X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

Offensive Line Rankings Analysis: Week 15

Week 15 saw the game of the season in New Orleans, another statement win from the Baltimore Ravens, and rare back-to-back losses for the New England Patriots. It was quite a week, and generally a very high scoring and fun week for fantasy football as well. If you survived the first week of the fantasy playoffs then you likely already know the value of this article. However, if you are out of your playoffs, then this article could help you with some DFS selections this week.

Many fantasy owners completely overlook the importance of identifying the reasons behind a player's struggles. Is he being handicapped by the protection ahead of him and actually performing as well as possible given the situation, or is he struggling despite effective play from his offensive line? Using PFF's player grading tool, each week I will identify an offensive line that has been trending up and one trending down. More importantly, I will analyze how those trends might be affecting, or might be about to affect your fantasy roster over the next few weeks.

Please Note: When determining individual player ranks I will only be looking at players that have played over 400 snaps, as well as those on IR. If you want to look at the raw data and my applied method, feel free to message me on Twitter @RichKingFF. I'm happy to share!

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:

 

Offensive Line to Watch - Tennessee Titans

Pass Blocking

Passing isn't something that the Titans have been that great at historically, but that has changed this season with Ryan Tannehill.

Tannehill was (at best) an inconsistent quarterback when he was with the Miami Dolphins, as he was forced to avoid rushers and look downfield to make a pass. That isn't the case since he was thrust into the starting role in Tennessee, with Marcus Mariota heading to the bench.

The normal situation of having an effective offensive line requires the foundations of having solid contributors at the tackle and center positions. Taylor Lewan (10) and Jack Conklin (22) are both ranked in the top 25 at the position, with center Ben Jones ranked fourth in the league. Combining that solid foundation with Rodger Saffold, who was brought in from the Los Angeles Rams, allows the team to protect their quarterback even with Jamil Douglas who would rank 62nd in the league if he had met the snap count requirement.

That level of protection has enabled Tannehill just under three seconds to work through his progressions before passing the ball, which puts him 11th best in the league at the metric. That protection allows their receiving corps, led by the dynamic A.J. Brown, to get downfield, as demonstrated by the Intended Air Yards from their quarterback who ranks fifth in the league with 9.2 yards.

 

Run Blocking

The importance of the running game cannot be understated for the Titans. In fact, it is the foundation of their success

That reliance on their running game can clearly be seen in the effectiveness of their offensive line. The Titans don't have a single-player that is ranked outside of the top 20 at their position.

Going across the line, Taylor Lewan (16), Rodger Saffold (9), Ben Jones (4), Jamil Douglas (18, if he met the snap count requirement) and Jack Conklin (8), there is not a weak link to be seen. That has enabled Derrick Henry to be a more than effective running back this season, despite facing stacked boxes on 33.2% of his 250 carries this season. Furthermore, it has enabled Henry to be able to find a crease anywhere he wants, with a balanced running pattern when looking at his entire season. Effective is not the right word for this running game, because at times it has been devastating for opponents.

Fantasy Impact

Trust: Derrick Henry & Ryan Tannehill

It's obvious to say, but you can't overlook the ability of Henry in fantasy football. There is the rhetoric that he isn't a pass-catching back, but he really doesn't need to be. Once Henry gets going he is difficult to bring down and has great protection behind his offensive line. If he can stay healthy he should continue to give his fantasy owners a great shot at the title.

That same offensive line dominance allows Tannehill the ability to throw the ball downfield, or run it himself. Interestingly, Tannehill has out rushed Dion Lewis this season, with a big reason being the headstart that he gets from his offensive line. Those rushing yards are a nice bonus for a quarterback who is salvaging his career and providing a gold mine for fantasy owners.

Cause for Concern: Wide Receivers

While the receivers are able to get downfield, which makes great highlights, the number of downfield threats brings a risk around reliability. The leading receiver on the team is A.J. Brown who has only had 39 receptions on the season, which can't truly be relied upon for fantasy, especially at playoff time. Making decisions around these receivers depends on your situation. If you feel you need to go big then Brown is a nice option, but if safety is what you are after then maybe he is better on your bench.

 

Offensive Line to Avoid - Arizona Cardinals

Pass Blocking

Given that rookie quarterback Kyler Murray has been sacked 46 times this season, I found it surprising to see the numbers of this`` offensive line when it came to pass blocking.

