RADIO
After two weeks of great fantasy production, Week 7 was a regression to how the season started. Plenty of teams also suffered brutal injuries to key players. Thankfully, those effects weren’t felt along the offensive line despite the number of teams that entered the week missing starters.
Through seven weeks, we have a strong enough data sample to start making definitive conclusions regarding the different offensive lines in the league. The great teams are beginning to separate at the top while the terrible teams are falling further behind everybody else.
There aren’t any teams on bye in Week 8, but fantasy managers should still be scouring the waiver wire to find replacements for injured players and to prepare for future bye weeks. Check out the offensive line matchups to target and avoid below.
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Champ of the Week
Denver Broncos
Denver’s offensive line had an impressive day against the Saints on Thursday Night Football despite playing its backup center.
Javonte Williams looked like his old self yesterday! Great blocking from the OL here pic.twitter.com/eZrZGdKgqA
— Cody Roark (@CodyRoarkNFL) October 18, 2024
The Broncos had a modest 66.3 average pass-blocking grade (largely thanks to Alex Forsyth scoring a 21.0 grade) but allowed just five pressures and zero sacks. The Broncos were able to post the best week of any offensive line with a 71.8 run-blocking grade and a 73.6 PFF grade average.
Mike McGlinchey’s return was welcomed. The veteran right tackle allowed just one pressure and finished with a 75.8 PFF grade. Garett Bolles continues to have a strong season, finishing with a 90.6 pass-blocking grade and an 83.1 PFF grade against Chase Young and Carl Granderson.
There are still plenty of issues with Denver’s offense. But the offensive line is getting healthy and starting to gel (especially as run blockers), making this a unit on the rise.
Chump of the Week
New Orleans Saints
On Thursday Night Football, we saw both the best and worst offensive line performances of the week. New Orleans’ patchwork offensive line mightily struggled against a Denver defensive line that has given opponents fits this season.
Jonah Elliss spin move and Zach Allen working the stunt combined for the sack on Rattler. pic.twitter.com/eXRIXX7sXR
— Frankie Abbott (@FrankiesFilm) October 18, 2024
The Saints were down three starters on the interior offensive line in Week 7. However, most of Denver’s damage came from the edges.
The tackle combination of Taliese Fuaga and Trevor Penning finished the game with a pass protection grade under 43.0 and a PFF grade below 51.0. The duo combined to allow four of the team’s five sacks and 15 of 20 pressures. The Saints also lost their backup left guard (Nick Saldiveri) to a shoulder injury.
The offensive line issues are mounting in New Orleans, which makes its explosive first two games seem unattainable for the current roster going forward.
Matchups to Target
Denver Broncos vs. Carolina Panthers
The Broncos offensive line dominated against the Saints in Week 7 (see above). This group will get an even better matchup in Week 8 against the Carolina Panthers.
Through seven weeks, Denver’s offensive line ranks fourth in average pass-blocking grade (69.9) and seventh in average PFF grade (66.1) despite missing two starters. One of those starters (Mike McGlinchey) returned last week.
Conversely, the Carolina Panthers defense has no redeeming qualities to start the year. The Panthers have the third-lowest sack rate in the NFL this season (3.2%). They’ve also got the lowest pressure rate (13.8%) in the first seven weeks.
Marcus Mariota showed up and showed out when the @Commanders called on him yesterday 🔥 pic.twitter.com/DDSsS0QAwO
— NFL (@NFL) October 21, 2024
Things aren’t much better for the Panthers in the run game, either. The Panthers are allowing 4.7 yards per carry this season with running backs averaging 2.2 yards before contact against the team.
Bo Nix is an interesting fantasy play this week along with Javonte Williams and Courtland Sutton. Deeper leagues in need of injury relief can also look at Devaughn Vele as a PPR option given Denver’s lean passing attack.
Chicago Bears at Washington Commanders
The last time we saw Chicago’s offense, the Bears had a dominant game in the trenches against the Jaguars in London. Chicago has finally settled on an offensive line configuration that works for the team, inserting veteran guard Matt Pryor in for Nate Davis.
High Level throw from Caleb Williams
I've seen a bunch of NFL teams try to pick on the Mike LB in the Red Zone with Snag & Go pic.twitter.com/oAem91KyCg
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) October 16, 2024
Chicago will come out of the bye with a solid matchup against a Commanders defensive line with some serious issues. Through seven weeks, the Commanders are 22nd in PFF run defense grade (59.0) and 25th in pass rush grade.
