This was certainly one of the most active NFL trade deadlines in recent memory with some top talent at offensive skill positions being dealt. While most fantasy owners were Ooooing and Ahhhhing over the trades of Jay Ajayi and Kelvin Benjamin (more on him later), the trade of Left Tackle Duane Brown from the Texans to the Seahawks might be the most impactful from a real football perspective.

The Texans received a 3^rd round pick in 2018 and a 2^nd round pick in 2019 as compensation for Brown, a far steeper price to pay than for Ajayi or Benjamin. NFL teams know what kind of value a bookend Left Tackle can provide to not only the offensive line, but an entire offense as a whole, and they are valued as such. Brown should certainly be able to help alleviate some of the pressure on Russell Wilson playing backyard football in order for the Seahawks offense to move the ball on a consistent basis, but will certainly not fix all of the woes facing the Seattle offensive line.

Major additions at midseason or returns from injury can have a large impact on how an offensive line plays down the stretch. Each of the offensive lines had a significant player return at points throughout 2017, the Buffalo Bills got their Left Tackle Cordy Glenn back in Week 7 and the Raiders welcomed back Right Guard Gabe Jackson to their lineup as well. Unfortunately, for one of these teams, the return of one of their key offensive line pieces has not brought good fortune. Let check out which of these lines has fared better in their Week 8 matchup and could be a great fantast asset going forward for skill position players.

Offensive Line to Watch - Buffalo Bills

Few offensive lines have had the success in the running game this season like the Buffalo Bills. The middle three of the offensive line, Center Eric Wood and Guards Richie Incognito and Vladimir Ducasse are all grading out above 70.0 in run blocking grading according to Pro Football Focus. These three have also combined to be the eighth rated trio in the NFL in Adjusted Line Yards for middle runs at 4.56 yards per rush according to Football Outsiders.  Ducasse especially has been a pleasant surprise upon his addition to the starting lineup in Week 5, currently grading out as the number 30 offensive guard according to PFF. Center Eric Wood has also stabilized the middle of the offensive line grading out as the number 15 Center in the NFL according to PFF. This clip in the 2^nd quarter demonstrates the amount of push the middle three of the Bills can get on a defensive front as Incognito and Wood create a ton of horizontal and vertical movement on the down lineman creating a seam for LeSean McCoy to create a nice first down gain.

Later in the game during the 3^rd quarter, the middle three again do some serious work as Vlad Ducasse and Right Tackle Jordan Mills double team the defensive tackle while Center Eric Wood blocks back on the opposing defensive tackle. These three do not allow any penetration so Incognito can pull and kick out the defensive end. Fullback Patrick DiMarco leads up on the linebacker allowing McCoy an easy path to the second level of the Raiders defense. McCoy does the rest for another first down.

There have been some major successes in the running game this year, but the passing game has been a mixed bag. Those same three that have exceled in running game have left a lot to be desired. Ducasse and Wood both are being rated under 50.0 (near Poor) ratings according to PFF. Luckily for Tyrod Taylor, his tackles have performed much better in the pass protection, each grading above 75.0. Left Tackle Cordy Glenn has graded out above an 80 overall over the last four seasons, but in 2017 he has regressed in the running game. His pass protection skills have waned slightly, but are still up to par with a lot of tackles in the NFL. In this clip Glenn uses a great kick slide to gain depth on Khalil Mack. He then lands a punch so Mack cannot use his plethora of moves to get to Tyrod.

Fantasy Impact

Stock Up: LeSean McCoy

Not that his stock can go much higher, but the run blocking of the middle three of the Bills offensive line will continue to be the catalyst for McCoy to be a fantasy stud for the remainder of the season. Having a powerful middle three of an offensive line should also help McCoy in the redzone, even though he was stuffed on a few occasions in Week 8. Expect the Bills to continue to feature McCoy even after trading for Kelvin Benjamin as McCoy has a 23% target share in the Buffalo Bills offense. He will be an every week RB1 for the remainder of the 2017 fantasy season barring injury.

