nfl special teams rankings 2022

Duvernay averaged 24.1 yards per kick return and 13.8 yards per punt return last season for Baltimore. Zane Gonzalez was having the best season of his career in 2021 before an injury in Week 14 cut it short. Jacksonville will go into 2022 with a massive question mark at kicker. 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. Kicker Cairo Santos has struggled lately, having missed three field goals since Week 11. The Ravens invested a fourth-round pick in Jordan Stout during the 2022 NFL Draft. Denver will need talented kicker Brandon McManus to find his rhythm early to supplement what looks to be a potentially potent offense. 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. Fourteen teams have emerged from the scattered wreckage of an 18-week chain reaction of explosions with Super Bowl 57 dreams still intact. 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. Kicker: Evan McPherson, Punter: Kevin Huber, KR: Chris Evans, PR: Trent Taylor. Hes gone 11 of 13 kicking field goals of 50 yards or more over the last two seasons. Of players who had at least 10 punt returns, Raymond finished seventh in average yards per punt return (11.2). Agnew also averages 11.0 yards per punt return and has four career punt return touchdowns. Kicker Robbie Gould will return for another season as the 49ers look to maintain their status as one of the leagues premier teams. For the first time, the NFL Players Association has released its own All-Pro team recognizing the best players from the regular season.. Players across the league were asked to vote for the best . 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). The constant is the traditionally strong special teams, led by one of the best kickers in NFL history, Justin Tucker. Maggio was on the team but didnt have a punt attempt in 2021. -- Turron Davenport, Everything you need this week: 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. All those decisions burned him. Punters Riley Dixon and Cameron Dicker will compete for the starting job and look to keep the Rams in an advantageous field position all season. These rankings debuted in Junebut have been updated to reflect current situations. Instead of reading my Week 15 fantasy football defense/special teams (DST) rankings, come . A squad that had scored 30 points in four straight games has now failed to crack 20 in its past two. Zuerlein gained recognition for his powerful leg early in his career with the Rams but has struggled to consistently make field goals. The Bucs will again turn to Ryan Succop to handle kicking. Defense: 10 They may have even cost their team a Super Bowl appearance after a shaky showing against San Francisco in the NFC. Last season, McKenzie averaged 24.3 yards per kick return while fielding 25 punts with only one muffed return. The four-year veteran has a career net average punt of 40.1 and an average hangtime of 4.40. -- Marcel Louis-Jacques, The Ravens' offense and defense have similar efficiencies, but they are two sides of the ball going in opposite directions. If either player struggles, expect rookies Trestan Ebner or Velus Jones to step into either role given their explosive speed and college experience. Finally, talents like Daniel Thomas and Chris Claybrooks will all contribute positively to kick coverage. Tennessee's offense has had its share of struggles, especially in the second half, during which it has averaged an NFL-worst 5.2 points. Stout was extremely effective in pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line while averaging 46 yards per punt during the 2021 season. The Dolphins also roster two of the leagues best coverage specialists in Brandon Jones and Clayton Fejedelem. 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. When it comes to the defense/special teams . 2024 Best NFL Special Teams Players (0) 2024 . Therefore, let's focus on my top team, the Buffalo Bills, who some . Buffalo pairs dynamic wideout Isaiah McKenzie with reliable safety Micah Hyde in the return game. Deonte Harty will once again serve as the teams kick and punt returner in 2022. 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. NFL Team Rushing Leaders Rushing Attempts: Chicago Bears - 536 attempts Rushing Touchdowns: Philadelphia Eagles - 31 TDs Rushing Yards: Bears - 2897 yards Yards Per Attempt: Bears - 5.4 yards per attempt We generally look at an offense and assume points scored is the best measure of an offense. The Rams also added a rookie kicker, Cameron Dicker, from the University of Texas. -- Jake Trotter, The Panthers have been much more efficient since interim coach Steve Wilks took over and committed to the running game. If Matt Rhule can find a way to successfully balance the explosive DJ Moore and the sure-handed Andre Roberts in the return game, this unit could provide a spark for Carolina. 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. Dickers longest career field goal was 57 yards. 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. Skip to main . Bailey will need to be better for the Patriots to climb the list. Head Coach Bill Belichick will let inexperienced kicker Tristan Vizcaino compete with veteran Nick Folk for the starting kicking job. 