RADIO
Week 18 represents the last week of the NFL season, and for some, the end of the fantasy season. This week can be especially challenging given teams resting starters or playing young players to get a look heading into the 2024 season.
Finding advantageous matchups in the trenches can make or break the season at this point. It can give you access to sleeper waiver adds or players to depend on heading into the championship round. There were plenty of injuries to track in Week 17 that may have been minor early in the season but will justifiably shut players down with nothing to play for.
Check out the offensive line matchups to target and avoid for fantasy football in Week 18 below.
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Champ of the Week
San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers saved their best offensive line performance of the season for a Week 17 matchup against the Commanders that locked up the top seed in the NFC.
Sure, facing off against the Commanders isn’t exactly a test since the team jettisoned both of their edge rushers at the trade deadline. The 49ers still showed up and dominated in the trenches.
San Francisco’s five offensive linemen averaged a 70.1 pass-blocking grade, an 80.0 run-blocking grade, and an 81.1 PFF grade in Week 17. The team got standout performances from the combination of left tackle Trent Williams (93.2 PFF grade) and center Jake Brendel (87.7). Rotational guard Jon Feliciano drew the start at left guard and played quite well (75.7) as well.
In total, the 49ers allowed just six pressures against an overmatched Commanders front. Expect them to rest their key starters with the top seed locked up in the NFC.
Chump of the Week
New York Jets
The Jets would have had their hands full against the Cleveland Browns defensive line even if they were at full strength. The fact that the team was missing key pieces led to a proper beatdown in the trenches.
In total, the Jets surrendered two sacks and 19 pressures against Cleveland in Week 17. Only one of their five starting offensive linemen (left guard Laken Tomlinson) finished with a pass-blocking grade above 60.0. Unfortunately, he also finished with the lowest run-blocking grade (39.6) across the unit as well.
Unsurprisingly, the matchup on the edges proved to be the difference. The tackle combination of Mekhi Becton and Carter Warren gave up two sacks and 14 pressures against Myles Garrett and Za’Darius Smith.
At this point, the end of the regular season will be a mercy for the Jets offensive line unit.
Matchups to Target in Week 18
Dallas Cowboys at Washington Commanders
The 49ers offensive line is largely average outside of Trent Williams. If they were able to dominate against Washington, then the Cowboys should have no problem asserting their will against an outmanned Commanders front.
Dallas could be without left guard Tyler Smith in this game after he injured his foot in Week 17, but backup guard T.J. Bass (57.5 PFF grade) played well enough in his stead to keep this offensive line on track.
Expect Dak Prescott to have plenty of time to get the ball to his weapons in this game. Prescott, CeeDee Lamb, Jake Ferguson, and Brandin Cooks are all startable in this game. Tony Pollard could also have his best fantasy performance of the season, especially if this game gets out of hand early and the team can put the ball in his hands.
Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints
The Falcons offensive line has been the strong point of this team all season. Despite underwhelming quarterback play, the team still has an outside chance of claiming a playoff experience by winning the NFC South.
Atlanta’s strength in the trenches gets an advantageous matchup in Week 18 against the New Orleans Saints. The Saints feature just two players (Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan) with more than 32 pressures this season. Additionally, Granderson is the only player along the defensive line with more than 5.0 sacks on the season.
Taylor Heinicke is not a great quarterback, but he should have ample time to distribute the ball to Drake London and Kyle Pitts in the passing attack. The team also runs their sub-package defense more than their base defense, so this would be a week to start Bijan Robinson with confidence over Tyler Allgeier.
Matchups to Avoid in Week 18
New York Giants vs Philadelphia Eagles
The Giants need the season to end. The team suffered a close loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but it didn’t have anything to do with the performance of the offensive line.
Los Angeles came into the game with an exploitable defensive line but registered four sacks and 17 pressures against the Giants. The team struggled on the interior (three sacks and 14 pressures) with the combination of Justin Pugh, John Michael Schmitz Jr., and Ben Bredeson combined to average a 35.9 PFF score. Even worse, the Giants lost backup right tackle Tyre Phillips to a quad tear.
That is bad news for the Giants heading into a divisional matchup in Week 18 against the Eagles. It wouldn’t be surprising if Saquon Barkley struggled to find space to run this week. If you want to try and exploit a fantastic matchup in the secondary, targeting lower ADOT targets like Wan’Dale Robinson or Darren Waller makes the most sense.
Cincinnati Bengals vs Cleveland Browns
The Bengals held on for as long as they could, but Week 17’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs eliminated them from the playoffs. It was also a rough performance up front against a solid Chiefs defensive line.
Cincinnati surrendered three sacks and 16 pressures to Kansas City in Week 17. The right side of the offensive line had one of their worst weeks of the season, surrendering nine of the team’s 16 pressures. Four of the team’s five starters finished the week with a PFF grade below 61.0.
Joe Mixon (or Chase Brown as an upside play) still has value against a Browns defense struggling against the run. Fantasy managers would be smart to avoid starting Jake Browning, especially if the team decides to shut down Ja’Marr Chase and/or Tee Higgins in the final week of the season with nothing to play for.
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