Specialists are generally divided into punters, placekickers, and returners. Which of these positions is most valuable? It might seem like placekickers are most valuable because they are called on for crucial last-minute field goals. But is this in fact accurate? I selected the 2004 NFL season to find out.
Kickoff returners usually return about 40 kicks a season. In 2004 the leader in return average was Willie Ponder with 27.6 yards per return. The league average was 21.7, so a star returner would be worth around 240 yards, or 20 points, to a team each season.
Punt returners average 30 returns per years and 2004 leader Dennis Northcutt typically returned his punts 12 yards. The league avearage was 8.6, so a returner of his ability would contribute 102 yards or 8.5 points per season.
A star placekicker like Adam Vinatieri would make all of his 40 extra points, but so would most other kickers in the league. So only field goals contribute to a kicker’s value. Supposing a player attempts 25 field goals per season, he should make 94% of them versus the league average of 80%. This is just 8.9 points.
Punters may have the least glamorous job on a team, but stars such as Mitch Berger can average a net of 39 yards. Since the league average was 35.8 yards in 2004 and punters would probably dropkick 75 times over the course of the season, they would contribute 240 yards or 20 points.
Therefore, star talent is most valuable at the returner position because a returner doing punts and kickoffs would net 28.5 points per season. Punters are second with 20 points of value, and surprisingly, kickers are last with just 8.9.
