Camp reports indicate that Alex Erickson has the advantage when it comes to returning kicks for Washington, especially since Brian Robinson and Jahan Dotson will have roles on the Commanders offense. 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. Similarly, Cole has shown the ability to consistently flip the field in the kicking game. Hardman has explosive speed and will be a threat to house any kick he can field. NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF -- Jamison Hensley, Offense: 19 The Ravens have finished in the Top 5 in these rankings in eight of the last nine seasons, also winning in 2015. Micah Parsons is scary good but that doesn't mean the Cowboys DST is in the same category fantasy-wise. Sunday's game against the Chiefs was the eighth they've lost by seven or fewer points. 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. Brandon McManuswill return to Denver for his ninth season in 2022. Board. -- Josh Weinfuss, Offense: 31 Those takeaways have prevented teams from finishing drives that could have changed the outcome of games. The Jets also saw improvement out of Braden Mann in his second year with the team. It's been an adventure on special teams, but even that unit seems pointed in the right direction. Bailey will need to be better for the Patriots to climb the list. By PFF.com. 2026; 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021; 2020; 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016; 2015 The Cowboys boast one of the NFLs premier punters in Bryan Anger. 1 in the NCAA in team punt returns last season thanks to a 22.6 yards per return average by Phillips. Punter Arryn Siposs should pair with Elliot to form a reliable kicking tandem. Kicker: Austin Seibert, Punter: Jack Fox, KR: Godwin Igwebuike, PR: Kalif Raymond. Though his placekicking counterpart has yet to be singled out. During those nine years, he coached the offensive line, tight ends, wide receivers, and running backs. Simply put, Las Vegas, in its first year under the new management of coach Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler, has not been able to put together a complete game. 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. Kicker: Joey Slye, Punter: Tress Way, KR/PR: Alex Erickson. While we are at the point of the season where the rankings stay largely consistent week to week, we do have teams that made the biggest jump up and down the list. Kicker: Dustin Hopkins, Punter: JK Scott, KR/PR: DeAndre Carter. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. For returners, the focus lies on average return yards and explosiveness as a runner. Tampa Bay will rely on Giovani Bernard in the return game and hope that standout coverage specialist Ross Cockrell can bring stability to a unit that will need to improve if the Bucs are going to make another deep playoff run. FTN's Dan Fornek ranks all 32 NFL special teams units heading into the 2022 football season. Pressley Harvin will also return as the teams punter, but he was very average during his rookie season with the Steelers. Buffalo, 316.5 9.. Patterson may have a slight advantage going into the preseason. During that time, hes logged 62 returns for 751 yards and two touchdowns. -- David Newton, Simulate your own scenarios and check the latest playoff picture. 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. Cameron Johnston continued to display a deep kicking leg in his first season with Houston after three strong years with the Eagles. Myers is a strong kicker at reasonable distances, but just cant be trusted at 40-okys. Of the players with a minimum of 10 punt returns, Lamb finished eighth in yards per return (9.9). But the run game has been better than expected this season. It is highly recommended that you use the latest versions of a supported browser in order to receive an optimal viewing experience. 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. Nyheim Hines has been the Colts punt returner since the end of the 2019 season. The veteran kicker ended his 2021 season making 47-of-49 extra points and 30-of-37 field goals. Joseph was especially accurate from deep with the Vikings, hitting 14-of-18 attempts from beyond 40 yards. Lamar Jackson and the offense started off hot before struggling in the red zone recently, which is why the Ravens are averaging 16.5 points in their past four games. Thank the running game with Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard, who have combined for 1,610 yards. McPherson was perfect up to 40 yards (13-of-13) and also showed an exceptional ability to convert from deep (9-of-11 from 50-plus). Punter Tress Way, along with returners Dax Milne and Curtis Samuel, also figure to help a Washington team with playoff hopes. 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. 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. 