We’re back with another edition of NFL offensive and defensive line rankings, breaking down some of the top units on either side of the line of scrimmage, plus key matchups to watch during Week 5 of the 2023 NFL season.
Not every team has a stellar offensive line, as we just watched Daniel Jones (QB – Giants) get destroyed, taking 10 sacks in a blowout loss against the Seattle defense on Monday Night Football. Sam Howell (QB – Commanders) is another quarterback who has one of the worst offensive lines in football, with the Commanders surrendering 24 sacks through their first four games played. Conversely, other offensive lines are performing well, whether it’s talent or offensive scheme.
For instance, Kansas City and Tampa Bay have allowed the fewest sacks in the league. Patrick Mahomes (QB – Chiefs) is a playmaker and an incredible talent, but he has the time to improvise in the pocket, while Baker Mayfield (QB – Buccaneers) has displayed tremendous accuracy and poise in the pocket with enough time to go through his progressions, a big part of why the Buccaneers are 3-1 entering Week 5. Sacks aren’t the only metric to focus on, but they do paint an accurate picture of the talent each offensive and defensive line unit are capable of recording.
NFL fantasy analyst Matt MacKay is back to share his latest top-five offensive and defensive line rankings, breaking down several key matchups on the Week 5 NFL slate.
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Offensive Line Rankings & Matchups
1. Kansas City Chiefs
2. Philadelphia Eagles
3. Miami Dolphins
4. Detroit Lions
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key Week 3 Matchups
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens
One of the classic AFC North rivalries will feature the Pittsburgh Steeler’s bottom-tier offense facing one of the best defensive lines in the league this weekend. The Steelers offense is in disarray, while allowing a 7.7 sack percentage, which is tied for 12th-most in the NFL this season. The Ravens just dominated a good Browns’ offensive line in Week 4 and they rank second in sacks (15) recorded. The absence of Kenny Pickett (QB – Steelers) will put Mitch Trubisky (QB – Steelers) under center in a stale offense that has failed to establish its rushing attack due to bad offensive line play. The Steelers’ offensive line is in store for a difficult task protecting Trubisky and opening up run lanes against a defense ranked as the 12th-toughest matchup for fantasy running backs this season.
Detroit Lions vs. Carolina Panthers
Last year, during the Lions’ win streak late in the season, they dropped a game they should’ve won against the Panthers. Now, they face Carolina again with a top-five offensive line unit that is opening up huge running lanes, while facing an injury-plagued Panthers defense. The Vikings just had a lot of success running the football against Carolina in Week 4, so Jahmyr Gibbs (RB – Lions) and David Montgomery (RB – Lions) could both log double-digit fantasy production against a Panthers defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs in PPR formats.
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Minnesota Vikings
Patrick Mahomes may go off for 500 yards and five touchdowns in this matchup against Minnesota. The Chiefs have allowed the fewest sacks this season (2) and the Chiefs are coming off of a bad primetime performance against a quality Jets defense. The Vikings defense played well against Carolina in Week 4, but this is a much harder matchup against the stout Chiefs offensive line in Week 5. Minnesota has a 17.1 percent pressure rate, ranked fourth worst in the league, so facing the league’s top offensive line will be a significant challenge to overcome.
Defensive Line Rankings & Matchups
1. Buffalo Bills
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Detroit Lions
4. Kansas City Chiefs
5. Philadelphia Eagles
Key Week 3 Matchups
Dallas Cowboys vs. San Francisco 49ers
Micah Parsons (EDGE/LB – Cowboys) continues to be the relentless motor that powers the Cowboys defensive front and he’ll get a big assignment on the road against the San Francisco 49ers in prime time on Sunday night. As good as Dallas’ defensive line has played this season, they are only ranked in the middle of defenses generating pressure, recording a 24.1 pressure rate that is lower than other teams like Jacksonville and Seattle. Brock Purdy (QB – 49ers) has been surgical this season, throwing zero interceptions and losing only one fumble. If the Cowboys want to avenge their NFC Divisional Round loss from last postseason, it starts with generating pressure on Purdy, otherwise, it’ll be a long night for Dallas.
New York Jets vs. Denver Broncos
The New York Jets haven’t recorded many sacks (8) this season, but their defensive line is great at disrupting backfields. The Jets are ranked ninth in pressure percentage and top-12 in hurry percentage. This is enough to force Russell Wilson (QB – Broncos) into bad decisions, leading to turnovers or being forced to punt. Wilson has looked good this season despite Denver’s 1-3 start, but its offensive line is bottom-12 for sack percentage (7.7%) through the first four weeks. Expect Quinnen Williams (DT – Jets) and the rest of the Jets’ defensive line to terrorize Wilson in the Broncos’ backfield in order to have a chance to win the game outright in Week 5.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Los Angeles Rams
The Eagles are stacked on both sides of the line of scrimmage, but their defensive line is filled with a talented mixture of young prospects and wily veterans that are elite at generating pressure and recording sacks. Through four games, the Eagles are ranked third in hurry percentage (13.6%) and fifth in pressure percentage (29.3%) while recording 11 sacks. It’s a defensive line built to stop the run, but they can be thrown on, which is what Matthew Stafford (QB – Rams) and the Rams’ offense specializes in. The Rams are allowing the tenth lowest sack percentage (5.1%) in the league, so with the expected addition of Cooper Kupp (WR – Rams), it’s imperative the Eagles’ defensive line gets to Stafford early and often, especially due to his lack of mobility outside of the pocket.
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Matthew MacKay is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Matthew, check out his archive and follow him @Matt_MacKay_.
