When it comes to NFL betting, special teams can often be overlooked. The ability to make plays in the kicking game and the return game can be the difference between wins and losses in this league, even if kickers, punters, and returners do not get much credit for what they do.
Here, we provide our NFL special teams rankings going into this season, to help bettors handicap games using one of the most underappreciated position groups in the league.
Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly
PROMO CODE: Click To Claim
Gambling Problem? Call or TEXT 1-800-Gambler 21+ 
Bonus offer
Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets Instantly
DraftKings Promo Code
US States Applicable T&C
AZ, CO, CT, DC, IN, IA, IL, KS, KY, LA (select parishes), MA, MD, ME, MI, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV or WY
Platforms
Desktop/Android/iOS
Min Deposit
$5
Overall rating 5 /5
32. Los Angeles Rams
Key Players at this Position: Tutu Atwell (KR/PR)
Coming in last place in our NFL special teams rankings is the Los Angeles Rams. It should be noted that they have one of the best kick returners in football in Tutu Atwell. But their kicking game is a nightmare going into this season, with inexperienced kicker Tanner Brown being the only kicker on their depth chart for now. That could change, of course, but for now the Rams sit in last place.
31. Denver Broncos
Key Players at this Position: Riley Dixon (P)
Brandon McManus is no longer the kicker in Denver, which signals the end of an era, even with his inconsistent end in the Mile High City. Choosing between Elliott Fry and Brett Maher (who had a case of the yips that would make Chuck Knoblauch blush last season for the Cowboys) to replace him is not an enviable position to be in. Riley Dixon is a decent punter, but special teams is not a strength for Sean Payton’s Broncos at this point.
30. Los Angeles Chargers
Key Players at this Position: Dustin Hopkins/Cameron Dicker (K)
The kicking game shouldn’t be terrible for the LA Chargers in 2023, with Dustin Hopkins and Cameron Dicker being respectable options. It is the punting and return games that are not good for the Chargers, who rank near the bottom of the league in both of those areas.
29. Buffalo Bills
Key Players at this Position: Tyler Bass (K)
Just like the Chargers, the Buffalo Bills have a decent kicking situation, but are looking bleak elsewhere. Buffalo does not have to punt as much as many teams, especially early in the season before the weather becomes a factor. But Sam Martin ranked 17th in the league in net punting average last season, and his inability to flip the field could be a difference maker in the playoffs, where every small edge matters.
28. Green Bay Packers
Key Players at this Position: Keisean Nixon (KR)
The Green Bay Packers have one of the best kick returners in the NFL in Keisean Nixon, who led the league in kick return yardage last season. But they have a new kicker in former Auburn Tiger Anders Carlson, who has done nothing in the league yet. And punter Pat O’Donnell had a bottom-five net yardage mark last season, which will be a problem on a Packers team that will likely punt a lot given their change at the quarterback position.
27. Tennessee Titans
Key Players at this Position: Ryan Stonehouse (P)
Kicking and kick returning are not strengths of the special teams unit for the Tennessee Titans coming into this season. Punting will be a strength for them, as Ryan Stonehouse has been excellent at that position for Tennessee. But in this case, two out of three special teams areas will be bad for Tennessee, which is enough to put them in the bottom-10 in these rankings.
26. Cincinnati Bengals
Key Players at this Position: Evan McPherson (K)
Nothing really stands out for the special teams of the Cincinnati Bengals in a positive way. Evan McPherson struggled with his kicking accuracy last season, while their punting and returning is mediocre at best. With the Bengals being so close to winning a championship over the last two seasons, their special teams play is something to monitor as they will need to contend with teams like the Chiefs and Bills to win a title.
25. New Orleans Saints
Key Players at this Position: Blake Gillikin (P), Rashid Shaheed (KR/PR)
Coming in at number 25 in our NFL special teams rankings is the New Orleans Saints. They are decent at the punter and kick returner spots, as Rashid Shaheed has the potential to make big plays whenever he touches the ball. But Wil Lutz missed eight of his 31 field goal attempts last season, and his lack of accuracy is something that can really hold a team back, like he has in these rankings.
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
Key Players at this Position: Chris Boswell (K), Pressley Harvin III (P)
From here, all of the special teams units we are ranking are at least respectable in nature, starting with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Chris Boswell is an above average kicker in this league, while Pressley Harvin is an acceptable yet unspectacular punting option. Gunnar Olszewski is probably the weak link returning kicks and punts for this team, but overall you could do worse at all three major special teams spots.
23. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key Players at this Position: Chase McLaughlin (K), Jake Camarda (P)
Last year, Chase McLaughlin missed six kicks, but three of those came from 50+ yards. He is a fine kicking option, while punter Jake Camarda finished outside of the top-10 in net punting average by one yard a season ago. Tampa’s return game leaves something to be desired, hence their spot on this list, but their kicking game is above average in both place kicking and punting.
