RADIO
The fantasy playoffs are just around the corner and every week matters. Teams who have already locked up a playoff spot need to keep optimizing their roster to push for a championship. Teams on the cusp of earning a playoff bid need to secure crucial wins to stay alive.
Finding an edge in matchups can be key in extending your fantasy season. Looking to offensive line matchups can provide an underutilized edge, especially with six teams on bye again in Week 13.
Check out the offensive line matchups to target and avoid in Week 13 below.
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Champ of the Week
Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons' offensive line has been hitting their stride in recent weeks, culminating in a dominant performance in a pivotal win against the Saints in Week 12.
Atlanta allowed just three pressures against New Orleans, which allowed all five offensive linemen to finish with PFF pass-blocking grades above 62.0. The real story of the game was the domination of both guards. Both veteran right guard Chris Lindstrom and rookie left guard Matthew Bergeron finished the game with PFF grades above 92.0.
Atlanta has a real chance to win their division if the offensive line can provide time for Desmond Ridder while opening huge rushing lanes for touted rookie running back Bijan Robinson.
Chump of the Week
New York Jets
At this point, it shouldn’t be a surprise to find either of the New York offensive lines gracing the “chumps” section of this article. Week 12 was the Jets’ turn thanks to a series of injuries that have plagued the unit.
New York was forced to start backups at left tackle, right tackle, and right guard against the Dolphins in Week 12. The result was a unit that surrendered four sacks and 13 collective pressures. All three of the backup linemen finished with PFF grades below 48.0 and only rookie center Joe Tippmann managed a grade above 60.0. The team hoped that right tackle Max Mitchell would develop in his second season, but he surrendered a team-high seven pressures.
It has been a catastrophic season for the Jets and as long as the offensive line remains injured things don’t have much chance to improve.
Matchups to Target in Week 13
Denver Broncos at Houston Texans
The Broncos invested heavily in their offensive line this offseason and recently those investments have been paying dividends. Denver currently features PFF’s third-best average run blocking grade (66.1) and the fourth-best collective overall grade (66.1) through 12 weeks of the season. It isn’t a coincidence that the Broncos started winning as their offensive line began to gel.
Denver’s success in the trenches should continue in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. Houston does feature three players with at least 30 pressures and 4.0 sacks (including rookie edge rusher Will Anderson) but has struggled mightily against the run this season.
That should play into Denver’s hands as the team has been using a strong run game to allow Russell Wilson to take his shots the last several weeks.
Indianapolis Colts at Tennessee Titans
The resurgence of Indianapolis’ offensive line has helped the team push for a playoff spot in the AFC despite playing their backup quarterback for most of the season. The Colts have the NFL’s fourth-best run blocking unit (65.2) and fifth-best overall graded (66.0) offensive line according to PFF this season.
The loss of Jonathan Taylor is significant, but we have seen Zack Moss thrive behind this offensive line earlier in the season. Indianapolis should be able to continue to find success against the Titans in Week 13. Tennessee currently ranks as PFF’s 19th-ranked run defense. Unfortunately, the team isn’t generating much of a pass rush either, with just Jeffery Simmons (44 pressures and six sacks) and Denico Autry (32 pressures and eight sacks) posing much of a threat.
Zack Moss, Michael Pittman and Josh Downs should all be safe to start in Week 13. Gardner Minshew also has an intriguing upside with many top quarterbacks on bye in Week 13.
New England Patriots vs Los Angeles Chargers
New England’s offense continues to struggle due to bad quarterback play, but their offensive line is finally healthy and starting to come together very well.
The Patriots just missed grading out as PFF’s best offensive line in Week 12 against a solid Giants defensive line. The Patriots allowed three sacks, but only four pressures in a close loss. Despite the sacks, the Patriots' collective offensive line finished with a pass-blocking grade of 79.1 and an overall grade of 80.7.
The Patriots will have an excellent test against Khalil Mack (54 pressures and 14 sacks) and Tuli Tuipulotu (37 pressures and seven sacks), but won’t have to face Joey Bosa. Expect the Patriots to attack the middle of the run defense, where the best Chargers’ run defense grade is 60.1.
Matchups to Avoid in Week 13
New York Jets vs Atlanta Falcons
Continue to fade the Jets offense with Tim Boyle under center, even in decent matchups. Injuries have ravaged the Jets in the trenches and will continue to pose problems.
Week 13 could be even more challenging against a Falcons defensive line that has been strong against the run this season. This is a formidable run defense even without Grady Jarrett. It will be tough to play any of the Jets’ offensive weapons this week as well.
Arizona Cardinals at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Cardinals had a solid bounce back in Week 12, putting together a solid game against a Rams defensive line that lacks punch outside of Aaron Donald. While the Cardinals did surrender four sacks and 14 pressures, they still finished with an average overall blocking grade of 65.0. Unfortunately, Week 13 will pose a much greater test for a unit that has struggled throughout the 2023 season.
Arizona will have their hands full against the Pittsburgh Steelers front five, especially off the edges. Both T.J. Watt (58 pressures and 14 sacks) and Alex Highsmith (47 pressures and five sacks) pose a threat off the edge while Larry Ogunjobi (20 pressures and two sacks) has had a solid rebound on the interior.
The Cardinals can also expect trouble running the ball against PFF’s ninth-ranked run defense by grade (68.1). The Steelers have 10 defensive linemen or edge defenders with at least 100 snaps this season and seven of them have a run defense grade above 59.0.
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Should you bench any of the 49ers offensive players in a game against the Eagles that is poised to shoot out? No. But this matchup suggests that expectations should be tempered for ceiling fantasy weeks for San Francisco.
As explosive as San Francisco’s offense has been this season, their offensive line has struggled with consistency outside of left tackle Trent Williams. The 49ers have the 30th average pass blocking grade (56.0) and 22nd average overall blocking grade (60.9) in 2023. Right guard Aaron Banks has struggled so far this season, which is bad news against the Eagles' rotation of interior pass rushers.
Again, this isn’t a reason to bench any of your core 49ers players, but it may justify taking an upside swing at another position expecting less production from your 49ers stalwarts.
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