Sleeper Watch

As far as fantasy production goes, Tennessee’s Rob Bironas* is nothing special, a good-but-not-great kicker currently ranked near the bottom of the top ten in scoring. He was a popular pickup after hitting double figures back-to-back in weeks 5 (10 points) and 6 (11 points), but has fallen by the wayside recently, averaging just 4.3 points per game in his last three contests. With Tennessee on a bye this week, many owners have dropped him in favor of an active kicker. Bironas does have one thing going for him, however, that might make him worth a waiver claim: a solid schedule during the fantasy playoffs.

No blizzards in Buffalo, ice storms in New England, or gale force winds in Green Bay. Come fantasy playoff time, Bironas plays two home games (weeks 14 and 15) in Nashville against Houston and Seattle, followed by two games in Florida, against Miami in week 16 and Jacksonville in the season’s final week (for those leagues with championship games in week 17). Admittedly, Nashville isn’t entirely safe from winter weather, but with an average of less than an inch and a half of December snowfall, the odds of clear-sky kicking are significantly better than, say, in Cleveland.

Additionally, the teams Bironas faces in weeks 14-16 tend to give up a hefty amount of points to opposing kickers. The Texans have allowed kickers to score 72 points in eight games, the third-highest total in the league. The Seahawks aren’t far behind with 66 kicking points allowed, currently the fifth-highest-mark. And with 55 points allowed, Miami is tied for the 13-highest total. Not bad odds at all for Bironas when the games count most. In the meantime, wide receiver Andre Johnson’s return to action can only help.

 
*Admit it, you were really hoping for an in-depth analysis of Carolina’s cheerleaders instead.