RADIO
Fantasy managers get a reprieve from bye weeks in Week 13 after six teams were off in Week 12. With the fantasy playoffs just around the corner, it is essential to make waiver-wire moves to optimize lineups.
Understanding the offensive lines to target and avoid is especially important during weeks when every team is active. Being able to make crucial lineup decisions based on play in the trenches can make or break a week for fantasy managers.
Check out the offensive line matchups to target and avoid in Week 13 below.
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Champ of the Week
Denver Broncos
Denver’s offensive line continues to pave the way for Bo Nix and the team’s running back rotation.
The ball placement of Bo Nix these past few weeks..
Whether it's off his back foot, stepping up into the throw, on the run, you name it. The guy has been unreal pic.twitter.com/e0AOmsLbpW
— Football Digest (@FoootballDigest) November 25, 2024
The Broncos held up well against the Raiders in Week 12, allowing just one sack and six pressures in their win. Denver’s offensive line averaged a 74.6 pass-blocking grade, 70.0 run-blocking grade, and 72.2 overall PFF grade.
Quinn Meinerz (94.0 PFF grade) continues to establish himself as one of the top interior offensive linemen in the NFL this season. He, along with left tackle Garett Boles and Mike McGlinchey, has become a part of one of the better trios this year.
Nix continues to exceed expectations, thanks to the ample time he has in the pocket. Expect Denver to keep pushing for a playoff spot as long as this unit can stay intact and punish opposing defensive linemen.
Chump of the Week
New York Giants
The Giants were already reeling without left tackle Andrew Thomas, so they moved right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor to left tackle. Eluemunor got injured in this game, pressing third-string tackle Chris Hubbard into action.
The results were not great against a previously underwhelming Buccaneers defense.
All-22 of the 4 sacks Tommy Devito took vs the Bucs
Time to 1st pressure on each sack
• 2.1 seconds
• 2.6 seconds
• 2.0 seconds
• 2.9 seconds pic.twitter.com/8QXpn9bc3Q— Doug Analytics (@Doug_Analytics) November 25, 2024
Hubbard (46.6 PFF grade) surrendered one sack and seven total pressures. Both he and left guard Jon Runyan (39.4 PFF grade) combined to allow 11 pressures on the day, making Tommy DeVito’s first start a nightmare.
Only one of the Giants offensive linemen finished the game with a PFF grade of 60.0 or above. The group was collectively credited with five sacks and 18 pressures allowed.
The Giants' season continues to spiral, and the offensive line is quickly regressing to last year’s struggles. Now that Daniel Jones has been released, that is far from ideal for any of their quarterback options.
Week 13 Matchups to Target
Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons
The Chargers offensive line is starting to find its stride. The team ultimately lost to the Ravens on Monday night, but its offensive line put forth a stellar effort. Los Angeles allowed just one sack and seven pressures on the night. It averaged a 69.9 PFF grade.
Justin Herbert pocket management and poise pic.twitter.com/9MPormCjUp
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) November 26, 2024
The Chargers will have a chance to build upon their strong performance against one of the most underwhelming pass-rushing defenses in the NFL. Off-ball linebacker Kaden Elliss leads the team in pressures (22). The only other player with more than 18 pressures is a situational edge-rusher (Arnold Ebiketie). Atlanta has generated just 11 sacks this season.
The Falcons are stronger against the run than the pass, but that is trying to match up a strength with a strength. The Chargers boast a top-10 run-blocking unit in run-blocking grade this season (65.2).
Los Angeles desperately needs a win to stay in the AFC playoff picture. It should be set up well, thanks to a clear advantage in the trenches in Week 13.
Carolina Panthers vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bryce Young has provided better quarterback play since his return to the starting lineup. Some of the credit for his resurgence lies with the offensive line.
Not only the best game of Bryce Young's career, but one of the best QB performances of this season pic.twitter.com/8AUFWkhaFc
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) November 25, 2024
Four of Carolina’s offensive linemen finished with a PFF pass-blocking grade above 71.0, with the lone player below that mark being Robert Hunt (13.3), who gave up five pressures on the day. That isn’t surprising, considering how much he was matched up with Chris Jones.
