Offensive Line Rankings: Middle Class (20-11)

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Offensive Line Rankings
32-21 | 20-11 | 10-1

20. Tennessee Titans

Depth: Dennis Kelly, David Quessenberry, Jamil Douglas, Avery Gennesy, Daniel Munyer

• It feels odd to slot the Titans at 20 because not long ago they fielded one of the better young lines in the league, with Taylor Lewan and Jack Conklin bookending the unit. Lewan remains the cornerstone, but Conklin left in free agency. The quality of Tennessee's blocking now depends on how fast Conklin's replacement - rangy first-round pick Isaiah Wilson - can get up to speed after a limited offseason with no exhibition games.
• Derrick Henry's late-season surges during the last two campaigns are even more impressive because the Titans ranked in the bottom 10 in rushing yards before contact per carry both years. Improving in that category following the departure of Tennessee's best run-blocker (Conklin) will be tough. Combining that with Henry's limited passing-down role should make you question his first-round fantasy ADP.
• Ryan Tannehill was efficient as the Titans' starting quarterback, but the line allowed him to be sacked 31 times over his final 11 appearances in 2019. Extrapolated over a full season, that would have put Tannehill at 45 sacks, ranking sixth-worst among quarterbacks. Those who believe he'll continue to produce at his unsustainable 2019 pace should keep that in mind.

19. Los Angeles Chargers

Depth: Sam Tevi, Forrest Lamp, Storm Norton, Trent Scott, Ryan Groy

• The Chargers beefed up the right side of their line by trading for Trai Turner and signing Bryan Bulaga. Turner is coming off a down year, and there are durability concerns with Bulaga. But the pair should help solidify the blocking to the right of center Mike Pouncey - assuming they can all stay healthy.
• The left side is the worry since the front office chose to roll with Trey Pipkins as Russell Okung's replacement at left tackle. Meanwhile, Dan Feeney and Forrest Lamp have struggled severely since being selected over the first three rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft. The organization is closing its eyes and crossing its fingers while hoping these youngsters develop into productive starters. That's quite the risk to take with first-round quarterback Justin Herbert preparing to make his debut eventually in 2020.
• The team has been forthcoming about its plans to rely on the ground game to propel the offense, and the Chargers should be fine with the current personnel and their zone-spread scheme. The aerial attack will be a different story. The Chargers' offensive line has been among the league's worst pass-blocking units over the last few years, and with Tyrod Taylor or Herbert at the helm, Los Angeles likely won't be passing as much in 2020. The Chargers' receiving weapons will be far more inconsistent in fantasy than they were with Philip Rivers under center.

18. Minnesota Vikings

Depth: Rashod Hill, Ezra Cleveland (R), Brett Jones, Aviante Collins, Dru Sarnia

• Gary Kubiak joined the Vikings' coaching staff as an offensive advisor before last season and brought along some of his former assistants, like line coach Rick Dennison, to help implement his system. In our 2019 offensive line rankings, we discussed how that would impact Minnesota's blocking and Dalvin Cook's fantasy outlook. After finishing 23rd in Football Outsiders' adjusted line yards in 2018, the Vikings rose to seventh in 2019, with Cook compiling 1,654 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns over just 14 outings.
• Kubiak has now taken over as the coordinator, and four of five offensive line starters from a year ago are returning. Continuity will give the Vikings a significant edge, especially with their lack of high-end talent. This group is the definition of the sum being greater than its parts, and with second-rounder Ezra Cleveland added to the mix, Minnesota can now lean on its improved depth.
• Kirk Cousins dealt with plenty of pressure in his first campaign with the Vikings, landing in the top 10 in sacks taken with 40. However, he was kept much cleaner this past season, with that sack total falling to 28. The lack of passing volume and losing Stefon Diggs makes Cousins a low-ceiling fantasy option, but his protection should be solid once again.

