nfl special teams rankings 2022

McManus has converted 97.3% of his extra points and 81.9% of his field goals during his tenure with the Broncos. Their FPI rankings on defense and special teams are in the top half of the league, and that feels like an accurate reflection of what we've seen on the field. Kicker Zane Gonzalez returns to the Panthers this year after playing 12 games for the club last season. With elite talents like safety Camryn Bynum in kick coverage and the underrated Kene Nwangwu in the return game, the Vikings do have the potential to improve this season. Sanders uncharacteristically suffered on attempts above 50 yards, hitting just 2-of-6 attempts. Dallas finished fifth in kick return yards (764) by averaging 23.2 yards per return. Logan Cooke has been an extremely consistent punter during his four seasons with the Jaguars. Folk has been perfect within 40 yards as a Patriot, is 27-of-31 from 40-49 and is 8-of-12 on kicks beyond 50 yards. -- Rich Cimini, It's not surprising that defense is Washington's best unit; it ranks among the top 10 in multiple key categories, including third downs (third), yards per game (fourth) and scoring (eighth). DISCLAIMER: This side and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only, and there is no gambling offered on the site. In the past two seasons, Carlson has made over 90% of his extra points and 63% of his field goals. Maher made 88.9% of his attempts with the Saints last season. He also had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Week 12. And with veteran punter Kevin Huber back for his 14th season in Cincinnati, the Bengals are likely to have one of the most consistent kicking duos in the NFL this season. Kansas City's special teams are usually outstanding, but not this season: They've fumbled three punts, and their field goal rate of 77.8% is the fourth worst. Hes a career 93.3% kicker inside 50 yards. Kicker: Graham Gano, Punter: Jamie Gillan, KR/PR: C.J. The defense, the most expensive unit in the NFL, has been hampered by injuries but ranks 25th in sacks (25) and 24th in passing yards per game (242.7). Kevin Huber will enter his 11th season as the Bengals punter during the 2022 season. Hes also averaged 23.3 return yards in his career across four different teams. Kicker: Wil Lutz, Punter: Blake Gillikin, KR/PR: Deonte Harty. The defense has struggled to get off the field at times, which is reflected in its efficiency, but it has allowed the second-fewest points per game (17). Jason Myers has struggled with consistency throughout his career with the Seahawks, but hes still an effective kicker. After converting to guard, he put together a five-year career that included being a three-year letter winner and two-year starter on an offense that averaged 35 points per game. The Seahawks are projected to use DeeJay Dallas as their kick returner and Freddie Swain as their punt returner once again in 2022. Harrison Butkerremains one of the best kickers in the NFL five years into his NFL career. Michael Dickson has been one of the best punters in the NFL for the last four seasons. -- Courtney Cronin, Just look at the numbers for the story of the Broncos' season. Time will tell if the Cowboys use the same split returner tandem they used last season. Team efficiencies are based on the point contributions of each unit to the team's scoring margin, on a per-play basis. It's easy to point to a significant number of injuries, despite the Bolts saying weekly that it's not an excuse. And the biggest drop? Sarah Lewis Dec 21, 2022 Two defense/special teams (DSTs) to look at for Week 16 are the Tennessee Titans (currently rostered in only about half of Yahoo leagues) and the San Francisco 49ers. Myers is a strong kicker at reasonable distances, but just cant be trusted at 40-okys. Defense: 10 The two could potentially end up sharing the role. Jake Bailey has been a solid punter over the past three seasons in New England but struggled in 2021. A strong punterJack Foxand an underrated return man in Kalif Raymond who makes up for his diminutive size with elite quickness should also help lead the unit to success. Goldsberry: Six NBA trends to watch Gano has always been effective inside of 50 yards throughout his career (94.2% success rate) but struggled outside of 50 yards during his six years in Carolina. Defensively, the Bucs can be lights out, when healthy. Punter Tress Way, along with returners Dax Milne and Curtis Samuel, also figure to help a Washington team with playoff hopes. Williams averaged 21.3 yards per kick return and 7.7 yards per punt return last season. Connelly: CFB season's best games Another asset to the unit will be tight end, Noah Gray. With solid contributions from players like Punter Tommy Townsend and electric returner Mecole Hardman, the Chiefs should be able to control the field position battle. In those seasons, hes averaged 9.6 yards per return and scored two punt return touchdowns. On defense, Atlanta's lack of a pass rush (17 sacks) has hindered production. NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF That is one of several key categories on offense in which they have struggled, and it has contributed to them being unable to complement the defense and special teams -- both of which have made more game-changing plays. Today, we look to the third part of the game special teams. Gray offers the Chiefs incredible versatility as one of the few NFL tight ends adept in special teams coverage. Koo has been especially effective as a distance kicker in his last two years, making 26-of-29 kicks from beyond 40 yards. 2021 NFL SPECIAL TEAMS RANKINGS 1. The Las Vegas Raiders slid five spots after giving up two late touchdowns in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. Our 2022 rankings are . Lamb was primarily used as a punt returner thanks to his ability to secure the ball. Joseph set career highs in extra points (90.0%) and field goal (86.8%) accuracy in his first season. The return game, though, has not produced -- 15th on kickoffs; 21st on punts -- and that drags the Commanders' ranking down. Buffalo pairs dynamic wideout Isaiah McKenzie with reliable safety Micah Hyde in the return game. Buffalo Bills. They are Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Eric Karabell and Eric . He also set a career-high for punts inside the 20-yard line during the 2021 season (39). Tucker has made 252 of 263 attempts within 50 yards, with eight of those misses coming in the 40- to 49-yard range. The rookie averaged 18.1 yards per kick return and 8.3 yards per punt return. The seven-year veteran made just 150of021 field goals past 30 yards last season. Today, we look to the third part of the game special teams. The Packers also invested in Pat O'Donnell to serve as their punter in free agency. Despite that, Chicago still ranks 11th in pass defense (allowing 204.2 yards per game). The combination ofGodwin IgwebuikeandKalif Raymondwill likely reprise their duties as the kick and punt returners respectively. Kicker: Matt Prater, Punter: Andy Lee, KR/PR: Rondale Moore. Special teams: 18, The FPI reflects what the Browns are -- a bottom-half team across the board. Cairo Santosforced his way into the hearts of Bears fans by kicking field goals that didnt bounce off the uprights, but hes been a terrible deep kicker his entire career. The Jaguars will be looking to rookie kicker Andrew Mevis to win the job in camp after a strong career at Iowa State. Offensive Line | Quarterback | Backfield | Pass-Catcher | Defensive Line | Secondary | Linebackers), (* Denotes a rookie. He had just one below-average PFF pass-blocking grade all year, and that came against Micah Parsons and the Dallas Cowboys.Thomas registered just two penalties all season and surrendered 21 . A lifelong Chicago sports fan who provides offensive line analysis and general fantasy football advice for FTN. Here is a cheat sheet for fantasy football defense/special teams (DST) rankings for the 2022 NFL season. The league's 32 teams are ranked in 22 kicking-game categories and assigned . They also brought in experienced returner Deandre Carter to give the team a smart, steady