Kickers and DST in Best Ball: Why Most Best Ball Formats Exclude Them and What It Means
Most traditional season-long fantasy leagues include a kicker slot and a defense/special teams (DST) slot. Most best ball formats do not. This is not an oversight — it is a deliberate choice that improves the format.
Kicker/DST Quick Reference
| Situation | What it means for best ball | What to do | What to avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard best ball (no kicker/DST) | 2 extra skill position spots compared to season-long | Use them for late-round ceiling plays — emerging WRs, upside QBs | Treating these spots as throwaway picks; they are where differentiation lives |
| Best ball league that includes a kicker | Kicker scoring is unpredictable — it cannot be drafted well | Draft kicker in the final round only; never reach | Drafting a kicker before Round 16 or 17 — zero competitive advantage |
| Best ball league that includes DST | DST variance is matchup-driven; you cannot swap mid-season | Draft DST in the second-to-last round; budget minimum ADP | Paying an early pick for a “great” DST — you cannot use their matchups in best ball |
| 18-player best ball roster without kicker/DST | 2 more skill position players than season-long formats | Draft 3–4 QBs or extra WR/TE depth in the late rounds | Treating the bench picks as depth-only; use them for upside |
| Legacy format with both kicker and DST included | You lose 2 skill position spots vs modern best ball | Adjust WR/RB depth earlier; do not wait for the bench | Forgetting that late-round picks are limited — adjust your entire draft board accordingly |
Why Best Ball Usually Excludes Kickers
Kickers add unpredictability without skill. Kicker scoring is notoriously difficult to predict week to week. A kicker on a high-scoring offense scores more field goal points, but which kicker will make five field goals this week versus three is nearly impossible to forecast with any reliability.
In season-long leagues, you can pick up and drop kickers weekly to find one whose team has favorable field goal opportunities. Best ball rosters are locked after the draft — you cannot adjust. This means kicker variance becomes pure luck rather than skill.
Fantasy points from kickers are low-information. Two managers who both drafted high-quality skill position players can have their results decided by which kicker’s team happened to be in a situation where they attempted more field goals that week.
Best ball rewards research and strategy. The format was designed to identify the best drafters. Including kickers adds randomness that dilutes the signal of good drafting. Removing kickers makes the format more meritocratic.
Why Best Ball Usually Excludes Team Defense
DST performance is largely opponent-driven. A defense that faces weak quarterbacks scores better than one that faces elite offenses. You can research and predict matchups in season-long leagues because you can swap defenses weekly. In best ball, you are locked in — and a strong DST can face a bad schedule all season.
Defense/special teams scoring is often rule-dependent. Different platforms give different points for sacks, interceptions, fumble recoveries, and return touchdowns. This creates scoring inconsistencies that add variance without adding strategic depth.
The best ball draft should focus on skill positions. Removing DST allows managers to fill every roster spot with skill position players who have more predictable and meaningful fantasy value.
How This Changes Best Ball Roster Construction
When kicker and DST slots are removed, managers have additional roster spots for skill position players:
More spots for RBs, WRs, TEs, and QBs. Typical best ball rosters are 18 players: 1 QB + 2 RB + 3 WR + 1 TE + 1 FLEX + 10 bench. Without kicker and DST taking up spots, the bench expands with skill position players.
Late-round ceiling plays. Those extra roster spots become the location for high-ceiling late-round picks — young receivers about to break out, backup QBs with upside, or emerging handcuffs. The late rounds of best ball drafts are where roster differentiation lives.
Depth at every position. Without kicker and DST diluting the roster, managers can build genuine depth at RB, WR, and TE.
When Best Ball Does Include Kickers or DST
Some best ball formats do include kickers and/or DST — typically legacy formats that started as season-long leagues and converted to best ball, or leagues that emphasize fun over competitive purity.
If you are entering a best ball league that includes kicker and/or DST: draft the kicker and DST extremely late — final rounds only. Do not spend a pick earlier than you would on a player who simply would not be on your roster otherwise.
For how best ball roster construction differs from season-long in other ways, see: Best Ball Fantasy Football: How It Works and Why the Strategy Is Different.