X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Smashmouth: Offensive Lines Impacting Fantasy Football (Week 12)

Steve Halupka ranks the best & worst offensive lines in the NFL heading into Week 12 of the 2018 NFL season. This could impact fantasy football value at QB, RB, and WR.

At a certain point of every season, it’s time to re-examine what we believed to be true early in the season to see if that is still the case as we head towards the fantasy playoffs. Teams change throughout the season as sometimes injuries cause head coaches’ plans to alter, and in other instances, coaches do a great job self-scouting and figure out the best ways to maximize the talent around them.

One such case has been the Indianapolis Colts. First-year head coach, Frank Reich, has developed a game-plan that fits in with his team’s strengths. He’s getting the ball out of Andrew Luck’s hands quicker than in year’s past (2.61 seconds per throw vs. 2.88 in 2016). It may not seem like much, but a split second can mean the difference between a hit on your quarterback and keeping the franchise player upright and healthy.

This week I’ll take another look at the Indianapolis Colts offensive line to see how they’ve improved since week 1’s match-up against the Bengals. Have the rookies up front made that much of a difference for the Colts, or is Andrew Luck just working his magic to perfection? Can we depend on the Colts running game going forward with Marlon Mack heading up a three-pronged attack? Those questions and more answered below.

Editor's Note: Find sleeper picks, undervalued ADPs, and draft targets to help you dominate your fantasy football drafts. Try our free who to draft tool for personalized recommendations.

 

Offensive Line to Watch - Indianapolis Colts

There is certainly something to be said for a group that has vastly improved from 2017 to 2018. Most thought the Colts were on the right track when they selected Quentin Nelson and Braden Smith early in this year’s draft. Little did we know how much of an impact these two players in combination with a revitalized Ryan Kelly at center would do to improve this unit overall.

The Colts are currently third in the NFL in sack rate coming in at just 4.2%, only giving up 10 sacks in 2018 year to date. They’ve rallied to become one of the better units in the league versus 2017, where the team was dead last in sack rate at 10% (56 sacks for the season). Not only has youth and health both been on the side of the Colts, but scheme as well.

The Colts are doing things that are characteristic of the best offensive line units in the NFL. In this first clip on a 3rd and 9, the Colts pick up this line stunt fairly easily. What can be lost on the casual observer is the initial punch by center Ryan Kelly. The strength of Kelly’s punch knocks the looping defender off course and he is unable to come around to get a pressure on Andrew Luck. Another aspect is the help that is provided by rookie Quentin Nelson. He checks the B-gap defender first and when that defender tries to rush outside, he comes to aid the rest of his linemates to ensure there is no inside pressure on Luck.

This perfect harmony can be seen later in the game on another 3rd down. The Titans attempt another stunt up front, and even though they are able to knock down right guard Mark Glowinski, the Titans are unable to get home. Left tackle Anthony Costanzo does a great job scanning the defense after his most dangerous threat drops into coverage to pick up another looping defender. Andrew Luck casually slides to his left and delivers a first down.

This unit is very, very impressive overall. Rookie right tackle Braden Smith has stepped in well for Joe Haeg and has improved to a top half of the league offensive tackle mid-way through his rookie season. Nelson, who struggled a bit early on, is proving why he’s deserving of the number six overall selection in this year’s draft, grading out as the number 11 offensive guard according to Pro Football Focus. He has been solid in both the run and the pass game, grading out at a 65 in the run game and a strong 78.5 in pass protection. While most thought that Nelson would certainly shine as a rookie, the big surprise is the Colts' other guard, Mark Glowinski. Glowinski is filling in for Matt Slauson, who was put on IR earlier this season. After some early career struggles, Glowinski is now the number seven guard according to Pro Football Focus, grading out at a 74.8.

This entire line is helped out by one of the best blocking tight ends in all of the NFL in Jack Doyle. Doyle has been incredibly consistent over the past few seasons, with no season under a 70.8 grade since 2013. He’s blocking at a near Pro Bowl offensive lineman level, grading out at a 76.9 in run blocking and 80.9 in pass protection. His run blocking dominance can be seen in this outside zone run to the left on first down. The combination block between Doyle and Costanzo is masterful. Doyle is able to turn his hips and wall off the defender, setting the edge, and making an easy read for Nyheim Hines. Doyle even gets a knockdown at the end of this play for good measure, while Costanzo gets to the second level and temporarily locks up the oncoming defender.

The strides this unit is making can not only be seen on the plays above, but also bear out in the reduction of the number of runs that are being met at or behind the line of scrimmage. The Colts are currently third in the NFL in “Stuffed” rate according to Football Outsiders, with only 16% of runs being tackled at or behind the line of scrimmage. Their improvement in the run game, coupled with their massive successes in keeping Andrew Luck upright has made the Colts a near-elite offensive line in the NFL.