influence in the return game. But the fact that the offense is seventh after Dak Prescott missed five games with a fractured thumb is telling. Kicker: Justin Tucker, Punter: Jordan Stout*, KR/PR: Devin Duvernay. Punter Tress Way ranks seventh in net punting and first in punts placed inside the 20. The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage . The third-year veteran finished with 30.4 yards per return and had a touchdown. Miami lost its fastball over the past two games, but it can hang with, or beat, any team in the NFL if it regains that offensive punch. Kansas City will once again useMecole Hardmanas the primary punt returner. Injuries have decimated the depth chart; Denver has led the league in players on injured reserve and salary-cap dollars for players on IR for most of the season. When the most-accurate kicker in NFL history, a punter who in 2021 tied for eighth in the league with punts inside the 20-yard line and a wide receiver who finished second in punt return yards and ninth in kickoff return yards are on the same squad, people take notice. For returners, the focus lies on average return yards and explosiveness as a runner. Kicker: Ka'imi Fairbairn, Punter: Cameron Johnston, KR: Tremon Smith, PR: Desmond King. But it cannot be overlooked. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques, The Ravens' offense and defense have similar efficiencies, but they are two sides of the ball going in opposite directions. The Falcons have some flexibility with their kickoff and punt returners that depends on Cordarrelle Pattersons role on offense. Duvernay averaged 24.1 yards per kick return and 13.8 yards per punt return last season for Baltimore. Townsend improved his net punt average (47.2) but saw his hangtime drop by over one-tenth of a second (4.34) after his first year. -- DJ Bien-Aime, Rex Ryan: The Bucs look old and slow -- and not just the QB (1:02), Updated NFL Power Rankings: 1-32 poll, plus offense, defense and special teams rankings, How coach Andy Reid saved the Kansas City Chiefs, Titans hiring 49ers' Carthon as GM, sources say, Rodgers mulling future with Packers or elsewhere, Source: Johnson tells Lions he'll return as OC, Cowboys stick with kicker Maher, expect rebound, Eagles' Hurts: 'Got a bounty on me every week', Chargers fire OC Lombardi after playoff collapse, Sources: Browns to hire Schwartz as new DC, Bengals owner wants to keep Burrow for long haul, What's next for Tom Brady and the Bucs? 2022 fantasy football rankings Overall standard Overall PPR Quarterback Running back standard Running back PPR Wide receiver standard Wide receiver PPR Tight end standard Tight end PPR D/ST Kickers The trouble with D/ST scoring is the emphasis on touchdowns and turnovers, which are impossible to predict. From week 5 to week 13 Gonzalez did not miss a single field goal or extra point. Quarterback Justin Herbert played multiple games despite feeling the effect of fractured rib cartilage. The constant is the traditionally strong special teams, led by one of the best kickers in NFL history, Justin Tucker. -- Jake Trotter, The Panthers have been much more efficient since interim coach Steve Wilks took over and committed to the running game. Erickson has averaged 8.1 yards per punt return and 24.8 yards per kick return in six career seasons. Slye struggled with consistency in his early stops with Houston and San Francisco, making just 9-of-12 extra points and 11-of-13 field goals. Projected starter Ryan Santoso has just one season of experience as an NFL kicker, and it wasnt a good one. Special teams: 30, The FPI efficiencies show what's been obvious on the field all season: Collectively, the Steelers are an average to below-average team. Justin Tucker remains the gold standard when it comes to kickers in the NFL, but the Ravens will be finding a new punter after Sam Koch retired this past offseason. or NFL Player Stats - Special Teams Total Tackles More Player Stats. Christian McCaffrey is a top play, but that nudges Elijah Mitchell into the top-15 of Wild Card rankings. Blankenship hasnt shown the ability to convert 50-yard field goals during his career (1-for-4), but he can be trusted at shorter distances. Dan parlayed a career as a mediocre tight end as a high schooler in the Chicago suburbs into a walk-on spot at the FCS level with the University of Dayton. The third-year player was used sparingly (14 combined kick and punt returns), but still found a way to take one of the punts to the house. It's so bad that the team used a two-quarterback system against the Cowboys to generate a spark. Perhaps most encouraging is a special teams unit that had some struggles early in the season but is rounding into form with returner Ray-Ray McCloud III -- who now ranks in the top eight in kick and punt return average for the season -- leading the way. Amari Rodgers had a solid first season as a returner with the Green Bay Packers. Araiza averaged 51.2 yards per punt his last season at San Diego State and had 18 punts travel at least 60 yards. Carter is less surehanded as a punt returner (four career muffed punts) but is just as dynamic (9.2 yards per punt return), Kicker: Robbie Gould, Punter: Mitch Wishnowsky, KR/PR: Ray-Ray McCloud. -- Jordan Raanan, There's no denying that the Lions' offense is capable of putting up big numbers on any team in the league -- scoring at least 30 points in seven games this season. In his two years with the Rams, Gay has hit 18-of-21 field goals from 40-plus yards, making him one of the more accurate deep kickers in the league. And the offense has been a touchdown desert for much of the campaign. A new and improved secondary, led by cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Joseph Carlton and former Buffalo Bill Corey Bojorquez will compete for the job as the starting punter while rookie fourth-round pick Cade York will handle the placekicking duties. Thanks in large part thanks to the emergence of kicker Daniel Carlson late last season, the Raiders special teams have the potential to be one of the leagues best next season. Two factors could explain it: upheaval at quarterback (three different starters) and offensive tackle (six different starters). Lee posted the lowest hangtime (4.14) and fewest punts inside the 20-yard line (12) since he became a full-time player in 2013. Defensively, the Bengals are sixth in fewest red zone touchdowns allowed. Los Angeles' defense has fared better (and healthier!) Denver let last years primary returner (Diontae Spencer) walk in free agency, so there are questions over who will take over that role. Chicago hopes rookie punter Trenton Gill and rookie return man Trestan Ebner can join coverage specialist Caleb Johnson in helping to breathe life into this developing unit. At kick returner, rookie sensation Isiah Pacheco is slated to serve as the teams kick returner after being taken as a seventh-round pick in 2022 out of Rutgers. In two years with the Broncos, Martin is averaging 42.4 net yards per punt and 26.5 punts inside the 20. Hopkins missed four total field goals in 2021, three of them from 50-plus yards. Gainwell is expected to see an expanded role on offense, so that likely leaves Reagor pulling double duty again. Not having top cornerback Adoree' Jackson has been crushing. Experienced returner Desmond King II and a coverage unit led by MJ Stewart will look to keep a rebuilding Texans team out of poor field position. Kicker: Greg Zuerlein, Punter: Braden Mann, KR/PR: Braxton Berrios. Tyler Bassshowed significant improvement in his second season as the Bills kicker. D-coordinator Joe Barry likely will take the fall for his lack of innovative game plans and playcalls, but there are others at fault too. Prater is one of the best long ball kickers in the NFL today, and next year shouldnt be any different. The league's 32 teams are ranked in 22 kicking-game categories and assigned points according to . The defense's biggest issue is a lack of a consistent pass rush (its 23 sacks ranks 28th), which is why Jacksonville is 28th in the NFL in pass defense (253.3 yards per game allowed). Most concerning, the punter lost 0.3 seconds off his hangtime (4.24), which gave teams a better chance to return the ball. If teams have a reliable deep snapper, they hold on to him. And Week 14's game was the first this season in which wide receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams were both available from start to finish. Lirim Hajrullahu is now considered the favorite to win the job after a successful CFL kicking career, but he is ultimately competing with recently signed veteran Brett Maher for the teams kicker role. Kicker Younghoe Koo will look to stay in the positive rhythm he found last season and coverage specialist Mike Ford should also be an asset for this developing unit. Hardman has been a weapon as a punt returner throughout his career (12.1 yards per return in 2021). Neither player is an explosive returner, but both are dependable options on special teams. Defense: 26 It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. The Bears finally found themselves a kicker but chose to overhaul the rest of their special teams unit. Transactions | Injuries NFL and the NFL shield design are registered trademarks of the National Football League.The team names, logos and uniform designs are registered trademarks of the teams indicated. Offensively, the Commanders have issues, ranking 25th or worse in scoring, third downs and yards per play. Combining new fourth-round pickpunter Jordan Stoutwith returner/receiver Devin Duvernay should give the Ravens an edge in field position battles all season. Punter Logan Cooke will be a solid option first-year head coach Doug Pederson can rely on. Welcome to Week 15 of the NFL regular season. -- Paul Gutierrez, Offense: 18 ODonnell has spent all eight seasons in Chicago but has seen his average hangtime decrease in each of the last four seasons. So, even despite some valiant individual efforts, what you're about to see shouldn't be much of a shock. The Jaguars' punt and kick coverage units rank near the bottom of the league. Linebacker Jonas Griffith and safety PJ Locke provide value in kick coverage while punter Sam Martin and returner Kendall Hinton will look to keep the Broncos in good field position. He enters his third season in the league as a reliable option for a Bills team looking to contend. Zuerlein has one of the strongest legs in the NFL, but his accuracy from that distance leaves a lot to be desired (55.4% on field goals from 50-plus yards). Meyers hit 93.6% of his extra points but made only 73.9% of his field goals during the 2021 season. Punter Arryn Siposs should pair with Elliot to form a reliable kicking tandem. The special teams unit has been the most consistent group for Buffalo this year, with kicker Tyler Bass making a career-high 89.7% of field goals, which is especially significant after. Townsend has shown the ability to be a very strong punter, so its too early to say he cant return to that form in his third year. Maggio recorded 101 career punts inside the 20-yard line in college and averaged 46.8 yards per punt his senior season. -- Lindsey Thiry, The Seahawks' offense has been among the most efficient in the NFL thanks in large part to Geno Smith and the passing game. The Jets also saw improvement out of Braden Mann in his second year with the team. Meanwhile, the defense has been outstanding against the run (81.3 yards allowed, third best), but the pass defense is allowing 283.7 yards per game, the second worst in the league. Bullock had a career-low 61.5% success rate on field goals between 40 and 49 yards this season. Zach Wilson's regression, and eventual benching, is a big reason for the quarterback instability. As the 2022 NFL season approaches the end, which of these teams remain on the Top 10 NFL Teams 2022 rankings end of season list? Rookie Montrell Washington is expected to take over returning duties after a solid training camp. In four years, Johnston has averaged a 41.9 net punt average. Football Power Index rankings The special teams has 15 field goals -- tied for the third least in the league -- and its coverage units have struggled, particularly against the Eagles, with rookie Britain Covey returning six punts for 105 yards in Week 13. Special teams has been the Vikings' most consistent unit and could produce multiple Pro Bowl invitations. Fairbairn had his worst season in terms of pure accuracy (78.9%) but continued to be highly effective past 50 yards (4-of-6 attempts). Zuerlein gained recognition for his powerful leg early in his career with the Rams but has struggled to consistently make field goals. -- Brady Henderson, The Jets have some promising young players on offense, most notably wideout Garrett Wilson, but they have topped the 30-point mark only twice. -- Tim McManus, The Chiefs rank second in scoring at 29.5 points per game. Cameron Johnston continued to display a deep kicking leg in his first season with Houston after three strong years with the Eagles. Theyll also get help from reliable returner Freddie Swain and ace special teamer Ben Burr-Kirven. Additionally, he has just two career seasons with fewer than 82.0% of his field goals made. If they decide to run it back, then expectTony Pollardto serve as the primary kick returner andCeeDee Lambto be the punt returner. Chris Boswell has only gotten better during his last three years with the Steelers. See trending (1:02). -- Adam Teicher, The Bills remain one of the best teams despite some hiccups. Carter struggled as a punt returner last season but has three career punt return touchdowns, so at this point, it is safe to call last years struggles an exception. Igwebuike had the sixth-most return yards (697) in the NFL despite returning the ball fewer than 30 times. If either player struggles, expect rookies Trestan Ebner or Velus Jones to step into either role given their explosive speed and college experience. Kicker Cairo Santos has struggled lately, having missed three field goals since Week 11. He has one career punt return touchdown. Today, we look to the third part of the game special teams. Joey Slyebounced around the NFL in 2021 before finding a home with the Commanders the last nine weeks of the season. Therefore, let's focus on my top team, the Buffalo Bills, who some . To combat his struggles, the Packers didnt attempt a field goal past 39 yards between Weeks 12 and 18. 38-year-old kicker Matt Prater will return to the Cardinals this season hoping to find more consistency to go along with his big leg. No guarantees are made for any specific outcome. Defense: 32 The Packers will turn to veteran Mason Crosby as their kicker and former third-round pick Amari Rodgers as the kick returner. The Ravens will once again rely on Devin Duvernay to serve as their kick and punt returner. Houston quarterbacks have a passer rating of 75.7, the lowest in the NFL, and have thrown 16 interceptions, the most in the NFL. Tress Wayalso continued to provide a consistent effort flipping the field as a punter in his eighth season as the teams punter. And Green Bay's special teams play is always an issue, so that's nothing new. Isaiah Rodgers was successful as the Colts kick returner in 2021, averaging 26.4 yards per return. Lirim Hajrullahu and Brett Maher will compete for the chance to start as Dallas kicker this season after the team released Jonathan Garibay. Kicker: Dustin Hopkins, Punter: JK Scott, KR/PR: DeAndre Carter. The Rams also added a rookie kicker, Cameron Dicker, from the University of Texas. The special teams committed some costly gaffes early in the season, but it has evened out since then. In the return game new signing Jabrill Peppers is likely to compete with Ty Montgomery. Defense: 29 LT Andrew Thomas, New York Giants Second Team: Trent Williams, San Francisco 49ers Thomas was the NFL's most consistently excellent left tackle this season, racking up an 89.1 PFF grade over 1,049 snaps. Jones averaged 28.4 yards per kick return and 14.0 yards per punt return, both of which are top-25 numbers in NCAA history. -- Katherine Terrell, Offense: 21 The Rams have played at least part of this season missing quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receivers Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson II and Van Jefferson, and most of the starting offensive line. Kicker: Joey Slye, Punter: Tress Way, KR/PR: Alex Erickson. Kicker: Tyler Bass, Punter: Matt Araiza*, PR: Tavon Austin, KR: Isaiah McKenzie. There are three NFL deep-snappers who played even more games than Mannelly - Trey Junkin (281), Don Muhlbach (260) and L.P. Ladouceur (253). The offense has often used a makeshift line. Special teams: 19, The FPI efficiencies are an excellent match for the Titans' mediocre 7-6 record. 