RADIO
For many leagues, Week 14 signals the end of the fantasy football regular season. Unfortunately, it is also another week that features six teams on bye. Fantasy managers who couldn’t secure a first-round bye in the playoffs need to be active on the waiver wire to best position themselves to take home the championship.
It is essential to leave no stone unturned when optimizing your fantasy roster at the end of the season, with six teams getting the week off. Understanding the teams that have an advantage or disadvantage in the trenches could prove crucial to success this week.
Check out the offensive line matchups to target and avoid in Week 14 below to get your team into the fantasy playoffs.
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Champ of the Week
Los Angeles Rams
For the first time all year, we got to see the Rams offensive line at full strength. Not only did the results go in their favor in the win column, but it also flashed in the box score.
Another great rushing performance from Rams Kyren Williams. Averaged 6.9 YPC vs New Orleans. Good displacement by the OLine and Williams consistently makes the most out of every run. pic.twitter.com/7j4WnDL46o
— NFL Shock (@NFLShock) December 3, 2024
Los Angeles was able to provide Matthew Stafford with a relatively clean pocket (one sack and four pressures allowed) and got back to its dominating ways on the ground. The combination of Kyren Williams (15 carries for 104 yards and a touchdown) and Blake Corum (eight carries for 42 yards) averaged 6.9 yards per carry on the day.
The collective offensive line finished with an average PFF grade of 76.0 and a run-blocking grade of 77.5. Center Beaux Limmer was the only player with a pass-blocking grade below 62.0.
Injuries robbed us of the dominating performance that we saw from this group in 2023. However, this group is now healthy and could make a major impact as the Rams push for a playoff spot in a competitive NFC West.
Chump of the Week
Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati got Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle in Week 13. Unfortunately, his addition (plus the loss of left guard Cordell Volson) wasn’t enough to stop Pittsburgh’s defensive front.
The Bengals offensive line was credited with two sacks and 10 pressures allowed against the Steelers. The struggles were especially apparent on the edge with Brown (23.3 pass-blocking grade) and right guard Alex Cappa (24.2 pass-blocking grade).
Nick Herbig SZN! #Steelers #NFL pic.twitter.com/m6tTdtdrd9
— Blitzburgh (@Blitz_Burgh) December 1, 2024
Cincinnati’s collective struggles weren’t limited to the passing game. The Bengals offensive line averaged a 52.9 run-blocking grade and a 50.6 PFF grade in the loss to Pittsburgh. Their ability to remain competitive was thanks to the continued excellence of Joe Burrow.
Few teams can stand up to Pittsburgh’s defensive front this season. However, the Bengals continue to prove there is a middle-of-the-road offensive line. They should continue to struggle in tough matchups (more on that later).
Week 14 Matchups to Target
Minnesota Vikings vs. Atlanta Falcons
The Vikings have been able to survive the loss of Christian Darrisaw thanks to respectable play from trade acquisition Cam Robinson. Since joining the Vikings in Week 9, Robinson has surrendered just one sack and 13 pressures on 173 protection snaps.
Look at Cam Robinson (74) get out in space and block two players on this screen to Justin Jefferson pic.twitter.com/9ApA9RG1jW
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) December 3, 2024
Minnesota’s offensive line has generally struggled with pressure this season (less so since Dalton Risner took over the right guard position), but it shouldn’t have many problems in Week 14 with a matchup against the Falcons on the horizon.
Atlanta continues to struggle to get after the quarterback this season. The Falcons have just three players with more than 16 pressures generated this season. Their leading pass-rusher is off-ball linebacker Kaden Elliss (25 pressures). Collectively, Atlanta’s defense has just 17 sacks.
That bodes well for Sam Darnold and Minnesota’s passing attack. Darnold is completing 72.3% of his passes from a clean pocket this season while averaging 8.5 yards per attempt. When pressured, those numbers drop to 56.2% and 7.7 yards, respectively.
Atlanta’s defense is strong against the run, but expect Darnold to have ample time to attack down the field in Week 14. He (and Minnesota’s pass-catchers) get an upgrade this week.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Carolina Panthers
The only thing that may stop the Eagles offense in Week 14 is resting in a blowout situation. Philadelphia will have a clear advantage in the trenches as its stellar offensive line faces off against a poor Carolina defensive line.
Philadelphia is currently one of two teams that rank top-10 in average PFF grade, pass-blocking grade, and run-blocking grade this season. Getting Jordan Mailata (94.9 PFF grade) back from injury has been massive for the success of this group.
