We mention it every season, but the key to finding a successful fantasy kicker is drafting a kicker that is on a team that wins games. Of the 14 kickers that finished with 120 or more points last season, every single one of them played on team with a .500 or better record. There will be an occasional kicker that breaks this rule, but for the most part, the best kickers play on the best teams. They are giving them more opportunities to score, making their point totals among the best in the league.

And please don't be the guy that takes a kicker in the fifth round of your draft. The point deferential from week to week between the top kicker and the 10th rated guy is minimal. We aren't saying to totally discount the position, but use some discretion. Every point does matter, but having your core team in place before taking a kicker is a good idea come draft day.

You also know that some teams will surprise and a kicker's production will be rewarded. Last season, Mike Nugent was the big surprise at kicker. He was seventh in the league in scoring, but went undrafted in many leagues because the Bengals weren't a team on everyone's radar last season. Keep that in mind when thinking about taking a kicker in the early rounds of your draft. Let someone else use a mid-round pick on Mason Crosby while you solidify the rest of your roster.