Should I draft a kicker or defense first in fantasy football? Strategy and rankings for 2024 season
Kickers and defense sometimes get overlooked by many managers during fantasy football drafts. While they should never take priority over offensive players, their fantasy scores still count just as much as any other players. This means that managers still need a strategy for the position or they will fail to fully optimize their weekly starting lineups.
Defenses and kickers are usually targeted toward the end of most fantasy drafts, but it's still beneficial to land the most favorable options. Here's which of them should be picked first when managers are rounding out their rosters for the upcoming 2024 NFL season.
Should kickers or defenses be drafted first in 2024 fantasy football?
The latest rounds of fantasy drafts are reserved for depth players, bench options, kickers and defenses. While it's always important to be as deep as possible at the offensive positions, it's also wise to land one of the best kickers and defenses to maximize weekly scores. They will be used in lineups every week in all leagues that require them as a starting position.
It's usually best to target a defense before a kicker as long as a manager isn't reaching too high on a mediocre option. Missing out on some of the top defensive units, such as the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, may make it more beneficial to wait longer on taking one. This can create an opportunity to pivot to an elite kicker like Justin Tucker or Brandon Aubrey if they are still available.
The best defenses for fantasy football are consistent in producing sacks and turnovers because these are the most reliable statistics that generate fantasy points. The Cowboys have ranked among the top two defenses in season-long fantasy scoring in each of the past three years as a result of their dominant pass rush and elite ability to force interceptions.
For kickers, the best strategy is to target efficient options that play in high-scoring offenses. Their situation will usually give them more opportunities at kicking attempts, but it's also important that they convert on them. Strategizing for these two positions in the later rounds, which are sometimes overlooked, can give certain managers an edge over the rest of their competition.
2024 Fantasy Football rankings
Fantasy Football K rankings
- Brandon Aubrey
- Justin Tucker
- Harrison Butker
- Younghoe Koo
- Evan McPherson
- Cameron Dicker
- Tyler Bass
- Ka'imi Fairbairn
- Jake Elliott
- Greg Zuerlein
- Jake Moody
- Jason Sanders
- Jason Myers
- Daniel Carlson
- Cairo Santos
Fantasy Football DST rankings
- Dallas Cowboys
- San Francisco 49ers
- Baltimore Ravens
- New York Jets
- Cleveland Browns
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Miami Dolphins
- Pittsburgh Steelers
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Philadelphia Eagles
- Houston Texans
- Buffalo Bills
- Las Vegas Raiders
- New Orleans Saints
- Atlanta Falcons