Chad Ryland — 2026 Fantasy Outlook

The case for drafting him

Chad Ryland's 2024 and 2025 seasons show a kicker who settled in after a rough debut. In 2023 he missed 9 of 25 field goal attempts. Over the next two seasons he connected on 28-of-32 and 25-of-33, with his long-range production growing each year: 4 field goals from 50-plus yards in 2024, then 6 in 2025. His extra-point volume also climbed, reaching 36 makes on 36 attempts in 2025. The three-year averages tell a similar story: 23 makes on 30 attempts per season, with roughly 6.3 misses. For a drafter who waits on the kicker position, Ryland's recent accuracy and increasing deep-range work give him a credible floor to build on.

What the model projects

The projection is 102.1 half-PPR fantasy points for the 2026 season. Ryland sits at K26 and #233 overall, placing him in Tier 9. His draft value is -63.7, meaning the projection lands below replacement level at the kicker position in a 12-team half-PPR format. Arizona's bye falls in Week 14, which is a consideration for managers in leagues with playoff schedules that overlap that week.

The range of outcomes

The simulated season band is wide. The bottom 10 percent of outcomes lands at 14.5 points, a near-zero season. The 25th percentile reaches 72.2 points, still a below-average kicker season. The median simulated season is 118.2 points, which clears the projection slightly. The 75th percentile is 131.2 points, and the top 10 percent of outcomes reaches 156.0 points. The gap between the floor and the ceiling is substantial, which is consistent with the high variance that defines the kicker position. A drafter targeting Ryland is accepting that the downside is severe even as the upside is real.

How to draft him

Ryland is not being drafted consistently enough across platforms to carry a market ADP. In practice that means he is available as a late-round or undrafted addition in most public 2026 drafts. His #233 overall rank and K26 position rank reflect a below-replacement projection, so the calculus is straightforward: if a drafter wants him, the cost is minimal and the pick can come at the very end of the draft. Week 14 bye planning is the one scheduling note worth flagging before committing to him as a starter.

The projection of 102.1 points and a draft value of -63.7 put him below replacement level at K26 and #233 overall. That said, he carries no ADP, so the cost to acquire him is effectively the last pick of the draft. Drafters who wait on kickers and want a late-game option can add him without sacrificing meaningful draft capital.

His accuracy improved sharply after 2023. He missed 9 of 25 attempts that first season, then 3 of 32 in 2024 and 7 of 33 in 2025. His three-year average is 23 makes on 30 attempts with roughly 6.3 misses per season. The 2024 and 2025 lines are more representative of his recent form than the 2023 debut.

The simulated season band runs from 14.5 points at the 10th percentile to 156.0 at the 90th percentile, with a median of 118.2. The floor is severe and the ceiling is modest, which reflects the inherent volatility of the position rather than anything specific to Ryland.

It depends on the league's playoff structure. If the fantasy playoffs begin in Week 15, the bye is a non-issue. If a manager's schedule includes a Week 14 playoff game, they would need a streaming option that week. It is worth confirming before drafting him as the primary kicker.