Week 3 vs. Cleveland Browns
There are simply too many kickers in better offenses that you can play this week over Adam Vinatieri in an offense missing Andrew Luck. That includes against the Browns, considering the Colts opened as a home underdog in Vegas...even against Cleveland.
Week 2 vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Colts were so bad in Week 1 that even Adam Vinatieri missed a field goal. He's back in the dome this week, but let's not forget he has a new long snapper and holder from the two he had the previous few years. That counts for something. You know what else counts? Being a kicker in a terrible offense, which is what the Colts are right now without Andrew Luck. You can't start Vinatieri in fantasy football until the franchise quarterback returns.
Week 1 at Los Angeles Rams
The Colts offense, as a whole, will suffer without Andrew Luck at quarterback Week 1. That includes Adam Vinatieri. He is not a top-15 kicking option for Week 1 against a Rams team that is fourth in our aFPA vs. kickers.
Fantasy Upside
The GOAT is back at it in 2017. Just another season as the third-highest scoring fantasy kicker in 2016. Ho hum.
Fantasy Downside
Vinatieri will turn 45 in December. That's all I got for you. He's Adam Vinatieri. Don't overthink it.
2017 Bottom Line
If Andrew Luck misses a few weeks at the start of the season, do not start Vinatieri. When Luck is healthy though and combined with many dome games, Vinatieri should continue to put up adequate kicker numbers in 2017.
Week 15 at Minnesota
The GOAT gets to kick in a dome against a tough defense this week in Minnesota. You can do a lot worse for kicking situations, considering the weather around the country in Week 15. Consider Vinatieri a top-12 kicking option for your fantasy playoffs.
Week 14 vs. Houston
The Colts have the highest implied point total in Week 14, helping make Adam Vinatieri one of our top-five kickers for Week 14. Don't doubt the GOAT. Start him with confidence in the fantasy postseason, after he converted all three field goal attempts and two extra points earlier this season against the Texans. Plus, this time of year, everybody loves a kicker inside a dome.
Week 13 at New York Jets
Vinatieri is locked into our top-12 kickers for Week 13 against a Jets defense that is top-5 in points allowed to kickers. Vinatieri hasn't posted big numbers the past two weeks, but it's hard to get any more reliable than the future Hall of Famer. Don't forget the kick he missed last week was more than 50 yards away.
Week 12 vs. Pittsburgh
Vinatieri missed his first kick of the season last week, but he's still the most dependable option in fantasy football. Even without Andrew Luck at quarterback, Vinatieri is still a top-10 option, with some of those Colts touchdowns before maybe stalling out and turning into field goals.
Week 11 vs. Tennessee
Only Stephen Gostkowski is ranked ahead of Vinatieri in Week 11 in John Paulsen's 4for4 rankings for Week 11. In Week 7 against the Titans, he made all six of his kicks (as he's done all year, still perfect), including two field goals. Start him and enjoy.
Week 9 at Green Bay
Packers-Colts should be one of the more high-scoring games of Week 9. Weather or wind should not be a factor in Green Bay, so fire up Vinatieri as a top-10 kicking option once again in Week 9.