The tackles aren't great- but certainly, aren't awful. D.J Humphries (28) and Justin Murray (44) are in the lower range of starting tackles, but they still have the ability to set the edge of the pocket for Murray. Equally, center A.Q. Shipley ranks 13th in the league. With their guards ranking among the strongest pair in the league, Pugh (9) and Sweezy (20), there is no obvious reason why Murray would end up being sacked so many times this season.

Murray also has one of the shortest average intended air yards in the league, which is another indication that he shouldn't get sacked as much as he does. However, while this suggests he does not have to wait long for his routes to develop, it could also be a product of Murray feeling under pressure and getting rid of the ball early. When this team has had success this season, it has been when Murray has been willing to let the ball fly deep. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be happening enough.

The problem, as we will find out, is that it seems as though teams just aren't respecting the Cardinals' ability on the ground, and therefore are able to constantly bring pressure each play to the rookie. Per Pro-Football-Reference, Murray has been blitzed 128 times on his 457 passing attempts, which has forced him into either making bad throws or to scramble.

 

Run Blocking

The struggle for the Cardinals is that the team is really one-dimensional on offense.

The team's guards are their brightest talent in run blocking, but Pugh (36) and Sweezy (38) are still in the lower half of starting options in the league. However, even having effective guards in place would not help when the pocket is under pressure from the snap. D.J Humphries (54) and Justin Murray (53) are comfortably in the lower portion of starting options in the league, while center A.Q. Shipley is ranked 31st in the league, which is effectively last, as other centers didn't meet the snap count requirement.

In fact, the inability of the Cardinals to run block has led to David Johnson, one of the league's best running backs just two years ago, to look worse than average. Combining that inability with the fact the team is highly ineffective on defense, means that the team often has to give up the run before the game has really gotten going. Until the team corrects the struggles, the team will continue to struggle to do anything on offense consistently on the ground.

 

Fantasy Impact

Trust: Christian Kirk

Kirk has been a favorite option of Murray this season, and with the quarterback feeling under pressure he will continue to look to his favored weapon to bail him out of trouble. Kirk has the ability to punish teams once he gets the ball in his hands with his dynamism, leading to receptions and yards fantasy owners can rely upon. Just ask the Tampa Bay Buccaneers what Kirk can do when this offense gets it right.

Cause for Concern: Anyone attempting to run the ball

Yes, there are going to be games that break right and you are able to see big totals on the ground (Kenyan Drake against the 49ers) but that can't be relied upon behind a line that is ineffective at protection for their running backs.

 

Top Five Offensive Lines

1) Philadelphia Eagles
2) Indianapolis Colts
3) Dallas Cowboys
4) Baltimore Ravens
5) New Orleans Saints

 

Bottom Five Offensive Lines

32) Los Angeles Rams
31) Miami Dolphins
30) Cincinnati Bengals
29) Los Angeles Chargers
28) Atlanta Falcons

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Weekly Rankings
Compare Any Players
Stats & Leaders
Starts and Sit
Daily Fantasy
Who To Pickup
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Cedric Tillman43 mins ago

Suffers Head Injury On Thursday Night
Wendell Carter Jr.2 hours ago

Out Against Lakers
Anthony Davis2 hours ago

Available Versus Magic On Thursday
Rui Hachimura2 hours ago

Unavailable Thursday
Carlos Ulberg3 hours ago

Looking To Cement Himself As A Title Contender At UFC Macau
Volkan Oezdemir3 hours ago

Eyes Another Knockout At UFC Macau
Gabriella Fernandes3 hours ago

A Big Underdog At UFC Macau
MMA3 hours ago

Cong Wang Puts Undefeated Record On The Line At UFC Macau
Deiveson Figueiredo3 hours ago