Jordan Mailata vs. cross-chop pic.twitter.com/IpONRyNsFC
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) December 3, 2024
Conversely, Carolina’s defensive front has struggled to get any traction without Derrick Brown this season. Only one player (Jadeveon Clowney) has more than 18 pressures and three sacks this season. He is also the only defensive lineman with over 175 snaps played and a PFF grade above 59.0.
You were always starting any healthy Eagles skill players, but Week 14 could be an explosive game for all of their weapons. If Bryce Young can continue to play well, this game has big shootout potential and could decide many fantasy matchups heading into the fantasy playoffs.
Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks
Arizona’s offensive line has exceeded expectations this season. Eight different players have logged at least 100 snaps for it this season in the trenches. Six of them have a run-blocking grade above 54.0, while seven have a pass-blocking grade above 55.0. All eight have PFF grades above 62.0.
The group has been especially strong in pass protection. Its current starting offensive line has been credited with just 68 pressures and eight sacks. Its success has helped both James Conner and Kyler Murray find success this season.
James Conner. Worth every penny. pic.twitter.com/KdKTZxcv2P
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulli) December 1, 2024
Seattle has a game-wrecker on the defensive line (Leonard Williams) but struggles to get much consistency outside of him. The team does have five players with 31 or more pressures and three sacks, with most of the production coming from the edge-rushers.
This will be an excellent test for the Cardinals as they push to secure an NFC West title. Don’t be surprised if the Cardinals’ major offensive players have above-average scoring weeks in fantasy.
Week 14 Matchups to Avoid
Buffalo Bills at Los Angeles Rams
Buffalo is one of the hottest offenses in the NFL, but that is largely due to the superhero efforts of quarterback Josh Allen. Collectively, the Bills offensive line has been an average unit with some bright spots.
The Bills feature three offensive linemen (Spencer Brown, Dion Dawkins, and Connor McGovern) with PFF grades between 70.0 and 73.0. However, both their guards have PFF grades below 63.0. Despite the lack of pressures (103) and sacks (four), Buffalo’s unit is much better as run-blockers than pass-protectors.
The Rams will have the ability to attack the Bills' pass protection thanks to a varied pass-rush attack headlined by rookie Jared Verse (55 pressures and six sacks).
Jared Verse -- just stop and appreciate ART of pass rushing
1. stutter steps
2. hands inside OT's then massive two-hand punch
3. wrist club/swipe
4. chop on RB's inside hand w/ his inside
5 swim to the QBFrame this one, people
endzone view of all-22
please retweet pic.twitter.com/kqEiMT9GGV— Jim Youngblood 53 (@53_jim70721) November 4, 2024
Los Angeles has five different players with 20 or more pressures, including four players with 34 to 39 pressures. The team also features five players with at least four sacks. The team not only has a great edge-rusher in Verse, but consistent interior pressure thanks to Kobie Turner (39 pressures and five sacks).
It would be unwise to fade Josh Allen at this point, but Buffalo could settle into a quicker passing attack to mitigate its disadvantage in pass protection.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Cleveland’s offensive line continues to struggle amid a string of injuries. Left tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. has been limited to just 245 snaps in five games. His loss has put more collective stress on the unit.
The Browns have just one offensive lineman with a PFF grade above 63.0 this season (Jack Conklin). The team has combined to give up 182 pressures and 25 sacks on the year. The Browns will once again have their work cut out for them against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
TJ Watt is just insane man pic.twitter.com/1PkLRmIiKi
— Fields Betta (@Gaige_returns) December 1, 2024
Pittsburgh features three edge-rushers with a PFF grade above 83.0, including two (T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig) with grades of 91.0 or higher. The Steelers also have an excellent interior presence thanks to the timeless resurgence of Cameron Heyward (90.6 PFF grade). That group headlines a defense with 192 pressures and 35 sacks this year.
Jameis Winston is proving to be impervious to bad matchups under center but could be forced into more questionable decisions behind an offensive line that will struggle to hold up against arguably the best pass-rushing defense in the NFL this year.
Cincinnati Bengals at Dallas Cowboys
The Bengals struggled against Pittsburgh’s defensive line in Week 13. They don’t get much of a break with a matchup against Micah Parsons on the horizon.
Micah Parsons is too good
— Grace (@gracesporttakes) November 29, 2024
Parsons has been on a tear since returning from a high ankle sprain in Week 10. In four games, the veteran edge-rusher has accumulated 22 pressures and seven sacks. He has four straight games with a pass-rush grade above 70.0 and a PFF grade above 69.0. His presence has helped take pressure off Osa Odighizuwa (40 pressures and five sacks) on the interior.
Joe Burrow will be under fire once again in this matchup. While he certainly can mitigate the rush with his pocket movement and quick passing game, it could be another rough one for the veteran quarterback.
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