Offensive Line Rankings: NFL's best/worst protection units
by Justin Boone from on (#3RXKD)
Get ready for your season with theScore's 2018 Fantasy Football Draft Kit.
Fantasy football might be powered by skill-position stars, but offensive lines are the driving force that set most week-winning performances in motion.
As you prepare for your fantasy drafts, it's crucial to consider how lines have changed heading into the new season and how those changes impact the players they're blocking for.
Below, with the help of theScore's Dan Wilkins and Mike Alessandrini, we've ranked all 32 offensive lines, taking into account past performance, offseason upgrades, overall depth, and the very underrated element of continuity.
Once you've gone through the rankings, check back Saturday for an in-depth look at the specific players who will benefit the most from improved offensive line play in 2018.
Offensive Line Rankings
32-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Julie'n Davenport |
| LG | Zach Fulton |
| C | Nick Martin |
| RG | Senio Kelemete |
| RT | Seantrel Henderson |
Depth: Kendall Lamm, Martinas Rankin, Greg Mancz, Kyle Fuller
- It's surprising the Texans didn't invest more in their line. Fulton and Kelemete are serviceable free-agent signings, but Houston is starting the worst tackle duo in the NFL.
- If Deshaun Watson isn't at full speed to open the season, this line could get him sent back to injured reserve.
- Whoever wins the lead-back job between Lamar Miller and D'Onta Foreman will also have their outlook dampened.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Dion Dawkins |
| LG | John Miller |
| C | Russell Bodine |
| RG | Vladimir Ducasse |
| RT | Jordan Mills |
Depth: Marshall Newhouse, Ryan Groy, Wyatt Teller, Conor McDermott
- The loss of Cordy Glenn, Richie Incognito, and Eric Wood is a devastating blow to a formerly dominant blocking unit. The Bills' offense has revolved around its rushing attack, which is in serious jeopardy after an onslaught of downgrades on the line.
- Dawkins fared well in relief of Glenn last season, but the other four starters are limited veterans or complete question marks.
- Buffalo is a team to avoid entirely in fantasy drafts, and its line is a big reason for that.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Kelvin Beachum |
| LG | James Carpenter |
| C | Spencer Long |
| RG | Brian Winters |
| RT | Brandon Shell |
Depth: Ben Ijalana, Travis Swanson, Dakota Dozier, Antonio Garcia
- The Jets are on the same path as the Bills, only New York is a little further down the road. A once solid line has now become a liability, adding a degree of difficulty to every Jets fantasy option.
- The good news is that the ADPs for Robby Anderson and Isaiah Crowell already have this risk baked in, making them a worthwhile gamble.
- Josh McCown survived for 13 games behind this line in 2017, but even if he's able to hold off rookie Sam Darnold in camp, it's unlikely the veteran will stay healthy deep into the season.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | D.J. Humphries |
| LG | Mike Iupati |
| C | A.Q. Shipley |
| RG | Justin Pugh |
| RT | Andre Smith |
Depth: Mason Cole, Evan Boehm, Will Holden, John Wetzel
- Unlike most of the teams we've discussed, the Cardinals' line at least has hope of escaping the league's blocking basement.
- Humphries and Iupati need to prove they can stay healthy, Pugh and Smith need to prove they are more than just failed first-round picks, and third-rounder Cole needs to overtake Shipley at center.
- David Johnson's fantasy value will remain intact regardless, but the passing offense - with two pocket passers in Sam Bradford and Josh Rosen - will struggle if the line can't come together.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Duane Brown |
| LG | Ethan Pocic |
| C | Justin Britt |
| RG | DJ Fluker |
| RT | Germain Ifedi |
Depth: George Fant, Rees Odhiambo, Jamaraco Jones, Joey Hunt
- Brown helped solidify the left tackle spot after being acquired in a midseason trade.
- Britt is at least an average center, ranking 17th among 35 qualified players at the position by Pro Football Focus last season. Fluker and Ifedi excel in specific areas, with Fluker succeeding as a mauling run blocker, while Ifedi makes his mark on passing downs.
- Some may discount Seahawks players due to the past iterations of this line, but this should be a much better unit moving forward.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Cordy Glenn |
| LG | Clint Boling |
| C | Billy Price |
| RG | Trey Hopkins |
| RT | Jake Fisher |
Depth: Cedric Ogbuehi, Christian Westerman, Bobby Hart, T.J. Johnson
- Entering last season, it was clear the Bengals' offensive line would be an issue after the team lost a ton of talent up front. A year later, they've attempted to rectify that problem by trading for a real left tackle and drafting a center in the first round.
- Glenn should be healthy, but he's missed a total of 16 games over the last two years, including appearing in just six contests in 2017.
