Fantasy News
Here are our updated offensive line rankings, based on averaging the grades we placed on the starters at each position on each team. To us, it looks like the Patriots, Panthers and Kansas City will have the best offensive lines, while the Cardinals, Colts, Rams and Bears should have the worst.
Teams with ballyhooed offenses that definitely have offensive line problems: Dallas and San Diego.
Rankings are based on giving each player a grade of 1 to 5. If a player should wind up in the Pro Bowl, that guy gets a 5. If he’s a clear weakness who might get his quarterback killed, we give him a 1. Average guys get a 3.
Wayne Hunter of the Jets and Mike Adams of the Steelers both had all kinds of problems in pass protection in preseason games. Those are guys who grade out at “1”, though it doesn’t look like either will start in September – the Jets just replaced Hunter with Austin Howard, and the Steelers likely will go with Max Starks or Willie Colin at left tackle. Regardless, both the Jets and Steelers get a lowly “1” at those tackle positions.
We’ve got the offensive line divided into six pieces. The five traditional spots, plus we’ve set aside one more “position” to account for the blocking value of tight ends and fullbacks. Left tackle is the most important position, so those grades count double. We also award more points for right tackles and centers.
To see the individual player grades for each team, see our page (fantasyindex.com) on Facebook. We’ve got them all displayed there in an overly colorful grid.
OFFENSIVE LINE RANKINGS
1. New England
2. Carolina
3. Kansas City
4. Tampa Bay
5. Baltimore
6. San Francisco
7. Houston
8. New Orleans
9. Green Bay
10. Jacksonville
11. NY Jets
12. Tennessee
13. Philadelphia
14. Cleveland
15. Atlanta
16. Cincinnati
17. Oakland
18. NY Giants
19. Pittsburgh
20. Seattle
21. Denver
22. Miami
23. Detroit
24. Dallas
25. Minnesota
26. Buffalo
27. Washington
28. San Diego
29. Chicago
30. St. Louis
31. Indianapolis
32. Arizona
—Ian Allan
- Comments [7]
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Posted by BILL REHOR | Aug. 23 at 09:58 AM
Again, Not sure how NE gets to the #1 spot with that shaky left tackle counting double. He looks terrible. But this is great info, thanks!
Posted by David Grace | Aug. 23 at 10:07 AM
I'm with Bill Rehor, NE's OL has not looked all that good this preseason. I agree they should be above average, but I have a hard time buying them as #1 right now until Nate Solder shows me a little more.
Posted by David Grace | Aug. 23 at 10:19 AM
I just looked at your breakdown on facebook and you are giving NE credit for Waters. Based on what I have read lately they seem to be moving on without him since he hasn't been in camp for a month.
Posted by IAN ALLAN | Aug. 23 at 10:20 AM
Solder started as "above average". He's been moved down to "average". I considered moving him to "below average", but the Patriots seem to be better at other teams at getting guys dialed in, developed and on the same page. I think he'll be OK. As far as I can see, there isn't a great No. 1 line.
Posted by IAN ALLAN | Aug. 23 at 10:43 AM
Dave: Yes. I'm aware of the Waters situation. There may be a change at that spot. We'll see how it plays out in the next week or so.
Posted by Scott DENHAM | Aug. 25 at 12:29 PM
Ian, Looks like your were dead on with the Cardinals O-Line. I felt sorry for that poor guy playing tackle. Hard to see Fitzgerald putting much with the QB's running for their lives most of the time.
Posted by Andrew Napoli | Aug. 26 at 04:06 AM
How do the Jets rank 11th out of 36? I thought they just cut their right tackle loose because his performance was more akin to a turnstyle? Also havent seen any evidence that they've got their run game dialed back in.