Fantasy Index

Around the NFL

September 14, 2018

Updated offensive line rankings

Browns struggling to fill Joe Thomas void

We've had a chance to see all the lines play in an actual game now, so it's easier to move them around a little bit based on performance. Not that they all faced the same level of defensive fronts, but we have more visual evidence to go on. And of course, once the games start, key players start to suffer injuries.

Some of the noteworthy developments:

  • Cleveland had been trying Joel Bitonio at left tackle, but decided to go with undrafted rookie Desmond Harrison at the spot in Week 1. It did not go well. Tyrod Taylor was sacked 7 times and Steeler pass rusher T.J. Watt (pictured, celebrating one of his 3.5 sacks) was named defensive player of the week. Browns may revisit that for Week 2, but for right now their line plummets with what looks like a massive hole where Joe Thomas used to roam.

  • So Carolina now has both of its starting tackles on IR. Daryl Williams surprisingly came back from his preseason knee injury, only to suffer a knee injury. He's on IR, and so is the other tackle, Matt Kalil. If that weren't enough, Trai Turner suffered a concussion. Amini Silatolu (knee) wasn't able to return for Week 1, though he should return. But it's a line truly gutted by injuries, with backups starting at potentially four spots this week.

  • Dallas doesn't have Travis Frederick at center, and there appear to be two other problem spots. Left guard Connor Williams and right tackle La'el Collins. Williams is just a rookie and not surprising he'd take some lumps, but they might have been able to get by better if Frederick were at center. Collins hasn't quite lived up to his talent expectations. There was a noteworthy play early in Dallas-Carolina that could have gone for a big Ezekiel Elliott run, but Collins seemed to miss his assignment. At least until Frederick returns, if he does, this is not a dominant line right now -- two elite players but three question marks.

  • The Titans lost Taylor Lewan to a concussion in Week 1. This isn't necessarily a long-term issue, but might need to miss at least a game.

  • Joe Barksdale of the Chargers suffered a knee injury and is being called week-to-week. Downgrade the protection up front for Philip Rivers.

  • The Texans lost right tackle Seantrel Henderson for the season. We can't really rank Houston's line any lower, but another hit for Deshaun Watson's protection. Houston moved Julie'n Davenport to right tackle and put Martinas Rankin on the left after the injury; we'll see if they stick with that.

Rankings are below; colorful table posted on our Facebook page showing our evaluation of each player.

OFFENSIVE LINE RANKINGS
RkTeam
1.New Orleans
2.Philadelphia
3.Pittsburgh
4.Atlanta
5.LA Rams
6.LA Chargers
7.Green Bay
8.Jacksonville
9.Dallas
10.New England
11.Oakland
12.Washington
13.Tennessee
14.Kansas City
15.Baltimore
16.San Francisco
17.Chicago
18.Tampa Bay
19.Detroit
20.Carolina
21.Seattle
22.Minnesota
23.NY Jets
24.Indianapolis
25.Denver
26.NY Giants
27.Cincinnati
28.Cleveland
29.Miami
30.Houston
31.Arizona
32.Buffalo

--Andy Richardson

Offensive line rankings

4 Reader Comments:

Rich Nadler

Aurora, IL
2018-09-14T15:45:14Z
Andy - I notice that in the redrafter rankings from earlier in the week, Christian McCaffrey was still a top 10 back in the rankings. With both starting tackles out for the year on IR and several other lineman dinged up, do you think McCaffrey drops some from where he was placed?

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2018-09-14T15:55:59Z
No, those injuries would have been factored into the rankings. McCaffrey is where he is on largely because of his heavy involvement as a receiver (which will probably increase with Greg Olsen out of the picture). We never figured he'd put up good rushing numbers. You can look at the Excel projections and see him at 62 rushing and 37 receiving yards per game, and that's probably even a little conservative as a pass catcher.

Yaesha Newman

2018-09-14T19:38:23Z
Any thoughts on what is up with how Harbaugh is treating Alex Collins? It doesn't seem like he is spelling him, more like punishing.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2018-09-14T20:26:19Z
I don’t know. In Week 1 he fumbled and maybe he was briefly benched, but there was also little point bringing him back. Last night they were way behind early and they use Allen more in passing formations. Dixon is on IR and Allen isn’t going to be their lead back, so I think Collins is fine. Now, if he fumbles again...
Sign in to add a comment
Older
Newer

Fantasy Index