Fantasy Football – Offensive Line Rankings
The next installment of our 2011 Fantasy Football Draft Guide – is our Offensive Line Cheat Sheets & Rankings. They may be the most under-appreciated group in sports but the Offensive Lines are the fuel that makes the whole offense run.
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Without a strong unit of beefy lineman, teams struggle to execute running games and to protect the quarterbacks that are in charge of making plays down field.
The offensive line is more important to a great team than the great QB or the game breaking running back because without that solid quintet up front no player on offense can succeed consistently, even a kicker. Just because your league doesn’t reward pancake blocks doesn’t mean the big uglies don’t count.
Remember that FF guru’s, and you’ll win your league this year. How about it, owners? Post your thoughts or comments below this article!
Below is Dave B`s 2011 Offensive Line Rankings.
Pay attention – the Fantasy players that you draft should play behind one of the Stud Units.
1. New England Patriots – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 9th Rushing (123.1 YPG), 11th Passing (240 YPG), 4th Sacks Allowed (25)
Starters – LT Matt Light, LG Logan Mankins, C Dan Koeppen, RG Dan Connolly, RT Sebastian Vollmer
There is not much to dislike about this unit. They have consistently given Tom Brady time to operate and in 2010 they even found a way to pave the way for a finally formidable running game. This group does everything well and is the reason that the Pats have one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL – just ask Tom Brady!
2. Indianapolis Colts – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 1st Passing (288 YPG), 29th Rushing (92.7 YPG), 1st Sacks Allowed (16)
Starters- LT Charlie Johnson, LG Kyle DeVan, C Jeff Saturday, RG Mike Pollack, RT Ryan Diem
You might say that the Colts are ranked a little high based on their weak running game but figure that Peyton Manning is the least sacked QB in the NFL and has been for years. The Colts have one job and that is to protect their immobile QB and there is no denying that they do that very well. The running game will come around some time – I promise!
3. New York Jets – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 22nd Passing (203 YPG), 4th Rushing (148.4 YPG), 9th Sacks Allowed (28)
Starters – LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson, LG Matt Slauson, C Nick Mangold, RG Brandon Moore, RT Damien Woody
The Jets could certainly make an argument as the best line in the NFL – three Pro Bowlers litter the line and generate one of the best rushing attacks in the game. Nick, D’Brickashaw Ferguson and Damien Woody are as good as they come and put the Jets in the Top tier of NFL O-lines.
4. New Orleans Saints – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 28th Rushing (94.7 YPG), 3rd Passing (278 YPG), 5th Sacks Allowed (26)
Starters – LT Jermond Bushrod. LG Carl Nicks, C Jonathan Goodwin, RG Jahri Evans, RT Jonathan Stinchbomb
Nicks and Jahri Evans are two of the best O-linemen in the NFL – they are good at protecting the quarterback and at opening up running lanes for the backs. The rushing totals were disappointing in 2010 but it wasn’t necessarily the lines fault – injuries were THE factor. This unit protects Drew Brees and will be better with a healthy and bolstered running game in 2011.
5. New York Giants – 2010 Offensive Rankings: 6th Rushing (137.5 YPG); 10th Passing (243 YPG); 2nd Sacks Allowed (16)
Starters – LT David Diehl, LG Rich Seubert, C Shaun O’Hara, RG Chris Snee, RT Kareem Mackenzie
The Giants are solid in absolutely every aspect of the game – rushing, passing and sacks allowed. There are no holes in this group – deserving of a Top 5 rank.
6. Atlanta Falcons – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 12th Rushing (118.2 YPG), 15th Passing (223 YPG), 3rd Sacks Allowed (23)
Starters – LT Sam Baker, LG Justin Blalock, C Todd McClure, RG Harvey Dahl, RT Tyson Clabo
Like the Giants, the Falcons are good in every aspect of the game – they open lanes for Michael Turner and they protect a minimally mobile QB. The offense is going to have to steal the show in Atlanta again this season and it all starts with the O-line.
