Week 13: Eagles O-Line Soaring

From pass protection to run blocking, every aspect of the modern NFL offense runs through the offensive line. With Thanksgiving's slate of games in the rearview mirror, let's look at changes in status quo of O-lines that'll impact the remainder of Week 13. 

RISERS

Philadelphia Eagles – LT Jason Peters (knee), RT Lane Johnson (cleared concussion protocol)

• State of Affairs: The Eagles get back one of the league's best right tackles this week, with Lane Johnson clearing the concussion protocol, and right guard Brandon Brooks is also on track to retake the field after sitting out last Sunday's loss to the Seahawks for reasons related to anxiety. Left tackle Jason Peters is still battling his lingering knee injury, but the 37-year-old has a good shot to play through the issue again.
• Impact: A healthy offensive line should significantly bolster Philadelphia's offense in a favorable matchup against the Dolphins, even if the receiving corps remains banged up. Zach Ertz (hamstring), Alshon Jeffery (ankle) and Nelson Agholor (knee) are nursing fairly significant injuries. Carson Wentz appears to have recovered from the bruise he suffered on his throwing hand, and he should have a relatively safe floor with top-10 upside against Miami now his protection corps are returned. The fantasy appeal of Philadelphia's running backs, however, largely will be determined by the health of Jordan Howard (shoulder). If Howard is forced to miss another game, Miles Sanders likely would lead the backfield while Jay Ajayi could have flex appeal. The Eagles' revitalized run blocking unit should provide a clear advantage versus Miami on Sunday.

San Francisco 49ers – LT Joe Staley (finger)

• The Skinny: Stud left tackle Joe Staley resumed practicing in a limited capacity this week — his first activity since fracturing and dislocating his finger Nov. 12 — putting him on track to retake the field in the near future. Furthermore, right guard Mike Person has already managed to fully recover from the stinger he picked up during Week 12's dominant win over the Packers.
• Impact: If Joe Staley retakes the field in time for Sunday's game against the Ravens, it would represent a huge boost for the team's aerial attack. George Kittle is a weekly starter, but fantasy owners rostering Deebo Samuel (shoulder) and Emmanuel Sanders (ribs) are facing trickier decisions. Both wideouts are working through lingering injuries and will face a suffocating Ravens' secondary, but they've also each proven capable of tremendous upside — Sanders by scoring in his first two games with the team, and Deebo by posting 18 catches for 296 yards and a TD in the last three weeks. Both possess worrying floors Week 13, but if Jimmy Garoppolo receives the consistent protection under which he thrives, it wouldn't be out of the question the 49ers passing game to churn out a high-scoring fantasy gem.

FALLERS

Baltimore Ravens –  C Matt Skura (knee, placed on IR),  LG Bradley Bozeman (ankle), RT Orlando Brown (illness)

• The Skinny: The hot storyline out of this past Monday's 45-6 win over the Rams was, of course, Baltimore's convincing dominance. However, the loss of center Matt Skura (knee) shouldn't be overlooked. Skura was enjoying an outstanding season as the pillar of the Ravens' offensive front, and his loss could potentially have a ripple effect along the rest of the line — particularly if Orlando Brown (illness) or Bradley Bozeman (ankle) are limited or miss time. Undrafted rookie Patrick Mekari is expected to slot into the starting lineup in replacement of Skura.
• Impact: Baltimore's offense has been one of the most dynamic in the league this season, and one of the most balanced in NFL history, in terms of passing/rushing yardage splits. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman's trademarks in that span have included a) getting an early lead and b) aggressively converting fourth downs, and those two feats could be much more difficult to reliably accomplish without outstanding O-line play. It's possible that Mekari will slot in and prove a strong every-down option, but undrafted rookies have a poor track record at certain positions and center tops that list. That said, having a dynamo dual-threat superstar like Lamar Jackson under center can cover plenty of protection flaws.

Los Angeles Chargers – LT Russell Okung (groin), RT Sam Tevi (knee)

• The Skinny: Unsurprisingly, neither Okung nor Tevi  emerged from Los Angeles' bye healthy. It's looking increasingly likely that the Chargers will be forced to operate without at least one starting tackle, if not both, against the Broncos' stout defensive front on Sunday. The O-line has already lost starting center Mike Pouncey and left guard Forrest Lamp for the year, and it boasts little in the way of remaining depth.
• Impact: The Chargers have looked every bit the part of a team that can't overcome it's poor offensive line in recent weeks. Veteran QB Philip Rivers has dealt with pressure poorly while operating without his starting tackles, throwing seven INTs and fumbling twice in his last two appearances. As mentioned in last week's column, it's likely that the Chargers will lean increasingly on Melvin Gordon and Austin Ekeler as runners and failsafe passing options to alleviate pressure from their mistake-prone signal-caller.

Green Bay Packers – RT Bryan Bulaga (knee – MCL)

• State of Affairs: The good news for the Packers, who've already lost Lane Johnson (biceps) for the season, is Bulaga is expected to return in December. The bad news, of course, is  the veteran right tackle is week-to-week and could realistically be sidelined through the entire fantasy playoffs. Alex Light was a blatant liability at right tackle in Bulaga's stead, but he won't have to face Nick Bosa every week, so there's some reason to be optimistic for improvement.
• Impact: Green Bay's offense logged one of the worst performances we've seen all season last Sunday against the 49ers. Unsurprisingly, Aaron Rodgers is also having a terrible stretch for fantasy purposes, with just two touchdowns and an average of 166 passing yards per game  in the last three games. The lauded veteran will be a popular bounceback candidate over the next two weeks, with favorable matchups against the Giants and Washington on deck, but things tighten up dramatically for the fantasy playoffs. If Bulaga misses either/both of Week 15 and Week 16, against the Bears and Vikings respectively, Rodgers could be a player to avoid during the two most important weeks of fantasy football.

Carolina Panthers – LG Greg Van Roten (foot), LT Greg Little (ankle), RT Taylor Moton (knee)

• State of Affairs: With Greg Van Roten having been placed on IR, the Panthers will be forced to rely on former starting right tackle Daryl Williams to secure the left side of the offensive line's interior. Williams is a better backup option than most teams are blessed with, but if either of rookie second-round pick Greg Little or Taylor Moton were forced to miss any time, Carolina would be short handed to provide any notable depth.
• Impact: Christian McCaffrey's value is insulated to the utmost degree. It may not even be hyperbole to say that if every starter on Carolina's O-line were to go down, McCaffrey would still find his way into each of his fantasy owner's starting lineups and turn in a diamond performance. The rest of Carolina's roster may not prove so untarnishable. Rookie QB Kyle Allen has flashed on multiple occasions this season, but he's also proven a tendency to turn pressure into sacks, and sacks into turnovers. Should either Little or Moton be forced to miss any time in addition to Van Roten, it could make things difficult for Allen and his receiving corps — headed by breakout performer D.J. Moore — even with two favorable matchups against Washington and Atlanta on deck.