RADIO
Bye weeks are back in Week 9 with the 49ers and Steelers getting the week off. For many teams, it is time to scour the waiver wire again to try and make a push for the fantasy playoffs.
Several teams entered Week 8 with offensive line injuries, but the Vikings suffered one of the worst losses of the year. Christian Darrisaw suffered an ACL injury that will end his season. Minnesota worked quickly to replace him, trading for Cam Robinson, but that is still a downgrade.
Understanding offensive line matchups is a great way to uncover an edge in fantasy football, especially in the middle of bye weeks. Check out the offensive line matchups to target and avoid in Week 9 below.
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Champ of the Week
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins offensive line did great in Tua Tagovailoa’s first game back from his concussion. The Dolphins only allowed one sack and two pressures, keeping the quarterback upright for most of the game.
De’Von Achane flashing the vision, agility, speed and ability to break tackles.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) October 27, 2024
The performance didn’t result in a win, but it was a solid performance for many key contributors who have been missing from fantasy lineups over the last few weeks. De'Von Achane averaged 9.7 yards per carry. Raheem Mostert punched in two rushing touchdowns. Tyreek Hill had his first game over 70 yards since Week 1.
Miami’s five offensive linemen averaged an 80.4 PFF pass-blocking grade, a 64.4 run-blocking grade, and a 71.4 overall grade. The left side of the line was fantastic, with the combination of Terron Armstead, Robert Jones, and Aaron Brewer averaging a 78.3 PFF grade.
The return of Tagovailoa and his ability to deliver the ball quickly improves all phases of this offense, but it was still a fantastic performance in the trenches for Miami’s offensive line.
Chump of the Week
Baltimore Ravens
Jameis Winston is getting all of the media love for leading the Browns to a victory, but what is being lost is how good Cleveland’s defense played up front against a Ravens offensive line that had been finding its stride.
If this was Za'Darius Smith's final game in a Browns uniform, he went out hard with a sack and eight quarterback pressures from multiple gaps (though Lamar got him with the WOOP move once). pic.twitter.com/ky769bltiQ
— Doug Farrar ✍ (@NFL_DougFarrar) October 29, 2024
Baltimore had just one offensive lineman (Tyler Linderbaum) who finished with a pass-blocking grade above 55.0. It didn’t have a single offensive lineman with a run-blocking grade above 59.0 or an overall grade above 57.0.
Baltimore didn’t allow a single sack, but it did give up 18 pressures against Cleveland. Three of its five offensive linemen gave up at least four pressures on the day.
At this point, Baltimore may be the biggest competition for Kansas City in the AFC. But for it to truly take the next step, it will need its offensive line to stabilize in both the run and pass game.
Matchups to Target
Carolina Panthers vs. New Orleans Saints
The Panthers offense has significant problems everywhere, especially with Diontae Johnson’s trade to the Ravens. However, their offensive line continues to perform at a high level weekly.
I’m still a believer in Bryce Young 📈📈 pic.twitter.com/v1v9XV52Gg
— IAmWestsideFetti 💙🖤🤟🏾 (@4MR_Fetti) October 29, 2024
Carolina entered Week 8 with a difficult matchup against the Denver Broncos and fared better than most teams have this season. The group allowed just one sack and 12 pressures. There were some rough performances in pass protection, specifically by Ikem Ekwonu (38.4 pass-blocking grade) and Robert Hunt (31.4 pass-blocking grade), but it was a steady all-around performance.
The Panthers offensive line has a far easier matchup in Week 9 against an underwhelming Saints defensive line. The edge combination of Chase Young and Carl Granderson have been bright spots (60 combined pressures and 7.0 sacks), but the interior defensive line is a mess.
Carolina will look to establish the run to protect Bryce Young under center. That shouldn’t be a difficult task against PFF’s 31st-ranked run defense (44.9 grade).
Chicago Bears at Arizona Cardinals
Chicago’s offensive line struggled against the Commanders’ ability to simulate pressures through stunts and blitzes. The Bears allowed just one sack but gave up 12 pressures in the game. Chicago’s offensive line also got banged up, losing its left tackle (Braxton Jones) and left guard (Teven Jenkins) during the game.