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. The Buccaneers also invested a fourth-round pick in punter Jake Camarda out of the University of Georgia. When it comes to the defense/special teams . Find out who the leaders are in standard scoring formats and see which players are available in your fantasy football league. On special teams, punter Jake Camarda has turned out to be a real gem, and Deven Thompkins brought promise to the kick return situation this past week. Lamb was primarily used as a punt returner thanks to his ability to secure the ball. In two seasons with the Giants, Board has averaged 13.0 yards per punt return and 25.2 yards per kick return. Gonzalezs only two misses on the season came from 50-plus yards out, but he still finished the year 3-of-5 from that distance. Berry set a career-high in net punting average (41.4) despite having a hangtime below 4.37 for the first time in his career (4.12). When it comes to the best kicking combination in the league, Las Vegas edges out the field thanks to the high-level consistency of bothDaniel CarlsonandAJ Cole. The Jaguars will be looking to rookie kicker Andrew Mevis to win the job in camp after a strong career at Iowa State. -- Jake Trotter, The Panthers have been much more efficient since interim coach Steve Wilks took over and committed to the running game. Berry continued to find success pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. New coach Kevin OConnell will turn to Greg Josepha gifted kicker who had a tumultuous run in his first season with Minnesota. Dan utilizes his experiences as a coach and player to break down the game from a unique perspective. Rookie Kyle Phillips will get the first shot at returning punts for the Titans this season. ODonnell has just two years with a net punting average above 40.0. 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. In this year's edition of Rick Gosselin's NFL Special Teams Rankings, the Panthers. Rookie Montrell Washington is expected to take over returning duties after a solid training camp. 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. -- Katherine Terrell, Offense: 21 Check out our complete fantasy football rankings. Kicker Robbie Gould will return for another season as the 49ers look to maintain their status as one of the leagues premier teams. Kicker Harrison Butker will be looking to maintain his success. Kicker: Jake Elliott, Punter: Arryn Siposs, PR/KR: Jalen Reagor. Punter Logan Cooke will be a solid option first-year head coach Doug Pederson can rely on. From week 5 to week 13 Gonzalez did not miss a single field goal or extra point. ESPN's weekly defense/special teams (D/ST) fantasy football rankings are an aggregate of our four rankers, listed alphabetically. -- 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. If the Giants can keep return man CJ Board healthy and get a boost from coverage specialist Cam Brown, this unit could improve on their performance from last season. Morstead has a career net punt average of 42.2. Pacheco hasnt returned kicks since his freshman season when he averaged 19.3 yards on 18 returns. Mann improved his yards per punt (45.7) and net punt average (41.6) in his sophomore season. If they decide to run it back, then expectTony Pollardto serve as the primary kick returner andCeeDee Lambto be the punt returner. 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. Conversely,Brett Kerncontinued the strong play that has defined his career with the Titans. Zane Gonzalez was having the best season of his career in 2021 before an injury in Week 14 cut it short. He has been consistent and reliable for the Steelers in his career thus far. 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. FTN's Dan Fornek ranks all 32 NFL special teams units heading into the 2022 football season. NFL Team Total Defense Postseason Stats 2022. JAX | KC | LV | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN Return man Gunner Olszewski comes over from the Patriots to give Pittsburgh an experienced player back returning kicks. The question for this Atlanta special teams unit will be whether or not electric returner Cameron Batson can stay healthy. Week 14 ranking: 3 Offense: 3 Defense: 6 Special teams: 1. Rodgers is the favorite to handle return duties again in his second season. Special teams: 14, The Chargers have underperformed this season on offense and defense. The Jets head into 2022 hoping veteran kicker Greg Zuerlein can find some consistency to help put points on the board. Former UDFA Jonathan Garibay was considered the favorite to win the job but struggled mightily in camp and was recently cut. Williams averaged 21.3 yards per kick return and 7.7 yards per punt return last season. The Jaguars' punt and kick coverage units rank near the bottom of the league. Meanwhile, the Fins are among the worst teams in the league at returning and defending returns. 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. Indianapolis, 272 3. King has been used as a teams primary punt returner in three of his five professional seasons. Kicker: Justin Tucker, Punter: Jordan Stout*, KR/PR: Devin Duvernay. 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. 