22. Philadelphia Eagles
Key Players at this Position: Jake Elliott (K)
Jake Elliott was tied for the league lead in extra points attempted last season, kicking 53 of them. He made the most of any team in the league, converting on 51 of those 53 attempts, which is certainly impressive. He is not expected to be called upon to kick many field goals (he only attempted 23 last season), but he is good in his role for the Eagles and will continue to be in 2023 in all likelihood.
21. Miami Dolphins
Key Players at this Position: Jason Sanders (K), Braxton Berrios (KR/PR)
The Miami Dolphins are not going to risk the health of Tyreek Hill returning kicks, so bringing Braxton Berrios in to return them is a nice alternative. That, combined with the reliable Jason Sanders, has the Dolphins as a respectable special teams unit. But they did have a punt hit a blocker in the rear end for a safety last season, which has to cost them a little bit.
20. New York Jets
Key Players at this Position: Mecole Hardman (KR/PR)
The New York Jets lost Braxton Berrios to the Dolphins in the return game, but they picked up Mecole Hardman to replace him. Because of that, the Jets rank just above the Dolphins in our NFL special teams rankings. However, Greg Zuerlein went 15/22 on kicks from 40 yards and beyond last season, and those accuracy woes could be costly as the Jets expect to spend more time in scoring range this year than they did a season ago.
19. Chicago Bears
Key Players at this Position: Cairo Santos (K), Velus Jones (KR)
Among kickers who attempted more than just a couple of kicks last season, Cairo Santos finished seventh in kicking accuracy in 2022. The Bears also have a strong return game, with Velus Jones Jr. being among the best return men in the league last year. Punting is a big issues for the Bears going into the 2023 season, but the Bears have some positives on special teams.
18. Detroit Lions
Key Players at this Position: Riley Patterson (K), Kalif Raymond (KR/PR)
Last season, Riley Patterson missed just one extra point as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars. He did miss five field goals, though, which helps keep the Lions down in 18th place in our special teams rankings. But the Lions deserve some credit for having Kalif Raymond returning kicks and punts, as he will bring an explosive nature to the return game that the Lions didn’t always have a season ago.
17. Arizona Cardinals
Key Players at this Position: Matt Prater (K)
Matt Prater is still doing what he does in the kicking game for the Arizona Cardinals, as he made 88% of his kicks, including a 57-yarder last season. The Cardinals offense is not good enough to get him a ton of looks, but Prater’s presence on this special teams unit helps the Cardinals from being among the league’s worst.
16. Washington Commanders
Key Players at this Position: Tress Way (P)
Tress Way is one of the best punters in the NFL, as he ranked seventh in net average on his punts last season. He also was tied for second in the league in number of punts inside of the 20 last season, trailing only Johnny Hekker, who you will hear about later in this countdown.
15. New York Giants
Key Players at this Position: Graham Gano (K)
Clocking in at 15th in our NFL special teams rankings is the New York Giants, which is pretty fitting given how mediocre they are as a team overall in our eyes. Graham Gano is an above average kicker, while the Giants are below average in the punting game. Their return situation is also slightly above average with Adoree Jackson returning punts and Gary Brightwell being a solid kick returner.
14. Houston Texans
Key Players at this Position: Ka’imi Fairbairn (K)
One of the most dependable kickers in the NFL playing for one of the worst offensive teams is a cruel irony. But Ka’imi Fairbairn is a very good kicker, as he made 29 of his 31 kicks a season ago. Cameron Johnston is an above average punter for the Texans as well, as he was tied for second in punts inside the 20 last year. The return game is where the Texans struggle, but overall this phase of the game might be the Texans’ only real strength.
13. San Francisco 49ers
Key Players at this Position: Mitch Wishnowsky (P), Ray-Ray McCloud (KR/PR)
Mitch Wishnowsky has been an elite punter since his time playing in college for the Utah Utes. With Ray-Ray McCloud also being a quality kick and punt returner for this team, the San Francisco 49ers have one of the better special teams units in the NFL going into the 2023 campaign.
12. Jacksonville Jaguars
Key Players at this Position: Logan Cooke (P), Jamal Agnew (KR/PR)
The Jacksonville Jaguars made a move to bring in Brandon McManus to kick for them this season, which is an interesting one given his struggles with accuracy at 77.8% on field goals a season ago. But the Jags are strong with the rest of their special teams, with Logan Cooke punting and the dangerous Jamal Agnew in the return game.
