FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT GUIDE

Vinatieri only had 113 points last year because he missed three games due to a groin injury. He still returned for the playoffs where he connected on five field goals in the AFC Championship game. Yeah - he was a nice addition. Consider too that the Colts have never had less than the 6th most kicking points in the NFL for the last several years and then feel really good about drafting Vinatieri. Only problem here is that you'll have to spend an earlier pick.

Since joining the Rams in 1997, Wilkins had a perfect streak going of good year then bad year, then good year... But after scoring 117 points in 2005, he upped the ante with 131 points in the first season with Scott Linehan at the helm. That ranked #3 in the NFL last year and this is the same kicker that has been regularly over 80% in kicking field goals and who turned in an obscene 163 points in 2003. Consider the new offense as a blessing for Wilkins and his consistent inconsistency as being over. The Rams have no cold weather games and should end the year with what should be a great set of games for a kicker.

For the 13 years that Elam has been the Denver kicker, he has always been a solid choice in a fantasy draft. He has never had less than 109 points in any season and never less than 115 points in the last five years. He's always had 50+ yard kicks in every season and even tied the NFL record with a 63-yarder in 1998. Elam only ranked 11th in scoring last year among kickers and that's about the worst he will be. He still has the leg, the think atmosphere and a team that likes to settle for three points. He may not be the #1 kicker, but it would be hard to argue that there is another with less risk than Elam has.

After temporary gigs with the Bills and Panthers, Graham has spent the last four seasons with the Bengals and never had less than 106 points. Over the last three seasons, he's ranked 5th, 3rd and 10th. The loss of Chris Henry may have some effect on the offense but Graham has always been a safe choice as a fantasy kicker that will not hurt you and could end up being a difference maker.

The 39 year-old Stover may not be playing for too many more years but he's hardly slowing down. Seven of his last eight seasons have featured more than 110 kicking points and he's been a near lock to be a top ten kicker every year. His 121 points ranked 5th best last year and the second year of Steven McNair and the addition of Willis McGahee shouldn't hurt the chance to score here. Always a solid pick available after the run starts.

(+Upside) Kasay has been the Panther's kicker since 1995 and comes off a disappointing 100 point season in 2006. He ranked 5th in the NFL for 2005 when he kicked for 121 points and in 2003, he had 125 points. But last year the Panthers were hit with injuries and an off-season all around. As inconsistent as the Panthers offense has been the last four years, it's hard to rely on Kasay as a fantasy but he makes an excellent back-up kicker and even a decent choice if you wait too long for a starter.

(+Upside) Hard to argue with the nice progression that Scobee has made in his three years with the Jaguars. He's only 24 years old and kicked 119 points last year - 6th best in the league. That's up from 107 in 2005 and Scobee has a nice outlook for another incremental increase with a team that now is loaded at running back and has a passing game that historically falters at the goal line - and in comes Scobee. The Jacksonville defense holds the score down and Scobee is there to end the games.

All those touchdowns by LaDainian Tomlinson in 2006 gave Kaeding a career high 58 extra points and his 26 field goals were also a career best. In his first two seasons, Kaeding only had around 113 points or around 12th best in the league. Now that Norv Turner has taken over the team and Tomlinson is unlikely to set yet another NFL scoring record, chances are that Kaeding will settle back to his more typical season. After ranking #2 in the NFL last year, there's no doubt that Kaeding is an early pick for kickers but it's a new season with a new coach. And a chance that the Chargers won't necessarily lead the league in scoring - Turner's kickers rarely turn into top scorers.

(+Upside) After ranking #1 in 2004, the Patriots have only had the 19th most kicking points in both 2005 and 2006. The accurate Vinatieri left last year and the rookie Gostkowski took over but only had a 77% success rate was lower than Vinatieri had done in all but one of his nine seasons in New England. The offense has only produced 20 field goals in both the last two years but there's a chance that Gostkowski could improve if Laurence Maroney has any of the same injury woes again this year. Corey Dillon and all his short scores are gone and Maroney has to step up into that role. The Pats have a much upgraded set of receivers this year which could improve both extra points and eventual field goal attempts, especially if they are just to end games.

Gould is the hot kicker to own this year, coming off a 143 point season in 2006 to rank #1 among all kickers (almost always a kiss of death for the next year). Gould only had 82 points in 2005 in an injury-shortened season but even adjusted for the missing games he only projected out to a 100 point year. The Bears defense ensures scores are held low and field goals are perfectly acceptable. Gould's 89% success rate also yields confidence in him as well. One qualification to him - he still has not successfully kicked a 50+ yard field goal in the NFL, so drop him a notch or two if you get distance scores.

(+Upside) After being a top kicker from 2000 through 2004, Akers was injured in 2005 and then only managed 102 points in 2006 with McNabb out and the offense specializing in touchdowns until McNabb was injured. Akers had a career high 48 extra points last year but only turned in 23 field goals. With McNabb back and the offense upgraded with Kevin Curtis and Tony Hunt, look for Akers to get back to where he once belonged.

After punching in 140 points in 2005, like so many other kickers Rackers fell back to only 116 points last year. Rackers has been in the league for seven years and four of the last in Arizona. The biggest difference between his career mark in 2005 and all other years in Arizona was that he made 95% that year and stayed right around 75% in the other three. Bringing in Edgerrin James last year gave the Cards a rushing game finally and now with the new Whisenhunt era to begin, it's safe to assume that the Cards won't be in that unique situation again like 2005 - having a great passing game with almost no rushing to get those touchdowns.

(+Upside) Mare goes to New Orleans after ten years in Miami but outside of his freak 144 points in 1999, he's never been anything more than average for the last seven years. The Saints explosive offense produced the 12th best kicking points last year which would have been higher were it not for so many touchdowns being scored. Mare has much more upside this year tacking on extra points and field goals for that offense, but he's only been a 75% kicker lately. The plus for Mare is being in the dome late in the year and he has no cold weather games this year.

Hanson comes off his best year since 1997 when he scored 117 points for the Lions last year - 7th best in the league. That comes on the heels of being the #32 kicker in 2005 but the change in offense to Martz system paid dividends, especially towards the end of the season when Kevin Jones was injured. The only thing keeping Hanson from being another middle-tier nobody last year was week 17 when he had 15 points against Dallas. Based on what that offense did for Wilkins in St. Louis, Hanson will either be a top five or a bottom five kicker this year. Wilkins too was wildly productive and then would follow that up with a down year. Hanson plays in a dome which is good and he Lions offense looks more powerful in 2007.

The Cowboys used their 6.04 selection to make Folk as the second kicker drafted last April. Folk will compete with Martin Gramatica for the starting job and this Arizona product averaged 70+ yards on kickoffs. He went 19 of 20 on field goals of 40 yards or less but only had 11 of 27 connect when they were longer. He also doubled as the punter for the last two seasons. The Cowboys kicker hasn't rated as a fantasy starter in many years and now there is a question which will be named as the starter. Better to leave this alone until decided and even then only draft as fantasy depth.

After changing teams seven times in his ten years in the league, Nedney comes off his career best season when he kicked for 116 points in 2006 - 9th best in the league. That's a spectacular showing for a team that had ranked only 21st and 30th in kicking points the two prior seasons. Nedney may hold on to his numbers this year since the 49ers defense and offense should both prove to be upgraded but until Alex Smith turns in above-average passing numbers, Nedney shouldn't be considered as a starter for your team.

Brown has remained one of the most consistent kickers over the last four seasons, always ending between 109 and 114 points per season. That always ends up around 13th best in the league but then again - that's remarkably reliable for a position that usually graphs out like a cardiac arrest for most kickers. Whether Alexander is setting NFL records or on the sideline, Brown has been right around the same level every year and the only real difference this year is the loss of Jackson and tougher defenses in the NFC West.

The Fins looked to cure their kicking woes by acquiring Feely and after only 83 points scored last year, the only way is up. Feely had his career best in 2005 when he scored 148 points to rank #2 in the NFL that year but only had 107 in 2006. Problem here is that the Fins have not had a top kicker in many years but the new offense under Cam Cameron could change all that. Before you think that Nate Kaeding's big 2006 season under Cameron will not transfer to Feely, realize that his first two seasons in that system only scored around 112 points or around 12th best each year. And there's no Antonio Gates or LaDainian Tomlinson around in Miami.

In the first three seasons with the Chiefs, Tynes was a solid enough fantasy pick though 2006 saw him drop to his career worst 107 points for the season. Now with the Giants, Tynes takes over the job from Jay Feely who only managed 107 points in 2006 and that was with Tiki Barber on the team. Feely did lead the league in 2005 when he kicked for 148 points but then fell back to a more typical level when he only posted his 17th best in the league season in 2006. The winds are bad and the weather gets cold in late season New York. Add in final weeks @PHI, @BUF and @CHI and Tynes better dress warmly.

