RADIO
For many, Week 17 signals the end of the fantasy season. There is no better way to sweat out a fantasy championship with all 32 teams active and playing games over five of the next seven days. Football fans will be treated to two games on Christmas, a Thursday Night Football matchup, three games on Saturday, nine games on Sunday, and one game on Monday.
If you’re in the fantasy championship, it is time to pull out all of the stops to secure a fantasy championship. Plenty of players suffered injuries in Week 16, meaning there might be one last trip to the waiver wire to fortify your fantasy lineup. Attacking matchup advantages in the trenches could be key to optimizing your previous lineup of the season.
Check out the offensive line matchups to target and avoid in Week 17 below to finish your fantasy season with a championship.
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Champ of the Week
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons offensive line continues to hit new heights now that the group is healthy. Atlanta’s offensive line provided solid protection in Michael Penix Jr.’s first career start against the Giants. More importantly, it was able to clear massive rushing lanes for Bijan Robinson.
Bijan Robinson 2024
1,151 rushing yards
9 rushing TDsBijan Robinson 2023
976 rushing yards
4 rushing TDs pic.twitter.com/rj7tL3HNnL— Miles Garrett (@MilesGarrettTV) December 22, 2024
Atlanta’s offensive line was credited with just five pressures against New York in Week 16, with three of them coming from left guard Matthew Bergeron (40.6 PFF grade). All five of Atlanta’s offensive linemen finished the week with a PFF run-blocking grade above 70.0 and an overall PFF grade above 73.0.
The Falcons unit identifies more as impressive run defenders, but the team has given up just 22 pressures since center Drew Dalman’s return in Week 13. Atlanta still has a chance to earn a playoff spot thanks to the strong play of its offensive line during the most important part of the season.
Chump of the Week
New Orleans Saints
The Saints weren’t the lowest-scoring PFF grade among offensive lines this week, but they put together a brutal showing against the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football.
I know we’d all love Rashan Gary to have 16 sacks and 1000 pressures but he’s put in a ton of work on run defense this year and has done a fantastic job setting the edge. Lots of plays like this on tape. It’s been a noticeable jump for him and another reason the run D is improved pic.twitter.com/boxUA1W9MN
— Andy Herman (@AndyHermanNFL) December 24, 2024
New Orleans’ five offensive linemen averaged a pass-blocking grade of 43.2, a run-blocking grade of 69.9, and an overall PFF grade of 55.8. The team gave up two sacks and 25 pressures with rookie Spencer Rattler under center. Tackles Taliese Fuaga (six pressures) and Trevor Penning (one sack and 11 pressures) were especially bad.
More importantly, the Saints once again lost center Erik McCoy to an elbow injury. There’s no reason to believe this will be a long-term issue, but McCoy has proved to be essential to how well New Orleans’ offensive line plays this season.
Week 17 Matchups to Target
Los Angeles Rams vs. Arizona Cardinals
Like Atlanta, a healthy offensive line has been the catalyst for the Rams’ push to the postseason. The Rams offensive line allowed just three pressures against the Jets in Week 16. All five of their offensive linemen combined to average a pass-blocking, run-blocking, and PFF grade above 71.0 in the win.
.@RamsNFL @nyjets @Kyrenwilliams23 is a beast. Leads the NFL with 303 carries...And does everything well...has helped carry the TEAM to 1st in the NFC WEST. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/lntv7RCGZs
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) December 23, 2024
The Rams need to continue to win games to secure a spot in the playoffs. Luckily, their offensive line gets an excellent matchup against the Cardinals in Week 17. Arizona has just two players (L.J. Collier and Zaven Collins) with more than 19 pressures this season.
The Cardinals have had success generating sacks in 2024 (42 on 234 pressures) despite having just one defensive lineman with over 200 snaps played and a pass-rush grade above 64.0.
Los Angeles should once again be able to control the trenches to give Matthew Stafford time to find Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp down the field.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Carolina Panthers
Tampa Bay’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys during Week 16 makes Week 17 a must-win game for the Buccaneers. Thankfully, they will have a clear advantage in the trenches against the Carolina Panthers.
The Buccaneers currently have the third-highest PFF pass-blocking grade of all offensive lines in 2024 (68.8). They also have a top-12 average PFF grade this season (64.5). The tackle tandem of Tristan Wirfs (85.3 PFF grade) and Luke Goedeke (73.9) has been stellar again this season while Cody Mauch (75.1) has acclimated well to the NFL in his second season.
Bucky. Irving. Is. A. Stud.
Touchdown for the rookie!!! pic.twitter.com/OmG9VW29Sv
— NFL Fantasy Football (@NFLFantasy) December 23, 2024
Carolina has one of the least talented defenses in the NFL this season. This problem is even more obvious in the trenches. The Panthers have just three players with more than 16 pressures and three sacks this season. The Panthers are also allowing the third-most yards before contact in the run game this season (2.4 yards).
Expect the Buccaneers to be able to attack on the ground and through the air this week to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Los Angeles Chargers at New England Patriots
The Chargers were able to beat the Denver Broncos in Week 16 despite subpar performances among their offensive linemen. The tackle tandem of Rashawn Slater (73.5 PFF grade) and Joe Alt (68.6 PFF grade) held up well, but the interior offensive line was a mess.
Zach Allen jumping the snap combined with Dondrea Tillman standing up the Chargers motion blocker made for a pretty sweet run stuff on 3rd and 1. pic.twitter.com/ILVxAvbhvZ
— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) December 21, 2024
The Chargers interior offensive linemen all finished with a sub-50.0 PFF grade in Week 16. They combined to allow 15 of the team’s 21 pressures.
Thankfully, the New England Patriots defensive line is far less talented in Week 17. That should give the Chargers a distinct advantage in the trenches. Keion White (43 pressures and six sacks) has been excellent this year, but few other players on this defense have stood out.
The Chargers aren’t as good as we hoped as an offensive line, but they should have no problem imposing their will to keep their playoff hopes alive in Week 17.
Week 17 Matchups to Avoid
Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles
The Cowboys offensive line has struggled to gel this season thanks to rookies at left tackle and center and injuries across the unit. Dallas beat the Buccaneers in Week 16, but it wasn’t thanks to the offensive line (57.4 average PFF grade).
Now, Dallas will face off against an Eagles defense that has been one of the best groups in the NFL this season.
Jalen Carter sees that the OG Sam Cosmi is light on his hand pre snap & calls it out!
Once the ball is snapped, Carter beats the pin & pull by quickly penetrating into the backfield with a club swim & strips the ball from the RB, leading to a turnover! #StopTheRun @Chase_Senior pic.twitter.com/5G6ceSieGq
— DLineVids (@dlinevids1) December 23, 2024
Six different Eagles have at least 20 pressures this season. Two (Jalen Carter and Josh Sweat) have over 50 pressures. Philadelphia has four different linemen with five or more sacks and another two with three sacks.
The Cowboys offensive line will have its hands full. It is hard to imagine another strong game from Cooper Rush against this defense in Week 17.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Denver Broncos
The Bengals offensive line continues to function as a middle-of-the-road group this season. All five of their projected starters have a PFF grade between 52.0 and 62.0. Only one (center Ted Karras) has a pass protection grade above 61.0.
This group has collectively allowed 18 sacks and 164 pressures. That doesn’t even include injured left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (three sacks and 13 pressures).
Cincinnati’s offensive line will have its hands full against the Denver Broncos defense in Week 17. Denver has four players with over 40 pressures, led by Zach Allen (67 pressures). It also has five players with at least 6.0 sacks. This is a unit that has no problem generating pressure on the inside or off the edge this season.
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