Week 7 vs. Buffalo Bills
The Colts have an implied team total north of 25 this week against the Bills, and Buffalo ranks only 19th in aFPA to kickers. Vinatieri is in the mix to be a top-10 kicker in Week 7.
Week 6 at New York Jets
Andrew Luck will once again be playing with a depleted supporting cast of pass catchers in the Meadowlands Sunday. T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle still are not practicing, and now Eric Ebron is also not practicing with four different injuries. The implied team total for the Colts is also below average this week. Find a better option at kicker in Week 6 than Adam Vinatieri.
Week 5 at New England Patriots (TNF)
Andrew Luck and the Colts offense travel to Foxboro with their top pass-catcher, T.Y. Hilton, doubtful with a hamstring injury. They also likely will not have Jack Doyle again. The Colts have the fourth-lowest implied team total of 20.5 points this week, and Vinatieri popped up on the injury report. He's a very risky start for Week 5. Perhaps look elsewhere.
Week 4 vs. Houston Texans
The Colts have a slightly above-average implied team total of 24.25 points, and with two double-digit performances, extreme accuracy and dome conditions, Vinatieri can be considered a safe streaming option for Week 4.
Week 3 at Philadelphia Eagles
The Colts have a low implied team total of 20.5 this week against a strong Eagles defense. Plus, the offense has its two primary pass-catchers (T.Y. Hilton and Jack Doyle) banged up, missing practice Wednesday and Thursday. Beware of Vinatieri this week, as the Eagles are sixth in fantasy points allowed to kickers this year.
Week 2 at Washington Redskins
The Colts have a low 21-point implied team total for Week 2 on the road, which is a bad combination for trying to pick a fantasy kicker. Arizona didn't have any kicker points against this Washington defense last week. Find a starting kicker elsewhere.
Week 1 vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Andrew Luck makes his long-awaited return in a juicy fantasy matchup that should also help Adam Vinatieri's scoring chances. The Bengals were 31st in aFPA to kickers last year. Vegas has set the over/under in this game at 48, the fifth-highest total of opening weekend. This could be a shootout. The GOAT is a viable starting option for Week 1.
Week 17 vs. Houston Texans
Remember when these two teams were slugging it out for the AFC South crown in recent years? Oh, how the mighty have fallen. The Colts are actually a 5.5-point favorite in this game with a respectable implied team total in Vegas of more than 22 points. That puts Vinatieri on the fantasy radar to end the regular season, especially in dome conditions.
Week 16 at Baltimore Ravens
The Colts have the lowest implied team total in Vegas for Week 16 in this Saturday game against the Ravens on the road at 13.5 points. It's more than two full points lower than the next worst team. Plus, the Colts have averaged a brutal 12.6 points per game during their five-game losing streak. You don't want to start a fantasy kicker in an offense like that, especially in Week 16.
Week 15 vs. Denver Broncos
The Colts played on the road, in a blizzard, and now have a short week to prepare to face the Broncos defense. They also have the sixth-lowest implied team total in Vegas this week with just 19 points. That's not a good situation to be starting a kicker in at this juncture in the fantasy season. Find a better option.