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. After spending years as the leagues premier unit behind legendary returner Devin Hester, the Bears are in something of a special teams rebuild. Special teams: 12, The offense is, perhaps, the most vivid example you'll find of why the Colts have struggled this season. The combination ofGodwin IgwebuikeandKalif Raymondwill likely reprise their duties as the kick and punt returners respectively. During his tenure, Huber has never had a net punt average above 43.0. Defense: 13 -- Mike Reiss, Offense: 15 Theyll also get help from reliable returner Freddie Swain and ace special teamer Ben Burr-Kirven. Here is a cheat sheet for fantasy football defense/special teams (DST) rankings for the 2022 NFL season. Indianapolis will rely on a combination of Nyheim Hines and Isaiah Rodgers in the return game and hope to get a major contribution from coverage specialist Ashton Dulin as well. Combining new fourth-round pickpunter Jordan Stoutwith returner/receiver Devin Duvernay should give the Ravens an edge in field position battles all season. The Lions' D is allowing 403.2 total yards per game and 26.7 points per game, which are both the second-highest marks in the league. To combat his struggles, the Packers didnt attempt a field goal past 39 yards between Weeks 12 and 18. The 2022 NFL season is right around the corner, and training camps are quickly approaching. Veteran kicker Randy Bullock will compete with Caleb Shudak for the starting job to open camp. Defense: 16 Since Week 9, he has led the NFL in completion percentage, is second in passer rating and is fourth in Total QBR, all while throwing 10 scoring passes and no interceptions. The defense has started to play better, but blown coverage and an inability to stop the run earlier have led this unit to underachieve. 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. 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. They are not a completely hapless team devoid of talent. 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. In the past two seasons, Carlson has made over 90% of his extra points and 63% of his field goals. He has converted 108-of-116 extra-points and 53-of-61 field-goal attempts. Team efficiencies are based on the point contributions of each unit to the team's scoring margin, on a per-play basis. Ranking all 32 NFL teams at every position group. Projected starter Ryan Santoso has just one season of experience as an NFL kicker, and it wasnt a good one. Defense: 21 Kicker: Zane Gonzalez, Punter: Johnny Hekker, KR/PR: Andre Roberts. Kicker: Tyler Bass, Punter: Matt Araiza*, PR: Tavon Austin, KR: Isaiah McKenzie. Cincinnati D-coordinator Lou Anarumo's mantra of "yards don't equal points" has been a staple during his four-year tenure. Kene Nwangwuwas absurdly efficient as a kick returner in his rookie season. 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. Betting analysis for the 2022 NFL Football season matchup between Tampa Bay and San Francisco. Houston will likely split return duties between Tremon Smith and Desmond King. Special teams: 22, These rankings are not surprising considering Atlanta's roster situation -- awash in dead money and a young squad still lacking depth at certain positions. Koo went 30-for-30 on extra points and made 27-of-29 field goes in his third season with the Falcons. DISCLAIMER: This side and the products offered are for entertainment purposes only, and there is no gambling offered on the site. They are Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Eric Karabell and Eric . The Dolphins have plenty of explosive players on their team, but Jaylen Waddle figures to get the first shot at return duties. Kicker: Nick Folk, Punter: Jake Bailey, KR/PR: Marcus Jones*. 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. That's the question that has been asked all season and will be asked again once it's over. The Browns decided to overhaul their entire special teams unit heading into the 2022 season, investing cap space and draft capital into all three phases. Gainwell is expected to see an expanded role on offense, so that likely leaves Reagor pulling double duty again. Therefore, let's focus on my top team, the Buffalo Bills, who some . 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. Today, we look to the third part of the game special teams. McCloud averaged 22.6 yards per kick return and 10 yards per punt return in the last two years. Zach Wilson's regression, and eventual benching, is a big reason for the quarterback instability. 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 punter/holder Sam Martin joined just before the season. FTN's Dan Fornek ranks all 32 NFL special teams units heading into the 2022 football season. Please contact support. These rankings debuted in Junebut have been updated to reflect current situations. Houston quarterbacks have a passer rating of 75.7, the lowest in the NFL, and have thrown 16 interceptions, the most in the NFL. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please call 1-800-GAMBLER. 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). 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. On defense, the Bolts have been without edge rusher Joey Bosa, cornerback J.C. Jackson and several key defensive linemen -- all of whom are on injured reserve. Gray offers the Chiefs incredible versatility as one of the few NFL tight ends adept in special teams coverage. The starting punter will be Brett Kern, entering his 14th season with the Titans. Unfortunately, punter Andy Lee continued his steady decline in his fifth season with the Cardinals. Igwebuike had the sixth-most return yards (697) in the NFL despite returning the ball fewer than 30 times. 