 

Fantasy Impact

Trust: T.Y. Hilton

It’s about time TY Hilton and Andrew Luck demonstrated that they are one of the elite combinations in all of the NFL. Hilton is coming off a massive game in which he burned the Titans Adoree Jackson for a deep score. Those deep scores can come in bunches for Hilton, especially on the fast track in Indy. TY hasn’t been called on to carry the load for most of the season, as Andrew Luck has spread it around to all his wide receivers, but Hilton is trending in the right direction, and should be a safe low-end WR1 in all formats going forward.

Cause for Concern: Marlon Mack

Since his return in Week 6, Mack has certainly been the Colts number one running back. He’s seen games of 12,19,25,12, and 16 carries, which would make you believe that Mack should be in for a massive workload down the stretch. To quote a famous man, “Not so fast my friend.” Mack will be facing the Jaguars and Texans in weeks 13 and 14, which are brutal match-ups for running backs. Ride him out this week against the cupcakes that are the Miami Dolphins, but he will be nothing but a low-end flex come the final weeks of the fantasy regular season.

 

Top Five Offensive Lines

1) New Orleans Saints
2) Los Angeles Rams
3) Pittsburgh Steelers
4) Green Bay Packers
5) Indianapolis Colts

 

Bottom Five Offensive Lines

32) Buffalo Bills
31) Arizona Cardinals
30) New York Jets
29) Minnesota Vikings
28) New York Giants

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

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Daniel Jones

Anthony Richardson Sr., Daniel Jones Will Play on Thursday Night
Marquez Callaway

49ers Release Marquez Callaway
Joshua Palmer

Misses Practice on Sunday
Robbie Chosen

Signing with the 49ers
Tahj Brooks

Continues to Impress
Mike Gesicki

Absent from Camp on Sunday
Tommy Edman

Likely Going on 10-Day Injured List
Rashee Rice

Suspension Status Remains Unclear
Michael Pittman Jr.

Sidelined With Groin Injury
Calvin Austin III

Not Dressed at Training Camp With Undisclosed Injury
Keandre Lambert-Smith

KeAndre Lambert-Smith Continues To Impress at Training Camp
Salvon Ahmed

Suffers "Severe" Leg Injury
Dillon Gabriel

Struggling in Training Camp Practices
Dontayvion Wicks

Absent During Saturday's Practice
Dylan Sampson

Earning Increased Workload?
Harold Fannin Jr.

Earning First-Team Reps
Austin Riley

Leaves With Abdominal Pain
Aaron Judge

on Track to Return Tuesday
James Cook

Now Holding in?
Joe Flacco

Becoming a Strong Favorite to Win QB Competition
Pat Freiermuth

the Unquestioned TE1 in Pittsburgh
Detroit Lions

Taylor Decker Activated From PUP List
DeVonta Smith

Back at Practice on Sunday
Max Muncy

Could Return as Early as Monday
Chase Briscoe

Could Chase Briscoe be A Sneaky Play for Iowa Lineups?
Denny Hamlin

Is A Top Driver to Consider for DFS At Iowa
Ryan Blaney

Is A Favorite to Go Back-To-Back With Iowa Victories
Tyler Reddick

has Plenty of Upside for Sunday's Race at Iowa
NFL

Russell Gage Impressing in Training Camp Practices
Carson Hocevar

What Should Fantasy Players do with Carson Hocevar at Iowa?
Chris Buescher

Is Chris Buescher Worth Rostering For Iowa DFS Lineups?
Ty Gibbs

Could Be A Solid DFS Option for Iowa
Logan Henderson

Recalled, Starting Sunday
Jacob Misiorowski

Placed on 15-Day Injured List
Ryan Preece

Offers Plenty of Upside For DFS Lineups At Iowa On Sunday
NASCAR

A.J. Allmendinger Will Start in the Top 10 for the Second Week In A Row at Iowa
Austin Dillon

Could Austin Dillon Be A Decent DFS Option for Iowa?
Michael McDowell

Is Michael McDowell Worth Rostering for Iowa DFS Lineups?
Zane Smith

Should DFS Players Roster Zane Smith At Iowa?
Justin Haley

Shows Plenty of Speed, but Could Be A DFS Risk at Iowa
William Byron

Might Be the Favorite at Iowa
NASCAR

After Brickyard 400 Win, Bubba Wallace Less Likely to Overdrive at Iowa
Joey Logano

Despite Team Penske's Great Iowa Speed, Joey Logano Hasn't Had Any
Ross Chastain

Dominance in Xfinity Race Could Potentially Help Ross Chastain's Cup Series Setups
Brad Keselowski

Earns Best Qualifying Run in Nearly a Year
Alex Bowman

Hendrick Motorsports Speed Should Carry Alex Bowman to Solid Finish
Austin Cindric

Despite Historic Short Track Struggles, Austin Cindric Fast This Weekend
Daniel Suarez

Despite Shaky Trackhouse Racing Short Track Speed, Daniel Suarez Was Fast Last Year
NHL

