If you own Nick Folk (1 Viewer)

[Lord Lucan]

If you own Nick Folk, you've probably been pretty happy with his performance the last two weeks and might not have been considering picking up a different kicker.

But this weekend, Dallas go to to Pittsburgh - where, in November and December, kickers go to die.

In the months of November and December - basically, when it's cold, plus other associated weather factors - no away kicker has kicked more than one field goal since 2004, 17 games ago.

Heinz Field in winter is as tough a place to kick as there is. It took forever for there to be a 50-yard FG there, and teams routinely opt to go for it even on 4th and long from distances which would be eminently kickable at other venues. Sunday's forecast calls for temperatures of around 26 degrees and a chance of snow. They have put a new grass field in since their last home game, but they did that last year too with unfortunate results, and they are still playing the college games there.

It's possible Folk could have a good week, of course; he has a decent leg, and luck could play a part and provide a few short field goal chances.

But if you want to play the percentages, it might be worth looking somewhere else for your kicker this weekend. Only a small point, but could make those extra 5 or 10 points difference that could turn a play-off defeat into a win.

 

[ceo3west]

I agree. Folk has been solid, but Kasay will be in my lineup this weekend for the reasons you've stated.

 

[skoalbandit]

Garrett Hartley NO over Folk this week for me, then roll Folk out at home in Week 15 & 16.

 

[PosterNutBag]

I owned Folk specifically for the past 2 weeks and already planned on dumping him this week. Dan Carpenter has SOLID kicker matchups the next 3 weeks and Josh Brown (good matchups too) is a very viable pickup as well now that the offense has a shot of SJax in the arm.

 

[SuperJohn96]

My opponent this week benched Nick Folk...

...for Jeff Reed.

 

[Chaka]

The Steelers have only had 17 home games since 2004?

 

[PosterNutBag]

The Steelers have only had 17 home games since 2004?

Yes..."in the months of November and December" like the OP said.

 

[Abstract]

I went back to Matt Prater....

 

[Chaka]

The Steelers have only had 17 home games since 2004?

Yes..."in the months of November and December" like the OP said.

That's what I get for skimming the post.

 

[gradin123]

I owned Folk specifically for the past 2 weeks and already planned on dumping him this week. Dan Carpenter has SOLID kicker matchups the next 3 weeks and Josh Brown (good matchups too) is a very viable pickup as well now that the offense has a shot of SJax in the arm.

I did the same thing actually. I picked up Folk two weeks ago when he was near the bottom of the league in points and no one was paying attention to him. The home matchups against Sf and Seattle were just too tempting to pass on though.But this week his matchup his horrid and lets not forget that besides those last 2 games he has had a real bad year.Like you said Carpenter now has 3 straight good matchups and I went with him this week.It certainly helps Carpenter that a game on the Road against Buffalo is actually being played in what is basically a neutral site in a dome.Playing kicker matchups is something I have done the last 6 weeks now and so far it has been great for me except for one week.(Nedney at home vs STL - he had 5 extra points and no fg's).The best kicker matchups this week are:Neil Rackers vs STLMatt Prater vs KCDan Carpenter vs BuffaloRyan Longwell vs DetroitGostowski vs SeattleJay Feely vs SFThe two available in my league were Carpenter and Prater. I went with Carpenter because after this week he plays vs SF and KC. Also Prater has missed a lot of FG's lately whereas Carpenter has missed only two this season and one was blocked.

 

[gradin123]

Just for the record. Some people think playing against bad teams doesn't bode well because teams will kick more extra points than field goals. However, the statistics just do not bear that out. You want your kicker to play against a bad team because it is likely they will have more scoring opportunities overall and usually at least a couple of those will be Field Goals.

Playing against good defenses, a kicker may only get 3 or 4 scoring opportunites in the whole game and often those might come late where the team is down so much it removes the Field Goal from the equation altogether.

Also, it helps to play against a team who commits a lot of turnovers because it sets up the offense with a lot of short fields.

Btw, the worst teams to go up against for kickers statistically are

1.Pittsburgh

2.NYG

3.Baltimore

4.Atlanta

5.Tennessee

6.Oakland (underrated Defense who usually shutdown opponents passing game)

7.Washington

The best are

1.KC

2.STL

3.Buffalo

4.Detroit

5.Seattle

6. SF

As you can see Dan Carpenter's next 3 Matchups are 3 then 6 then 1.

He is the best kicker pick-up of the week!

 

[dancingbones]

I picked up Folk last week, and I'm sticking with him.

The Cowboys with Romo at QB can pretty reliably move the chains, and these 3 games for the playoff stretch should be good, close, hard fought games.

No need to overthink this one, IMO.

 

[PosterNutBag]

I picked up Folk last week, and I'm sticking with him.

The Cowboys with Romo at QB can pretty reliably move the chains, and these 3 games for the playoff stretch should be good, close, hard fought games.

No need to overthink this one, IMO.

benching Folk against the Steelers in Pittsburgh with forecasted 22mph winds is hardly overthinking things ... it's what a smart fantasy GM does

 

[wraith5]

I picked up Vinatieri in both of my local leagues - he's been putting up some numbers lately and his match-ups, while not as soft as Carpenter's, look good. CIN and DET at home? Sold.

 

[dancingbones]

I picked up Folk last week, and I'm sticking with him.

The Cowboys with Romo at QB can pretty reliably move the chains, and these 3 games for the playoff stretch should be good, close, hard fought games.

No need to overthink this one, IMO.

benching Folk against the Steelers in Pittsburgh with forecasted 22mph winds is hardly overthinking things ... it's what a smart fantasy GM does

OK.

 

[Fear & Loathing]

If you own Nick Folk, you've probably been pretty happy with his performance the last two weeks and might not have been considering picking up a different kicker.

But this weekend, Dallas go to to Pittsburgh - where, in November and December, kickers go to die.

In the months of November and December - basically, when it's cold, plus other associated weather factors - no away kicker has kicked more than one field goal since 2004, 17 games ago.

Heinz Field in winter is as tough a place to kick as there is. It took forever for there to be a 50-yard FG there, and teams routinely opt to go for it even on 4th and long from distances which would be eminently kickable at other venues. Sunday's forecast calls for temperatures of around 26 degrees and a chance of snow. They have put a new grass field in since their last home game, but they did that last year too with unfortunate results, and they are still playing the college games there.

It's possible Folk could have a good week, of course; he has a decent leg, and luck could play a part and provide a few short field goal chances.

But if you want to play the percentages, it might be worth looking somewhere else for your kicker this weekend. Only a small point, but could make those extra 5 or 10 points difference that could turn a play-off defeat into a win.

Thanks for the knowledge drop.

 

[dancingbones]

I picked up Folk last week, and I'm sticking with him.

The Cowboys with Romo at QB can pretty reliably move the chains, and these 3 games for the playoff stretch should be good, close, hard fought games.

No need to overthink this one, IMO.

benching Folk against the Steelers in Pittsburgh with forecasted 22mph winds is hardly overthinking things ... it's what a smart fantasy GM does

OK.

This thread has been working subliminally on my brain for the past few days, and I'm now on board the Vinatieri train for the next few weeks as well.Hope it is not a !