Looks To Extend Win Streak At UFC Macau
Petr Yan3 hours ago

A Favorite At UFC Macau
Yves Missi3 hours ago

Listed As Questionable For Friday
CJ McCollum4 hours ago

Not Likely To Play Friday
Alexander Mattison4 hours ago

Zamir White Miss Practice Again
Brandon Ingram4 hours ago

Questionable For Friday
Shohei Ohtani4 hours ago

Named National League MVP In 2024
Aaron Judge4 hours ago

Wins American League MVP Award
Ja'Kobe Walter4 hours ago

Ready To Go Thursday
Donte DiVincenzo4 hours ago

Available Thursday
Mike Conley5 hours ago

Will Not Play Thursday
Jordan Clarkson5 hours ago

Sits Out Thursday's Game
Ausar Thompson5 hours ago

Won't Play On Thursday
Zach Collins5 hours ago

Cleared To Play Thursday
Domantas Sabonis5 hours ago

Gets Through Full Practice
Chris Paul5 hours ago

Good To Go Thursday
Brock Purdy5 hours ago

Limited Again On Thursday
Malik Monk5 hours ago

Making Progress
George Kittle5 hours ago

Limited Again On Thursday
Tre Mann5 hours ago

Good To Go On Thursday
Miles Bridges5 hours ago

Won't Play On Thursday
Vince Williams Jr.5 hours ago

Out At Least A Month
Scottie Barnes6 hours ago

Returning On Thursday
Alex Ovechkin6 hours ago

To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Fractured Fibula
Paul George6 hours ago

Out At Least Two Games
Aaron Gordon6 hours ago

Availability In Question For Friday
Zach Hyman6 hours ago

Expected To Miss 4-7 Days
Kent Johnson6 hours ago

Back For Blue Jackets Thursday
Yaroslav Askarov6 hours ago

Makes Sharks Debut Thursday
Jalen Hurts6 hours ago

Practices In Full On Thursday
Mikael Granlund6 hours ago

Good To Go Thursday
Alexandar Georgiev6 hours ago

Returns To Action Versus Capitals
TB6 hours ago

Nicholas Paul Will Miss Thursday's Game
Frederik Andersen7 hours ago

To Miss 8-12 Weeks
Jake Ferguson7 hours ago

Still Not Practicing
Sam LaPorta7 hours ago

Looking Good For A Week 12 Return
Sam Darnold7 hours ago

Upgrades To Full Participation, On Track To Play
Isiah Pacheco7 hours ago

Remains Limited On Thursday
D'Andre Swift7 hours ago

Upgrades To Limited Participant On Thursday
CeeDee Lamb7 hours ago

Sidelined During Thursday's Practice
Ladd McConkey7 hours ago

Does Not Practice On Thursday
Mike Evans8 hours ago

Logs Full Practice On Thursday
DeVonta Smith9 hours ago

Misses Another Practice
Cody Bellinger9 hours ago

Cubs Looking To Trade Cody Bellinger?
Brandin Cooks9 hours ago

Preparing To Play In Week 12
CeeDee Lamb10 hours ago

Not Seen At Thursday's Practice
10 hours ago

Blake Snell Has Met With Red Sox, Dodgers
Aaron Rodgers10 hours ago

Jets Owner Suggested Benching Aaron Rodgers
Mike Evans12 hours ago

Practicing Again On Thursday
Chandler Stephenson13 hours ago

Registers Three Assists Versus Predators
Jason Robertson13 hours ago

Totals Three Points In Wednesday's Win
Nils Lundkvist13 hours ago

Exits Early With A Lower-Body Injury
Matthew Knies13 hours ago

Sustains An Upper-Body Injury
Mikael Granlund13 hours ago

Exits Late With Injury Wednesday
Patrik Laine13 hours ago

Returns To Practice
Chris Sale1 day ago

Wins National League Cy Young Award
Tarik Skubal1 day ago

Wins 2024 American League Cy Young Award
Austin Eckroat1 day ago

Heads To The RSM Classic After Win
Harris English1 day ago

Finding Form Heading To The RSM Classic
Ben Griffin1 day ago

Continues Playing Well Heading To The RSM Classic
Denny McCarthy1 day ago

Returns to The RSM Classic
Josh Jacobs1 day ago

Limited With Multiple Injuries
DeVonta Smith1 day ago

Misses Practice On Wednesday
Seth Jones1 day ago

Expected To Miss Four Weeks
Sam Darnold1 day ago

Limited With Foot Injury
Max Domi1 day ago

Placed On Injured Reserve
Connor Ingram1 day ago

Out Day-To-Day With An Upper-Body Injury
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen1 day ago

