Like most pretend football impresarios, The Loop rarely spends much time scouting kickers who, for the most part, have relatively little effect in deciding fantasy contests.

Until this year.

Kickers have made the 50-yard field goal, once an NFL rarity, into the equivalent of a 3-foot putt. Through the first two weeks of the season, they have made an incredible 35 of 39 kicks from that range. Just under 90 percent. Nine-zero.

With most leagues awarding bonus points for kicks of 40-plus yards and 50-plus, there’s a more significant premium on the long-distance booters.

The most shocking statistic, though, regards the four misses. Two of them are from Baltimore’s Justin Tucker, who is widely considered one of the league’s greatest kickers and who holds the all-time record of 66 yards.

So which potent kickers are likely available on your waiver wires? How about these guys?

Chris Boswell (Steelers) — Pittsburgh’s veteran has made all eight of his field-goal tries this season, half of them from 50 and beyond. And with Pittsburgh’s modest offense, he scored all 18 of their points in their Week 1 victory in Atlanta.

Chris Boswell #9 of the Pittsburgh Steelers kicks a field goal during the first quarter against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sept. 08, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)

Austin Seibert (Commanders) — Seibert did Boswell one better by scoring all 21 Commanders points thanks to seven FGs against the Giants last Sunday. But for his career he’s only 2 for 6 from 50 Land, though he has made 72 percent of his kicks from 40-49.

Austin Seibert #3 of the Washington Commanders celebrates with teammates after kicking the game-winning field goal to beat the New York Giants 21-18 at Northwest Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Cairo Santos (Bears) — He’s also perfect this season, including three from 50-plus. The Chicago veteran has gotten better with age. Over the past two-plus seasons he has made 14 of 16 from 50 and beyond. The Bears’ inconsistent offense gives him plenty of opportunities.

Cairo Santos #8 of the Chicago Bears kicks a 51 yard field goal in the second half of a preseason game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Soldier Field on Aug. 17, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

Evan McPherson (Bengals) — He’s most famous for a 31-yarder in overtime that sent the 2021 Bengals to the Super Bowl. But he’s so trusted on long-distance kicks that Cincinnati has given him 30 chances from 50-plus in the past three-plus years (making 23).

Evan McPherson #2 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates a made field goal with teammate Ryan Rehkow #8 against the Kansas City Chiefs during the fourth quarter at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Sitting stars

Eagles RB Saquon Barkley had a bad, bad drop that led to a Monday night loss, and the stench of that may linger against the red-hot Saints. … San Francisco’s defense will shut down RB Kyren Williams and the depleted Rams. … Jets RB Breece Hall will be facing a decent New England defense, with Braelon Allen looking over his shoulder, ready to vulture TDs. … Cleveland RB Jerome Ford would be a good choice against the Giants if not for D’Onta Foreman getting most of the work. … Miami’s Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle won’t be scaring anyone in Seattle with Skylar Thompson throwing the passes. … Indy WR Michael Pittman will remain quiet against Chicago. … Detroit tight end Sam LaPorta will be eclipsed again by teammate Jameson Williams in Arizona. … And two QBs we expect to struggle again are the Colts’ Anthony Richardson vs. the Bears and the Jags’ Trevor Lawrence in Buffalo.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) leaves to field after their win against the Green Bay Packers in an NFL football game, Saturday, Sept. 7, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

Matchup game

It’s a big game when desperate Baltimore faces desperate Dallas, and we expect big games from Ravens RB Derrick Henry and Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb. … Tampa receivers Chris Godwin and Mike Evans will roam free against Denver. … We think this is the week 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk breaks out against the Rams. … The best tight end in football right now might be Vegas rookie Brock Bowers, who will feast against lowly Carolina. … The Chiefs’ Travis Kelce will start to look like himself again vs. the Falcons. … The Joe Burrow to Mike Gesicki combination will work well against Washington. … Derek Carr will again look like a No. 1 QB against Washington. … and Pittsburgh QB Justin Fields will further cement his starting role by running free against the Chargers.

CeeDee Lamb #88 of the Dallas Cowboys attempts to catch the ball as he is defended by Martin Emerson Jr. #23 of the Cleveland Browns in the second quarter of the game at Cleveland Browns Stadium on Sept. 08, 2024 in Cleveland, Ohio. Lamb dropped the ball on the play. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Getty Images)

Injury watch

It has been a rough first two weeks, and Week 3 will not include the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Isaiah Pacheco, Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp, Deebo Samuel and Tua Tagovailoa. … Two great receivers, the Vikings’ Justin Jefferson and the Lions’ Amon-Ra St Brown, are a little banged up but are expected to play. … Green Bay QB Jordan Love and Philly wideout A.J. Brown are pretty doubtful. … The ranks of the questionable include Houston RB Joe MIxon, Seattle RB Kenneth Walker III, Tampa Bay RB Rashaad White, Tennessee RB Tajae Spears, receivers Jordan Addison of the Vikings, Keenan Allen of the Bears and the Bengals’ Tee Higgins, and four tight ends (Jaguars’ Evan Engram, Cowboys’ Jake Ferguson, Browns’ David Njoku and Saints’ Taysom Hill).

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs into the end zone for a topuchdown against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of the NFL Super Bowl 58 football game Sunday, Feb. 11, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

Deepest sleeper

Chances are most of you had never heard of Chiefs RB Carson Steele before he scored in last Sunday’s win over Cincinnati. And you might not hear of him again if the Chiefs reunite with Kareem Hunt, or if Clyde Edwards-Helaire comes back healthy. Steele has but nine carries for 27 yards in his NFL career. But he did have 3,780 yards and 30 touchdowns in his collegiate stops at Ball State and UCLA. If he’s lucky, Steele could become the most famous guy to come out of Ball State since David Letterman.

Carson Steele #42 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates his second quarter touchdown run against the Chicago Bears during preseason game action at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Aug. 22, 2024 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by David Eulitt/Getty Images)

The Thursday pick

Patriots at Jets (-6½)
Pick: Jets by 7

Braelon Allen #0 of the New York Jets scores a second half touchdown against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on Sept. 15, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)

You can hear Kevin Cusick on Wednesdays on Bob Sansevere’s “BS Show” podcast on iTunes. You can follow Kevin on Twitter — @theloopnow. He can be reached at kcusick@pioneerpress.com.

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