Fantasy Football Week 2 Kicker Streamers: Chad Ryland, Andy Borregales, and More

Week 1 of the NFL season is over. Remember all the anticipation and the build-up? Well, here we are, and the regular season is now more than 5% of the way over.

Some things went the way we expected: the Saints, Browns, Giants, and Panthers all lost. Other games brought major surprises, like Daniel Jones leading the Colts to points on every drive as they dominated the Dolphins 33-8.

While we try to decide what's real and what's fiction, preparation for Week 2 has already started. Streaming starts early, especially at a position like kicker, where fantasy performance can sway greatly from game to game based on opponent, location of the game, and just plain luck.

Let's look at three kickers who are set up to have successful games in Week 2 and are widely available in fantasy leagues. You can probably pick any of these guys up for free. Be sure to check weather reports close to game time, as forecasts change and weather can turn overnight.

Check out the FantasySP defensive rankings to find the best matchups for players at every position each week.

Andy Borregales, New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

Borregales was OK in his first professional game, making two of his three field goal attempts from 35 yards and 44 yards (and missing from 40 yards out). He made his only extra point. Of course, we would prefer having a guy who makes all his kicks, but misses happen, and rain was involved if you want a pertinent excuse.

This is more about the team that Borregales will be facing in Week 2. As I mentioned above, Miami was the most disappointing team of the first week, getting blown out by Indianapolis in a game that was 20-0 at halftime. The Colts weren't stopped even once; they went field goal, touchdown, touchdown, field goal, field goal, touchdown, field goal on their seven drives. And all that with a quarterback that no team wanted as a starter.

Indy's kicker, Spencer Shrader, was the top fantasy kicker of the week. Rather than chasing Schrader, though, I'm more interested in the source of his points. Miami is hurting for talent on defense, and they could be one of the worst teams all season. It was only one game, but it's impossible not to think that it's going to be a long season for the Dolphins.

The early weather report shows a chance of rain, but it always rains in Miami; that's nothing new. Make sure Sunday morning that it's not a torrential downpour or anything, and Borregales should have some value if you're in need of a kicker.

Matt Prater, Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets

Tyler Bass was put on IR before Week 1, opening the door for the veteran Prater to step in as the kicker for the Bills. His biggest moment came at the end of the game, when he kicked a 32-yard field goal to win the game in a big fourth-quarter comeback. Prater made all three of his field goals (also hitting from 25 and 43 yards) and both of his extra points.

This is really about opportunity. The Bills are likely to be one of the best offensive teams in the league, and their 41 points were the most of any team in Week 1. Prater is going to get opportunities to score while playing with Buffalo. The matchup here makes it even more enticing, as the Jets just gave up 34 points to a Steelers team many were expecting to struggle offensively.

Pittsburgh's kicker, Chris Boswell, made two field goals and four extra points against New York. I'm willing to bet that the Bills will give their kicker at least six chances to score points, whether from field goal or extra point attempts, setting up Prater with a chance for a big day. Buffalo's Bass wouldn't have been available as a free agent; take advantage of the chance to grab a guy on a top offensive team here.

Chad Ryland, Arizona Cardinals vs. Carolina Panthers

Ryland was one of my favorite streamers in Week 1 against those same Saints we just talked about. I saw it as a case of a potentially above-average offense against one of the worst teams in the league, something that would set the kicker up to score early and often.

Ryland made two of his three field goal attempts and both extra points, hitting from 42 and 50 yards but having his kick blocked from 46 yards in the fourth quarter. Blocked kicks can sometimes be placed partly on the kicker, but it's hard to know who to blame, and I'm willing to write it off.

Ryland struggled mightily as a rookie but bounced back last season with the Cardinals, missing four field goals (all from 40-plus yards) and just one extra point. A fourth-round draft pick, he had some regard coming into the league and wouldn't surprise anyone if he stuck around for a long time.

I'm more interested in the matchup here, as Ryland faces another group who looks like one of the worst in the league. The Panthers were expected to struggle defensively, and that started in Week 1, when they allowed the Jaguars to score on six of their nine possessions, with two punts and an interception thrown in.

Jaguars' kicker Cam Little was listed here as a streamer last week, and he made all four of his field goal attempts and both extra points, finishing tied for second among fantasy kickers. Just like with Miami, I'm looking for the source rather than the beneficiary, and the Panthers set up Ryland well for another big week.

The game takes place in Arizona, which has a retractable roof, so Ryland will likely be kicking in great conditions. This is another opportunity for a strong kicking performance against Carolina.