17. Houston Texans

Depth: Roderick Johnson, Senio Kelemete, Greg Mancz, Charlie Heck (R), Brent Qvale

• Trading for Laremy Tunsil gave the Texans the franchise left tackle they desperately needed on Deshaun Watson's blindside. They also received a pleasant surprise when first-rounder Tytus Howard was able to step in right away in 2019 and make an impact. Howard was limited to just eight games due to a torn MCL, and his return will provide Houston with a formidable outside duo. If only we could say the same about the interior of the Texans' line.
• Guards Max Scharping, Zach Fulton, and center Nick Martin all received decent 2019 pass-blocking grades from PFF, but they ranked very low as run-blockers. David Johnson has never been a strong runner between the tackles, and this line won't do him any favors.
• Watson's dual-threat ability and willingness to risk his safety to keep plays alive often makes it tough to assess the blocking in front of him. While he's been among the top five in sacks taken each of the last two years, his sack rate dropped from 12.3% in 2018 to 8.8% in 2019. That's heading in the right direction, and even after losing star wideout DeAndre Hopkins, Watson is still locked in as an elite fantasy QB.

16. Denver Broncos

Depth: Elijah Wilkinson, Patrick Morris, Netane Muti (R), Jake Rodgers, Calvin Anderson

• Mike Munchak spent five seasons as the Steelers' offensive line coach, helping to make that unit one of the league's best. Now he's working his magic in Denver. The strength of the Broncos' line will be the interior due to the presence of sophomore Dalton Risner, rookie Lloyd Cushenberry, and free-agent addition Graham Glasgow, the young trio that could power this unit. Garett Bolles, meanwhile, is a slightly above-average left tackle with a penchant for taking penalties.
• Ja'Wuan James missed most of the 2019 campaign due to an injury. Still, his decision to opt out leaves a big hole on the right side of Denver's line, and the team wants Demar Dotson to replace him. The veteran was brought in for a visit recently, and if all goes well, he'll be a late addition with only a few weeks to get up to speed.
• This line will excel when run blocking, giving Melvin Gordon a shot to be a top-15 fantasy back if he can distance himself from teammate Phillip Lindsay, who's led the Broncos in rushing each of the last two seasons. The Broncos' pass blocking holds them back from moving up this list. It doesn't help that they'll be trying to protect an inexperienced, risk-taking quarterback from a slew of dangerous AFC West pass-rushers.

15. Atlanta Falcons

Depth: Jamon Brown, Matt Hennessy (R), Justin McCray, John Wetzel, Matt Gono

• By using 2019 first-round picks on guard Chris Lindstrom and tackle Kaleb McGary, the Falcons made a push to turn their offensive line into a strength. Lindstrom was hurt for much of his rookie season, but he showed signs of being a future All-Pro when healthy. McGary wasn't as strong in his outings, but he should improve during his sophomore season.
• Atlanta paired that youth movement with left tackle Jake Matthews and center Alex Mack, who are already two of the best at their positions. If Lindstrom and McGary continue to progress, this line could challenge for a spot in the top 10, and maybe even the top five in the next year or two.
• Todd Gurley will appreciate all the help he can get as knee injuries continue to sap his explosiveness. He relied heavily on volume and scoring opportunities with the Rams last year, and the veteran should slide into a similar role in Atlanta behind what projects to be a much better line than what Los Angeles fielded. An uptick in efficiency is possible for Gurley, who remains a fantasy RB2.