7. Kansas City Chiefs – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 30th Passing (180 YPG), 1st Rushing (164.2 YPG), 13th Sacks Allowed (32)
Starters – LT Branden Albert, LG Brian Waters, C Casey Wiegemann, RG Ryan Lilja, RT Ryan O’Callaghan
This is an aging group but have to be in the Top 10 based on KC’s incredible rushing totals in 2010. They also do a pretty good job of keeping Matt Cassell off the turf.
8. Houston Texans – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 7th Rushing (127.6 YPG), 4th Passing (259 YPG), 12th Sacks Allowed (32)
Starters – LT Duane Brown, LG Wade Smith, C Chris Meyers, RG Antoine Caldwell, RT Eric Winston
The Texans were Top 10 in rushing and passing in 2010 and is all starts with the O-line. Although they are a somewhat unheralded group, Arian Foster’s incredible 2010 success can be attributed to the play of Houston’s solid Offensive Line.
9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 8th Rushing (125 YPG), 17th Passing (210 YPG), 10th Sacks Allowed (30)
Starters – LT Donald Penn, LG Ted Larsen, C Jeremy Zuttah, RG Derek Hardman, RT Jeremy Trueblood [ad-8469823]
The Bucs are a team on the rise and they feature two largely unheralded players that lead the team. LeGarrette Blount and Josh Freeman were breakout stars in 2010 thanks to their solid O-line. The Bucs are young and talented and it is up to the O-line to protect their status as one of the more exciting teams heading into 2011.
10. Dallas Cowboys – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 6th Passing (253 YPG), 16th Rushing (111.6 YPG), 11th Sacks Allowed (31)
Starters – LT Doug Free, LG Kyle Kosier, C Andre Gurode, RG Leonard Davis, RT Marc Colombo, Reserve- Tyron Smith
There were definitely some problems in Dallas in 2010 but the offense wasn’t one of them despite having to protect immobile backup quarterbacks almost all season long. The Cowboys are a candidate for Bounce Back O-line of the year in 2011. They have talent and a system to succeed in Big D.
11. Philadelphia Eagles – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 5th Rushing (145.3 YPG), 9th Passing (244 YPG), 29th Sacks Allowed (49)
Starters – LT Jason Peters, LG Todd Herremans, C Mike McGlynn, RG Nick Cole, RT Winston Justice
12. San Diego Chargers – 2010 Rankings- 15th Rushing (113.1), 2nd Passing (282), 21st Sacks Allowed (38)
Starters- LT Marcus McNeill, LG Kris Dielman, C Nick Hardwick, RG Louis Vasquez, RT Jeromey Clarey
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13. Tennessee Titans – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 25th Passing (194 YPG), 17th Rushing (107.9 YPG), 7th Sacks Allowed (27)
Starters – LT Michael Roos, LG Leroy Harris, C Fernando Velasco, RG Jake Scott, RT Bill Stewart
14. Minnesota Vikings – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 26th Passing (194 YPG), 10th Rushing (121.4 YPG), 18th Sacks Allowed (36)
Starters – LT Bryant McKinnie, LG Chris DeGeare, C John O’Sullivan, RG Steve Hutchinson, RT Phil Loadholt
15. Jacksonville Jaguars – 2010 Offensive Rankings- 3rd Rushing (149.7 YPG), 27th Passing (192 YPG), 20th Sacks Allowed (38)
Starters – LT Eugene Monroe, LG Vince Manuwai, C Brad Meester, RG Uche Nwaneri, RT Jordan Black
16. Baltimore Ravens
17. Detroit Lions
18. Oakland Raiders
19. Buffalo Bills
20. Cincinnati Bengals
21. Green Bay Packers
22. Cleveland Browns
23. Pittsburgh Steelers
24. Miami Dolphins
25. San Francisco 49ers
26. Carolina Panthers
27. St. Louis Rams
28. Denver Broncos
29. Washington Redskins
30. Seattle Seahawks
31. Chicago Bears
32. Arizona Cardinals
Pre-season is nearly upon us (we hope), so for the next few weeks we encourage you to be checking out our FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT GUIDE for all your rankings and analysis for the upcoming league drafts that you’re going to be participating in.
