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2021 NFL Punter Rankings

Every NFL punter with enough work in the 2021 regular season (at least 30), ranked by punt points added. Each punt's expected-points result compared with an average punt from the same spot on the field, added up over the season. It puts distance, placement, coverage and returns on one scale.

Final 2021 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

2021 NFL Leaders

Gross Punting Average

  1. A.J. Cole (Las Vegas Raiders): 50.0 64 punts
  2. Jack Fox (Detroit Lions): 49.2 65 punts
  3. Andy Lee (Arizona Cardinals): 49.0 51 punts
  4. Bryan Anger (Dallas Cowboys): 48.4 65 punts
  5. Tress Way (Washington Commanders): 48.4 61 punts

Full Gross Punting Average leaderboard

Net Punting Average

  1. Bryan Anger (Dallas Cowboys): 44.6 65 punts
  2. Logan Cooke (Jacksonville Jaguars): 43.6 65 punts
  3. Tommy Townsend (Kansas City Chiefs): 43.3 37 punts
  4. Sam Martin (Denver Broncos): 42.8 67 punts
  5. Johnny Hekker (Los Angeles Rams): 42.6 51 punts

Full Net Punting Average leaderboard

Inside the 20 Percentage

  1. Tommy Townsend (Kansas City Chiefs): 54.1% 20 of 37
  2. Michael Dickson (Seattle Seahawks): 48.2% 40 of 83
  3. Johnny Hekker (Los Angeles Rams): 45.1% 23 of 51
  4. Jake Bailey (New England Patriots): 44.2% 23 of 52
  5. A.J. Cole (Las Vegas Raiders): 43.8% 28 of 64

Full Inside the 20 Percentage leaderboard

Longest Punts

  1. Corey Bojorquez (Green Bay Packers): 82 yds
  2. Rigoberto Sanchez (Indianapolis Colts): 79 yds
  3. Pat O'Donnell (Chicago Bears): 72 yds
  4. A.J. Cole (Las Vegas Raiders): 71 yds
  5. Jake Bailey (New England Patriots): 71 yds

Full Longest Punts leaderboard

Punt Points Added

  1. Tommy Townsend (Kansas City Chiefs): +17.0 37 punts
  2. Corey Bojorquez (Green Bay Packers): +13.5 53 punts
  3. Cameron Johnston (Houston Texans): +12.9 88 punts
  4. Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco 49ers): +12.7 57 punts
  5. Sam Martin (Denver Broncos): +12.6 67 punts

Full Punt Points Added leaderboard

Fair Catch Percentage

  1. Johnny Hekker (Los Angeles Rams): 49.0% 25 of 51
  2. Logan Cooke (Jacksonville Jaguars): 40.6% 26 of 65
  3. Thomas Morstead (Atlanta Falcons): 37.8% 17 of 45
  4. Bryan Anger (Dallas Cowboys): 36.9% 24 of 65
  5. Sam Martin (Denver Broncos): 35.8% 24 of 67

Full Fair Catch Percentage leaderboard

Punt Touchback Percentage

  1. Logan Cooke (Jacksonville Jaguars): 1.6% 1 of 65
  2. Rigoberto Sanchez (Indianapolis Colts): 1.7% 1 of 59
  3. Johnny Hekker (Los Angeles Rams): 2.0% 1 of 51
  4. Brett Kern (Tennessee Titans): 2.1% 1 of 47
  5. Jamie Gillan (Cleveland Browns): 2.4% 1 of 42

Full Punt Touchback Percentage leaderboard

Touchbacks Avoided (STOP Rank)

  1. Rigoberto Sanchez (Indianapolis Colts): +3.0 1 TB on 59 punts
  2. Johnny Hekker (Los Angeles Rams): +2.7 1 TB on 51 punts
  3. Logan Cooke (Jacksonville Jaguars): +2.2 1 TB on 65 punts
  4. Cameron Johnston (Houston Texans): +2.1 4 TB on 88 punts
  5. Bradley Pinion (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): +2.0 2 TB on 56 punts

Full Touchbacks Avoided (STOP Rank) leaderboard

Return Yards Allowed per Punt

  1. Johnny Hekker (Los Angeles Rams): 1.2 60 yards
  2. Tommy Townsend (Kansas City Chiefs): 1.7 64 yards
  3. Matt Haack (Buffalo Bills): 1.8 96 yards
  4. Sam Martin (Denver Broncos): 2.3 154 yards
  5. Bryan Anger (Dallas Cowboys): 2.5 163 yards

