Shayne Graham

Released by the Browns in August of 2013.

Graham hasn't held a full-time job since 2009, but keeps getting chances to compete for jobs in training camps. This season, it's the Texans, who have moved on from Neil Rackers and will audition Graham and rookie draft pick Randy Bullock. Graham has an 86-percent career success rate on field goals while Bullock showed consistency in his four years at Texas A&M. Houston's kicking job has been a productive one and figures to be so in 2012, so watch how this battle plays out during training camp and preseason.

The Ravens signed Graham just before press time, and we’d have to think he's the favorite to win the job. Cundiff joined the Ravens in November last season after he was released by the Browns a few weeks before, but was just 7- of-12 from beyond 30 yards last season and is just a career 61.6 percent kicker from that range. Graham had been a top-10 kicker from 2005-2007, and made two kicks from 50-plus a year ago as well as all three of his attempts from 40-plus. The Ravens offense should take a step up this year with Anquan Boldin in the fold and Joe Flacco continuing to develop in his third year. The unresolved battle knocks Graham down a peg, but there's upside if and when he secures the job.

Graham had his worst fantasy season last year since he became a full-time kicker, scoring 78 points, 42 fewer than the average of his previous five years. Carson Palmer was ineffective early in the season and then got hurt, and the Bengals were never able to do anything offensively, averaging an NFL-low 12.8 points per game. Cincinnati's offense likely will improve, but probably not enough to vault Graham back into the top-five fantasy status where he resided for many years.

Graham is like a blue-chip stock that pays high dividends. No matter the market, you'll always get a return on your investment. Graham ranked fifth in kicker scoring last season with 130 points, and, despite the turmoil surrounding the Bengals the last several seasons, Graham has been a constant. Graham made a career-high 31 field goals last year and has finished in the top 10 in kicker scoring the last four seasons. While weather is a concern in Cincinnati, Graham has a career track record of making kicks in cold (40 degrees and below) weather (27-of-30, 90 percent) and wet and windy conditions (47-of-59, 80 percent). As long as the Bengals have Carson Palmer moving the ball, Graham should be a nice investment for a fantasy portfolio.

Graham has been in the Top 10 in scoring each of the last three seasons. With quarterback Carson Palmer healthy heading into 2007, look for Graham to have a season similar to 2005 when he scored 131 points. Graham is one of the more accurate kickers in the league, hitting 53-of-62 field goals in his last two seasons. We also like that Graham has had at least 30 FGA in each of the last three years.

The Bengals’ improving offense resulted in Graham scoring 258 points in the last two seasons, and three straight seasons scoring more than 100. The offense was among the NFL leaders in touchdowns last season, so Graham could get 50 points in extra points alone. He’s been very accurate for Cincinnati, converting 87.5 percent of his attempts in his three seasons there. The only concern is, of course, the health of quarterback Carson Palmer. If Palmer isn’t starting the season, Graham’s value takes a bit of a hit.

With an improved Cincinnati offense comes a viable fantasy kicker. Graham has ridden the Bengals’ scoring surge to post 106 and 122 points in 2003 and 2004, respectively. He’s hit 87.5 percent of his kicks (49-for-56) with Cincinnati, including 3-of-4 from beyond the 50-yard line. His name doesn’t leap to mind when discussing top fantasy kickers, so consider him a sleeper in 2005.

Graham knocked around for a couple of seasons before finding a home with the improved Bengals in 2003. The offense returns several weapons in 2004, except for QB Jon Kitna. Carson Palmer will lead the team this year, so there’s some uncertainty to Graham’s value because of the change. Graham was very accurate (22 of 25) a season ago, so he may be worth a look a couple weeks into the season if Palmer plays passably.

Graham replaced injury-prone incumbent John Kasay for the final 14 games of 2002, hitting an impressive 8-10 from 40+ yards, but a dismal 5-8 below 40. Graham shows promise, nonetheless, and enters camp in a battle for the starting job.