CrazyHorse
09-10-2009, 08:47 AM
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Offensive line rankings
By Mike Gilbert, RotoExperts.com
Aug 25, 2:20 pm EDT
It’s time to give credit where it’s due: the big guys in the trenches are the unsung heroes (and villains) of fantasy football. Offensive line play has turned Chris Johnson from a guy draftniks thought was overrated into a star, and Steven Jackson from a 1,600-yard rusher into an unreliable fantasy option. You can argue about who is more talented than whom, but I guarantee you that if Jackson was rushing behind Tennessee’s stellar O-line, he would be watching far fewer games from the sideline.
Obviously, there are exceptions to the general rule that good lines make good RBs – Matt Forte(notes) is an example – but more often than not the common wisdom holds true. You as a fantasy football owner need to know which lines will help certain players and which will hurt. While this doesn’t necessarily override the talent of a player or his value in your league’s specific format, it can be a fine line between making your playoffs and doing something else with your December Sundays.
Use this information to make the tough calls when drafting players. For example, if you’re on the fence between Derrick Ward(notes) and Marshawn Lynch(notes), knowing that the Buccaneers are excellent at rush blocking while the Bills are poor makes the choice a lot easier.
Please note: where I mention depth as a concern, it’s a MAJOR concern.
1. Denver Broncos
Rush Blocking: Excellent
Pass Blocking: Excellent
This is the line to which all others are compared. There may be teams that rush block or pass block slightly better, but no other unit does both with such skill. It allowed the fewest sacks (12) and the team rushed for 4.8 yards per carry (YPC), just slightly behind the league-leading Giants. Knowshon Moreno(notes) is a one-cut RB that can excel playing behind these masters of the zone-blocking scheme. If QB Kyle Orton(notes) fails as Jay Cutler’s(notes) replacement, it will be on him, as the running game will hum and the protection will be there.
(continues here)
(http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/nfl/news?slug=expertsmg-oline_2009&prov=rotoexperts&type=lgns)
Sorry if this was posted. Articles a little old.
While it's not something we didn't already know it's nice that the Broncos get credit elsewhere for the stellar offensive line they've assembled. Our quarterback last year may have made our line look better than it is as I expect Orton to get sacked much more than Cutler.
It's great knowing that Moreno will be running behind one the best, if not the best lines in football. I think he'll do wonders, ROTY perhaps? I'm real curious to see what McDaniels will do with our offensive line. I recall him saying they'll implement other run blocking schemes besides ZBS such as pulling gaurds, etc. He called it the 'bread and butter' of the Pats offense.
Offensive line rankings
By Mike Gilbert, RotoExperts.com
Aug 25, 2:20 pm EDT
It’s time to give credit where it’s due: the big guys in the trenches are the unsung heroes (and villains) of fantasy football. Offensive line play has turned Chris Johnson from a guy draftniks thought was overrated into a star, and Steven Jackson from a 1,600-yard rusher into an unreliable fantasy option. You can argue about who is more talented than whom, but I guarantee you that if Jackson was rushing behind Tennessee’s stellar O-line, he would be watching far fewer games from the sideline.
Obviously, there are exceptions to the general rule that good lines make good RBs – Matt Forte(notes) is an example – but more often than not the common wisdom holds true. You as a fantasy football owner need to know which lines will help certain players and which will hurt. While this doesn’t necessarily override the talent of a player or his value in your league’s specific format, it can be a fine line between making your playoffs and doing something else with your December Sundays.
Use this information to make the tough calls when drafting players. For example, if you’re on the fence between Derrick Ward(notes) and Marshawn Lynch(notes), knowing that the Buccaneers are excellent at rush blocking while the Bills are poor makes the choice a lot easier.
Please note: where I mention depth as a concern, it’s a MAJOR concern.
1. Denver Broncos
Rush Blocking: Excellent
Pass Blocking: Excellent
This is the line to which all others are compared. There may be teams that rush block or pass block slightly better, but no other unit does both with such skill. It allowed the fewest sacks (12) and the team rushed for 4.8 yards per carry (YPC), just slightly behind the league-leading Giants. Knowshon Moreno(notes) is a one-cut RB that can excel playing behind these masters of the zone-blocking scheme. If QB Kyle Orton(notes) fails as Jay Cutler’s(notes) replacement, it will be on him, as the running game will hum and the protection will be there.
(continues here)
(http://sports.yahoo.com/fantasy/nfl/news?slug=expertsmg-oline_2009&prov=rotoexperts&type=lgns)
Sorry if this was posted. Articles a little old.
While it's not something we didn't already know it's nice that the Broncos get credit elsewhere for the stellar offensive line they've assembled. Our quarterback last year may have made our line look better than it is as I expect Orton to get sacked much more than Cutler.
It's great knowing that Moreno will be running behind one the best, if not the best lines in football. I think he'll do wonders, ROTY perhaps? I'm real curious to see what McDaniels will do with our offensive line. I recall him saying they'll implement other run blocking schemes besides ZBS such as pulling gaurds, etc. He called it the 'bread and butter' of the Pats offense.