Best Ball Kicker and DST: How Kicker and Defense Scoring Works in Best Ball Fantasy Football
Why kicker and DST matter less in best ball than other positions: the total points separating the best and worst kickers in any given week is small relative to the gap between the best and worst QBs or WRs. A top-week kicker might score 15–18 points while a low-week kicker scores 4–6 — a 10–12 point range. A top-week WR might score 40+ points while a low-week WR scores 2 — a 38+ point range. The WR has more ceiling and more floor variance, which means WR drafting decisions have more impact on best ball scores than kicker decisions.
Kicker and DST Quick Reference
| Position | Best ball approach | When to draft | Mistake to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kicker (standard best ball) | Draft as late as possible — rounds 17–18 | Final 2 rounds of the draft | Taking a kicker before round 15 — it costs a skill position depth pick with no meaningful ceiling benefit |
| DST (standard best ball) | Draft as late as possible — rounds 17–18 | Final 2 rounds; one defense is sufficient | Drafting two defenses in rounds 12–16 — DST depth doesn’t compound the way WR depth does in the optimizer |
| Kicker selection (tie-breaking) | High-volume passing teams with reliable red-zone offenses | When choosing between two similarly late-round kickers | Ignoring team volume when selecting a kicker — an offense that rarely scores keeps the kicker off the field |
| DST selection (tie-breaking) | Good defensive unit with favorable early-season schedule | When choosing between two similarly late-round defenses | Selecting a DST based solely on one big prior-year performance — single-season DST scores are highly variable |
| Formats without kicker (most best ball) | DST only — same late-round principle applies | Final 1–2 rounds | Over-investing in DST because “it’s the only special position” — the value cap is low regardless |
| Premium DST (very high-ceiling defense) | Slightly earlier pick is acceptable for historically elite units | Round 14–15 for a verified elite DST | Paying round 10 for a DST — the position ceiling doesn’t justify round 10 cost even for the best defenses |
Drafting Kickers in Best Ball
Draft as late as possible. The standard best ball approach to kickers is to draft them in the final 2 rounds — often rounds 17–18 of an 18-round draft. The kicker position is deep enough that any starting NFL kicker will produce at roughly the same rate across a full season — there is no elite kicker equivalent to a WR1 whose weekly ceiling dramatically exceeds the field. Taking a kicker before round 15 in best ball is a draft error that costs skill position depth.
Consider volume factors. If a manager is drafting kickers in the final rounds and must choose between two similar options, high-volume passing teams with reliable red-zone offenses produce more kicker attempts. An offense that operates frequently in field goal range generates more kicker opportunities than a run-heavy, stall-prone offense.
Drafting Defenses in Best Ball
Same late-round approach. Best ball defenses follow the same logic as kickers — draft as late as possible. The position does not require activation decisions, so depth at DST does not compound the way WR depth does. One solid defense from a team with a good defensive unit and a favorable schedule is sufficient.
For how kicker and DST connect to full best ball roster construction, see: Best Ball Roster Construction: How to Build a Best Ball Fantasy Football Roster.