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2018 NFL Kickoff Specialist Rankings

Every NFL kickoff specialist with enough work in the 2018 regular season (at least 30), ranked by kickoff points added. Each kickoff's expected-points result compared with the league-average kickoff, added up over the season. Onside kicks are left out. It credits the kicker and the coverage team together.

NFL rule from 2016 to 2023: a kickoff touchback started the receiving team at its 25 (from 2023 a fair catch inside the 25 did too), so a deep kick into the end zone was the safe, standard result. Kickoff Points Added accounts for the rule, so it is the fair way to compare kickoff specialists across leagues and seasons.

Final 2018 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

2018 NFL Leaders

Kickoff Touchback Percentage

  1. Dustin Hopkins (Washington Commanders): 81% 56 of 69
  2. Chandler Catanzaro (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 80% 52 of 65
  3. Jason Sanders (Miami Dolphins): 80% 55 of 69
  4. Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers): 77% 47 of 61
  5. Greg Zuerlein (Los Angeles Rams): 76% 57 of 75

Full Kickoff Touchback Percentage leaderboard

Average Kickoff Return Allowed

  1. Josh Lambo (Jacksonville Jaguars): 17.9 16 returns
  2. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): 20.1 34 returns
  3. Matt McCrane (Las Vegas Raiders): 20.1 15 returns
  4. Aldrick Rosas (New York Giants): 20.4 28 returns
  5. Brandon McManus (Denver Broncos): 20.6 28 returns

Full Average Kickoff Return Allowed leaderboard

Kickoff Points Added

  1. Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers): +7.6 82 kickoffs
  2. Mike Badgley (Los Angeles Chargers): +5.5 54 kickoffs
  3. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): +4.7 92 kickoffs
  4. Sam Martin (Detroit Lions): +4.6 68 kickoffs
  5. Greg Zuerlein (Los Angeles Rams): +3.8 75 kickoffs

Full Kickoff Points Added leaderboard

Average Kickoff Distance

  1. Brett Maher (Dallas Cowboys): 64.7 77 kickoffs
  2. Greg Zuerlein (Los Angeles Rams): 64.6 75 kickoffs
  3. Caleb Sturgis (Los Angeles Chargers): 64.6 34 kickoffs
  4. Bradley Pinion (San Francisco 49ers): 64.5 77 kickoffs
  5. Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers): 64.4 61 kickoffs

Full Average Kickoff Distance leaderboard

Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage

  1. Wil Lutz (New Orleans Saints): 0.0% 0 of 101
  2. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots): 0.0% 0 of 95
  3. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): 0.0% 0 of 92
  4. Matt Bosher (Atlanta Falcons): 0.0% 0 of 87
  5. Rigoberto Sanchez (Indianapolis Colts): 0.0% 0 of 86

Full Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage leaderboard

30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed

  1. Aldrick Rosas (New York Giants): 0.0% 0 of 28
  2. Caleb Sturgis (Los Angeles Chargers): 6.3% 1 of 16
  3. Josh Lambo (Jacksonville Jaguars): 6.3% 1 of 16
  4. Matt McCrane (Las Vegas Raiders): 6.7% 1 of 15
  5. Phil Dawson (Arizona Cardinals): 11.8% 2 of 17

Full 30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed leaderboard

All 2018 NFL Kickoff Specialist Leaderboards

Kickoffs by Points Added

34 kickoff specialists qualify.

RkPlayerTeamKickoffsAvg distTB%ReturnsPoints
1Chris BoswellPittsburgh Steelers8262.262%31+7.6
2Mike BadgleyLos Angeles Chargers5461.717%45+5.5
3Ka'imi FairbairnHouston Texans9263.663%34+4.7
4Sam MartinDetroit Lions6864.350%34+4.6
5Greg ZuerleinLos Angeles Rams7564.676%18+3.8
6Josh LamboJacksonville Jaguars5262.669%16+2.9
7Brandon McManusDenver Broncos7063.360%28+2.9
8Phil DawsonArizona Cardinals3163.645%17+2.5
9Jason MyersNew York Jets8264.173%22+2.5
10Caleb SturgisLos Angeles Chargers3464.653%16+2.4
11Stephen HauschkaBuffalo Bills6362.048%33+2.3
12Harrison ButkerKansas City Chiefs10964.166%35+1.8
13Aldrick RosasNew York Giants8162.863%28+1.2
14Randy BullockCincinnati Bengals7863.658%32+1.0
15Greg JosephCleveland Browns6863.769%20+0.4
16Wil LutzNew Orleans Saints10164.463%37+0.2
17Dan BaileyMinnesota Vikings6563.054%30+0.1
18Sebastian JanikowskiSeattle Seahawks7264.258%30−0.4
19Jake ElliottPhiladelphia Eagles8164.170%24−0.4
20Justin TuckerBaltimore Ravens9262.563%33−0.8
21Dustin HopkinsWashington Commanders6964.281%13−1.0
22Rigoberto SanchezIndianapolis Colts8663.069%27−1.0
23Matt BosherAtlanta Falcons8763.859%36−1.1
24Cody ParkeyChicago Bears8863.874%22−1.3
25Graham GanoCarolina Panthers6164.477%14−1.6
26Chandler CatanzaroTampa Bay Buccaneers6563.480%13−1.9
27Cairo SantosTampa Bay Buccaneers4861.640%29−2.5
28Mason CrosbyGreen Bay Packers8064.251%39−3.0
29Daniel CarlsonLas Vegas Raiders5362.855%23−3.2
30Bradley PinionSan Francisco 49ers7764.568%25−3.4
31Brett MaherDallas Cowboys7764.768%25−4.9
32Jason SandersMiami Dolphins6963.580%13−5.2
33Ryan SuccopTennessee Titans7063.866%24−7.1
34Stephen GostkowskiNew England Patriots9560.955%43−11.9

Points compare each kickoff's expected-points result with the league-average kickoff. Onside kicks are listed separately and left out of points. Average distance is measured from the kicking spot to where the ball was caught or reached the goal line; a touchback counts the full distance. Returns exclude touchbacks, out-of-bounds kicks and fair catches. Minimum 30 kickoffs.

Kickoff Specialist Rankings in Other Seasons

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Other 2018 NFL Rankings

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