Returns To Action Versus Kings
Alex Tuch1 day ago

Available Wednesday
Tage Thompson1 day ago

Remains Out On Wednesday
Jordan Eberle1 day ago

To Remain Out On Wednesday
Ludvig Aberg1 day ago

Looks To Defend RSM Classic Title
Si Woo Kim1 day ago

An Intriguing Option At RSM Classic
Maverick McNealy1 day ago

In Solid Form Ahead Of RSM Classic
Eric Cole1 day ago

Chasing First Tour Victory At RSM Classic
2 days ago

Guardians' Stephen Vogt Named AL Manager Of The Year
Milwaukee Brewers2 days ago

Pat Murphy Named NL Manager Of The Year
2 days ago

Nick Pivetta Declines Boston's Qualifying Offer
Jose Siri2 days ago

Mets Acquire Jose Siri From The Rays
2 days ago

Phillies To Meet With Juan Soto
2 days ago

Luis Severino Rejects Qualifying Offer From Mets
2 days ago

Willy Adames Declines Brewers Qualifying Offer
2 days ago

Teoscar Hernandez Declines Qualifying Offer From Dodgers
2 days ago

Juan Soto Declines Yankees' Qualifying Offer
Luis Gil3 days ago

Wins AL Rookie Of The Year Award
Paul Skenes3 days ago

Named 2024 NL Rookie Of The Year
Brady Singer3 days ago

Reds, Royals Discussing Jonathan India, Brady Singer
3 days ago

Sean Manaea To Reject Mets' Qualifying Offer
3 days ago

Braves Have Interest In Walker Buehler
3 days ago

Astros Interested In Willy Adames
Charles Oliveira3 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Michael Chandler3 days ago

Gets Dominated At UFC 309
Karine Silva3 days ago

Suffers Her First UFC Loss
Viviane Araujo3 days ago

Gets Back In The Win Column
Mauricio Ruffy4 days ago

Extends His Win Streak To Six
James Llontop5 days ago

Loses Clear-Cut Decision In Thrilling Fight At UFC 309
Paul Craig5 days ago

Loses Decision At UFC 309
Bo Nickal5 days ago

Remains Undefeated With Lackluster Performance At UFC 309
Stipe Miocic5 days ago

Retires After UFC 309 Loss
Jon Jones5 days ago

Gets TKO Win At UFC 309 To Defend Heavyweight Title

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

MORE RECENT ARTICLES

 
Bo Nix - Fantasy Football Rankings, QB, NFL Rookies, Draft Sleepers

Fantasy Football Matchups We Love - Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Picks for Week 12 Include Bo Nix, De'Von Achane, Quentin Johnston, Calvin Ridley, more

It seems as though fantasy managers were either incredibly disappointed or incredibly excited in Week 11. The output was modest for most players. However, if you had a monopoly on a select few players such as Cooper Kupp, Taysom Hill, or the Detroit Lions, you likely won your week. With the fantasy playoffs roughly three weeks […]


Najee Harris - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

NFL Week 12 Predictions: Picks and Analysis for Every Game Including Thursday Night Football

After some high-octane matchups over the last couple of Thursday nights, Week 12 kicks off in a more old-school fashion with a classic rivalry game between the Steelers and Browns. There are some fun matchups on this Week 12 slate, however, "Bye-Mageddon" certainly does take a little of the sizzle away, as six teams will […]


TJ Watt - IDP, Pittsburgh Steelers, DST, Defense, Fantasy Football Def

Week 12 Fantasy Football Team Defense Rankings: Steelers D/ST, Chiefs D/ST, Vikings D/ST, Eagles D/ST, Commanders D/ST, Texans D/ST, Broncos D/ST

Fantasy football defenses are largely matchup-dependent, so many fantasy managers opt to stream a different defense each week. If you're in that boat, use our Week 12 fantasy football defense (D/ST) rankings for 2024 to find the top available option. There are just three weeks of the fantasy football regular season left, so it's never […]


George Pickens - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL injury News

Steelers vs. Browns TNF Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Jameis Winston, Nick Chubb, David Njoku, Jerry Jeudy, Russell Wilson, Najee Harris, George Pickens

The Week 12 TNF game between two bitter AFC North rivals (Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers) is not likely to end up like the Thursday night game from two weeks ago when two different AFC North teams (Bengals and Ravens) battled to a 35-34 shootout. Somewhere deep in the charter of the Pittsburgh Steelers, I […]


