RADIO
Week 9 was a rough one for offensive lines across the NFL. 14 teams had average PFF grades below 60.0 in their matchups. Additionally, we saw more potentially significant injuries for teams across the league. The Titans lost starting tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere for the season with a shoulder injury while the Browns may be working without Jedrick Wills Jr. (knee) for the foreseeable future.
Fantasy managers will continue to struggle through bye weeks once again in Week 10. We will be missing at least three major fantasy offenses with the Chiefs, Eagles, and Dolphins getting a week off this week. The Rams also have several major contributors at wide receiver (as long as Matthew Stafford is healthy).
Fantasy playoffs are made or missed based on the ability to sustain fantasy production through bye weeks. Finding any edge to navigate bye weeks becomes crucial to fantasy success. Check out the matchups to target and avoid in the trenches for Week 10 below.
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Chump of the Week
Arizona Cardinals
Arizona’s offensive line continues to struggle, although in their defense Clayton Tune didn’t do them any favors against the Cleveland Browns.
Cleveland’s defense isn’t a great matchup for any team, but they were able to tee off against Arizona in Week 9. The Browns generated three sacks and 13 pressures on just 34 pass-blocking snaps. The continued struggles of 2023 top-10 pick Paris Johnson Jr. are starting to become concerning. Johnson Jr. allowed five of the team’s 13 pressures and finished Week 9 with a 33.9 PFF grade.
It is also worth monitoring the health of right guard Will Hernandez, who has been the best player on this unit throughout the season. Hernandez left the game early with a knee injury and at the very least will be limited going forward.
Champ of the Week
New England Patriots
The Patriots were missing starting left tackle Trent Brown against the Commanders in Week 9. Thankfully, the team shipped off both of their starting edge rushers before the trade deadline, so his absence wasn’t truly felt.
New England was able to focus their complete attention on the interior defensive line and put together a solid performance in a loss. The Patriots allowed just seven pressures and zero sacks against Washington. Their offensive line averaged a 72.7 PFF pass-blocking grade, 70.8 run-blocking grade, and a 72.3 overall grade.
The Patriots' offense continues to struggle, but the team may be able to put some positive momentum together as the unit gets healthy to close the season.
Matchups to Target in Week 10
Buffalo Bills vs. Denver Broncos
The Buffalo Bills offensive line has been solid to start the season even though the offense has collectively struggled to move the ball. That trend should continue against a Broncos defense that is still trying to find its way after jettisoning expensive veterans earlier in the season.
Buffalo’s offensive line comes into Week 10 allowing just six sacks and 88 pressures on the season. That is bad news for a Broncos pass rush rotation that has 75 pressures and 14 sacks in eight games. Denver has been average against the run, but that shouldn’t stop Buffalo from having their way on Monday night.
Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Commanders
The Commanders performed as expected against the Patriots after trading away Chase Young and Montez Sweat during the trade deadline. Washington had zero sacks and just seven pressures against a Patriots offense missing their starting left tackle. Jonathan Allen (30 pressures and three sacks) and Daron Payne (18 pressures and one sack) are still formidable, but the team has almost nothing on the edge.
Seattle has struggled to replace right tackle Abraham Lucas, using Jake Curhan (26 pressures on 182 pass-blocking snaps), Stone Forsythe (21 pressures on 205 pass-blocking snaps), and Jason Peters (five pressures on 28 pass-blocking snaps) with little success. Thankfully, the Commanders don’t have the edge rushers to exploit that edge.
Only defensive end James Smith-Williams and defensive tackle Daron Payne have run defense grades above 60.0 this season, which means Seattle should be able to execute their game plan with little resistance in Week 10.
Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals
Atlanta needed to have their offensive line stay healthy to start the season given their lack of experienced depth. They’ve accomplished that so far, which has allowed their offensive line to gel and perform extremely well to start the season.
Every Falcons offensive lineman has played at least 579 snaps to start the season. The group has collectively allowed 15 sacks and 73 pressures. Atlanta’s offensive line is also paving the way in the run game, paving the way for their running backs to average 4.2 yards per carry.
Arizona’s defense doesn’t feature a single player with more than 19 pressures, but they have three players with at least four sacks in nine games. Arizona is surrendering 4.17 yards per carry to start the season and has allowed the fourth-most rushing touchdowns (12) this season.
Matchups to Avoid in Week 10
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys
At least the Giants got Andrew Thomas and Evan Neal back in Week 9. Unfortunately, they didn’t make much of a difference. Now, New York gets to navigate a terrible offensive line with a terrible quarterback situation after Daniel Jones was lost for the season and Tyrod Taylor was placed on injured reserve.
Unfortunately, whoever is under center is going to have their work cut out against the Cowboys' ferocious defense. Micah Parsons (49 pressures and eight sacks) gets all of the love, but this unit features four other players with at least 14 pressures and two sacks to start the season. Only 6.9% of opponents' rushing attempts have gone for 10+ yards against Dallas this season.
That’s not great news for the Giants offensive line. The Giants have seven different linemen who have allowed at least 10 pressures this season and at least two sacks. The team got Evan Neal back in Week 9, but even he has struggled, giving up two sacks and eight pressures on 77 pass-blocking snaps.
This divisional game should get ugly in a hurry.
New York Jets at Las Vegas Raiders
The Jets' offensive line has gone through several configurations this season as they’ve tried to navigate a variety of injuries. That has led to struggles with consistency in both run and pass blocking, which isn’t great for a quarterback who has struggled with pressure in his career (Zach Wilson).
Seven different offensive linemen have played at least 100 snaps for the Jets this season. Six of them have surrendered 11 or more pressures. The left side of the line has been especially brutal, allowing a combined 10 sacks and 55 pressures. Additionally, the team’s only offensive lineman with a run-blocking grade above 68.0 (Alijah Vera-Tucker) is out for the season.
The Raiders defensive line doesn’t have much punch outside Maxx Crosby (53 pressures and 10 sacks in nine games), but that may not matter much in this one. Crosby can single-handedly change this game, making it tough to trust anybody outside of Breece Hall in this game.
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Green Bay Packers
The Steelers finally allowed Broderick Jones into the starting lineup, putting the 2023 first-round pick in at right tackle against the Titans on Thursday night. Jones had his struggles against a formidable defensive line (58.8 PFF grade), and will now need to face a strong edge rushing group in Green Bay.
The Packers feature five different pass rushers with at least 11 pressures and two sacks this season. This group also allows just 3.9 yards per carry to start the year. That’s not great news for a Steelers offensive line that has struggled (outside of free agent acquisition Isaac Seumalo) to protect Kenny Pickett or open up rushing lanes for Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren.
The Steelers' offense is one to avoid in a tough matchup this week.
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