't expect Cundiff to be one-and-done above the century mark.

Seabass has been shackled by bad offenses for much of his career, but last year he received as many PAT opportunities as the previous two seasons combined, as well as a career-high 41 field goal attempts. The resulting 142 points represented a high-water mark for Janikowski, and with the Raiders offense pointed in the right direction it may become a regular zip code for the big- legged Pole.

Despite missing a 52-yarder in the Super Bowl Suisham appears to have found a home in Pittsburgh, where he made 14 of 15 kicks after taking over for Jeff Reed midway through the season. A career 80 percent conversion rate suggests Suisham won't be as accurate this season, but the Steelers will give him enough opportunities to make him a viable fantasy option.

Brown bounced back his worst NFL season by coming within two points of a personal best in 2010. He still isn’t receiving anywhere near the PAT opportunities he did in Seattle, but the Rams did give him 39 field goal attempts last year and he's banging them home at an 81 percent clip. The Sam Bradford- led offense is on the upswing; that and the climate-controlled environment Brown kicks in make him a sneaky provider of fantasy points.

The Eagles liked the Nebraska rookie enough to not only spend a fourth-round pick on him but also to jettison David Akers, who led the NFL in scoring in 2010. What's not to like? Henery has a consistent short game and a strong enough leg to do damage from 50-plus out as well. He's also an adept punter, though that doesn't much matter to fantasy players. What does matter is that Henery walks into a golden opportunity and has the leg to take advantage.

Gould's 83 percent success rate was actually his worst since his rookie campaign of 2005; in other words, he's pretty accurate. He's also pretty consistent, churning out a fifth consecutive season with triple-digit points. The schedule won't do him any favors--two home games and trips to Denver and Green Bay during the month of December--but even the elements won't keep Gould from another season above the century mark.

Barth celebrated his first full season as an NFL kicker by nearly doubling his career point total through his first two years. The key was a solid short game (16-for-16 inside 40 yards), but he's also 4-for-6 from 50 and out over the last two seasons. Tacking on points for an emerging Buccaneers offense should lead to plenty more triple-digit seasons in Barth's future.

Tynes continues to struggle with his short game; he missed two kicks inside of 40 yards and as a Giant is actually more accurate from 40 and out than 39 and in. But he's straight and long off the tee, connecting on 86 percent of his 40- plus yard attempts over the past three seasons. The Giants' offense gives him plenty of opportunities, and if he can master the chippies he could push himself among the league's elite kickers.

The former Mr. Irrelevant wasn't quite as money as a sophomore, but he benefitted from an improving Chiefs offense to reach triple digits for the second consecutive year. He needs to be a little more solid in his short game to offset his 3-for-8 from 50 yards and beyond the past two seasons, but with KC's offense pointing in the right direction a return to the 86 percent accuracy of his rookie campaign would make Succop a fringe fantasy contributor.

"Hey, David; Philadelphia Eagles here. Thanks for three straight seasons with at least 130 points while converting almost 84 percent of your field goal attempts and leading the NFL in scoring in 2010. Oh, and we just drafted your replacement in the fourth round; don't let the door hit you in the backside on the way out." So Akers takes his game cross-country, where he'll tack on points for a lesser offense and see his fantasy value take a significant hit.

A career-low 18 field goal attempts led to a career-low 81 points for Longwell last season, but you can point the finger at the Vikings' offense. Since leaving Green Bay for the Metrodome Longwell has hit on 87 percent of his treys, including 93 percent the last two seasons. If Minnesota's offense is better--and it should be; it certainly can't be much worse--Longwell's totals will perk right back up.

The Browns tagged Dawson as their franchise player; evidently they thought that label went to the guy who's been there the longest. Philly Dawg has been the only kicker the team has known since returning to Cleveland in 1999. He's working on a streak of four straight seasons (and seven of the last eight) at 80 percent accuracy or better, but he hasn't made a 50-yard field goal since 2008. Maybe he'll stick around long enough for the Browns' offense to give him a chance to top 120 points--just not this year.

Landing with his fourth team in three years, Nugent was on his way to some very nice numbers in Cincinnati when he tore the ACL in his kicking knee during an onside kick attempt. Rookie Thomas Weber will provide token competition, but if the former second-round pick is healthy he'll have a stranglehold on the Bengals' kicking job this fall.

Carpenter came in almost 14 percent points under his career accuracy rate last season, yet was given enough field goal opportunities to record not only a third straight 100-point season but a career-best 115 points. Most of those struggles came from 40 yards and out, where he hit on just 58 percent of his attempts, so he'll need to rely on the Miami offense to get him close enough to convert. So, yeah, we're worried.

Bironas has seen his field goal attempts--and, subsequently, his point totals-- declin each of the past three seasons. Now the Titans have overhauled the coaching staff and will be breaking in a new quarterback, plus Chris Johnson could hold out... that's more than even Rob's rising accuracy rate--a sterling 92 percent last year--can compensate for. Bottom line, it's fewer scoring opportunities for Bironas.

Scobee's point total climbed back into triple digits last season for the first time since 2006, but a transition to the Blaine Gabbert era could knock Scobee's opportunities back down again. He needs all the chances he can get, as he's converted less than 80 percent of his field goal attempts each of the past three seasons. Until the accuracy rate climbs and/or the Jacksonville offense stabilizes, the only upside to Scobee's game is the 16 attempts from 50 yards and out he's had over the past three seasons (making 10).

Kicking for his fifth franchise in a decade of NFL service, Feely just seems to keep getting better. He posted the second-highest accuracy rate of his career as well as his third straight (and seventh overall) 100-point season. If Kevin Kolb regenerates an Arizona offense that provided just 29 PAT opportunities last year, Feely might just sneak into fantasy relevancy.

No analysis available.

Hanson enters his 20th season with the Lions in a battle for his job with Dave Raymer, who finished the season in Detroit after Hanson was sidelined with a knee injury. There's plenty of hype surrounding the Lions and they do have some offensive weapons in place. But there isn't so much upside to them that you should reach for a kicker who could find himself playing shuffleboard and yelling at the kids to get off his damn lawn.

No placekicker still receiving an NFL paycheck converted a lower percentage of their field goal attempts last year than Gano, who missed nine of 35 attempts in his first full season with the Redskins. There's no competition on the horizon, but just because Gano appears to have the job locked up doesn't mean you want him kicking for your fantasy team.

No analysis available.

Prater has taken advantage of the Mile High atmosphere, hitting 9 of 12 attempts from 50 yards and out over the past three seasons. He was en route to a third straight 100-point season when a groin injury derailed him for the final month. The injury behind him, Prater now faces the challenge of kicking for an offense that has a new coach and may be breaking in an inexperienced quarterback as well. Prater will capitalize on whatever opportunities he's given, but trust him as your fantasy kicker only as much as you trust the Denver offense.

Since an abysmal 58 percent accuracy rate that cost him his job in New Orleans, Mare has been one of the league's more reliable kickers. He carved out three 100-point seasons in Seattle thanks to an 89 percent accuracy rate, but that was behind a competent Seattle offense. The Panthers are coming off a campaign in which they finished last in the NFL in scoring by a whopping 75 points, plus they're breaking in a raw quarterback; posting a productive fantasy season may be beyond Mare's range.

Lindell's point totals have tumbled in unison with the Bills' offensive struggles, though it hasn't helped that he's dipped below an 80 percent accuracy rate two of the past three seasons. Even if Buffalo's offense shows signs of life, you have to also have faith that Lindell will relocate his range. One or the other might be a risk worth assuming; both is too much to swallow.

No analysis available.