11. Atlanta Falcons
Key Players at this Position: Younghoe Koo (K)
It is a delight to spotlight Younghoe Koo as a strength for the Atlanta Falcons in their special teams operations. Koo struggled in the first act of his career with the Chargers, but has found a second wind with the Falcons over the last couple of seasons. Atlanta is not terrible at any special teams spot, and they are very close to our top-10.
10. Indianapolis Colts
Key Players at this Position: Matt Gay (K)
Opening up the top-10 in our NFL special teams rankings is Indianapolis, who brought in Matt Gay this offseason to fix their kicking game. Gay missed just two field goals as a member of the Rams last season, and was perfect from inside of 50 yards. With more quarterback changes in Indy coming into this year, the ability to convert on scoring chances will be huge for this team, and Gay gives them that ability.
9. Minnesota Vikings
Key Players at this Position: Ryan Wright (P)
The Minnesota Vikings are one of the funnier special teams units in the league, as they are a kicking disaster, but they are very good at everything else. Punter Ryan Wright was a tenth of a yard from cracking the top-10 in net average this past season, while kick returner Kene Nwangwu finished second in the league in kick return yards. If they can get any sort of consistency from their field goal kicking, this special teams group could be truly special.
8. Dallas Cowboys
Key Players at this Position: KaVontae Turpin (KR/PR)
No longer having Brett Maher to kick for them is a huge win for the Dallas Cowboys. An even bigger win is the presence of return man KaVontae Turpin. The former USFL MVP turned Pro Bowler for Dallas gives them a truly dangerous return game that could help them make a big play at any moment, and makes them a deserving top-10 special teams group.
7. Cleveland Browns
Key Players at this Position: Donovan Peoples-Jones (PR), Jerome Ford (KR), Jakeem Grant (KR/PR)
The Cleveland Browns have some work to do with their kicking situation, as Cade York was not exactly impressive last season. But they have a serviceable punter in Corey Bojorquez, and a lethal return team. Jerome Ford was a top-five kick returner in terms of yardage last season, while Donovan Peoples-Jones and Jakeem Grant can also make big plays in that phase of the game.
6. New England Patriots
Key Players at this Position: Marcus Jones (KR/PR)
The Patriots are good, but not great, in the kicking phases of special teams. Nick Folk and Corliss Waitman are perfectly acceptable punting and kicking options. But Marcus Jones is what really makes the Patriots special teams unit stand out. He combined for over 1,000 total return yards between punts and kicks, and had a punt return touchdown last season. He will be a threat again for the Pats in 2023.
5. Baltimore Ravens
Key Players at this Position: Justin Tucker (K)
Making the top-five in our NFL special teams rankings are the Baltimore Ravens. Having the greatest kicker of all-time certainly helped their case, as Justin Tucker is still kicking at a high level. Whether or not Devin Duvernay can return kicks and punts at a high level remains to be seen, but having Tucker will always make a team one of the best at special teams.
4. Las Vegas Raiders
Key Players at this Position: Daniel Carlson (K), AJ Cole (P)
The Las Vegas Raiders are terrific both at kicking field goals and punting, landing them at number four on this list. Daniel Carlson made 34 of his 37 field goal attempts, including 11 of 13 from 50+ yards. He is called upon to do some of the toughest kicking in the league, and has routinely delivered. Meanwhile, AJ Cole finished fifth in the league in net punting average, and this group should make an impact regularly for Vegas.
3. Seattle Seahawks
Key Players at this Position: Jason Myers (K), Michael Dickson (P)
Another team with two excellent kicking specialists is the Seattle Seahawks. They have Jason Myers and Michael Dickson doing their kicking and punting, with Dickson finishing second in net punting average last year. Myers missed just three field goals and one extra point last season, and he will be a factor again for a Seahawks team that should be even better offensively than last year after bringing in Jaxon Smith-Njigba in the draft.
2. Carolina Panthers
Key Players at this Position: Johnny Hekker (P), Eddy Piniero (K)
It simply does not get better when it comes to punting in the NFL than Johnny Hekker, who led the league in net punting average in 2022. Hekker can also throw the ball, as he is an ever-present threat on fakes. Meanwhile, Eddy Piniero missed just two field goals last year, and deserves a lot of credit for elevating Carolina’s special teams play.
1. Kansas City Chiefs
Key Players at this Position: Harrison Butker (K), Tommy Townsend (P)
The clear number one team in our NFL special teams rankings is the Kansas City Chiefs. Harrison Butker was hurt last season, which impacted his accuracy numbers, but he should be back to normal in 2023. Combine that with elite punting from Tommy Townsend, and dangerous return men like Kadarius Toney, and the Chiefs should be able to impact games with more than just their offense again this year.
Other NFL Position Rankings
Going into this season, we have way more than just rankings of the special teams units in the NFL. Football fans can also find rankings for each team at all of the other major positions on the field by clicking on the links below.