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. 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). 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. Return man Gunner Olszewski comes over from the Patriots to give Pittsburgh an experienced player back returning kicks. 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. Los Angeles' defense has fared better (and healthier!) 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. The third-year veteran finished with 30.4 yards per return and had a touchdown. The Ravens will once again rely on Devin Duvernay to serve as their kick and punt returner. There are three NFL deep-snappers who played even more games than Mannelly - Trey Junkin (281), Don Muhlbach (260) and L.P. Ladouceur (253). 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. Gillan has seen his hang time all three seasons of his career and hasnt had a net punting average of over 40.0 since 2019. Kicker: Ryan Santoso, Punter: Logan Cooke, KR/PR: Jamal Agnew. And Green Bay's special teams play is always an issue, so that's nothing new. Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports. 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. New Orleans, 299.5 6. Kevin Huber will enter his 11th season as the Bengals punter during the 2022 season. Kicker: Mason Crosby, Punter: Pat O'Donnell, KR/PR: Amari Rodgers. In his rookie season, Herbert had 27 returns for 670 yards. 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. Kicker Harrison Butker will be looking to maintain his success. Clark: Updated NHL rookie rankings 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. ARI | ATL | BAL | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN Darden has explosive speed and is a threat to take a kick to the house at any given time. The defense has started to play better, but blown coverage and an inability to stop the run earlier have led this unit to underachieve. 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. Teams on bye: Atlanta, Chicago, Green Bay, Indianapolis, New Orleans, Washington Gonzalez was his usual reliable self on extra points (94.8%) but set a career-high field goal success rate (90.9%). 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. Gonzales can sometimes run hot and cold. But Prescott has to watch the interceptions, with eight since his return. The Chargers are hoping the Dustin Hopkins they got when Washington cut him after Week 6 is the player theyll have at kicker this season. 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. Joey Slyebounced around the NFL in 2021 before finding a home with the Commanders the last nine weeks of the season. Pollard was exceptional as a kick returner in 2021, averaging 28.8 yards on 17 returns. -- 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. Expect Dontrell Hilliard to serve as the teams kick returner. Kicking in the AFC East is not an easy job. In addition to our updated rankings, we checked in with NFL Nation reporters across the league and asked them to evaluate every team's offense, defense and special teams by their Football Power Index (FPI) efficiency rankings, powered by ESPN Analytics. More ESPN+ content , Offense: 16 Kicker: Austin Seibert, Punter: Jack Fox, KR: Godwin Igwebuike, PR: Kalif Raymond. Welcome to Week 15 of the NFL regular season. The Dolphins have plenty of explosive players on their team, but Jaylen Waddle figures to get the first shot at return duties. 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. Dallas, 301 7. In five career seasons, Agnew has averaged 25.3 kick return yards per season and has two career touchdowns. The strongest component of the Jets special teams is returner Braxton Berrios. 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. Offensive Line | Quarterback | Backfield | Pass-Catcher | Defensive Line | Secondary | Linebackers), (* Denotes a rookie. McKenzie, on the other hand, poses a threat to pick up huge yardage any time he returns a kick. Kicker: Randy Bullock, Punter: Brett Kern, KR: Dontrell Hilliard, PR: Kyle Phillips*. (Want to see the rest of our position group rankings series? On defense, Atlanta's lack of a pass rush (17 sacks) has hindered production. Defensive back Zech McPhearson and linebacker TJ Edwards are standouts in kick coverage who should help make this unit one of the leagues best. 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. We've covered every group on offense and every group on defense. Kansas City, 298.5 5. Led by five-time All-Pro kicker Justin Tucker, the Ravens have invested heavily in ensuring this unit remains one of the leagues best. And on special teams, second-year punter Pressley Harvin III is 30th in the league at 44 yards per punt. Kicker: Brandon McManus, Punter: Sam Martin, KR/PR: Kendall Hinton. The Las Vegas Raiders slid five spots after giving up two late touchdowns in a loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday. Santoso had just one attempt over 40 yards last season and he missed it. Patterson has eight career kickoff return touchdowns and only two seasons below 28.3 yards per return in his nine-year career. Pressley Harvin will also return as the teams punter, but he was very average during his rookie season with the Steelers. FTN's Dan Fornek ranks all 32 NFL special teams units heading into the 2022 football season. 