1 here were it not for a poor performance against the Chiefs, but it does still lead the league in many traditional categories. Dan Fornek @fornekdf Aug 13, 2022, 8:50 AM EDT Light Mode Our 2022 NFL position group rankings series rolls along. 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. But the fact that the offense is seventh after Dak Prescott missed five games with a fractured thumb is telling. Dicker served as the Longhorns kicker and punter during the 2021 season. Without many impact players on special teamsaside from linebacker Isaiah McDuffieGreen Bay needs to find more consistency from a unit that struggled last season. Jacksonville will go into 2022 with a massive question mark at kicker. Hes done enough in camp to earn the role in the pros, giving him a shot at making the teams 53-man roster. Neither player is an explosive returner, but both are dependable options on special teams. Younghoe Koo put together a second straight excellent season after struggling during his first two years in the NFL. He enters his third season in the league as a reliable option for a Bills team looking to contend. Defense: 24 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. Defense: 27 -- Courtney Cronin, Just look at the numbers for the story of the Broncos' season. 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. Few kickers have been more dependable than Robbie Gould throughout his career. -- Eric Woodyard, Offense: 24 The Chargers have allowed the second-most rushing yards . Kicker: Brandon McManus, Punter: Sam Martin, KR/PR: Kendall Hinton. Kicker Zane Gonzalez returns to the Panthers this year after playing 12 games for the club last season. 2022 NFL Special Teams Rankings | StatMuse 2022 NFL special teams rankings Explore Who is the all-time NFL rushing leader? Baltimore, 241.5 2. So, again, no surprise. Denver will also haveSam Martinas their punter for the third straight season. Which is why Baltimore again finished first in the NFL special-teams rankings compiled annually by Rick Gosselin for the last 43 years. 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. Though heas many have beforestruggles as the weather picks up in Chicago and the winds become harder to deal with. He had just a 4.17-second average hangtime and had three punts blocked last season. The league's 32 teams are ranked in 22 kicking-game categories and assigned points according to . Detroit, 310.5 8. While the field goals dont seem impressive, it's worth noting that 15 of his attempts came from 40-plus yards and he missed only five of them. It's easy to point to a significant number of injuries, despite the Bolts saying weekly that it's not an excuse. The Patriots will continue to place extra emphasis on special teams rostering three players mainly for their prowess in kick coverage. Pittsburgh also has one of the stronger kick coverage units in the league. Welcome to Week 15 of the NFL regular season. And Green Bay's special teams play is always an issue, so that's nothing new. Also hoping to make major contributions will be return specialist Ray-Ray McCloud IIIsupplemented by Brandon Aiyukand talented coverage man Deommodore Lenoir. Kicker: Graham Gano, Punter: Jamie Gillan, KR/PR: C.J. 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. Gould remains one of the better deep kickers in the NFL, hitting 10 of 13 attempts beyond 40 yards in 2021. Deonte Harty will once again serve as the teams kick and punt returner in 2022. Do you like rankings? Kicker: Younghoe Koo, Punter: Dom Maggio, KR/PR: Avery Williams. Unfortunately, he had fewer balls inside the 20 (15) and a blocked punt last year. Darden finished the year averaging 19.9 yards per kick return and 7.5 yards per punt return in his first year. -- Turron Davenport, Everything you need this week: 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. -- Tim McManus, The Chiefs rank second in scoring at 29.5 points per game. 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 . Punter Cameron Johnston will, however, likely maintain the high level of play the team has come to expect of him. There are three NFL deep-snappers who played even more games than Mannelly - Trey Junkin (281), Don Muhlbach (260) and L.P. Ladouceur (253). Waddle averaged 17.6 yards on kick returns and 7.0 yards per punt return. 2022 Best NFL Special Teams Players (0) 2022 . Tucker has made 252 of 263 attempts within 50 yards, with eight of those misses coming in the 40- to 49-yard range. UCLA was No. 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. 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? 