Just three words of advice when it comes to drafting kickers: Only select one.

Don’t be the guy who’s so cheap he would rather select two kickers -- thus covering himself for his starter’s bye week -- than pay his league’s fee for a free-agent acquisition.

But if you are "that guy," here is a list of the top 20, thus giving yourself plenty of backup options.

Rank, player, team FG 19-39 40-49 50+ Pts
1. Stephen Gostkowski, NE 36-40 26-28 9-11 1-1 148
2. Nate Kaeding, SD 27-32 23-23 3-8 1-1 127
3. Mason Crosby, GB 27-34 18-21 5-6 3-6 127
4. David Akers, Phi 33-40 21-23 8-10 2-5 144
5. Jason Elam, Atl 29-31 18-19 10-10 1-2 129
6. Rob Bironas, Ten 29-33 13-13 15-19 1-1 127
7. Robbie Gould, Chi 26-29 18-18 8-11 0-0 119
8. Ryan Longwell, Min 29-34 17-19 6-9 6-6 127
9. Neil Rackers, Ari 25-28 18-20 6-6 1-2 119
10. John Kasay, Car 28-31 16-16 11-12 1-3 130
11. Nick Folk, Dal 20-22 8-9 10-11 2-2 102
12. Lawrence Tynes, NYG 1-1 1-1 0-0 0-0 6
13. Adam Vinatieri, Ind 20-25 14-16 4-7 2-2 103
14. Rian Lindell, Buf 30-38 18-19 10-15 1-3 124
15. Jeff Reed, Pit 27-31 17-18 8-10 1-2 117
16. Kris Brown, Hou 29-33 19-20 8-10 2-3 124
17. Joe Nedney, SF 29-33 19-19 8-11 2-3 121
18. Josh Brown, StL 31-36 15-15 10-13 6-8 112
19. Shayne Graham, Cin 21-24 11-12 9-11 0-0 78
20. Matt Prater, Den 25-34 15-17 5-11 5-6 114

KEY: 19-39, 40-49, 50+: Kickers’ success rates in field goals from that distance. ... Statistics are from the 2008 season.

QUICK SLANTS

With Tom Brady healthy, Gostkowski had only 50 field-goal attempts combined in 2006 and ’07. ... Kaeding has averaged more than 50 point-afters per season the last five years. ... Crosby had 31 field goals and scored 141 points as a rookie in 2007. ... Bironas made 35 field goals that same season. ... Gould has made 32 of 39 attempts from 40 to 49 yards the last three years. ... Vinatieri has converted only 4 of 9 from that distance the last two years. ... Elam has missed only eight field goals in 91 attempts and is perfect on 109 point-afters the last three seasons. ... The Browns’ Phil Dawson, who scored a career-best 120 points in 2007, should not be drafted, but he would be a decent bye-week pickup.

Next: We'll conclude the six-part series of previews by looking at the best defenses and special teams