Even if the Bears don’t get either starter back in Week 9, they could be in good shape against a terrible Cardinals defensive front. Arizona has just one player (L.J. Collier) with more than 12 pressures this season (17). As a team, it has just 15 sacks on the season.
Arizona is adequate against the run, but Chicago has a strong run-blocking offensive line. Expect D'Andre Swift’s hot stretch to continue in Week 9. Caleb Williams should also have more than enough time to find his receivers down the field after a rough Week 8.
Atlanta Falcons vs. Dallas Cowboys
This matchup is an unstoppable force against a very movable object in the run game. Atlanta enters Week 9 with PFF’s sixth-ranked run-blocking offensive line this season (66.2). Both Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier are averaging 4.7 (or more) yards per carry.
BIJAN ROBINSON TOUCHDOWN pic.twitter.com/b9XyXFn5Aj
— Not Bijan (@InBijanWeTrust) October 27, 2024
That is bad news for the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas is allowing 4.8 yards per carry to opposing running backs in 2024. It doesn’t have a single interior defensive lineman with a PFF run defense grade above 54.0.
Things aren’t much better on the edges with Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence out of the lineup. The Cowboys generated just 12 pressures and one sack against the 49ers in Week 8. Five of the pressures and the sack came from non-defensive linemen.
This matchup plays right into Atlanta’s hands, especially if the Cowboys don’t get Parsons or Lawrence back.
Matchups to Avoid
Los Angeles Chargers at Cleveland Browns
The Chargers offensive line hasn’t met expectations this season (outside of excellent left tackle Rashawn Slater). They will have to play at their absolute best in a matchup against Cleveland’s stellar defensive line.
The Browns have two excellent edge-rushers in Myles Garrett (36 pressures and 4.0 sacks) and Za’Darius Smith (24 pressures and 4.0 sacks). They are also getting a great interior presence from Shelby Harris (11 pressures).
This group is also stout against the run. The Browns have seven different defensive linemen who have a run defense grade above 63.0 this season. All of them have logged at least 76 snaps in the year.
Don’t be surprised if the Chargers struggle to get any traction in this matchup. The Chargers may prevail in the long run, but this is a very motivated Cleveland team that has found a new spark with Jameis Winston under center.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Kansas City Chiefs
The Buccaneers have a fantastic left tackle who can shut down any pass-rusher. However, this team has some weaknesses in the interior.
That is where the Chiefs are at their strongest. Everybody knows that Chris Jones (33 pressures and four sacks) is a force on the interior. However, Tershawn Wharton has been excellent as well this season (17 pressures and three sacks).
Tershawn Wharton collapsed the pocket for the 4th down sack‼️ pic.twitter.com/uadF038FVA
— All-22 (@All22_PFF) October 27, 2024
All three of Tampa Bay’s interior offensive linemen (Ben Bredeson, Graham Barton, and Cody Mauch) have given up at least 10 pressures this season. Mauch is the only one with a PFF pass-blocking grade above 60.0.
Baker Mayfield will have to get the ball out quickly this week. That isn’t the easiest task with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin out of the lineup once again.
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Las Vegas Raiders
The Bengals have had an average pass-blocking offensive line this year (20th) that is extremely inconsistent in run blocking (31st). Add in a knee injury that has limited Orlando Brown Jr. for the last two games, and you have the potential for a rough matchup.
Tyree Wilson beats Trey Smith with a nice bull rush #Raiders pic.twitter.com/yyzv0u8LBm
— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) October 28, 2024
Las Vegas is missing some strong players up front, namely Christian Wilkins on the interior, but the group still has some players that can get after the quarterback. Las Vegas generated 12 pressures and a sack against Patrick Mahomes. Four different Raiders have at least 11 pressures this year. They also have six defensive linemen with at least 200 snaps played and a run defense grade above 63.0.
Cincinnati will need to dig deep to keep Joe Burrow upright and their playoff hopes alive in the AFC this week.
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