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. Amari Rodgers had a solid first season as a returner with the Green Bay Packers. Another asset to the unit will be tight end, Noah Gray. SEA | TB | TEN | WSH, It's been a special year for the Eagles on both sides of the ball. -- 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. Defense: 20 Full schedule | Standings 2022 Team DVOA Ratings: Special Teams Updated 01/16/2023 02:24 PM EST Year 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 The Baltimore Ravens have been known to have great special teams talent over the years. Rodgers finished top 20 in kick return yards (501) despite recording the second-fewest return attempts of the players on that list (19). 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. Of players who had at least 10 punt returns, Raymond finished seventh in average yards per punt return (11.2). In five career seasons, Agnew has averaged 25.3 kick return yards per season and has two career touchdowns. Skip to main . Sign up for everything FTN Fantasy has to offer. So, even despite some valiant individual efforts, what you're about to see shouldn't be much of a shock. The Jets decided to bring in Greg Zuerlein to compete with Eddy Pineiro for the starting job. -The emergence of coverage aces. 3. Matt Gay had the best season of his career in Los Angeles in 2021. Look for linebacker Chris Board and defensive back Jerry Jacobs to lead the kick coverage units when healthy. 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. Zuerlein gained recognition for his powerful leg early in his career with the Rams but has struggled to consistently make field goals. The second-year receiver fielded 50 total punts last year and had only one muffed catch. Rodrigo Blankenship had a strong rookie season in 2020 before injuries robbed him of most of his 2021. Dec 7, 2022. Kicker: Randy Bullock, Punter: Brett Kern, KR: Dontrell Hilliard, PR: Kyle Phillips*. The Raiders will use Ameer Abdullah as their primary kick returner andHunter Renfrowas the punt returner. The Bills remain one of the best teams despite some hiccups. Our 2022 NFL position group rankings series rolls along. They also brought in experienced returner Deandre Carter to give the team a smart, steady influence in the return game. 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. 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. Duvernay averaged 24.1 yards per kick return and 13.8 yards per punt return last season for Baltimore. 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. Given the Buccaneers' offense, Succop needs to keep being good from short distances to remain effective. We've covered every group on offense and every group on defense. This article will focus on all 32 teams kickers, punters and return units to determine the best special team units in the league. NFL Season Long FTN's Dan Fornek ranks all 32 NFL special teams units heading into the 2022 football season. Defense: 10 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). Ihmir Smith-Marsette will be the teams punt returner since K.J. Sanders uncharacteristically suffered on attempts above 50 yards, hitting just 2-of-6 attempts. We've covered every group on offense and every group on defense. The Dolphins also roster two of the leagues best coverage specialists in Brandon Jones and Clayton Fejedelem. Punter Blake Gillikin will return after a promising rookie season. With a career field goal percentage above 90 percent. During four games, McPherson converted a record 14 consecutive field goals without a miss. 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. Our 2022 rankings are . Agnew also averages 11.0 yards per punt return and has four career punt return touchdowns. The sure-handed Hyde provides reliability. Offensively, the Browns have fallen apart since their bye. 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. Reed, is the biggest reason for the massive improvement on defense. Evan McPherson was one of many Bengals who made a name for themselves during the 2021 postseason. Here's a look at how each NFL team ranks at each position. New Head Coach Mike McDaniel will be hoping to get the most out of talented though inconsistent kicker Jason Sanders. Offensively, coach Kevin O'Connell has boosted wide receiver Justin Jefferson to the top of the league's production charts. Dallas finished fifth in kick return yards (764) by averaging 23.2 yards per return. -- 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). (1:02). The Bears finally found themselves a kicker but chose to overhaul the rest of their special teams unit. Injuries along the offensive line have hurt. A new and improved secondary, led by cornerbacks Sauce Gardner and D.J. Last season, Smith averaged 25.6 yards per return and scored a touchdown. A squad that had scored 30 points in four straight games has now failed to crack 20 in its past two. than the offense, and that shows slightly in its FPI rank. 2022 NFL Enterprises LLC. Meanwhile, linebacker Dennis Gardeck and defensive back Antonio Hamilton will lead the kick coverage unit. But perhaps most alarming are the average defensive ranking and the abysmal special teams spot. Baltimore Ravens . The five-year veteran made all 44 of his extra-point attempts and missed just three field goals in 33 attempts. Joey Slyebounced around the NFL in 2021 before finding a home with the Commanders the last nine weeks of the season. Much of that determination comes down to