- If Glenn and Price hit their ceilings, the benefits will be felt by the entire offense - most specifically Joe Mixon, who was unable to live up to expectations during a middling rookie season.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Garett Bolles |
| LG | Ronald Leary |
| C | Matt Paradis |
| RG | Connor McGovern |
| RT | Jared Veldheer |
Depth: Menelik Watson, Max Garcia, Cyrus Kouandio, Jeremiah Poutasi, Sam Jones, J.J. Dielman
- If fantasy owners are hoping Royce Freeman can emerge as a middle-round stud, the Broncos' offensive line will need to be better than it was a year ago.
- Bolles has added weight this offseason in hopes of making a sophomore leap. Leary, who missed the final five games of the season with a back injury, is returning to left guard where he's been a standout. Paradis is one of the more reliable centers the league has to offer, giving the Broncos a potentially strong left side.
- The same cannot be said about the other side, where right guard is up in the air and free-agent addition Veldheer hasn't been an impact player in a couple seasons.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Laremy Tunsil |
| LG | Josh Sitton |
| C | Daniel Kilgore |
| RG | Jesse Davis |
| RT | Ja'Wuan James |
Depth: Sam Young, Ted Larsen, Isaac Asiata, Jake Brendel
- Dolphins linemen can't be held accountable for the team's poor quarterback play in 2017 (their 33 sacks allowed actually ranked in the bottom tier of the NFL). However, their fingerprints are all over Jay Ajayi's disappointing first half, as they were awful at opening lanes in the running game.
- The arrival of an All-Pro guard like Sitton is a massive boost on all fronts, and should help counter the loss of center Mike Pouncey, though the latter's performance dropped off last season as he played through injuries.
- This is still a flawed unit, but it should make strides in run blocking.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Nate Solder |
| LG | Will Hernandez |
| C | Brett Jones |
| RG | Patrick Omameh |
| RT | Ereck Flowers |
Depth: John Jerry, John Halapio, John Greco, Chad Wheeler
- Outside of Odell Beckham Jr.'s injury, the Giants' offensive line woes were the biggest factor in their collapse last season. Without clean pockets, Eli Manning's declining skills were on display.
- The team wisely signed Solder in free agency and drafted Hernandez early in the second round. On paper, that should stabilize the left side and give them something to build around. Center and right guard are open competitions, while the team is hoping Flowers can live up to his draft stock at right tackle.
- With Beckham returning and Saquon Barkley taking over the backfield, the line upgrades should be enough to restore the offense's firepower.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Riley Reiff |
| LG | Nick Easton |
| C | Pat Elflein |
| RG | Mike Remmers |
| RT | Rashod Hill |
Depth: Brian O'Neill, Tom Compton, Aviante Collins, Danny Isidora
- Despite being the least-talented unit on either side of the ball for a title-contending Vikings team, the O-line did enough to propel Case Keenum to a breakout year.
- It's a group of blockers that lacks star power at any position, but plays well enough as a collective.
- Barring another wave of injuries, it's unlikely the offense is compromised by the line. And with Kirk Cousins coming to town, fantasy owners should continue to draft Vikings offensive players at will.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Donovan Smith |
| LG | Ali Marpet |
| C | Ryan Jensen |
| RG | Evan Smith |
| RT | Demar Dotson |
Depth: J.R. Sweezy, Alex Cappa, Caleb Benenoch, Leonard Wester
- Dotson is the star of this line on the right side, but it's Jensen joining the fold that should have fantasy owners intrigued.
- After finishing with the ninth-highest grade among centers on Pro Football Focus in 2017, Jensen should help breathe life into the interior run blocking, with Marpet moving back to guard. That will be a welcome change for a rushing attack that has ended the year with the 24th- and 27th-most rushing yards during the last two campaigns.
- Ronald Jones II, and perhaps even Peyton Barber, will have a much better shot at success behind this new line.
| Pos. | Starter |
|---|---|
| LT | Anthony Castonzo |
| LG | Quenton Nelson |
| C | Ryan Kelly |
| RG | Jack Mewhort |
| RT | Denzelle Good |
Depth: Braden Smith, Matt Slauson, Austin Howard, Mark Glowinski
- The Colts are finally investing in their blockers and it's beginning to pay off. Andrew Luck's status is still unknown, but if/when he returns, he'll have far more protection than he was used to before his shoulder injury.
- The sixth overall pick Nelson will slot in between two other first-rounders in Castonzo and Kelly. Smith was selected 37th overall and could handle right guard duties if he can beat out Mewhort.
- Indianapolis is also the first team on this list to have noticeable depth on its line, but it won't matter for any Colts skill-position players if Luck doesn't return.
Offensive Line Rankings
32-21 | 20-11 | 10-1
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