DJ Moore - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

TNF Fantasy Football Rankings for Week 12 - Thursday Updates for Deebo Samuel, D.J. Moore, Jerry Jeudy, Jonathon Brooks, Jauan Jennings, Tank Dell

Many fantasy managers are in must-win situations down the stretch, so it's never been more important to ace your start-or-sit calls. Our Week 12 TNF fantasy football overall rankings for 2024 are here to help. Ahead of the critical Week 12 slate of action, let's find out where players on the start-sit bubble such as […]


Calvin Ridley - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

TNF Fantasy Football FLEX Rankings (RB, WR, TE) - Week 12 Thursday Updates for Chuba Hubbard, Calvin Ridley, Cedric Tillman, Jonnu Smith, Austin Ekeler

It's always tough to compare two flex options at different positions, but bye weeks and key injuries have made those start-sit decisions even tougher. We're here to help guide you with your lineup calls with our Week 12 TNF fantasy football FLEX rankings for 2024. Navigate the rankings below to find out where top flex […]


Tua Tagovailoa - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

TNF Fantasy Football Superflex 2QB Rankings for Week 12 - Thursday Updates for Tua Tagovailoa, Bo Nix, Russell Wilson, Austin Ekeler, Jayden Reed

Time is running out to collect "Ws" before the fantasy football playoffs begin, and if you need assistance, our Week 12 fantasy football Superflex rankings (2QB) for fantasy football can assist your start-or-sit efforts. Let's get to it! To begin Week 12 preparation, let's dig into the rankings to find out where key Superflex options […]


Bucky Irving - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

TNF Running Back Fantasy Football Rankings - Week 12 Thursday RB Updates for Jonathon Brooks, J.K. Dobbins, Bucky Irving, Najee Harris, Kareem Hunt

We're onto Week 12 of the NFL campaign, which can only mean the fantasy football playoffs are just ahead. Whether you're at the top of your league standings, fighting for a playoff spot, or are just trying to play spoiler, our Week 12 TNF fantasy football running back rankings for 2024 are here to help you […]


Cedric Tillman - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, Waiver Wire Pickups

TNF Wide Receiver Fantasy Football Rankings - Week 12 Thursday WR Updates for Cedric Tillman, Jauan Jennings, Josh Downs, Jerry Jeudy, DJ Moore

At the wide receiver spot especially, bye weeks and injuries are major factors in Week 12. If you don't have an excess of must-start WRs and need help identifying the top available options, we're here to help with our Week 12 TNF fantasy football wide receiver rankings for 2024. Let's dive in below to see […]


Jonnu Smith - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

TNF Tight End Fantasy Football Rankings - Week 12 Thursday TE Updates for George Kittle, David Njoku, Will Dissly, Jonnu Smith, Hunter Henry

In most leagues, only three weeks of the fantasy football regular season remain. If you desperately need a win to clinch a first-round bye or quality for the playoffs, use our Week 12 TNF fantasy football tight end rankings to help you with tough start-or-sit calls at the challenging TE spot. Ahead of the critical Week […]


Tommy DeVito- Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL Injury News

Not All Heroes...Play On Good Teams - Giants, Patriots, and Cowboys Fantasy Football Outlooks

It's well-known at this point that good offenses can help their players light up the scoreboards in fantasy football leagues. The mantra "trust in good players on good offenses" rings true, and some of the best seasons in fantasy football history have been aided by things like good playcalling and a good supporting cast. The […]


Baker Mayfield - Fantasy Football Rankings, Waiver Wire Pickups, Draft Sleepers

TNF Quarterback Fantasy Football Rankings - Week 12 Thursday QB Updates for Anthony Richardson, Baker Mayfield, Sam Darnold, Bo Nix, C.J. Stroud

It's a critical week for fantasy football, as the playoffs are just around the corner. If you need help to nail your optimal lineups this week, our Week 12 TNF fantasy football quarterback rankings for 2024 are here to assist. Ahead of the all-important Week 12 slate, let's navigate the rankings below and find out […]


Jaylen Waddle - Fantasy Football Rankings, Draft Sleepers, NFL DFS Picks

Jaylen Waddle Fantasy Football Outlook - What's Wrong With Waddle?

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle was widely pushed as a potential league-winner in fantasy football in 2024 due to a variety of factors. The explosiveness and big-play ability of the Dolphins offense, the good play of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and his talent were a few of them. It's not worked out that way. It's […]