whether or not star wideout CeeDee Lamb is back to return punts. Another asset to the unit will be tight end, Noah Gray. The Chargers hope to get above-average production out of their kicking and punting this season. The Falcons have some flexibility with their kickoff and punt returners that depends on Cordarrelle Pattersons role on offense. Kicker: Wil Lutz, Punter: Blake Gillikin, KR/PR: Deonte Harty. Kicker: Jason Myers, Punter: Michael Dickson, KR: DeeJay Dallas, PR: Freddie Swain. Chris Boswell has only gotten better during his last three years with the Steelers. Santoso had just one attempt over 40 yards last season and he missed it. Newsome has apparently reported to training camp in excellent shape and earned the first shot as the teams punt returner. Expect Dontrell Hilliard to serve as the teams kick returner. -- 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. Cleveland tookCade Yorkout of LSU in the fourth round of the NFL draft. He also had a career-low in hangtime last season (4.16 seconds). Goldsberry: Six NBA trends to watch The veteran can improve on last season if he can be more accurate on short, routine kicks. The Las Vegas Raiders slid five spots after giving up two late touchdowns in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. -- Adam Teicher, The Bills remain one of the best teams despite some hiccups. Despite that, Chicago still ranks 11th in pass defense (allowing 204.2 yards per game). The Bengals are fourth in the NFL in red zone efficiency, which is why the offense is ranked fifth in points per drive. Call it poor playcalling. Lutz hasnt been a strong kicker beyond 50 yards (56% in his career) but is extremely reliable anywhere closer (94.1%). 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. Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports. Hardman has been a weapon as a punt returner throughout his career (12.1 yards per return in 2021). The defense owns a league-worst rank in sacks and pressures, which has hindered the Bears' ability to stop opposing quarterbacks. With standout contributors like Kristian Welch and Geno Stone, the Ravens should lean on this veteran unit if need be. 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. Find NFL defense rushing stats by team. 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. The defensive-minded head coach traditionally values consistency at the kicking position over a big leg. An error occurred. The Eagles spent most of last season usingJalen Reagoras their kick and punt returner before giving kick return duties toKenneth Gainwelldown the stretch. Gillan has struggled to drive the ball down the field or generate hang time during his career. 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. An exceptional talent from inside the 45, Vizcaino should get a real shot to win the role. Maggio recorded 101 career punts inside the 20-yard line in college and averaged 46.8 yards per punt his senior season. 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. NFL Football Player Stats & Stats Leaders - Special Teams Total Tackles Who's your favorite NFL team? Gillikin had a net punt average of 42.0 yards in his first season, pinning 32 punts inside the 20-yard line. Special teams: 21, It's somewhat surprising that the limited Giants' offense is their most efficient unit. Carolina also added decorated punter Johnny Hekker a four-time All-Pro fresh off a Super Bowl win with the LA Rams. 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. Patterson has eight career kickoff return touchdowns and only two seasons below 28.3 yards per return in his nine-year career. The Cowboys managed their way through Prescott's absence with Cooper Rush, and they have largely excelled since Prescott's return. He leads a coverage unit along with Akeem Davis-Gaither and Clay Johnston that could be one of the stronger groups in the league this season. A season ago, the Jets had arguably the worst defense; now it is a legit top-10 unit. Defense: 32 -- Michael DiRocco, Offense: 20 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). Santos is 57-for-82 on kicks past 40 yards in his career. 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. Mitch Wishnowsky continued to provide solid play from the punter position. The following browsers are supported: Chrome, Edge (v80 and later), Firefox and Safari. Buffalo Bills. I am pretty aligned with the Expert Consensus Rankings (ECR) for my Week 9 fantasy football defense/special teams (DST) rankings. These two teams may possess the most disappointing offenses this season. Kicking in the AFC East is not an easy job. And their defensive ranking is based largely on the strength of the pass rush, which has generated 42 sacks. 