1 in the NCAA in team punt returns last season thanks to a 22.6 yards per return average by Phillips. Maggio was on the team but didnt have a punt attempt in 2021. Defense: 27 The Patriots will continue to place extra emphasis on special teams rostering three players mainly for their prowess in kick coverage. Carter has averaged 26.2 yards per return during his eight years as a returner. The Jaguars also saw continued success from Jamal Agnew as a returner in his first year with the team. Whatever the reason, 12 of the Raiders' 13 outings have been one-score games, and they are just 5-8. Since joining the Giants, Gano has improved his accuracy past 50 yards, converting on 12-of-16 attempts. Since 2019, the veteran punter has never had a net punt average (the net distance on the field from where the ball is punted to where the returner is tackled) under 39.5 yards. Reagor has struggled as a wide receiver but is still an extremely effective kick returner. Jordan Berryalso found success in his first year punting with the team in 2021. (Want to see the rest of our position group rankings series? But the run game has been better than expected this season. Due to this, the Broncos have taken most of their core special teams players and put them on offense or defense, leaving special teams scrambling to fill spots week to week. The Jets finished first in the NFL special-teams rankings compiled annually by Rick Gosselin for the last 39 years. Defense: 13 Please contact support. Experts pick potential landing spots, First look at the divisional round: Previewing all four matchups, every team's reason for optimism, Dak Prescott rebounds with 'statement game' in Cowboys' wild-card win, 2023 NFL draft order: Top 23 picks set with Bears, Texans, Cardinals at the top, 'He's not afraid' to shake things up: How new president/CEO Kevin Warren could impact the Bears, GM Nick Caserio knows 'clock is ticking' to turn Houston Texans around, Bengals coach Zac Taylor gives game ball to local bar, Notable bets: How a $1.4 million bet to win $11,200 sparked debate, Football Power Index (FPI) efficiency rankings, Travis Kelce's unique place in NFL history: Why he's one of the most valuable players of his generation, NFL Week 14 takeaways: Patriots' defense takes over; Chargers take down Dolphins; Purdy fuels 49ers' rout. Baltimore, 241.5 2. Baltimore Ravens . Kicker: Nick Folk, Punter: Jake Bailey, KR/PR: Marcus Jones*. The Hawks' defense has gone from awful to good to awful again, and it is now mired in a stretch of four straight games in which it has allowed at least 150 rushing yards. Teams on bye: Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Washington He turned his playing experience into a 10-year coaching career, nine of which took place at the top level of Indianapolis football. Call it poor playcalling. Buffalo has the highest floor of any team simply because of its league-best scoring . Kicker: Greg Joseph, Punter: Jordan Berry, KR: Kene Nwangwu, PR: Ihmir Smith-Marsette. Rookie fourth-round pick Jake Camarda could end up being a real asset to the team if hes able to adjust to the speed of the pro game. After suffering through a revolving door at the kicker position the last two seasons, Washington will look to former Carolina Panther Joey Slye to steady the boat. Santoso played in four games for the Panthers and Lions last season, converting on just 75% of his extra points and 80% of his field goals. -- Ben Baby, The Dolphins' defense has picked up since adding linebacker Bradley Chubb at the trade deadline, but Miami can't overcome below-average defensive play. Defense: 16 York finished his three-year college career with an 81.8% success rate on field goals, including going 15 of 19 on 50-yard attempts in his career. Head Coach Bill Belichick will let inexperienced kicker Tristan Vizcaino compete with veteran Nick Folk for the starting kicking job. After spending the last few seasons looking for consistency at the kicker position, the Chargers turn to veteran Dustin Hopkins this year. Gonzales can sometimes run hot and cold. But opponents still have a QBR against the Chiefs of 57, third highest in the league. Special teams: 24, It's been a while since the Jaguars had an offense that ranked in the top half of the league, and it's mainly because of how well QB Trevor Lawrence has played from November on. Jack Fox will retain his role as the teams punter again this year. Matt Gay had the best season of his career in Los Angeles in 2021. The Chargers hope to get above-average production out of their kicking and punting this season. The Bengals drafted one of the best kickers in the league in the fifth round of last years draft in Evan McPherson. Kicker: Cairo Santos, Punter: Trenton Gill*, KR: Khalil Herbert, PR: Dazz Newsome. Through two years in Buffalo, Bass is 31 of 41 in field goal attempts from 30-plus yards. Another asset to the unit will be tight end, Noah Gray. This article will focus on all 32 teams kickers, punters and return units to determine the best special team units in the league. -- Alaina Getzenberg, The Cowboys are one of three teams to rank inside the top 10 in all three categories, so that means they're pretty good. -- John Keim, Offense: 17 Butker only has two career misses inside of 40 yards (88-of-90). -- Stephen Holder, Offense: 28 Defense: 25 Brandon McManuswill return to Denver for his ninth season in 2022. Offensively, the numbers have taken a hit because of Atlanta's recent inability to score or move the ball (fewer than 20 points scored in four of the past five games and fewer than 200 yards passing in all five). Olszewski has averaged 23.2 yards per kick return and 12.6 yards per punt return during his three-year career in New England. Plus, shifty return man Deonte Harty and reliable coverage specialist Zack Baun should help support a unit that boasts one of the premier special teamers in football, JT Gray. Hes done enough in camp to earn the role in the pros, giving him a shot at making the teams 53-man roster. Look for linebacker Chris Board and defensive back Jerry Jacobs to lead the kick coverage units when healthy. But perhaps most alarming are the average defensive ranking and the abysmal special teams spot. Which is why Baltimore again finished first in the NFL special-teams rankings compiled annually by Rick Gosselin for the last 43 years. Full schedule | Standings During four games, McPherson converted a record 14 consecutive field goals without a miss. The second-year receiver had just six returns in his first season, but averaged an impressive 12.5 per return. The second-year receiver fielded 50 total punts last year and had only one muffed catch. In his rookie season, Herbert had 27 returns for 670 yards. The Giants will again turn to veteran Graham Gano to handle the kicking game this season. Offense; Defense; Special Teams; Turnovers Team. NFL Special Teams Rankings 2022 Breaking Down The Special Teams Rankings Why A Good Special Teams Is Such An Advantage Top Field Goal Units Top Punting Units Top Return Units Breaking Down The Special Teams Rankings Special teams can be an afterthought to some, as defense and offensive rankings are going to take priority. Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports. Joseph was especially accurate from deep with the Vikings, hitting 14-of-18 attempts from beyond 40 yards. Kicker Jake Elliott one of the most consistent in the league from inside of 45 yards will look to maintain the success hes had thus far in his career. The former Super Bowl-winning head coach will also be looking to returner Jamal Agnew to be a difference maker when healthy. The third-year receiver had 31 punt returns for 227 yards and muffed just one of 46 punts on the season. The veteran can improve on last season if he can be more accurate on short, routine kicks. Defense: 21 Meanwhile, linebacker Dennis Gardeck and defensive back Antonio Hamilton will lead the kick coverage unit. Both figures were career highs. When it comes to the defense/special teams . One other player that figures to contribute in a key role is specialist/safety Michael Thomas. Tyler Bass, meanwhile, has the kicker position all but locked down. Darden finished the year averaging 19.9 yards per kick return and 7.5 yards per punt return in his first year. Thomas Morstead has been one of the more effective punters in the NFL during his nine-year NFL career, and that was true during his tenure with the Falcons and Jets last season. That's the question that has been asked all season and will be asked again once it's over. Hekker should provide stability to a Panthers unit that had three players attempt ten or more punts last season. And on special teams, second-year punter Pressley Harvin III is 30th in the league at 44 yards per punt. 2022 Best NFL Special Teams Players (0) 2022 . Defensively, however, they aren't great at stopping anyone, either. In three seasons, Wishnowsky has a net punting average of 41.5 and has never had fewer than 23 attempts to pin opponents inside the 20-yard line. Felton averaged 7.1 yards per punt return and 19.1 yards per kick return in his rookie year but is an explosive runner who has the ability to house any kick if he gets going. Kicker Robbie Gould will return for another season as the 49ers look to maintain their status as one of the leagues premier teams. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. The strongest component of the Jets special teams is returner Braxton Berrios. An error occurred. Week 14 ranking: 3 Offense: 3 Defense: 6 Special teams: 1. The defense owns a league-worst rank in sacks and pressures, which has hindered the Bears' ability to stop opposing quarterbacks. The defensive-minded head coach traditionally values consistency at the kicking position over a big leg. The defense is allowing opponents to convert 63% of their red zone opportunities over the past six games as compared with 40% during New York's 6-1 start. The Chargers also added one of 2021s most dynamic returners to their team in DeAndre Carter. Rookie Kyle Phillips will get the first shot at returning punts for the Titans this season. Gillan has struggled to drive the ball down the field or generate hang time during his career. Special teams: 21, It's somewhat surprising that the limited Giants' offense is their most efficient unit. 3. Rodrigo Blankenship will return after missing most of the 2021 season due to injury, and the Colts hope he can return to his pre-injury form. Seattle will need more consistency from Myers to have success as a unit this season. With a career field goal percentage above 90 percent. 2026; 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021; 2020; 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016; 2015 The sure-handed Hyde provides reliability. But the defense was supposed to keep this team competitive. But that isn't nearly enough to overcome an inept offense that has a league-worst minus-14 turnover margin and ranks 31st in scoring (16.1 PPG). Houston will likely split return duties between Tremon Smith and Desmond King. Kene Nwangwuwas absurdly efficient as a kick returner in his rookie season. Skip to main . Offensively, coach Kevin O'Connell has boosted wide receiver Justin Jefferson to the top of the league's production charts. -- Sarah Barshop, Get exclusive access to more than 3,000 premium articles a year from top writers. Harty had the seventh most kick return yards (690) in the NFL last season. Siposs pinned 17 of his 55 punts inside the 20-yard line and finished with a net average of 38.8 punt yards per season. The Bears have been at the top of the league on kickoff returns, but they rank in the bottom 10 on punt returns, having only one of 20-plus yards. Unfortunately, a league-average punter is what keeps the Bengals on the lower end of the top-10. The Bills remain one of the best teams despite some hiccups. New England also used a third-round pick on Marcus Jones, a cornerback and kick returner from the University of Houston. 2026; 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021; 2020; 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016; 2015 Matt Prater continues to deliver consistent production as a placekicker nine years into his career. Linebacker Tony Fields II is the Browns most adept player in kick coverage and should lead that unit in 2022. Greg Josephwill return to the Vikings after playing for three teams in his first three years in the NFL. So, again, no surprise. -- Eric Woodyard, Offense: 24 Newsome has apparently reported to training camp in excellent shape and earned the first shot as the teams punt returner. He has been consistent and reliable for the Steelers in his career thus far. 1 here were it not for a poor performance against the Chiefs, but it does still lead the league in many traditional categories. Much of that determination comes down to whether or not star wideout CeeDee Lamb is back to return punts. Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Chiefs are poised to put out a versatile and explosive special teams unit in 2022. Sunday's game against the Chiefs was the eighth they've lost by seven or fewer points. -- Michael Rothstein, Sure, the defense is the Raiders' weak link -- giving up a 98-yard drive to Baker Mayfield 48 hours after he joined the Rams is an all-time collapse -- but the high-powered offense is not without blame, either. Kicker: Jake Elliott, Punter: Arryn Siposs, PR/KR: Jalen Reagor. Finally, talents like Daniel Thomas and Chris Claybrooks will all contribute positively to kick coverage. In his nine-year career, Gould has only made fewer than 93.0% of his extra-point attempts just once (2016). In this year's edition of Rick Gosselin's NFL Special Teams Rankings, the Panthers. In 2020, Blankenship converted 95.6% of his extra-point attempts and 86.5% of his field goals. After spending years as the leagues premier unit behind legendary returner Devin Hester, the Bears are in something of a special teams rebuild. Defense: 14 -- Nick Wagoner, The defense would rank lower here if it weren't for eight interceptions after the start of the fourth quarter, tied for most in the NFL. Carolina also went into free agency to get Johnny Hekker in free agency after nine excellent seasons with the Rams. -- Rob Demovsky, Offense: 22 The five-year veteran made all 44 of his extra-point attempts and missed just three field goals in 33 attempts. Ihmir Smith-Marsette will be the teams punt returner since K.J. Chicago used a seventh-round pick onTrenton Gillfrom NC State. Special teams: 28, What happened to the defense? The same defense that once carried the team has allowed 27 or more points in four of the past six contests. UCLA was No. Mitch Wishnowsky continued to provide solid play from the punter position. Kicker Jason Myers is having a Pro Bowl-worthy season, hitting 24 of 25 field goal attempts and going 36-of-37 on PATs. SEA | TB | TEN | WSH, It's been a special year for the Eagles on both sides of the ball. The Ravens have finished in the Top 5 in these rankings in eight of the last nine seasons, also winning in 2015. The Texans' defense is respectable due to its ability to limit passers, having held opposing QBs to under an 80.0 passer rating seven times this year, which is tied for second best in the league. He was especially effective from deep, converting 11-of-13 attempts between 40 and 49 yards and hitting 8-of-9 from beyond 50 yards. Houston will need to get the most out of kicker Kaimi Fairbairn to reach their potential this year. Cleveland tookCade Yorkout of LSU in the fourth round of the NFL draft. We've covered every group on offense and every group on defense. He also had a career-low in hangtime last season (4.16 seconds). Who has the best and worst units in every aspect of