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Jaguar PK
Mike Hollis |
The Fantasy Doctor, Pro Football Weekly’s in-house
fantasy-football guru, is not your average bear. When winter approaches, he comes out of
hibernation to issue grades based on the rankings in the final PFW draft board, which ran in the
Sept. 6 issue. The first of this five-part series examines the placekickers. All grades
are based on players’ 12-game totals.
1. Mike Hollis, Jaguars — He’s on pace for an OK
season (108 points), but his numbers pale compared to the top kickers. Hollis isn’t
attempting as many field goals, and he already has missed as many as he did all of last
year. Grade: C-plus.
2. Jason Elam, Broncos — Elam’s FG attempts are down, but
so what? The guy hasn’t missed a kick all year (including his record-tying
63-yarder), and he averages nearly four extra points per game. Thank you, well-oiled
Bronco offensive machine. Grade: A.
3. Ryan Longwell, Packers — Longwell is on pace to match or
approach his rookie totals in virtually every category. He’s been solid but
unspectacular. Grade: B.
4. Richie Cunningham, Cowboys — You can’t miss in
’98 by penciling "R. Cunningham" into your lineup. Minnesota’s Randall
and Dallas’ Richie are both 100-point scorers, according to PFW’s scoring
system. The Cowboy kicker has been somewhat shaky between 30 and 39 yards, but you
can’t argue with the bottom line. Grade: A.
5. Adam Vinatieri, Patriots — Vinatieri’s overall
production has been acceptable, but he should be better. Sixty percent (6-of-10) in the
30-39 range just doesn’t cut in today’s day and age. Grade: B-plus.
6. Jason Hanson, Lions — The streak is over! OK, so the
headlines won’t be as big as Cal Ripken’s. Fantasy owners don’t care.
They’re just glad Hanson finally has broken his bizarre every-other-year scoring
pattern. The Doc knew you could do it, Jason. Grade: B-plus.
7. John Kasay, Panthers — An NFC-leading four field goals of
50-plus yards can’t overcome Kasay’s sorry production. For the second year in a
row, he’s a victim of circumstance: another bad season for the Panthers, unreliable
long-snapping early in the season. Grade: C-minus.
8. Gary Anderson, Vikings — There’s something about the
Metrodome that does wonders for 39-year-olds. Warren Moon threw 33 TD passes for the
Vikings in ’95, when he celebrated his 39th birthday. Anderson has thrived in the
great indoors, nailing every kick so far and leading all placekickers in scoring. Grade:
A-plus.
9. John Becksvoort, 49ers — Just before the season started,
Becksvoort was axed in favor of Wade Richey. Grade: F.
10. Morten Andersen, Falcons — Like the Doc’s stories
about his golf game, Andersen just keeps going and going and going. Grade: A-minus.
11. John Carney, Chargers — Few kickers are more accurate than
Carney, whose only misses (all two of them) have come from 40 yards and beyond.
Unfortunately, the Charger offense doesn’t give him too many opportunities. Grade:
C.
12. Olindo Mare, Dolphins — The Doc admires Mare’s
ability to execute an onside kick, but it doesn’t help him where it counts. Mare is
well behind his ’97 scoring pace. Grade: C-plus.
13. Al Del Greco, Oilers — Only Buffalo’s Steve Christie
has attempted more field goals than Del Greco. No one has made more. Grade: A-plus.
14. Pete Stoyanovich, Chiefs — "Stoyo" is one of the
few Chiefs who hasn’t gone down with the ship. He hasn’t been as deadly accurate
as he was a year ago, but he’s on pace to score more points. Grade: A-minus.
15. Cary Blanchard, Colts/Redskins — Blanchard was shocked
when the Colts cut him in favor of CFL refugee Mike Vanderjagt. Blanchard landed in
Washington, where he’s been a bust. Grade: D.
OTHERS
18. John Hall, Jets — Once again Hall ranks low on the
accuracy scale, but Bill Parcells puts the guy in position to score points. Hall has just
one fewer extra-point attempt (35) than he did all of last season. Grade: A.
22. Steve Christie, Bills — Doug Flutie’s magic is
far-reaching. Christie is actually having a so-so year (for him), but Flutie has moved the
offense into position for numerous FG attempts. Grade: A.
33. Mike Vanderjagt, Colts — Vanderjagt doesn’t rank
among the league leaders in points, but the Doc is fascinated by oddities, and
Vanderjagt’s season falls under that category. He has made a league-leading five
field goals of 50-plus yards and is on pace for 100 fantasy points — despite
attempting only 13 extra points. Among regular kickers, only Philadelphia’s Chris
Boniol has fewer PAT’s. Grade: B-minus. |