1Buffalo Bills. The return game, though, has not produced -- 15th on kickoffs; 21st on punts -- and that drags the Commanders' ranking down. Renfrow had 31 punt returns for 303 yards but did muff three punts on the season. In 2020, Blankenship converted 95.6% of his extra-point attempts and 86.5% of his field goals. McManus historically struggles with kicks over 50 yards (54.2% success rate) but is a dependable kicker inside that range (91.3% success rate). Lirim Hajrullahu and Brett Maher will compete for the chance to start as Dallas kicker this season after the team released Jonathan Garibay. The Bengals drafted one of the best kickers in the league in the fifth round of last years draft in Evan McPherson. You can even blame injuries, as Pro Bowl tight end Darren Waller and wide receiver Hunter Renfrow have missed most of the season. -- Todd Archer, The 49ers' defense would probably be No. Thank the third-down offense (51-of-89 since Prescott's return). In its past five contests, the defense has allowed an average of 30.4 points per game and 460.6 yards, the worst in the league. The third-year veteran finished with 30.4 yards per return and had a touchdown. Offense; Defense; Special Teams; Turnovers Team. Isaiah Rodgers was successful as the Colts kick returner in 2021, averaging 26.4 yards per return. This creates something of an unknown in a Cowboys unit that can be incredibly dangerous in the right situation. -- Stephen Holder, Offense: 28 Logan Cooke has been an extremely consistent punter during his four seasons with the Jaguars. On defense and special teams, the Panthers are about where they should be: playing at a high level. But Prescott has to watch the interceptions, with eight since his return. Unfortunately, a league-average punter is what keeps the Bengals on the lower end of the top-10. JK Scott played in just one game last season with Jacksonville, but throughout his career, hes been a hangtime specialist that forces fair catches with a weaker leg. 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. Butker only has two career misses inside of 40 yards (88-of-90). David Mayoone of Washingtons best players in kick coveragerounds out what could end up being a solid unit should Slye find success. Defense: 14 Jake Elliotthad an excellent bounceback season after a rough 2020. He has one career punt return touchdown. More NFL coverage , The Patriots are last in the NFL in offensive red zone efficiency, converting touchdowns just 38.9% of the time. He also set a career-high for punts inside the 20-yard line during the 2021 season (39). Former 5th-round pick Matt Gay returns to the defending champs as an underrated kicking option. Offensively, the Commanders have issues, ranking 25th or worse in scoring, third downs and yards per play. The 2022 NFL regular season is over. Veteran Kicker Chris Boswell returns for his eighth season in the black and yellow to battle the swirling winds that come standard in the AFC North. 2026; 2025; 2024; 2023; 2022; 2021; 2020; 2019; 2018; 2017; 2016; 2015 Kicker: Ryan Santoso, Punter: Logan Cooke, KR/PR: Jamal Agnew. Buffalo has the highest floor of any team simply because of its league-best scoring . Berrios had his first season as a teams consistent kick returner and the move paid dividends. The third-year veteran hit 48 of his 49 extra points while also converting a career-high 94.1% of his field-goal attempts. Abdullah has a career kick return average of 25.4 yards and finished last season with 29 returns for 646 yards while playing for both the Vikings and Panthers. Evans had just two kick returns in Week 18 of the 2021 season but showed his dynamism with the ball in his hand by averaging 29.0 yards per return. Jaelon Darden served as the teams kick and punt returner in his rookie season. Jason Myers has struggled with consistency throughout his career with the Seahawks, but hes still an effective kicker. Fourteen teams have emerged from the scattered wreckage of an 18-week chain reaction of explosions with Super Bowl 57 dreams still intact. 2021 NFL SPECIAL TEAMS RANKINGS 1. The third-year receiver had 31 punt returns for 227 yards and muffed just one of 46 punts on the season. 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. Bullock had a career-low 61.5% success rate on field goals between 40 and 49 yards this season. Who has the best and worst units in every aspect of football? Berrios has always had a role as a punt returner and is now averaging 11.4 yards per punt return in his career. The constant is the traditionally strong special teams, led by one of the best kickers in NFL history, Justin Tucker. Today, we look to the third part of the game special teams. Head Coach Bill Belichick will let inexperienced kicker Tristan Vizcaino compete with veteran Nick Folk for the starting kicking job. Kicker: Harrison Butker, Punter: Tommy Townsend, KR: Isiah Pacheco, PR: Mecole Hardman. The rookie finished his first season with a 22.4 kick return average and an 8.1 punt return average. 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. Special teams: 23, The Saints simply haven't been good in all three phases of the game, and their offense has struggled badly at times to put up points. Offensive Line | Quarterback | Backfield | Pass-Catcher | Defensive Line | Secondary | Linebackers), (* Denotes a rookie. The Seahawks are projected to use DeeJay Dallas as their kick returner and Freddie Swain as their punt returner once again in 2022. Smith-Marsette returned just four kicks last season, averaging 20.8 yards per return in his rookie season.
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