Offensive Line Rankings: NFL's best, worst protection units

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Skill-position stars might power fantasy football, but offensive lines are the driving force behind most week-winning efforts.

So as you prepare for your fantasy drafts, it's crucial to consider how O-lines across the league have changed this offseason, and how that will impact the players they're blocking for and protecting.

We've ranked all 32 offensive lines, taking into account past performances, roster upgrades, overall depth, and the very underrated element of continuity.

Starting lineups are projections and will be updated throughout the preseason.

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

32. New York Giants

• The Giants have become regulars near the bottom of our offensive-line rankings, finishing 21st or worse in four straight years.
• While the midsummer retirements of Joe Looney and Zach Fulton hurt the depth of this line, the front office's failure to invest in more starting-caliber talent this offseason is why the team will field our worst-ranked blocking unit.
• Turnover-machine Daniel Jones (11 interceptions and six lost fumbles in 2020) will struggle to kick-start his career behind this front, which lowers the ceiling for the entire offense. Don't avoid all the skill-position talent in New York, but if you're stuck between two players during your draft, go with the one who doesn't play for the Giants.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers

• After years of enjoying some of the league's most stable offensive-line play, the Steelers are now fielding a patchwork unit while trying to replace departed stars like Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro.
• Continuity is an important aspect of an offensive line's success, and it'll take a while for this group to gel because of all the moving pieces. If third-round rookie Kendrick Green can lock down the starting center position, we could see the beginning of something special on the interior with sophomore Kevin Dotson and five-time Pro Bowler Trai Turner lining up next to him.
• The tackle spots are a serious concern though, especially with a declining 39-year-old Ben Roethlisberger occupying the pocket. Big Ben being able to get rid of the ball quickly helped cover up some of Pittsburgh's pass-blocking issues last season. Unfortunately, there was no hiding the Steelers' poor run blocking, which ranked last in Football Outsiders' adjusted line yards and could hinder first-round running back Najee Harris's efficiency in Year 1.

30. Carolina Panthers

• It's almost cruel to see the Jets improving their offensive line in the same year Sam Darnold was traded to a Panthers team with so many questions up front. The 2018 first-round passer should be able to at least replicate Teddy Bridgewater's average play from last season, as long as he isn't haunted in the pocket all year long.
• Right tackle will be secure for a while after Taylor Moton's new five-year, $85-million deal, and veteran Matt Paradis is a steady option up the middle. But we can only be confident in the stability at those positions.
• Unlike the Giants' front office, the Panthers at least tried to address their offensive line. The club signed Pat Elflein, and drafted tackle Brady Christensen (third round) and guard Deonte Brown (sixth round). Whether they can provide an upgrade in 2021 remains to be seen. Either way, the return of playmaking centerpiece Christian McCaffrey will likely allow this crew to overachieve.

29. Chicago Bears

• One preseason game is all it took for the Bears to look outside the organization and sign two-time All-Pro tackle Jason Peters. But most of Peters' accolades came over five years ago. The 39-year-old is a risky bet to stay healthy for a full campaign.
• Signing Peters does allow Chicago's left tackle of the future - second-rounder Teven Jenkins - to be eased while recovering from a back issue that's sidelined him early in training camp.
• Rookie quarterback Justin Fields looked comfortable during his preseason debut, and his dual-threat skills will be a needed addition behind this unit.

28. Miami Dolphins

• The Dolphins have made many savvy moves during the Chris Grier-Brian Flores regime, so it's not surprising that they've spent significant draft capital on their offensive line over the last couple of years.
• Michael Deiter (third round, 2019), Austin Jackson (first round, 2020), Robert Hunt (second round, 2020), and Liam Eichenberg (second round, 2021) are projected to be four of the team's five Week 1 O-line starters.
• The young offensive line mirrors the youth at some of the key skill positions in Miami, including first-rounders Tua Tagovailoa and Jaylen Waddle. This group will get a chance to grow together, but it still would have been nice to see the Dolphins bring in a veteran leader to help such an inexperienced set of blockers.

27. Houston Texans

• Amid all the issues plaguing the Texans heading into the 2021 season, their offensive line is actually one of the better areas of the team's roster - though that isn't saying much.
• Laremy Tunsil and Tytus Howard form solid bookends, and the front office has brought in several mid-level veterans to create interior competition. That tactic has worked for other clubs like the Bills in recent years, but the right players need to be signed.
• The offseason approach in Houston was to throw as many darts at each position as possible and hope for the best. Fantasy managers might want to be a little more selective than that and avoid this offense almost entirely.