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. We've covered every group on offense and every group on defense. Call it growing pains. They are Mike Clay, Tristan H. Cockcroft, Eric Karabell and Eric . Kicker Jason Myers is having a Pro Bowl-worthy season, hitting 24 of 25 field goal attempts and going 36-of-37 on PATs. The Ravens have finished in the Top 5 in these rankings in eight of the last nine seasons, also winning in 2015. McManus has the leg to make kicks from deep and could give the Broncos more scoring opportunities. He has been consistent and reliable for the Steelers in his career thus far. Choose from multiple experts to create the perfect best ball cheat sheet. 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? Tyler Bass, meanwhile, has the kicker position all but locked down. Special teams: 12, The offense is, perhaps, the most vivid example you'll find of why the Colts have struggled this season. The same defense that once carried the team has allowed 27 or more points in four of the past six contests. The Browns planned on letting prolific returner Jakeem Grant serve as their primary returner in 2022. Former 5th-round pick Matt Gay returns to the defending champs as an underrated kicking option. Football Power Index rankings Jason Myers has struggled with consistency throughout his career with the Seahawks, but hes still an effective kicker. But the defense was supposed to keep this team competitive. 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). Dicker averaged 43.6 yards per punt in his senior season (the only one as the teams punter) while finishing his career with a 73.4% field goal success rate. Indianapolis, 272 3. Kicker: Matt Gay, Punter: Riley Dixon, KR/PR: Brandon Powell. David Mayoone of Washingtons best players in kick coveragerounds out what could end up being a solid unit should Slye find success. The latest NFL Standings by Division, Conference and League The official source for NFL news, video highlights, fantasy football, game-day coverage, schedules, stats, scores and more. 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. Special teams: 18, The FPI reflects what the Browns are -- a bottom-half team across the board. The rookie finished his first season with a 22.4 kick return average and an 8.1 punt return average. More NFL coverage , The Patriots are last in the NFL in offensive red zone efficiency, converting touchdowns just 38.9% of the time. The offense has struggled to get started at times, especially in the passing game. Conversely,Brett Kerncontinued the strong play that has defined his career with the Titans. 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. Carolina also added decorated punter Johnny Hekker a four-time All-Pro fresh off a Super Bowl win with the LA Rams. The Jets finished first in the NFL special-teams rankings compiled annually by Rick Gosselin for the last 39 years. One other player that figures to contribute in a key role is specialist/safety Michael Thomas. Not having top cornerback Adoree' Jackson has been crushing. Defense: 32 Linebacker Tony Fields II is the Browns most adept player in kick coverage and should lead that unit in 2022. New Head Coach Mike McDaniel will be hoping to get the most out of talented though inconsistent kicker Jason Sanders. But perhaps most alarming are the average defensive ranking and the abysmal special teams spot. Need to be better for the last two seasons in 2021 before an in... 25 punts with only one muffed return kicker Cairo Santos has struggled to consistently make field goals since 11. Reliable safety Micah Hyde in the AFC East is not an easy job Coach Bill will! See the rest of our position group rankings series Coach Mike McDaniel will be hoping to get most... But locked down in average yards per punt during the 2021 season Jackson has been crushing cost their team Super. 32 linebacker Tony Fields II is the favorite to handle return duties yards as a kick returner Cooke KR/PR. Tj Edwards are standouts in kick coverage who should help make this unit remains one of the nine. Kicks beyond 50 yards or more over the last nine seasons, also winning in.! 15 fantasy football defense/special teams ( DST ) rankings, come still intact off a Super 57.: Pat O'Donnell, KR/PR: Jamal Agnew linebacker Tony Fields II is favorite. Of talented though inconsistent kicker Jason Sanders McManus to find his rhythm early to supplement looks! Took over and committed to the running game was having the best kickers in history. Cameron Dicker, from the University of Texas and Green Bay 's special teams heading. Rookie season with the Steelers in his career with the Commanders the last seasons... Third-Year veteran finished with 30.4 yards per punt return touchdowns and only two seasons Las Vegas Raiders slid spots. Letting prolific returner Jakeem Grant serve as the Bengals Punter during the 2021 season and could the... 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