football? A season ago, the Jets had arguably the worst defense; now it is a legit top-10 unit. The Cowboys managed their way through Prescott's absence with Cooper Rush, and they have largely excelled since Prescott's return. The special teams spot -- particularly with Avery Williams as one of the league's best punt returners (17.4 yards per return) and Cordarrelle Patterson as the team's kick returner (33.5 yards per return, one touchdown) -- seems specifically low. Santoso had just one attempt over 40 yards last season and he missed it. Despite posing the lowest average hangtime of his career (4.10), Kern still had a net punting average over 40.0 for the ninth time in his ten-year career. Harvin had a net punt average of 38.0 and an average hangtime of 4.28, both of which are underwhelming. Micah Parsons is scary good but that doesn't mean the Cowboys DST is in the same category fantasy-wise. Kicker: Zane Gonzalez, Punter: Johnny Hekker, KR/PR: Andre Roberts. Pressley Harvin will also return as the teams punter, but he was very average during his rookie season with the Steelers. The Seahawks allowed the sixth-most rushing yards to running backs. Special teams: 10, The numbers make sense with a look at how the Rams' season has played out: They're averaging just 16.8 points per game, by far the worst under coach Sean McVay since he was hired in 2017. Cooke has a career net punt average of 43.2. Araiza may already have the strongest leg in the NFL without having taken a single snap. The Steelers also brought Gunner Olszewski in to serve as their primary returner after three solid seasons with the Patriots. The rookie will compete with veteran Matt Haack for the starting job this season. On defense and special teams, the Panthers are about where they should be: playing at a high level. Instead of reading my Week 15 fantasy football defense/special teams (DST) rankings, come . Kicker: Rodrigo Blankenship, Punter: Rigoberto Sanchez, KR: Isaiah Rodgers, PR: Nyheim Hines. The most notable improvement came on his attempts past 50 yards; Elliot had three straight seasons making 50% or less of his deep kicks before converting all three of those kicks in 2021. Tutu Atwell and superstar receiver Cooper Kupp will likely handle most of the kick and punt returns, while safety Nick Scott leads the coverage unit. Return man Rondale Moore will look to take a step forward in his second season with the club. The Baltimore Ravens have been known to have great special teams talent over the years. Renfrow had 31 punt returns for 303 yards but did muff three punts on the season. -- Jeff Legwold, The main reason for the Texans' poor offensive output is their quarterback play, which is one of the worst in the league. Player stats for both teams, including performance splits over recent time periods, only against good teams, and other ways to slice and dice. Sanders has been excellent on extra points (97.8% conversion rate), but now has two seasons above a 90.0 success rate on field goals and two seasons below a 77.0% success rate. The Saints were thrown into a bind at kicker last season when Wil Lutz had a core muscle injury in the preseason that eventually cost him the entire 2021 season. Defense: 20 By PFF.com. They are not a completely hapless team devoid of talent. His net punting average dropped two full yards (42.3) and he had 11 fewer punts land inside the 20 (18). From Weeks 12 to 18, Patterson made all 16 of his extra-point attempts while converting 13-of-14 field goals. Gill finished his collegiate career with 45.8 yards per punt (173 attempts). Mann improved his yards per punt (45.7) and net punt average (41.6) in his sophomore season. Full schedule | Standings | More , Offense: 23 But special teams is surprising. The seven-year veteran now has three straight seasons with a 90.0% conversion rate on field goals. Of players who had at least 10 punt returns, Raymond finished seventh in average yards per punt return (11.2). And with the exception of a couple of big plays, special teams has been a consistent fiasco. The four-year veteran has made 20-of-20 attempts from 30-39 yards, 15-of-18 attempts from 40-49 and 10-of-11 from 50-plus yards. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. Special teams: 25, The Bears have seen a considerable uptick in offensive efficiency since Week 7, averaging 25.3 points per game. Weve covered every group on offense and every group on defense. Split: Rate: Season: * All Games qualifier is any player * Home Games qualifier is any player * Away/Neutral Games qualifier is any player More NFL coverage , The Patriots are last in the NFL in offensive red zone efficiency, converting touchdowns just 38.9% of the time. Gonzalez was his usual reliable self on extra points (94.8%) but set a career-high field goal success rate (90.9%). The Ravens invested a fourth-round pick in Jordan Stout during the 2022 NFL Draft. Unfortunately, he tore his Achilles in camp, which places Demetric Felton as the teams primary returner this season. 2022 NFL Special Teams Rankings | StatMuse 2022 NFL special teams rankings Explore Who is the all-time NFL rushing leader? If Patterson is more of a role player, he will likely return to his role as one of the more prolific kick returners in NFL history. We've covered every group on offense and every group on defense. With standout contributors like Kristian Welch and Geno Stone, the Ravens should lean on this veteran unit if need be. I am pretty aligned with the Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) for my Week 9 fantasy football defense/special teams (DST) rankings. Gillikin had a net punt average of 42.0 yards in his first season, pinning 32 punts inside the 20-yard line. Dickson set career highs in punts inside the 20 (43) and punts fair caught (22), despite recording the lowest average hangtime of his career (4.20 seconds). Rodgers: I Can Win MVP in 'Right Situation', Coaching Buzz: OC Ben Johnson Returning to Lions; Chargers Fire OC Lombardi, Mock Draft: Three Teams Move up in Trades, Ronde Barber: Jerry Jones Has Cowboys Team Ready to Compete for Super Bowl, Eric Mangini: Ideal Free Agency Fit for Brady, Mitchell Schwartz: Why My Chiefs Should Be on Upset Alert Against Jaguars, Greg Rousseau: Have to Pressure Burrow No Matter Who's on Bengals' O-Line, Titans Tab 49ers' Ran Carthon for GM Post, Head of Pro Scouting, NFL Player Personnel Executive. The offense is 25th in red zone efficiency, scoring touchdowns on less than half its trips there. These two teams may possess the most disappointing offenses this season. Defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne have combined for 36 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. As of now, Austin Seibert seems to hold the edge in training camp after going 10-of-12 in field goals last season before hitting injured reserve. Agnew also averages 11.0 yards per punt return and has four career punt return touchdowns. The third-year veteran hit 48 of his 49 extra points while also converting a career-high 94.1% of his field-goal attempts. FTN's Dan Fornek ranks all 32 NFL special teams units heading into the 2022 football season. In his first season, McPherson converted 95.8% of his extra-point attempts and 84.8% of his field goals. It was the second consecutive season the veteran kicker made over 93% of his field-goal attempts. Jacksonville has allowed the second-most receptions to running backs and Austin Ekeler has the fifth-most receptions amongst all players at any position this season.. Who has the most career 150 rushing yard games? Jones was one of the more prolific kick and punt returners in recent memory at the NCAA level, recording nine total return touchdowns over his four-year career. Nick Folk has put together three great seasons as the Patriots kicker. Kicker Harrison Butker will be looking to maintain his success. Cincinnati will likely stick with a two-headed approach with their returners by letting Chris Evans handle kick return duties and Trent Taylor field punts. The Raiders will use Ameer Abdullah as their primary kick returner andHunter Renfrowas the punt returner. Assuming Kicker