26. Cincinnati Bengals

• The Bengals drafting receiver Ja'Marr Chase over offensive lineman Penei Sewell drew plenty of reaction from fans and analysts, many of whom believe protecting Joe Burrow is more important than reuniting him with his former college wideout. Regardless of where you fall in that debate, Cincy did make an effort to reinforce its line during the offseason.
• The team signed Quinton Spain, a tough guard who can help bring a fierce identity to this group, and Riley Reiff will provide an upgrade at right tackle. With draft picks Jackson Carman (second round) and D'Ante Smith (fourth round) competing for roles and 2019 first-rounder Jonah Williams entering the season healthy, the Bengals' O-line should improve.
• How long it will take the unit to coalesce is unknown, and reports from camp indicate some difficulties in the early going. That process is also making it harder for Joe Burrow to get over the mental hurdle of returning from a torn ACL. But with four weeks until the season opener, there's plenty of time for Burrow to get back in the groove he displayed before being sidelined last year.

25. Atlanta Falcons

• When the Falcons used two first-round picks on offensive linemen in 2019, they surely hoped to fortify the right side of their line for years. We saw glimpses of what the future might hold last season when Chris Lindstrom and Kaleb McGary made strides, including the former grading out as Pro Football Focus' ninth-best guard.
• With Jake Matthews locking down the left side as one of the league's best pass-blocking tackles, the only real holes are at left guard and center, where the Falcons lost James Carpenter and Alex Mack, respectively.
• It's also hard to know how much Todd Gurley's diminishing performance due to knee injuries impacted the efficiency of the team's rushing attack last season. Mike Davis doesn't exactly bring fresh legs as a 28-year-old, but he should be more productive in new head coach Arthur Smith's system.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars

• The Jaguars return all five starters, and they could take a major leap forward if their young tackles continue to develop. If that duo falters or gets hurt, the team has insulated itself with the selection of tackle Walker Little in the second round this year.
• Adding depth to the group responsible for protecting No. 1 pick and all-world prospect Trevor Lawrence is definitely a wise choice. Especially if Lawrence keeps holding on to the ball as long as he did during the Jaguars' first preseason contest.
• This is also the same line that paved the way for James Robinson's breakout season in 2020. While we don't know how the touches will be distributed in Jacksonville's backfield, blocking shouldn't hold Robinson or first-rounder Travis Etienne back this season.

23. Las Vegas Raiders

• After regularly being in the upper echelon of our rankings over the last few years, the Raiders' line has taken one of the biggest falls. It's hard to get excited about an O-line after an offseason plan that involved moving on from three quality starters in Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson, and Trent Brown.
• Getting Richie Incognito back is a positive development, but it's questionable whether he'll be able to stay on the field for an entire 17-game schedule at 38 years old.
• The success of this quintet will ultimately come down to two youngsters: Andre James and Alex Leatherwood. The 24-year-old James is an undrafted free-agent signing from 2019, and the team reportedly has extremely high hopes for him as Hudson's replacement. Leatherwood, meanwhile, possesses off-the-charts athleticism, but many viewed him as a reach at No. 17 during April's draft.

22. Seattle Seahawks

• Duane Brown is the rock of this unit and one of the NFL's best left tackles, so him staging a "hold-in" while trying to negotiate a new contract is a troubling situation for the Seahawks' offense, and most notably Russell Wilson. The Pro Bowl passer has started to pressure the front office as Brown enters the final year of his current deal, which likely means this situation gets resolved before the season.
• Seattle was quick to trade for Gabe Jackson when the Raiders made him available, perhaps in another attempt to satisfy Wilson. Jackson's strength is his pass blocking, the area where this group has struggled most.
• There's reason to be intrigued about the possible uptick in play volume the team keeps hinting at after the arrival of new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Though this line won't give the Seahawks any noticeable advantages outside of Brown, it should be adequate while allowing Wilson and Co. to stay on track for fantasy.

21. New York Jets

• The Jets' offense is heading in the right direction under a new coaching staff that came over from the 49ers. On top of new additions at the skill positions, New York has been rebuilding its offensive line while using back-to-back first-round picks on the group.
• Mekhi Becton looked like a franchise left tackle during his first season, garnering above-average grades for his pass and run blocking from PFF. Ideally, the Jets are about to get a similar performance from this year's 14th overall pick Alijah Vera-Tucker, who will slide in next to Becton and form a powerful left side for years.
• Morgan Moses was an underappreciated signing following his release from Washington in May. The veteran can help steady the right side of the line, and he's been one of the league's more reliable linemen after not missing a game in six straight seasons.

INJ - Injury that may affect Week 1 availability

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