Fantasy Football Week 16 Kicker Streamers: Riley Patterson, Will Reichard, and More

In a single-elimination tournament, anything can happen. The NFL season is long and grueling, but all it takes is one bad day (or a great day from the other team), and the Super Bowl favorite can fall to anyone.

It's even more random in fantasy football, where your players aren't working together toward one goal. Everyone on a real football team is working together to ensure success, but your fantasy players don't know that they're on your team; success for them doesn't necessarily mean success for you.

That makes every decision important, as a single point could be the difference between winning and losing. The positions that are usually a little more fungible, like kicker, are now as important as anyone else.

Let's look at three kickers with good matchups in Week 16 who are widely available in fantasy leagues and can easily be picked up and inserted into your lineup. Most stats are from NFL.com.

Use FantasySP's weekly projections to find the players expected to perform best and help make your toughest lineup decisions!

Riley Patterson, Miami Dolphins vs. Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals have allowed more points than any other team, 437 total and 31.2 per game. They have given up the second-most yards per pass attempt and the third-most yards per rush attempt, unable to stop opposing teams in any area.

Patterson has been very good while filling in for the injured Jason Sanders all season, making 24 of 26 field goals and 28 of 29 extra points. It has been a trying season in Miami, and they look like a team in flux, but they are holding onto the bottom of the playoff race, and Patterson has been huge filling in for their regular kicker.

With such a great matchup here, Patterson is a fantastic fantasy option. Miami has a below-average offense, so we can't trust him every week, but there's not a much better chance for this team to score points. Patterson is likely to get opportunities to put points on the board.

This game is in Miami, so there won't be any winter weather, but there is always a chance of rain and wind, so check the weather report before game time if you decide to go with Patterson.

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings @ New York Giants

Reichard has been a recent friend here, as the Vikings have had a string of good matchups against teams like the Commanders and Cowboys. New York continues that trend, allowing the fourth-most points, over 28 per game.

The Giants are worse than average against the pass, and they have maybe the worst run defense in the league, allowing more yards per rush attempt than any other team. This is a team worth attacking with players at every position, including kicker.

It's dangerous to trust Minnesota's offense when we have seen them at their worst with J.J. McCarthy under center. They had good games in the previous two weeks, scoring 31 points against Washington then 34 against the Cowboys. The Vikings have scored the eighth-fewest points per game, so they are really taking advantage of the positive matchups.

Reichard has been excellent, missing just two of 53 total kicks, and both of those came from 50-plus yards. He only got three field goals during the barrage of the past few weeks, as the team found the end zone more often, but that is random and will sway toward more kicks at times. Reichard is set up for a good day in Week 16.

The weather could be an issue in this one in East Rutherford, New Jersey, so make sure to check conditions on Saturday or Sunday morning to ensure the kickers will have chance. Guys can kick in cold, but if heavy snow and especially wind start, the equation changes very quickly.

Charlie Smyth, New Orleans Saints vs. New York Jets

Smyth came from Ireland through the NFL's International Player Pathway program. He has played three games, making four of five field goal attempts and all five of his extra points. For a team a long way from competing, it's encouraging to find a young player who is showing something positive, even if it is just a kicker.

New Orleans doesn't have a good offense; they are tied for the third-fewest points, just 16.1 per game, and have a lack of talent across the roster. That makes Smyth a risky player to trust, as there's a low floor if the offense can't get going.

The Jets offer the right matchup, though, allowing the third-most points per game. They are a little worse than average in both yards per pass attempt and yards per rush attempt allowed, and New York now lacks top-line talent after trading defensive stars at the deadline.

Smyth is more of a low-level streamer, but this is the right matchup if he is going to find success. The Saints give him a bit of a lower floor, but the Jets are his best friend in this one.

This game takes place indoors in New Orleans, so the conditions will be perfect. That's a big advantage this time of year when so many games have the chance of winter weather.