The loss of Jonathan Allen on the interior defensive line takes away a player who could exploit Chicago’s biggest weakness as a unit (guard play). Chicago should come out of its bye week and click on offense. All of its skill players should be on the radar in Week 8.
Los Angeles Chargers vs. New Orleans Saints
The Saints are one of three teams that rank in the bottom 10 in PFF’s run defense grade (44.5) and pass rush grade (61.8). The Chargers offensive line has not dominated like many expected after the team added Joe Alt this offseason, but this is a textbook “get-right game” for the unit.
Justin Herbert had 4 "Big Time Throws" per PFF. They led to 0 EPA because of his pass catchers. The second throw here is outrageous.
Chargers need a Round 1 outside WR ASAP. Ladd McConkey is going to be a very solid WR2. pic.twitter.com/iWdZbXTwkR
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) October 22, 2024
This game should be a big mismatch in the run game. New Orleans is allowing the most yards before contact per carry this season (3.0 yards). Carl Granderson is the only defensive lineman with over 30 snaps played who has a PFF run defense grade above 56.0.
New Orleans has struggled to generate sacks this season, but it does have two players (Granderson and Chase Young) with at least 20 pressures. Unfortunately, it will be matching up against the two best players on the Chargers offensive line this week.
The Chargers had a let-down performance against the Cardinals, but have a chance to redeem themselves against the Saints in Week 8.
Matchups to Avoid
New York Giants at Pittsburgh Steelers
The Giants offensive line was overmatched against the Eagles in its first game without left tackle Andrew Thomas. The team entered the week having allowed just 14 sacks in six games. In Week 7, it was credited with five sacks and 18 pressures allowed.
If Nolan Smith continues to use his long arms to not allow tackles to get engaged, it could be scary.
Awesome rep. pic.twitter.com/Bik1euPRkS
— Aidan Doc 🧸 (@AidanDoc__) October 22, 2024
Losing Thomas means that the Giants offensive line no longer can isolate its tackle to shore up protection in other places. All five of the offensive linemen surrendered at least two pressures. Three of the linemen gave up four or more.
The Eagles were a bad matchup, but in Week 8, the Giants will face arguably the best pass-rushing defensive front in the league (Pittsburgh). T.J. Watt (rightfully) gets all of the love, but Cameron Heyward is leading the team in pressures (22) and sacks (five) to start the season.
This is a brutal matchup for the Giants. Malik Nabers is a must-start, but everybody else on this offense carries a significant risk in this game.
Tennessee Titans at Detroit Lions
The Titans offensive line has struggled to start the 2024 season. All five of the starters have combined to give up 13 sacks and 75 pressures. None of the starters have a PFF grade above 64.0 through seven weeks.
Detroit lost a significant piece in Aidan Hutchinson in Week 6 but was able to respond with a well-rounded effort against a good Vikings offensive line in Week 7. Detroit generated 15 pressures and four sacks against Minnesota.
The Lions are certainly a better matchup for teams without Hutchinson, but this group also has enough players on the first and second level of the defense to give subpar offensive lines fits. It could be a long day for Mason Rudolph and the passing attack in Week 8.
New England Patriots vs. New York Jets
There are no solutions on the horizon for New England’s offensive line.
The Patriots are currently missing six players from their preseason two deep. The unit didn’t allow any sacks in the loss to Jacksonville, but it did give up 15 pressures on the day. The Patriots had an average pass-blocking grade of 44.8, a run-blocking grade of 53.4, and an average PFF score of 43.9.
Travon Walker gets his 6th Sack of the season!
pic.twitter.com/QrUdfYn4Sr— Daniel Griffis (@DanDGriffis) October 20, 2024
In Week 8, this group will need to try and figure out a way to slow down the Jets defensive front. The Jets generated 17 pressures and one sack against the Steelers in Week 7 and will likely get Haason Reddick’s debut in Week 8.
New York’s defensive line leaves plenty to be desired in the run game, but it features four players with at least 14 pressures. Will McDonald IV has been excellent as a pass-rusher this season and is second in sacks (8.0) to start the year.
Drake Maye has been great for fantasy in his first two starts but should probably find a home on the bench in fantasy this week. It is hard to identify a single Patriots player with any fantasy appeal in a week where no teams are on bye.
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