The Panthers offensive line will have a far easier test in Week 13 against the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay is coming off the best game of the season for its defense as pass-rushers (25 pressures and five sacks), thanks to a matchup against an ailing Giants offensive line.
Tampa Bay has done well in generating pressures (218) but has generally struggled to convert them into sacks (34). It also has been a bottom-10 defense in PFF’s run defense grade (59.2).
Carolina should be able to lean on Chuba Hubbard (and possibly Jonathon Brooks!?) to set up Young in the play-action game.
Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots
The Colts have been forced to navigate offensive line injuries in recent weeks, playing without left tackle Bernhard Raimann and center Ryan Kelly. Right guard Will Fries has missed most of the season due to his injury. Still, this group has performed well despite the turnover at several positions.
there was plenty of good from Anthony Richardson in Week 12 pic.twitter.com/WIBxzlhJ5z
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) November 25, 2024
Indianapolis’ offensive line is top-10 in PFF’s pass-blocking grade (67.0), run-blocking grade (65.8), and overall grade (66.1) this season. It has allowed just 112 pressures and 18 sacks as a team this season as well.
This week’s matchup against the Patriots should be a solid matchup, even if Raimann is forced to miss another week with his knee injury. New England features just one player with more than 23 pressures and five sacks (Keion White). The Patriots are also bottom-10 in PFF’s run defense grade (59.7).
Week 13 Matchups to Avoid
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Bengals will hope that Orlando Brown Jr. is able to return to the starting lineup in a key matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, even with him back on the field, this has the makings of a tough matchup in the trenches.
Pittsburgh features four players on its defensive line with a PFF grade above 83.0 and a pass-rush grade above 84.0. T.J. Watt (29 pressures and eight sacks) has been solid, but the linchpin of this group has been Cameron Heyward (38 pressures and seven sacks).
The Steelers have also been able to survive the injury to Alex Highsmith, thanks to the excellent play of Nick Herbig (17 pressures and five sacks off the edge).
Conversely, Cincinnati has allowed 151 pressures and 22 sacks this season. Opponents have been able to wreak havoc on the interior against Cordell Volson (33 pressures and five sacks allowed) and Alex Cappa (27 pressures and four sacks allowed).
Joe Burrow will need to get the ball out quickly in the matchup if the Bengals have any chance to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
The Raiders offensive line is coming off arguably its best performance of the season against Denver’s strong pass rush. Las Vegas finished the game with a 73.7 PFF grade but allowed two sacks and 15 pressures against Denver.
It will have another daunting task facing off against Kansas City’s defensive line.
Chris Jones gets a rare one on one and wrecks the right guard. George Karlaftis has somehow lost his helmet without a hands to the face call. Jones gets hooked by the guard or it’s a sack. But they make a call on a clean hit by Justin Reid. #Chiefs pic.twitter.com/5PNIM1DpVD
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) November 26, 2024
The Chiefs defensive line is led once again by Chris Jones on the interior (51 pressures and four sacks). However, the team is also getting strong efforts from George Karlaftis (39 pressures and four sacks) and Tershawn Wharton (24 pressures and three sacks). Kansas City currently ranks top six in both run defense (74.2) and pass defense (74.7).
Despite a strong effort, the Raiders still have six offensive linemen who have allowed at least 10 pressures and two sacks this season. It could be a long day for Aidan O'Connell as he returns under center for the first time since breaking his thumb.
New Orleans Saints vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Saints offensive line has been inconsistent as a whole this season but struggled mightily in pass protection. Seven different offensive linemen have logged at least 289 snaps this season. Only two (Connor McGovern and Cesar Ruiz) have a pass protection grade above 55.0.
This group will have issues with a Rams pass rush that is getting contributions from many different places. Rookies Jared Verse (49 pressures and six sacks) and Braden Fiske (34 pressures and six sacks) have been highly productive in their first season. They have served as perfect complements to both Kobie Turner (36 pressures and five sacks) and Byron Young (34 pressures and seven sacks).
Jordan Mailata is 6’8”, 366.
Ridiculous from Jared Verse. pic.twitter.com/TyM5ohrLGH
— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) November 25, 2024
Los Angeles doesn’t have a true force of nature now that Aaron Donald has retired, but this group can attack opposing offenses from a variety of means.
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