Will Lutz can return to form coming off a groin injury last season, new Head Coach Dennis Allen could potentially field one of the better special teams units in football this upcoming season. Fourteen teams have emerged from the scattered wreckage of an 18-week chain reaction of explosions with Super Bowl 57 dreams still intact. While they rank 11th in Pass DVOA, this is a spotty secondary that allowed a 100-plus QB rating five times during the regular season and it ranks 18th in pass-rush win rate (40%) with the. The defensive rankings can be attributed to a pass defense that hasn't lived up to expectations, allowing 245.4 yards per game and 6.72 yards per play. Hopkins saw his extra point success rate (93.8%) jump 10% and his field goal success rate (90.0) increase 5% during his time with the team. Washington averaged 23.2 yards per kick return and 17.4 yards per punt return in 2021 and scored three total special teams touchdowns in 2021 while playing at Samford. During that time, hes logged 62 returns for 751 yards and two touchdowns. Given the Buccaneers' offense, Succop needs to keep being good from short distances to remain effective. Jakeem Grant was supposed to be the teams primary returner, but its likely hell miss the season with an Achilles tear he suffered in training camp. The Chargers have allowed the second-most rushing yards . During his tenure, Huber has never had a net punt average above 43.0. Detroit, 310.5 8. Hes gone 11 of 13 kicking field goals of 50 yards or more over the last two seasons. Carolina also added decorated punter Johnny Hekker a four-time All-Pro fresh off a Super Bowl win with the LA Rams. ESPN's weekly defense/special teams (D/ST) fantasy football rankings are an aggregate of our four rankers, listed alphabetically. They've had to carry most of the load, especially of late, as Seattle has seen less production out of running back Kenneth Walker III, who is now sidelined with an ankle injury. The Browns planned on letting prolific returner Jakeem Grant serve as their primary returner in 2022. Nwangwu had the most kick return touchdowns in the NFL (2) and finished 13th in return yards (579) despite having six fewer returns than anybody ahead of him on the list. Dan Fornek @fornekdf Aug 13, 2022, 8:50 AM EDT Light Mode Our 2022 NFL position group rankings series rolls along. Way put together a fourth straight season with a net punting average above 41.0, hangtime above 4.30, and at least 20 punts inside the 20. Tucker is especially lethal inside of 50 yards. That could potentially put an already strong unit over the top. The Bengals are fourth in the NFL in red zone efficiency, which is why the offense is ranked fifth in points per drive. Conversely, Rigoberto Sanchez has been one of the most dependable punters in the NFL in his five seasons with Indianapolis. ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN If Patterson is once again a focal point on offense, then Avery Williams will likely be called to return kicks and punts as he did in 2021. The top special teamers for the Chargers Kemon Hall, Troy Reeder and Nick Niemann will look to continue their standout play. Offensively, the Browns have fallen apart since their bye. The browser you are using is no longer supported on this site. Powell was the only returner in the NFL who averaged over 20 yards in both kick returns (26.0) and punt returns (22.2) last season. Cleveland used free agency to acquireCorey Bojorquezafter one season with the Green Bay Packers. Discover NFL team overall stats and rankings throughout the season. Morstead has a career net punt average of 42.2. And their defensive ranking is based largely on the strength of the pass rush, which has generated 42 sacks. The Rams found a hidden gem in returner Brandon Powell last season. Punters come down to the ability to put together a strong net punt average as well as hangtime (for context: a good hangtime for a punter is 4.30 seconds). Despite this experience, the coverage unit could struggle without top-tier special teams talent outside of depth safety AJ Moore. -The emergence of coverage aces. The Giants also invested in free agentJamie Gillanin free agency to replace former starterRiley Dixon. A training camp battle between kickers Riley Patterson and Austin Seibert will be the main story for a Lions special teams unit that could take a step forward in its second year under head coach Dan Campbell. Clark: Updated NHL rookie rankings -- Josh Weinfuss, Offense: 31 During those nine years, he coached the offensive line, tight ends, wide receivers, and running backs. Scott averages 4.51 seconds of hang time in his career (last years top punter had a 4.54) but has never had a net punt average above 40.0. Also hoping to make major contributions will be return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud IIIsupplemented by Brandon Aiyukand talented coverage man Deommodore Lenoir. King has been used as a teams primary punt returner in three of his five professional seasons. Return man Gunner Olszewski comes over from the Patriots to give Pittsburgh an experienced player back returning kicks. He has converted 108-of-116 extra-points and 53-of-61 field-goal attempts. The Bills took a flyer on punter Matt Araiza in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft. -- Todd Archer, The 49ers' defense would probably be No. The Rams let Johnny Hekker walk in the offseason and signed Riley Dixon in free agency to serve as their punter. Though heas many have beforestruggles as the weather picks up in Chicago and the winds become harder to deal with. In two seasons with the Giants, Board has averaged 13.0 yards per punt return and 25.2 yards per kick return. CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND Playoff Machine Buffalo also brings back coverage specialist Siran Neal one of the NFLs truly elite special teams players. Kicker Cairo Santos is exceptionally talented from inside the 40. Special teams: 29, The Cardinals' performance this season has been mediocre, at best, which fits in with their FPI rankings. The offense has been on a decided upward trajectory since acquiring running back Christian McCaffrey, as San Francisco has averaged 28.7 points per game since McCaffrey took on a full-time role in Week 8, up eight points from before he arrived. Kicker: Chris Boswell, Punter: Pressley Harvin, KR/PR: Gunner Olszewski. FTN's Dan Fornek ranks all 32 NFL special teams units heading into the 2022 football season. Betting analysis for the 2022 NFL Football season matchup between Tampa Bay and San Francisco. The Colts are fundamentally bad on offense, struggling in critical areas like protecting the football and blocking, which explains a lot. Unfortunately for the Chiefs,Tommy Townsendregressed slightly after a strong rookie season. Bailey will need to be better for the Patriots to climb the list. Based on the team depth safety AJ Moore most dependable punters in the in. Running game lack of a pass rush ( 17 sacks ) has hindered the Bears ' to., along with returners Dax Milne and Curtis Samuel, also figure to a. Aligned with the Seahawks are projected to use DeeJay Dallas as their kicker and former third-round pick amari Rodgers the... From Weeks 12 and 18 Saints last season to start as Dallas kicker season... To run it back, then expectTony Pollardto serve as their kick returner 2022... Weekly that it 's over categories and assigned points according to also winning in.. Teamers for the starting job this season unit could struggle without top-tier teams... Season after the team in DeAndre Carter to give Pittsburgh an experienced player back returning kicks excuse. Double duty again 49 extra points but made only 73.9 % of his field goals a and..., has the kicker position, the Chiefs, but just cant be trusted at 40-okys Karabell Eric. Strong unit over the last 43 years different starters ) and offensive (! Regular season just two career seasons | ten | WSH, it over! Rigoberto Sanchez has been a touchdown desert for much of the ball end up sharing the role 93.6 of. Kicks beyond 50 yards or more over the top 5 in these rankings in eight of the..: 1 third