If you’re in the market for a fantasy kicker heading into Week 12, the waiver wire is surprisingly rich with options. Shockingly, the kicker who’s averaging the most fantasy points per game this season is available in half of ESPN leagues, so that should be the first name to type into the waiver wire search box.
In the sections below, we’ll run through four notable kicker options to consider adding to your team, which include two obvious choices (including the highest-scoring fantasy kicker) and two with low roster percentages for those in a pinch.
Fantasy football waiver wire: Kicker pickups for Week 12
Dustin Hopkins, Cleveland Browns
Rostership: 50.1%
As we teased in the introduction, Hopkins leads all kickers while averaging 11.3 fantasy points per game this season. Some might be skeptical of Cleveland’s ability to move the ball into field goal range with QB Deshaun Watson out for the season, but Hopkins is averaging 12.67 fantasy points in the last six games, and most of those were without Watson. Playing with altitude at the Denver Broncos could give him a nice boost in Week 12.
Younghoe Koo, Atlanta Falcons
Rostership: 43.8%
Koo is averaging 12.3 fantasy points per game since Week 7, which is the second most among kickers in that span. He’s one of the most reliable kickers in the league right now, hitting 21-of-22 field goals on the season. Playing at home, in a dome, against the Saints bodes well for Koo’s Week 12 fantasy prospects.
Cairo Santos, Chicago Bears
Rostership: 10.2%
Santos has scored 12 and 17 fantasy points respectively in his last two games while going a perfect 7-for-7 combined on field goals. With Justin Fields back at QB, the Bears moved the ball much better in their last game against the Detroit Lions. That could be the case once again while facing a Minnesota Vikings that plays a “bend but don’t break” defense that leads to plenty of field goal tries. Kicking in the dome of US Bank Stadium doesn’t hurt either.
Wil Lutz, Denver Broncos
Rostership: 2.7%
Remember when I said that Koo has averaged the second most fantasy points among kickers since Week 7? Lutz is No. 1 on that list with a sweet 13.3 fantasy point per game average that was boosted by 17 FP while going a perfect 5-for-5 on field goals vs. the Vikings on Sunday Night Football. His next game will be in the thin air of Mile High Field too, boosting his field goal range once again.