Stock Up: Tyrod Taylor

Taylor has been an inconsistent downfield passer in 2017, but has made up for some of his shortcomings as a passer but being able to move the chains by running. Taylor has run 44 times on the season for 175 yards and a touchdown, but fantasy owners should expect that total to increase further as the season goes on. Taylor has run for at least four rushing touchdowns and 568 yards over the last two seasons. Good things ahead for Taylor, and don’t forget he has a new target in Kelvin Benjamin on the way.

Offensive Line to Watch - Oakland Raiders

This week we revisit one of the offensive lines that were profiled earlier in the year in the Oakland, soon to be Las Vegas Raiders. There is just something off about this group in 2017. They are not able to be the dominant physical force in 2017 as they were in 2016. This is most apparent in their lack of running game effectiveness. Gabe Jackson has nearly fallen off a cliff in 2017. He simply isn’t able to get the job done in either the pass or run game grading out at a 52.2 overall. This is just one of the examples where Jackson loses his base against a stout run defender in Kyle Williams. Williams gets under Jackson and drives him a couple of yards into the backfield. This causes the running back to instantly bounce the ball to the outside for a loss on the play.

At this point Jackson’s running game issues should not be ignored by the coaching staff. Backup Jon Feliciano more than filled in admirably when Jackson was out of the starting lineup earlier in the season. He deserves a starting spot going forward. However, it’s not just Jackson who is having issues in the running game. There are inconsistencies across the board, even with players like Left Tackle Donald Penn. On this first down run in the first quarter Penn loses on his first step as he tries to widen Buffalo defensive end Jerry Hughes, but Hughes ducks under Penn’s punch and gets a TFL. Penn appears to be surprised how quickly Hughes gets out of his stance and lunges, missing Hughes in the process.

It was an extremely rare site to see any blown assignments like this last season across the Raiders offensive line, let alone one of its key components like Penn. At this point in the season, the outlook is become bleaker with each passing week for the Raiders running game to get back on track.

Luckily for Derek Carr’s ailing back, the Raiders offensive line has been able to pass protect at a fairly strong level. They currently sit eighth in adjusted sack rate (5%) which is a sign that they are allowing Derek Carr ample time on most occasions to find a receiver downfield. In this clip, even though there is late pressure at Carr’s feet, the offensive line allows just enough of a clean pocket for Carr to get a back shoulder throw to Amari Cooper, moving the chains early in the first quarter.

Fantasy Impact

Stock Down: Marshawn Lynch

After serving his one-game suspension for bumping an official, Marshawn Lynch returns to a team that is searching for answers in the running game. It clearly was not either DeAndre Washington or Jalen Richard this past week, so Lynch should receive the bulk of carries going forward. Those carries might not be very effective behind a struggling offensive line. Until proven otherwise, Lynch should be considered a flex play at best.

Stock Up: Derek Carr

Considering the struggles of the Raiders offensive line running the football and just how bad their defense has been (dead last against the pass according to Football Outsiders DVOA metric), Derek Carr is going to have to throw to keep the Raiders in ballgames. Carr has two favorable matchups upcoming in the Dolphins and Patriots sandwiched around a bye in Week 10. Expect Carr to continue to throw at least 40 times per game (averaged 50.5 attempts over the last two weeks) and be a QB1 until Week 12 against the Broncos.

Top Five Offensive Lines

1) Pittsburgh Steelers
2) New Orleans Saints
3) Philadelphia Eagles
4) Buffalo Bills
5) Dallas Cowboys

Bottom Five Offensive Lines

32) Miami Dolphins
31) San Francisco 49ers
30) Cincinnati Bengals
29) Arizona Cardinals
28) Jacksonville Jaguars

For any questions about offensive line play in the NFL, feel free to contact me @TheRealHalupka on Twitter.

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