2026 Fantasy Football Kicker Draft Guide

Kicker is a one-and-done position in most leagues, so the goal is simple: land a high-volume kicker on a good offense, then forget about it. The top of this pool is closer than you'd think — the gap from K1 to K12 is roughly 20 projected points (PPR) — but there are genuine tiers worth respecting. Note that every projection in this guide carries a negative ECR vs. ADP signal, meaning analysts rank all these kickers lower than where they're typically being drafted. Keep that in mind before reaching early.

Elite tier

Brandon Aubrey

Aubrey leads the pool by projected points at 151.4 (FantasyPros 2026), built on a projected 34.8 made field goals and 47 extra points on 39.5 attempts. Dallas's offense gives him a high floor for attempts. His actual 2025 production was 180.6 PPR points in 17 games — noticeably above his 2026 projection. That gap suggests the projection bakes in some regression, which is fair, but his floor remains elite. No current injury concern. His bye falls in week 14, which is deep enough in the season that it's not a dealbreaker. His ECR vs. ADP is -85, the widest negative gap in this pool, so you may be reaching if you draft him early. He's worth targeting — just don't overpay to get him.

Jason Myers

Myers projects at 150.4 PPR points — nearly identical to Aubrey — on 34.7 made field goals and 46.3 extra points in 39.6 attempts. His 2025 actual was 195.0 PPR points in 17 games, the highest real output in this pool last season. The projection implies meaningful regression from that peak, which is worth flagging: either 2025 was an outlier, or the projection undersells him. Seattle's strength of schedule rates 4/5 stars (the best in this tier), and his week 11 bye is manageable. Eleven years of experience means durability is not a concern. He's the steadiest two-way bet in the pool — high floor, real upside.

Solid starters

Ka'imi Fairbairn

Fairbairn projects at 144.5 PPR points and carries the highest upside rating in this guide (5/5). His 2025 actual was 190.0 points in just 15 games — strong production despite missing two games. The projection is notably lower, which likely reflects schedule and game-script assumptions rather than talent. Houston's strength of schedule rates only 2/5 stars, the same as Dallas's, so his ceiling depends on the Texans staying competitive. Week 8 bye. No injury concern reported. If you miss on Aubrey and Myers, Fairbairn is a reasonable pivot.

Cameron Dicker

Dicker projects at 142.7 PPR points with a 5/5 upside rating — and his 2025 actual of 166.0 points in 17 games suggests the projection is directionally reasonable. The caveat here is his questionable injury status, the only active injury flag in this pool. Until that clears, there's real bust risk attached to an otherwise attractive dart. If he's healthy, the Chargers' offense provides volume, and his week 7 bye is one of the earliest in the pool. Monitor his status before your draft and move him up or down accordingly.

Mid-tier options

Harrison Mevis

Mevis projects at 136.8 PPR points, but his 2025 actual was just 81.0 points in 11 games. That's a significant disconnect. The projection assumes a full, healthy season and a workload the Rams' offense can support — neither of which materialized fully in 2025. His bust risk is rated 2/5 (moderate), and he's only in his second year. The upside is real if everything clicks; the track record isn't there yet to trust it blindly.

Jake Bates

Bates projects at 136.0 PPR points. His 2025 actual was 143.0 points in a full 17-game season — the projection and reality are in reasonable agreement here, which is reassuring. Detroit's strength of schedule rates 5/5 stars, the best in this tier. Week 6 bye. A solid, low-drama option if you're drafting in the back half of the kicker pool.

Chase McLaughlin

McLaughlin projects at 132.9 PPR points. His 2025 actual was 149.0 points in 17 games — again, the projection assumes a step back. Tampa Bay's offense gives him a workable floor. His ECR vs. ADP gap is only -16, the tightest in the pool, meaning he's close to being drafted at fair value. Seven years of experience; no injury concern. A safe, if unexciting, choice.

Eddy Pineiro

Pineiro projects at 132.1 PPR points. His 2025 actual was 135.0 points in 14 games, so the full-season projection is consistent with a healthy year. San Francisco's strength of schedule rates 5/5 stars — tied for the best in the pool — which is a meaningful upside lever. Week 8 bye. A preseason news snippet from late August mentions 49ers activity, though nothing directly affecting Pineiro's role. Worth a look late.

Tyler Loop

Loop projects at 132.0 PPR points as a first-year starter. His 2025 actual was 138.0 points in 17 games — so the projection essentially mirrors his rookie output. Baltimore confirmed he made the 53-man roster (per a snippet from August 31), which removes any roster-spot risk. The Ravens' offense is a legitimate volume generator. Week 13 bye. At his draft price, Loop is one of the better late-round values in the pool.

Cam Little

Little also projects at 132.0 PPR points (tied with Loop). His 2025 actual was 159.0 points in 17 games — the projection implies meaningful regression. Jacksonville's strength of schedule rates 4/5 stars. Week 7 bye. In his second year, Little has a full season of NFL play behind him; the regression baked into his projection may be conservative if the Jaguars' offense improves.

Late-round darts

Cairo Santos

Santos projects at 133.3 PPR points — technically ahead of several players listed above — but his bust risk is rated 3/5, the highest in the pool, and his strength of schedule is 0/5 stars, the worst of any kicker here. His 2025 actual was 127.0 points in 15 games. Chicago's offense is the ceiling limiter. Draft him only if the better options are gone.

Spencer Shrader

Shrader projects at 139.1 PPR points — which would make him a solid starter — but his 2025 actual was just 56.0 points in 17 games. That's a massive disconnect that demands skepticism. The projection may assume a dramatically expanded role or offense that didn't exist last year. Indianapolis's strength of schedule rates 4/5 stars, and Shrader is only in his second year, so upside exists — but treat this as a true dart, not a lock, until his 2026 role becomes clearer. His ECR vs. ADP gap of -94 is the widest in the pool.

Bottom line

Target Jason Myers or Brandon Aubrey as your kicker — Myers has the stronger recent track record and a favorable schedule, while Aubrey has the highest name recognition but the steepest ECR-vs.-ADP warning. Ka'imi Fairbairn is the best available if those two are gone. Avoid reaching: every kicker in this pool is flagged as a potential overvalue relative to ADP, so let the position come to you in the final rounds. The one player to watch before you draft is Cameron Dicker — healthy, he belongs in this conversation; questionable, he's a gamble. Spencer Shrader's projection looks like a mirage given his 2025 output; don't let a big projected number trick you into a reach.