The Jets new offense was promising last year but it still only ended with Nugent kicking for 106 points - just 18th best in the league for 2006. That was up from 2005 when his rookie season only had 90 points and more importantly, Nugent was successful on 89% of his field goals last year. Like Tynes with the Giants, Nugent plays in an unfavorable setting later in the year when the New York winds and weather take a turn for the worse but his only home game late is only against Cleveland. Thomas Jones should help to spark the offense this year but Nugent still only rates as a middle tier kicker.

(+Upside) Crosby was drafted with the 6.19 pick by the Packers and though he was the third and final kicker drafted, he was #1 on many boards. Crosby holds 31 game, season and career records at Colorado and ended his tenure as the school's all-time scoring leader with 307 points. He kicked in thin air which helped but there was no denying his production. Crosby only completed 68% of his field goals in 2006 but his best season was in 2005 when he nailed 29 of 32 for a 91% success rate. Crosby will compete with Dave Rayner for the starting job in training camp.

The Chiefs were so enamored with Medlock that they made the UCLA product the first kicker drafted when they spent their 5.23 pick. Considered one of the elite collegiate kickers in the nation, Medlock led Division 1-A when he kicked 2.15 field goals per game last year. His six 50+ yard field goals were a Bruins record. He has a great leg and kicks the ball high enough that he never once had a field goal or extra point blocked in college. The Chiefs love him and are not bringing in anyone to compete against him.

Lindell has kicked for the Bills since 2003 but the best he has ever had in a season was 117 points - just good enough to rank 9th that year and a career high (2004). The Bills offensive woes led to him only scoring 102 points. The Bills have a brutal schedule in 2007 and the only real upgrade to the offense is Marshawn Lynch who should not be expected to be a franchise savior in just his rookie season. Lindell barely ranks as a back-up kicker for your team.

The Redskins released Jon Hall in March and Suisham is currently the starter though another kicker may be brought in to challenge him. No matter if it is Suisham or anyone, remember that the Redskins kicking game has ranked no better than 27th for the last three years. Only in a 32 team league that drafts early should you consider Suisham.

Longwell's switch to Minnesota may have put him inside for the first time in nine seasons, but it had no effect on his total numbers. He ended with the same 90 points that got him released from Green Bay though his 84% success rate on field goals was in line with what he had done in the past. The Vikings offense's lack of any notable passing attack spelled too few opportunities for Longwell in 2006 and it is questionable that it will be that much better in 2007. The Vikings have not produced a kicker who merits a fantasy starter in years and 2007 doesn't look to be the one that breaks that string.

After a couple of seasons in the top eight, Reed only managed to kick for 101 points in 2006 thanks in part to the passing woes of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the lack of games where he could tack on to the winning margin. Now that the team has a turnover in coaching staff, chances are good that the mediocre showing in 2006 will happen again as the offense takes shape during the year. He would have had upside with a healthy Roethlisberger but that changeover in coaching introduces more risk.

Two seasons with the Titans and Bironas has kicked for 99 and 98 points in his career. This year's version of the Titans not only look weaker than 2006, but now everyone will see Vince Young coming. Hands off.

The Polish cannon is supposed to have a big leg but he's mainly just been firing duds for the last four years and turned in an embarrassing 70 points in 2006 during the self-destruction of the Raiders. To make matters worse, he's not been above a 72% success rate on field goals for the last two seasons. There's a new offense and attitude in Oakland this year, but it is much too early to expect anything more than mediocrity here.

The 32-year old Dawson has a powerful leg but unfortunately does not get enough chances to show it off. In eight seasons with the Browns he has never had more than 100 points in a season and has not come remotely close to being worthy of a start for a fantasy team. The Browns offense could have some transition this year with Jamal Lewis and potentially Brady Quinn, but that would more likely depress opportunities. Hands off Dawson.

Just another standard year for Kris Brown despite the change to Kubiak's new offense in 2006. Brown had just 83 points to rank 30th in the NFL while his best year in Houston was in 2005 when the wheels fell off the wagon and he accounted for 102 points - a whopping 17th best that year. Three of four years in Houston has produced less than 86 total points and 2007 will likely just make in four of five. If you end up with Brown, you must draft late in the final round.

Bryant locked in as the #31 kicker in 2006 (thank you Oakland) and that's not even the first time the Bucs have posted those sort of kicking points. In 2004, they only managed to turn in 77 points to again share the honor of being "one guy away" from dead last. Oh yeah, let Bryant stay on the board this summer and for the entire year on the waiver wire.