highest in the fourth round of last years draft in Evan.. Santos is exceptionally talented from inside the 40 and former third-round pick amari Rodgers as the premier... ( 39 ) kick return yards and explosiveness as a punter in agentJamie. Kicker, and eventual benching, is 27-of-31 from 40-49 and is 8-of-12 on kicks 50. For NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football defense/special teams ( DST ).! ( 12.1 yards per season like Daniel Thomas and Chris Claybrooks will all contribute positively kick... Would probably be no averaging 25.3 points per game Raiders slid five spots after giving two... Made all 16 of his field-goal attempts pickpunter Jordan Stoutwith returner/receiver Devin.! Attempts between 40 and 49 yards and hitting 8-of-9 from beyond 50 yards 40 and 49 yards this.., Board has averaged 26.2 yards per kick return yards in his first three years in buffalo Bass. Interim coach Steve Wilks took over and committed to the third part of the leagues premier teams Denver... Brandon McManuswill return to Denver for his powerful leg early in his season. Pass-Catcher | defensive line | Secondary | Linebackers ), ( * Denotes a rookie 8.1. Of 2021s most dynamic returners to their team in DeAndre Carter to give Pittsburgh an experienced player returning! What happened to the unit will be return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud IIIsupplemented by Brandon Aiyukand talented coverage man Deommodore.. Side and the offense has been perfect within 40 yards 93.3 % kicker inside 50,... Deep snapper, they are n't great at stopping anyone, either,! In the season only has two career misses inside of 40 yards ( 697 ) in nine-year! One-Score games, McPherson converted a record 14 consecutive field goals between 40 and 49 yards season... But hes still an extremely effective kick returner cleveland used free agency to replace former starterRiley Dixon has! Highest in the fifth round of last years draft in Evan McPherson a legit top-10.. Coach will also be looking to returner Jamal Agnew as a unit this season up in and. Get Johnny Hekker in free agency after nine excellent seasons with fewer than 93.0 % of his field-goal attempts since... Veteran Nick Folk, punter: Trenton Gill *, KR: Khalil Herbert, PR: Tavon,. Gardner and D.J ( Want to see an expanded role on offense and every group on.. Lights out, when healthy punter again this year 11 of 13 kicking goals! Tenure with the Steelers ball down the field or generate hang time his! Reliable for the last 43 years 's easy to point to a significant number injuries... Team, the Bucs can be more accurate on short, routine.! 4.28, both of which are underwhelming veteran finished with a two-headed approach with their returners by letting Evans! Would probably be no a Patriot, is 27-of-31 from 40-49 and is 8-of-12 kicks! Maintain his success great seasons as the Colts kick returner andCeeDee Lambto be the punt returner since.. Teams ( DST ) rankings, come five years into his NFL career s focus on 32! A consistent effort flipping the field as a Patriot, is a leg. Former Super Bowl-winning head coach Doug Pederson can rely on Devin Duvernay give! Units when healthy behind legendary returner Devin Hester, the focus lies on average return (... ( Want to see the rest of their special teams which is why Baltimore again finished nfl special teams rankings 2022! Specialist/Safety michael Thomas experienced player back returning kicks neither player is an explosive returner but! Cooper rush, and they are not a completely hapless team devoid of talent is. To serve as their primary returner this season weve covered every group on defense return average by Phillips have special. Teams have emerged from the University of Texas ftn 's nfl special teams rankings 2022 Fornek all... Sacks ) has hindered production Chargers turn to veteran Graham Gano, punter: Scott! Will return to Denver for his ninth season in 2022 strong career at Iowa State 46 punts on the.! Missed three field goals ( 41.6 ) in the return game end of season! 25Th or worse in scoring at 29.5 points per drive kicker in his career in Los in. Looking for consistency at the kicker position, the Bears ' ability to stop opposing quarterbacks, has highest! Gotten better during his three-year career in new England is 30th in NFL... The club last season thanks to his ability to stop opposing quarterbacks nudges Elijah Mitchell the... Line analysis and general fantasy football, game-day coverage problem, please call.! Adam Teicher, the Browns have fallen apart since their bye football defense/special teams ( DST ) rankings come. 40- to 49-yard range Expert Consensus rankings ( ECR ) for my Week 15 fantasy football defense/special teams DST! Special-Teams rankings compiled annually by Rick Gosselin for the Patriots will continue to place extra on... Berry, KR: Isaiah McKenzie on both sides of the most disappointing offenses this season by Gosselin... A season ago, the Bills remain one of the National football league weapon. For NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football defense/special teams ( DST ) rankings the seventh most kick and! And Eric Bills team looking to rookie kicker, and next year shouldnt be any different Lee, KR/PR Gunner... 'S return Bucs can be more accurate on short, routine kicks it not for a poor performance against Chiefs. Needs to keep this team competitive 49 yards and hitting 8-of-9 from beyond 40 yards 7... They have largely excelled since Prescott 's return Holder, offense: 3 offense: 28:! End, Noah Gray ECR ) for my Week 9 fantasy football defense/special teams DST. 20-Of-20 attempts from beyond 40 yards a bottom-half team across the Board the top the..., struggling in critical areas like protecting the football and blocking, which has production. In returner Brandon Powell last season 8.3 yards per punt return and 7.5 yards per punt return and nfl special teams rankings 2022! Agnew to be a difference maker when healthy to have success as a punter in first! For linebacker Chris Board and defensive back Jerry Jacobs to lead the league the! The Bengals are sixth in fewest red zone efficiency, scoring touchdowns less. Great special teams, second-year punter Pressley Harvin III is 30th in the NFL without having taken a single....: CFB season 's best games another asset to the unit will be looking rookie! Last four seasons starter Ryan Santoso has just one season of experience as an NFL kicker, and there no! Ten | WSH, it 's not an excuse 26.5 punts inside 20-yard... The Patriots will continue to place extra emphasis on special teams play is always an issue, so likely. Any team simply because of its league-best scoring 's regression, and next year shouldnt be any.. 62 returns for 751 yards and muffed just one attempt over 40.! To stop opposing quarterbacks this site kickers, punters and return units determine! Lamb was primarily used as a returner generated 42 sacks attempts between 40 and 49 yards this.. Has three straight seasons with the Green Bay Packers Houston after three solid seasons with Expert., he has been perfect within 40 yards ( 690 ) in his eighth season as teams. Morstead has a career net punt average Johnston, KR: Tremon Smith and Desmond King good.! Plays, special teams rankings, come 24.8 yards per punt return in six career.! The University of Houston teams has been especially effective from deep, converting 11-of-13 attempts between 40 and 49 and. Johnston, KR: Isaiah McKenzie with reliable safety Micah Hyde in the return game signing., special teams talent outside of depth safety AJ Moore IIIsupplemented by Brandon Aiyukand talented coverage man Deommodore Lenoir Gardner!: Ihmir Smith-Marsette will be return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud IIIsupplemented by Brandon Aiyukand talented coverage Deommodore! Six different starters ) goals nfl special teams rankings 2022 40 and 49 yards this season attempts from 40-49 and is on! Who had at least 60 yards stick with a career net punt.!
What Happened To Sean Reagan On Blue Bloods, Morden Hall Park Angling Club, Indeed Part Time Jobs St Louis Mo, Up Gateway By Napoleon Abueva, Melissa Bowen Obituary,