Spencer Shrader Leads the League After Week 5 Kicking Struggles Across the NFL
During Week 5 of the NFL season, kickers across the league converted 67 extra points out of 74 attempts and 52 field goals out of 64, with extra points resulting in an accuracy rate of 90,5 percent and field goals at 81,3 percent, it.blastingnews.com reported. The slate proved particularly demanding for special teams units, with the average kick distance settling at 42.19 yards and the cumulative Kicker Value Added dropping into negative territory for the first time this year.
Performance Metrics and Standouts of Week 5
Analytics for the position rely on four primary indicators: Kicker Value Added for tracking output compared to an average player, Accuracy Quotient for measuring precision, Kicks Per Game for kickoff performance, and Kicker Performance Over Average as a comprehensive metric. Leading performers for the week included Will Reichard, Jason Myers, Spencer Shrader, Tyler Loop, and Ka’imi Fairbairn. Conversely, the list of struggling specialists featured Trey Smack, Harrison Mevis, Dominic Zvada, Wil Lutz, and Cairo Santos.
Spencer Shrader Secures the Top Spot for the Colts
Indianapolis Colts kicker Spencer Shrader delivered the most notable success story of the week during the matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Shrader converted field goals from 22, 28, 40, 56, and 57 yards, propelling himself to the top of the league in Kicker Value Added with 16 total three-point conversions this season. His seasonal Accuracy Quotient sits at 92.9, ranking fourth in the NFL with an average kick distance of 45.1 yards.
Shrader built this resume across multiple clutch moments earlier in the year. He converted a 38-yard kick against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 20, 2026, followed by 37-yard and 53-yard conversions against the Houston Texans on September 27, 2026. He added a 28-yard kick against the Steelers on October 11, 2026.
Trey Smack Stumbles and Harrison Mevis Departs Los Angeles
His single-game Kicker Performance Over Average dropped to -6.32, marking the lowest individual performance of 2026. At 23 years old, Smack entered the week with a solid season start in a role historically prone to volatility.
Harrison Mevis experienced a steeper decline following two crucial misses against the Buffalo Bills—a 50-yard attempt that went wide and a 48-yard kick blocked by Greg Rousseau in overtime. Those misses dropped his season conversion rate to five field goals out of nine attempts in a 37-34 overtime loss. Following the game, the Los Angeles Rams released Mevis and signed Blake Grupe from the New York Jets practice squad.
Frequently Asked Questions
What analytical indicators determine kicker performance evaluations?
Evaluations use Kicker Value Added, Accuracy Quotient, Kicks Per Game, and Kicker Performance Over Average to measure output, accuracy, kickoff success, and overall efficiency.
Which teams signed or released kickers following Week 5 results?
The Los Angeles Rams released Harrison Mevis after his performance against the Buffalo Bills and added Blake Grupe from the New York Jets practice squad.
What were Spencer Shrader’s longest successful kicks in the game against Pittsburgh?
Spencer Shrader converted field goals from 56 and 57 yards during his standout performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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