Jakub Lauko Returns to Czechia
Nicholas Robertson

Signs One-Year Contract with Maple Leafs
Alex Laferriere

Kings Re-Sign Alex Laferriere to Three-Year Deal
Duop Reath

Has Salary Guaranteed by Portland
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Agrees to Contract Extension with the Lakers
William Contreras

Goes Deep in Five-Hit Night
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Exits Early Friday, Expects to Play Saturday
Randy Rodríguez

Randy Rodriguez Named New Giants Closer
Jaden Springer

Signs Exhibit-9 Deal with New Orleans
Julian Champagnie

has Salary Guaranteed by San Antonio
Jackson Chourio

Could be Out a Month
Aaron Judge

Yankees Eyeing Return for Aaron Judge Next Week
Juan Soto

Back in Lineup Against Giants
Jeremy Peña

Jeremy Pena Reinstated and Starting on Friday
George Springer

Goes on Concussion Injured List
JoJo Romero

the Top Candidate for Saves in St. Louis
Nolan Arenado

Going on Injured List With Shoulder Injury
Conor McGregor

Enters UFC Testing Pool
Grayson Rodriguez

Considering Having Surgery
Devin Williams

Yankees Plan to Keep Devin Williams in Closer's Role
HyunSung Park

Looks To Remain Undefeated
Tatsuro Taira

Set For UFC Vegas 108 Main Event
Mateusz Rębecki

Mateusz Rebecki Looks For His Second Consecutive Win
Chris Duncan

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Elves Brener

Looks For His Fourth UFC Win
Esteban Ribovics

Set For UFC Vegas 108 Main Card Bout
Elizeu Zaleski dos Santos

Elizeu Zaleski Dos Santos Aims To Bounce Back
Karol Rosa

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Nora Cornolle

Looks To Win Back-To-Back Fights
Neil Magny

Returns At UFC Vegas 108
Kevin Vallejos

Set To Open Up UFC Vegas 108 Main Card
Danny Silva

Set For His Third UFC Fight
Mikal Bridges

Signs Extension with Knicks
Jackson Chourio

Expected to Go on Injured List With Hamstring Strain
Jonathan Aranda

Rays Hope Jonathan Aranda Can Return in September
Shelby Miller

Brewers Acquire Shelby Miller
Connor McDavid

Oilers Hope to Finalize Connor McDavid's Contract Extension Soon
BUF

Devon Levi Re-Signs With Sabres for Two Years
Martin Pospisil

Signs Three-Year Extension
Dario Šarić

Dario Saric Hoping to Have Meaningful Role with Kings
Donte DiVincenzo

to Skip EuroBasket Due to Injury
Ayo Dosunmu

Set to Remain in Chicago
Malevy Leons

Signs Exhibit 10 Deal With Thunder
Daeqwon Plowden

Kings Pick Up Daeqwon Plowden on Two-Way Deal
Bryce McGowens

Signs Two-Way Deal with Pelicans
Jonathan Kuminga

Declines Latest Offers from Golden State
Gary Woodland

Eyeing Strong Finish to Reach Playoffs
Max McGreevy

Chasing a Miracle at Wyndham
Stephan Jaeger

a Solid Value Play at Wyndham Championship
Max Homa

Fighting to Salvage Disappointing Season
Nicolai Hojgaard

a Sleeper at Wyndham Championship
Rickie Fowler

Riding Quiet Momentum Into Wyndham
Brian Campbell

a Wild Card at Wyndham Championship
Akshay Bhatia

Looking to Flip the Script at Wyndham Championship
Aaron Rai

Finishes Tied For 34th at Open Championship
Andrew Novak

Finishes Tied For 63rd at Open Championship
Hideki Matsuyama

Finishes Tied For 16th at Open Championship
Kurt Kitayama

Wins 3M Open
Tom Kim

Finishes Tied For 28th at 3M Open
PGA

Sungjae Im Misses Cut at 3M Open
Max Greyserman

Misses Cut at 3M Open
Jordan Spieth

Looks to End Regular Season on a High Note at Wyndham Championship
Matt Fitzpatrick

Finishes Tied For Fourth at Open Championship
Eric Cole

Misses Cut at 3M Open
Keith Mitchell

Needs a Big Week at Wyndham Championship
Robert MacIntyre

is the Perfect Kind of Ball-Striker for Wyndham Championship
Charlie McAvoy

Ready to Go for Next Season
Dylan Samberg

Agrees to Three-Year Contract with Jets
Michael Kim

Needs More Solid Finishes
NBA

Thanasis Antetokounmpo Added to Greece Training Camp Roster for EuroBasket 2025
Los Angeles Clippers

Patrick Baldwin Jr. Waived by Clippers
Josh Green

May Not be Ready for Start of Hornets Training Camp
NBA

Thomas Bryant Set to Move to Greece
Cam Thomas

Nets Far Apart in Contract Talks
Kristaps Porzingis

Feeling "Great" Ahead of New Season
Chris Paul

Hints He Could Extend His Career Beyond the 2025-26 Season
Brandon Miller

Close to 100 Percent
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF