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The fantasy season continues on with most leagues cutting down to the final four teams in the playoff semifinals. Fantasy managers have no reason to hold back at this point in the season and need to exploit any and all edges to try and bring home the championship.
Week 15 saw significant injuries across offensive lines that can have big implications. The Dolphins might be without both of their starting tackles after both Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson failed to finish the game against the Jets. The Cowboys also lost Zack Martin for a majority of their game against the Bills, although that injury does not sound like it will have long-term implications.
Check out the offensive line matchups to target and avoid in Week 16 to make that final push for your league championship.
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Champ of the Week
Detroit Lions
No surprises here. The Detroit Lions once again graded out as the top offensive line this season in a game against the Broncos' young and overmatched defensive line.
Detroit not only dominated in the passing game (collective 75.8 pass-blocking grade with just one sack and eight pressures surrendered), but they also opened up big lanes in the run game as well (73.2 run-blocking grade). The Lions finished the week with an average 76.2 PFF grade and had all five offensive linemen finish with PFF grades above 64.0.
Detroit needed a commanding performance in the trenches to re-establish themselves after some shaky offensive weeks and answered in a big way against one of the hottest teams in the NFL in Week 15.
Chump of the Week
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh’s offensive line has been on tenuous footing all season. Unfortunately, anything that could have gone wrong went wrong for the team against the Colts in Week 15.
Pittsburgh surrendered four sacks and 20 pressures to a Colts defensive line that has struggled to get to the quarterback throughout the season. All five of the Steelers’ offensive linemen finished with PFF pass blocking grades below 51.0, including three linemen (left tackle Dan Moore Jr., right guard James Daniels, and right tackle Broderick Jones) with scores under 30.0.
Things weren’t much better on the ground. None of the Steelers' offensive linemen had a run-blocking grade above 60.0. It was an especially brutal week for James Daniels against DeForest Buckner, who scored a 27.4 PFF grade in the game.
Matchups to Target in Week 16
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots
The Broncos' offensive line continues to play at a high level despite a loss against the Detroit Lions. Three different Broncos offensive linemen finished with a pass-blocking grade above 78.0. The collective group allowed just one sack and eight pressures.
Even though the team had their struggles in the run game (28 carries for 83 yards and a touchdown), they still averaged a 68.7 average run grade. Denver will have their struggles against the Patriots, who currently rank as PFF’s third-ranked run defense (80.5), but they should be able to exploit an underwhelming pass rush.
The Patriots feature just two players with more than 30 pressures (Christian Barmore and Deatrich Wise Jr.) and three players (Barmore, Wise, and Matthew Judon) with more than three sacks.
Las Vegas Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs
The Raiders' offense went from putting up zero points against the Vikings in Week 14 to a 63-point onslaught against the Chargers in Week 15. The story of this team continues to be the stellar play of their offensive line.
The Raiders were missing left tackle Kolton Miller and center Andre James against the Chargers, but still thrived up front. Las Vegas allowed just eight pressures against a Chargers defensive line that is lacking punch outside Khalil Mack.
Las Vegas faces a greater threat in Week 16 against a Chiefs defensive line that has two great pass rushers in George Karlaftis (58 pressures and nine sacks) and Chris Jones (56 pressures and 11 sacks) but struggles to get consistent play outside of that.
It will be a challenge for Las Vegas, but hopefully, they will get their starters back after a long week of rest thanks to a Week 15 Thursday night matchup.
Matchups to Avoid in Week 16
New York Giants at Philadelphia Eagles
The Giants' offensive line is just patiently waiting for the season to end. The team continued to struggle, this time giving up 12 pressures and 3.0 sacks to a Saints defensive line that features two players (edge rushers Carl Granderson and Cameron Jordan) with more than 30 pressures.
Unfortunately for the Giants, the shocking initial play of tackle/guard Justin Pugh has come back down to earth. The veteran single-handedly gave up two of the team’s sacks and six of the team’s pressures. Every offensive lineman outside of left tackle Andrew Thomas finished with a PFF grade under 59.0.
If the team struggled that much against a relatively punchless Saints defensive line, then things could get ugly in a hurry against the Eagles' defensive line rotation. Philadelphia features four defensive linemen with 39 or more pressures and six defensive linemen with at least 4.0 sacks.
Carolina Panthers vs. Green Bay Packers
The Panthers secured a much-needed morale boost against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15 when they got their second win of the season. Carolina took advantage of an underwhelming Falcons pass rush to do just enough to get into position for a last-second field goal win. Unfortunately, they will face a different beast entirely against the Packers’ defensive front in Week 16.
Green Bay enters Week 16 in need of a win to keep their playoff hopes alive in the NFC. They also have a variety of defensive linemen who have shown the ability to disrupt opposing offenses all season. Four different Packers have generated at least 33 pressures and five sacks, led by Rashan Gary (48 pressures and 10 sacks).
Carolina’s struggles along the offensive line are well-documented this season, especially when it comes to interior pressure. Expect the combination of Kenny Clark (47 pressures and eight sacks) and Devonte Wyatt (36 pressures and five sacks) to speed up Bryce Young in the pocket consistently in Week 16.
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