2024 Offensive Line Rankings
This 2024 Offensive Line Rankings post is courtesy of FTNFantasy‘s Adam Pfeifer and is featured in the 2024 Football Diehards Fantasy Football Magazine.
Offensive linemen don’t score fantasy points but they sure have a huge impact on the players that do.
Just ask Jason Kelce.
Tush push aside (pun), the offensive line has recently received more attention in fantasy football discussions, but still not enough. I mean, think about it. The first player to touch the ball on every single play? The center. We’ve seen elite offensive lines elevate the play of running backs and quarterbacks, while poor units can often hold players back. A weak pass-blocking unit not only impacts the quarterback but also limits what a downfield wide receiver can do considering their routes need time to develop. So understanding which units are strong, which need work, and which are disasters can be just one of many edges to be had in fantasy football.
The Elite
Philadelphia Eagles
For years, the Eagles have had the best offensive line in football. And even with Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce retiring, this still remains arguably the top unit in all of football. This past season, Philadelphia remained the elite run-blocking convoy. According to FTN Data, D’Andre Swift was contacted behind the line of scrimmage on 17.9% of his rush attempts last year, which was the ninth-best rate among running backs with at least 50 carries. He averaged a healthy 2.49 yards before contact per rush attempt and according to FTN’s DVOA, just 14% of Philadelphia’s total carries were stuffed at or behind the line of scrimmage, the second-best rate in football.
Somewhere, Saquon Barkley is smiling.
It isn’t a positive that Kelce is gone but the Eagles are still loaded. Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata are arguably the league’s best tackle duo and to replace Kelce, Philadelphia will call on third-year center Cam Jurgens, who was responsible for just two quarterback hits and zero sacks on 383 pass-blocking snaps in 2023. In fact, quarterback Jalen Hurts was hit just 29 total times last year (27th), with just six coming while throwing the football. Of course, you can’t replicate or underrate the impact Kelce has on this entire team, let alone the offensive line. But this is still the best unit in all of football with a legendary coach in Jeff Stoutland.
Los Angeles Rams
There were plenty of questions surrounding the Rams entering the 2023 season. The 2022 season was filled with injuries, poor play, and a handful of different starting units. But the Rams were quite the story this past season, posting a top-five PFF run-blocking grade, which helped breakout running back Kyren Williams average the second-most yards before contact per attempt (3.0).
The addition of Steve Avila was huge, as his versatility allows him to play anywhere. During his first two seasons at TCU, Avila played over 1,000 snaps at center but in 2022, he moved to left guard, logging 1,000-plus snaps there. With last year’s starting center gone, Avila will likely move to center for the Rams in 2024, which is fine considering his experience. Otherwise, the Rams return four starters from last year, continuing to implement their gap run scheme with Williams and rookie Blake Corum. The Rams ranked fifth in adjusted line yards last year (4.55) and when this offense was fully healthy, we were looking at an elite unit.
The Good
Pittsburgh Steelers
Give the Steelers credit. Over the past two seasons, they have made huge strides in improving the offensive line. It started last year when they drafted Broderick Jones and signed veteran Isaac Seumalo, who were both immediately impact players. Jones showed serious flashes as a top-tier run-blocking lineman, though he was a bit up-and-down in pass protection.
Pittsburgh continued to address the line this offseason, drafting left tackle Troy Fautanu in the first round, followed by center Zach Frazier in the second. Fautanu is insanely athletic and has experience playing all five positions on the offensive line. One of Pittsburgh’s most pressing needs was at center so the addition of Frazier is welcomed. In three collegiate seasons, Frazier allowed a total of four sacks and nine quarterback hits.
Starting two rookies might be a concern but the Steelers have a strong surrounding cast. Don’t be surprised if this unit climbs towards elite territory in 2024.
Green Bay Packers
Jordan Love’s breakout draws most of the attention behind Green Bay’s stellar season, but this offensive line deserves credit, too. In 2023, the Packers allowed the third-fewest sacks (30), while Love was under pressure on just 30.2% of his dropbacks, the third-lowest rate among qualified signal callers.
The versatility within this unit is impressive and it all starts with Elgton Jenkins and Zach Tom, who can play anywhere. Jenkins received a top-10 pass-blocking PFF grade for all offensive linemen last year allowing zero sacks and just six quarterback hits. After moving on from long-time left tackle David Bakhtiari, Green Bay spent a first-round selection on Arizona’s Jordan Morgan, who could start Week 1. I love the versatility and depth of this unit, which means things won’t fall apart when injuries inevitably happen.
The Bad
Miami Dolphins
This offseason was tough for the Dolphins, as they were forced to move on from both Robert Hunt and Connor Williams. That leaves the interior of this offensive line extremely vulnerable and Miami will have to rely on Terron Armstead to stay healthy, but that simply hasn’t been the case. Armstead missed seven games last year and has now missed almost 20 games over the last three seasons. The pressure stats won’t ever tell the entire story because Tua Tagovailoa gets the ball out faster than anyone in the league, averaging 2.24 seconds to throw last year. And perhaps the scheme can mask the offensive line concerns. But unless Armstead can stay healthy, this will be one of the weaker units in the NFL in 2024.
Washington Commanders
This past season, Sam Howell was under pressure on almost 40% of dropbacks. Washington also posted an adjusted sack rate of 10.3%, one of the highest rates in the league. The Commanders had a great draft but didn’t do much to improve the offensive line. That happened in free agency where they added to the interior. But this team still has some serious question marks at tackle, which isn’t exactly the ideal situation for a rookie quarterback.
O-Line Grades
Detroit Lions: A+
Philadelphia Eagles: A
Kansas City Chiefs: A
Atlanta Falcons: A
Indianapolis Colts: A-
Cleveland Browns: A-
Green Bay Packers: A-
Los Angeles Chargers: B+
Los Angeles Rams: B+
New York Jets: B+
Pittsburgh Steelers: B+
Minnesota Vikings: B
San Francisco 49ers: B
Baltimore Ravens: B
Houston Texans: B
Cincinnati Bengals: B-
Denver Broncos: B-
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: B-
Buffalo Bills: B-
New England Patriots: C+
Dallas Cowboys: C+
Las Vegas Raiders: C+
Tennessee Titans: C
Seattle Seahawks: C
Arizona Cardinals: C
Chicago Bears: D+
Carolina Panthers: D+
New Orleans Saints: D+
Jacksonville Jaguars: D+
Miami Dolphins: D
Washington Commanders: D
New York Giants: D
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