14. Buffalo Bills

Depth: Ty Nsekhe, Daryl Williams, Evan Boehm, Ryan Bates, Victor Salako

• Buffalo's attempt to rebuild its offensive line on the fly with several underrated veteran signings worked out better than the Bills could have expected. Mitch Morse didn't come cheap in free agency, and the Bills spent second-round picks on Dion Dawkins and Cody Ford. But Quinton Spain, Ty Nsekhe, and Jon Feliciano provided enough competition and depth to boost the talent in front of Josh Allen.
• Bills GM Brandon Beane followed the same playbook this offseason by acquiring Daryl Williams to serve as an overqualified backup. And with Feliciano out indefinitely due to a torn pectoral muscle, Beane struck again by scooping up recently released veteran Brian Winters from the Jets. Winters should provide a seamless transition at right guard, allowing the team to continue trotting out one of the league's most overlooked blocking units.
• The organization is adamant about surrounding its young quarterback with players who will help him succeed. Entering his third season, there are no excuses for Allen now. The line is sturdy, there are a pair of young playmakers in the backfield in Devin Singletary and Zack Moss, and the receivers' room just got a true top target in Stefon Diggs.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Depth: Joe Haeg, Aaron Stinnie, Zack Bailey, Anthony Fabiano, Zach Shackelford (R)

• Continuity will be working in the Buccaneers' favor with four of their five starters returning in 2020, including Ali Marpet and Ryan Jensen leading a menacing interior. Though left tackle Donovan Smith may never become an elite blindside protector, he's an adequate pass-blocker who can be trusted to keep Tom Brady upright. Third-year guard Alex Cappa showed promise last season, and if he ends up being the weakest link on this front, the Bucs will be in great shape.
• Tristan Wirfs, the 13th overall pick in 2020 and lone newcomer, will be asked to replace Demar Dotson at right tackle. Dotson spent 11 years with Tampa, and while Wirfs offers a higher long-term ceiling, it's uncertain how quickly he'll develop.
• Keeping pass-rushers away from their immobile 43-year-old quarterback will be a test this group has never faced. For all his flaws, Jameis Winston came complete with escapability that Brady doesn't possess. However, TB12's experience and quick release should help make life easier for his blockers. Brady's range of outcomes is the widest among fantasy quarterbacks this season, but he should settle in as a low-end QB1.

12. Cleveland Browns

Depth: Chris Hubbard, Nick Harris (R), Kendall Lamm, Willie Wright, Evan Brown

• After seemingly forgetting about the importance of quality offensive-line play for a year and trading away their best blocker in Kevin Zeitler, Cleveland worked hard to course correct. Big-ticket signing Jack Conklin and 10th overall pick Jedrick Wills are relentless run-blockers who will fit perfectly into new head coach Kevin Stefanski's run-heavy system.
• Left guard Joel Bitonio has been given second-team All-Pro honors the last two years, and center JC Tretter earned a top-10 grade from PFF in 2019. Even if the starting right guard is still uncertain, it didn't take long for the Browns' front office to give this line back its teeth. And new offensive line coach Bill Callahan will make sure the unit stays hungry.
• Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt will be the biggest beneficiaries of the improved blocking as Cleveland shifts to a ground-and-pound approach. Baker Mayfield will also get a chance to rebound following a disastrous sophomore season. His skill set meshes well with the play-action style Stefanski is likely to use, though volume will be the passer's new fantasy enemy after it held Kirk Cousins' scoring down in Minnesota last year.

11. Kansas City Chiefs

Depth: Mike Remmers, Nick Allegretti, Martinas Rankin, Greg Senat, Jackson Barton

• Laurent Duvernay-Tardif was one of the bigger names to opt out, as he chose to continue using his medical degree on the front lines. The Chiefs moved quickly to sign veteran Kelechi Osemele, who's three years removed from being a first-team All-Pro. The 31-year-old guard's play has declined over the last two seasons throughout battles with injuries. Kansas City is hoping there's enough left his tank to take over at left guard.
• His ironman streak ended in 2019 after 7,894 snaps, but right tackle Mitchell Schwartz is still the rock of this group, having never missed a game during his eight-year career. Eric Fisher has also become dependable on the left side after struggling in his first few seasons.
• With the amount of skill-position talent and top-notch coaching in Kansas City, the Chiefs' line only needs to be average for their offense to thrive. Patrick Mahomes will make everyone around him look better, including his blockers.

* - Suspended to start season
^ - Expected to sign with team
INJ - Injury that may affect Week 1 availability
R - Rookie

Offensive Line Rankings
32-21 | 20-11 | 10-1