Full Return Yards Allowed per Punt leaderboard

Opponent Starting Field Position

  1. Tommy Townsend (Kansas City Chiefs): 21.2 37 punts
  2. Michael Dickson (Seattle Seahawks): 21.3 83 punts
  3. Thomas Morstead (Atlanta Falcons): 21.9 45 punts
  4. A.J. Cole (Las Vegas Raiders): 21.9 64 punts
  5. Jake Bailey (New England Patriots): 22.2 52 punts

Full Opponent Starting Field Position leaderboard

Net Average in Opponent Territory

  1. Rigoberto Sanchez (Indianapolis Colts): 35.1 12 punts
  2. Michael Palardy (Miami Dolphins): 35.0 17 punts
  3. Blake Gillikin (New Orleans Saints): 33.8 13 punts
  4. Pressley Harvin (Pittsburgh Steelers): 32.4 12 punts
  5. Michael Dickson (Seattle Seahawks): 32.3 21 punts

Full Net Average in Opponent Territory leaderboard

Net Average in Wind

  1. Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco 49ers): 45.1 15 punts
  2. Tommy Townsend (Kansas City Chiefs): 44.4 22 punts
  3. Sam Martin (Denver Broncos): 43.8 29 punts
  4. Corey Bojorquez (Green Bay Packers): 43.3 31 punts
  5. Jamie Gillan (Cleveland Browns): 43.3 13 punts

Full Net Average in Wind leaderboard

All 2021 NFL Punter Leaderboards

Punters by Points Added

33 punters qualify.

RkPlayerTeamPuntsAvgNetIn 20In 20 %TB %FC %Points
1Tommy TownsendKansas City Chiefs3747.243.32054%11%24%+17.0
2Corey BojorquezGreen Bay Packers5346.540.01834%8%23%+13.5
3Cameron JohnstonHouston Texans8846.741.73742%5%25%+12.9
4Mitch WishnowskySan Francisco 49ers5745.040.52137%9%26%+12.7
5Sam MartinDenver Broncos6746.042.82842%4%36%+12.6
6Bryan AngerDallas Cowboys6548.444.62437%6%37%+9.8
7Michael DicksonSeattle Seahawks8346.941.74048%12%27%+8.4
8A.J. ColeLas Vegas Raiders6450.042.52844%11%27%+7.3
9Logan CookeJacksonville Jaguars6547.343.62843%2%41%+5.8
10Jamie GillanCleveland Browns4243.939.51536%2%29%+5.1
11Rigoberto SanchezIndianapolis Colts5944.539.72441%2%25%+4.4
12Michael PalardyMiami Dolphins7844.740.13140%6%35%+3.8
13Tress WayWashington Commanders6148.441.42236%12%23%+3.3
14Sam KochBaltimore Ravens7144.440.02637%6%23%+3.1
15Thomas MorsteadAtlanta Falcons4547.242.01840%4%38%+2.6
16Johnny HekkerLos Angeles Rams5144.242.62345%2%49%+2.3
17Blake GillikinNew Orleans Saints8347.742.02935%5%22%−0.1
18Kevin HuberCincinnati Bengals6646.441.02233%9%23%−0.3
19Jack FoxDetroit Lions6549.242.31726%11%15%−1.3
20Pat O'DonnellChicago Bears6246.238.51931%8%21%−1.4
21Braden MannNew York Jets4245.740.61433%2%15%−1.4
22Bradley PinionTampa Bay Buccaneers5642.538.92341%4%30%−1.8
23Matt HaackBuffalo Bills5342.937.61834%13%21%−2.0
24Andy LeeArizona Cardinals5149.041.91224%10%16%−3.0
25Brett KernTennessee Titans4744.840.41838%2%23%−4.7
26Arryn SipossPhiladelphia Eagles5543.938.71731%5%22%−6.7
27Riley DixonNew York Giants7444.439.52432%8%20%−8.1
28Jake BaileyNew England Patriots5247.339.62344%12%27%−9.0
29Lachlan EdwardsCarolina Panthers3947.940.5821%5%24%−9.1
30Pressley HarvinPittsburgh Steelers7042.638.02536%4%27%−10.7
31Jordan BerryMinnesota Vikings7946.540.82633%4%19%−13.7
32Dustin ColquittAtlanta Falcons4944.538.31327%6%21%−14.4
33Ty LongLos Angeles Chargers4745.536.81123%4%11%−14.8

Ranked by points added: each punt's expected-points result compared with an average punt from the same spot, summed. Net subtracts return yards and 20 for touchbacks. TB % and FC % are shares of punts that were not blocked. Hang time is not recorded in public play-by-play, so fair-catch rate stands in for it. Minimum 30 punts.

Punter Rankings in Other Seasons

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Other 2021 NFL Rankings

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