Kickers are creatures of game script.

In fantasy football that doesn’t make them any different than a lot of running backs and wideouts and tight ends. For those positions, as with kicker, opportunity evaporates with unfriendly game script.

The receiver or tight end sees a dip in routes and targets when their team gets out to a big lead and runs the rock in the second half. The running back ends up with ten carries instead of twenty because his team has to abandon the run as they chase points in a trailing script. In an opportunity-based game, this is something short of ideal.

That’s why we want kickers in our lineups whose teams have a good chance of seeing plenty of neutral or positive game script. Usually this means a team won’t forgo easy field goal opportunities in the second half, down by multiple scores. So there is a process to selecting kickers — even those off the waiver wire.

In this space I’ll highlight a few waiver kicker options who check the boxes of a viable play. Some, of course, will be better than others. Oh, and one more thing: Accuracy doesn’t really matter at all. We want opportunity.

Week 7 Results:

• Andy Borregales: 7 points
• Ryan Fitzgerald: 1 point
• Jason Sanders: 4 points

They’re calling it a “rough week” for Rotoworld’s resident kicker bro. And it was, thanks largely to out-of-control game script in the Bucs-Panthers game that rendered Fitzgerald irrelevant for three quarters as Carolina faced a 200-point deficit. As for Sanders: The previously lifeless Dolphins showed signs of life in Week 7 and grabbed an early lead, which is never good for the kicker on the other side. So it goes.

Week 8 Kicker Options

Trey Smack (GB) vs. Panthers

Carolina’s defense has shown some serious cracks in recent weeks. They can safely be labeled one of the NFL’s worst run defenses, and their injury-riddled secondary isn’t going to stop Jordan Love and company. Maybe that’s why Green Bay is a seven-point favorite here.

That should put Smack in good position to try multiple field goals against a Carolina team that has given up multiple field goal attempts in four of its past five games. The Packers rank 30th in red zone touchdown rate this season. Maybe that will regress (positively) in the coming weeks, but against the Panthers, I like their chances of putting up a lot of points.

That Smack has missed five of his 16 field goal tries this season might make you queasy bordering on nauseated. That’s OK. Take an antacid and plug in Smack for Week 8.

Evan McPherson (CIN) vs. Titans

Fresh off a gaudy four field goal performance against the Ravens, McPherson now has multiple field goal attempts in three straight outings as the Bengals offense overcomes its annual early-season doldrums. Joe Burrow is finally awake and operating with swiftness and efficiency.

McPherson, available in more than half of leagues, should be considered a top kicker option for Week 8. The Bengals are averaging almost five red zone possessions per game over their past three games and the Titans -- as you can see -- allow the third most field goals on the season.

Jason Sanders (NYJ) vs. Raiders

We’re doing the Sanders Thing again because it was so much fun in Week 7 (it wasn’t). He’s in another good spot against a Raiders team giving up the league’s highest EPA per play and offensive success rate since Week 3. The Jets, meanwhile, are 1.5-point home favorites.

Look for another productive day for Geno Smith and his pass catchers here. They should be able to move the ball at will against Vegas’ marshmallow-soft defense. Vegas opponents are averaging four red zone trips per game, the fourth highest mark in the NFL. The Raiders are two weeks removed from giving up four field goals to the Bills. Sanders is most definitely in play.