RADIO
Week 6 will go down as a fantasy bloodbath. The teams weren’t scoring. Players were getting hurt left and right. The struggles of NFL offenses in Week 6 had a massive impact that probably affected nearly every fantasy manager in one way or another.
There were also offensive line implications to this week as well thanks to several big injuries. The Eagles lost another lineman on the right side of their line when Lane Johnson went down with a high ankle sprain. The Giants' offensive line was already down several pieces but lost backup left tackle Joshua Ezeudu early in their game against the Bills. The Saints also lost two starters in left tackle James Hurst and right tackle Ryan Ramczyk.
Despite all the injuries, the games must go on. That means trying to navigate through the best matchups in a week where six different teams are on bye. Check out the offensive line matchups to target and avoid below.
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Champ of the Week
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have quietly put together a solid season across the offensive line (even though those results haven’t necessarily been felt in the box score or by Josh Jacobs). In Week 6, they put together the best collective offensive line performance against a depleted Patriots defensive front.
All five of the Raiders starters finished the game with a pass-blocking grade of at least 71.0. The collective unit allowed just four pressures and zero sacks against the Patriots. Additionally, four of five starting offensive linemen had a PFF grade of 65.0. The Raiders also rotated backup right tackle Thayer Munford into the game with Jermaine Eluemunor coming back off a minor injury and he played phenomenally as well, finishing with the third-best PFF grade (74.2) in 44 snaps.
The Raiders didn’t come into this season with the best collection of talent across their offensive line, but they have been playing extremely well to begin the year.
Chump of the Week
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals came into the season attempting to gel together several new pieces on their offensive line, including a top-10 pick at right tackle. There have been some highs and lows throughout the season, but Week 6 was easily the lowest of the lows for this group.
The Rams (who aren’t a stellar pass rush) were able to have their way with the Cardinals up front, generating two sacks and 19 pressures. The tackle combination of Paris Johnson Jr. and D.J. Humphries was especially brutal, surrendering 12 of the team’s 19 pressures. Left guard Elijah Wilkinson also had his worst game since signing in Arizona, finishing with team lows at PFF pass blocking grade (8.5) and overall grade (33.7).
Only center Hjalte Froholdt had a passable game in both pass and run blocking. That just won’t get it done with Josh Dobbs at quarterback and a rotation of running backs.
Matchups to Target in Week 7
Las Vegas Raiders at Chicago Bears
We might as well keep striking while the iron is hot against the Bears' defense. Chicago features PFF’s worst pass rush grade on the season (55.7). The Bears have four defensive linemen with double-digit pressures, but no single player with 20 pressures or a PFF grade pass rushing grade above 70.0.
Things aren’t much better for Chicago against the run game either. According to PFF, the Bears have the 11th worst run defense grade, and just one defensive lineman (Andrew Billings) has a run defense grade above 60.0. The Raiders likely won’t have Jimmy Garoppolo in this matchup but should have no problem clearing lanes for Josh Jacobs and providing a pocket for either Brian Hoyer or Aidan O’Connell.
Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Falcons' offensive line continues to find their footing as rookie left guard Matthew Bergeron acclimates to the speed of the NFL game. The Falcons have climbed to PFF’s second-ranked run-blocking group (67.5 grade) and fifth-best overall unit (66.4) in the last few weeks. The left side of the line struggled against a formidable Commanders' defense in Week 6, but the right side dominated.
The combination of center Drew Dalman, left guard Chris Lindstrom, and right tackle Kaleb McGary all had run blocking, pass blocking, and overall grades above 68.0. Additionally, that group allowed fewer pressures (1) than left tackle Jake Matthews and Matthew Bergeron (4).
Atlanta has a much easier matchup in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who rank 19th in PFF’s pass-rushing grade and 26th in run defense. The Buccaneers have two players with at least 3.0 sacks this year, but nobody with more than 15 pressures. This group plays right into the hands of what the Falcons want to do, which should mean a solid week for all of their skill players in a divisional matchup.
Matchups to Avoid in Week 7
Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Rams
The Steelers got a much-needed break during their bye week but will be tested along the offensive line in their first matchup against Aaron Donald and the Rams defensive front. The Rams have gotten excellent efforts upfront from Donald (30 pressures and 3.0 sacks) and Byron Young (25 pressures and 4.0 sacks) to begin the season. Michael Hoecht hasn’t gotten to the quarterback yet, but he’s been disruptive as a pass rush specialist with 14 pressures on the season.
That is bad news for the Steelers, who have struggled with inconsistency along the offensive line to start the season. Seven different linemen have played this season, but only left guard Isaac Seumalo has a pass-blocking grade above 56.0 this season. Only rookie left tackle Broderick Jones has a run blocking grade above 63.0, but he has only played 121 snaps on the season.
Time will tell if the team will elevate Jones to a full-time starter after the bye week, but this is still a rough matchup for a team that has struggled in the trenches to begin the year.
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks
The Cardinals are coming off their worst performance of the season. Now they are staring down the barrel of a matchup against PFF’s third-ranked run defense and eighth-ranked pass rush.
Seattle features six different players who have generated double-digit pressures and seven players with at least 2.0 sacks. The Seahawks are now up to 13 players on defense that have a pass-rushing grade above 65.0 and have 10 different players with a run defense over 66.0.
This game could get ugly in a hurry. Four of Arizona’s starting offensive linemen have given up at least 10 pressures this season. Only one offensive lineman (right guard Will Hernandez) has a PFF grade above 65 as a run blocker and pass blocker this season. Seattle should have no problem generating pressure this week.
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