Here are our offensive line rankings, slotting them 1 thru 32. We give each projected starter on each team a grade, then total those points (giving more credit to the tackle and center positions).
According to our grades, San Francisco has the best offensive line, followed by the Patriots, Ravens and Vikings. Those are the four standout-type units.
At the other end of the spectrum: Lions, Cowboys, Chargers, and Bills. Those are the four teams that appear to have the problem offensive lines.
We'd last updated our rankings two weeks ago. Some of the key developments since then include the Broncos signing Ryan Lilja to play center, the Steelers switching their left and right tackles (Mike Adams to left, Marcus Gilbert to right), and the Packers losing left tackle Bryan Bulaga to a torn ACL. Not surprisingly, the Packers are the biggest fallers, dropping five spots from 13th to 18th on that development.
Also unsurprising is the fact that some of the teams at the bottom of the rankings -- Bills, Cowboys -- have been doing a lot of shuffling of personnel in the preseason. Dallas' interior positions are in flux, while the Bills have been trying different players at left guard, trying to find a fit. The Chargers aren't certain who their left tackle will be, although former Eagles King Dunlap is the favorite right now.
In our scoring system, we give the most credit (double credit, actually) to the left tackles. That's the most important spot. The two guard spots, we think, are the least valuable. The right tackle and center positions, we've got halfway between the guards and the left tackles. We also have a sixth position, where we assign a combined blocking grade for the team's tight ends and fullbacks.
This isn't scientific, but it gives us a general sense of how they fall. And using this system, it yields the following 1-32 rankings. To see the rankings with individual position grades included (next to the projected starters) go to our Facebook page (fantasyindex.com).
| OFFENSIVE LINE RANKINGS | |
|---|---|
| team | Score |
| San Francisco | 33.0 |
| New England | 31.7 |
| Baltimore | 30.3 |
| Minnesota | 29.3 |
| Denver | 28.4 |
| Tennessee | 28.4 |
| Cleveland | 28.3 |
| Tampa Bay | 28.1 |
| Carolina | 27.5 |
| Seattle | 27.5 |
| NY Giants | 26.8 |
| Kansas City | 25.8 |
| Cincinnati | 25.3 |
| Washington | 25.1 |
| Philadelphia | 24.8 |
| New Orleans | 24.5 |
| Green Bay | 24.2 |
| Pittsburgh | 23.9 |
| Houston | 23.9 |
| St. Louis | 23.5 |
| Jacksonville | 22.6 |
| NY Jets | 22.4 |
| Miami | 22.0 |
| Arizona | 21.6 |
| Oakland | 21.4 |
| Atlanta | 21.3 |
| Indianapolis | 21.1 |
| Chicago | 20.9 |
| Detroit | 19.4 |
| Dallas | 18.3 |
| San Diego | 18.3 |
| Buffalo | 18.0 |
--Andy Richardson