ClutchPoints
Week 14 of the fantasy football season has arrived, and with playoff implications on the line for many managers, making the right roster decisions has never been more critical. While top-tier names like Brandon Aubrey and Justin Tucker are obvious starts, the real fantasy value comes from identifying the deeper plays who can deliver unexpected production based on matchup advantages and recent momentum.
With the bye weeks finally behind us for the most part (save for the Panthers, Patriots, Giants, and 49ers), fantasy managers have a fuller deck to choose from. However, late-season weather and defensive shifts mean you can’t just plug and play the usual suspects. The key is avoiding the most obvious names facing elite special teams units and instead focusing on kickers whose recent form and upcoming opponents suggest they’re primed for breakout performances or need to be benched despite their name value.
This week presents intriguing opportunities at the kicker position with several legs facing ideal defensive matchups, while others who have been reliable all season should be approached with caution.
Harrison Mevis (LAR) @ Arizona Cardinals
The “Thicker Kicker” has been nothing short of a revelation since taking over for Joshua Karty in Los Angeles. Mevis has been perfect on field goals and extra points since assuming the starting role, stabilizing a unit that had been shaky for the Rams all season. In Week 14, he gets the gift of a dome game at State Farm Stadium against an Arizona Cardinals defense that ranks 30th against fantasy kickers this year.
The Cardinals have allowed double-digit fantasy points to kickers in three of their last four games, struggling to keep opposing offenses out of field goal range while tightening up just enough in the red zone to force attempts. With the Rams’ offense moving the ball effectively but occasionally stalling near the 20, Mevis offers a high floor and a massive ceiling in a controlled environment.
Jason Sanders (MIA) vs. New York Jets
While the Jets’ defense remains a formidable unit in real life, they have been a goldmine for fantasy kickers, ranking 32nd—dead last—against the position in 2025. Opposing kickers are averaging nearly 10 fantasy points per game against New York, largely because the Jets’ “bend-don’t-break” defense often forces long drives that fizzle out between the 20s.
Critically, this game is in Miami, sparing Sanders from the dreaded December winds of the Meadowlands. With the Dolphins playing at home in perfect weather and the Jets surrendering the most field goal attempts in the league, Sanders is a smash start who could easily finish as a top-5 option this week.
Harrison Butker (KC) vs. Houston Texans
It feels counterintuitive to bench a kicker tied to Patrick Mahomes, but the matchup numbers are screaming “stay away.” The Houston Texans have been the absolute stingiest defense against kickers in 2025, ranking 1st in the league and allowing fewer than 5...
