Harrison Butker and Two Other Kickers Should Sit in Week 1 Fantasy Matchups

When you scroll through the waiver wire on a Sunday morning, the first thing you might think of is "kick now" – especially if your league awards points for every extra‑point and field goal. The reality, however, is that a bad start can cost you a crucial win, and three kickers in particular are set up for a rough opening weekend.

Harrison Butker (Kansas City Chiefs) looks tempting on paper – Patrick Mahomes is back, the offense is humming, and the Chiefs usually hand their kicker plenty of chances. Yet the Chiefs open against Denver, a defense that was third‑best in points allowed last season. Fewer drives mean fewer field‑goal attempts, and the rain‑spattered forecast (about a 65 % chance of showers) with gusty 17‑mph winds turns Arrowhead into a less‑than‑ideal kicking stage. Even though Kansas City sits 4,000 feet lower than Denver’s thin air, the wet conditions blunt Butker’s range and could keep his fantasy total low.

Eddy Piñeiro (San Francisco 49ers) is another name that pops up when you scan the waiver wire. The 49ers will travel to Australia to face the Los Angeles Rams – a first‑ever NFL game on the other side of the world. The Rams’ revamped defensive line, featuring Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie, should keep the 49ers offense in check, which in turn limits Piñeiro’s scoring chances. Add to that the unknown quality of an international field (it won’t be the pristine Sofi Stadium surface) and you have a recipe for a silent week for the 49ers kicker.

Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers) has been a reliable fantasy asset over his 11‑year tenure in Pittsburgh, but Week 1 looks dicey. The Steelers travel to Atlanta to meet the Falcons, and the weather model shows an 88 % chance of rain on Sunday. A rain‑soaked natural‑grass field is a nightmare for any kicker, especially when the Steelers offense was only 15th in scoring last season (averaging 23.4 points per game). With a modest offense and slick conditions, Boswell’s point total is likely to be modest at best.

Bottom line: If you’re looking to lock down the kicker slot in your league’s opening matchup, you’re better off streaming a kicker with a clearer path – perhaps one playing indoors or against a soft defense. Let Butker, Piñeiro and Boswell sit on the bench this week, and you’ll thank yourself when the points start rolling in.