The NFL season is finally upon us. Teams have gone through the offseason and finished training camp. This week, we will finally get live NFL action.
Fantasy drafts have likely come to a close (or will shortly), meaning it is time to start making lineup decisions each week. One facet of NFL football that can give fantasy gamers an edge is understanding the matchups happening in the trenches.
Here at RotoBaller, we will again have a weekly article dedicated to the matchups to target and avoid along the offensive and defensive lines. Check out the Week 1 matchups below.
Buffalo's offensive line doesn't feature much blue-chip talent, but it is a solid collection of veterans with experience. Even without much star power, this group should have no problem getting movement and providing protection against the Arizona Cardinals.
Buffalo returns four starters from the 2023 unit, but one of them (Connor McGovern) has shifted from left guard to center to replace Mitch Morse. Former Rams starter David Edwards will take his place at guard. Even with the change in the trenches, the Cardinals defensive line doesn't have the talent to push this group.
The Bills offensive line enters 2024 with an average PFF grade of 67.8, a run-blocking grade of 65.5, and a pass-protection grade of 65.4. They should have no problem against a Cardinals defensive line featuring Bilal Nichols, Roy Lopez, and Justin Jones. It also helps that rookie Darius Robinson is on the IR to start the season.
The Bills have plenty of turnover on their offense heading into 2024, but Week 1 against Arizona's defense should be a low-stakes opportunity to see how the offense will work without Stefon Diggs and Gabe Davis.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Washington Commanders
The Buccaneers enter 2024 with a blue-chip left tackle (Tristan Wirfs), a strong right tackle (Luke Goedeke), and the hope that the interior offensive line has been elevated with a 2024 first-round pick (Graham Barton).
Wirfs and Goedeke each finished 2023 with a PFF grade above 72.0 and combined to allow just 10 sacks and 64 pressures. Barton was a left tackle at Duke (with some center experience) who was kicked inside due to a lack of measurables. He finished with a 75.9 PFF grade in his final season and allowed just two sacks and nine pressures.
Tampa Bay will need veteran Ben Bredeson and second-year right guard Cody Mauch to provide steady play in 2024, but this should be a much better unit regardless. Mauch's struggles as a rookie are understandable since he made the jump from the FCS level to starting in the NFL, but he will need to show growth in his second season for this unit to take a true next step.
They get an excellent matchup against the Commanders in Week 1. The interior combination of Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen remains strong, but the team will need former role players (Clelin Ferrell and Dorance Armstrong) to play above their means next season. Tampa Bay should have little problem attacking the edges in the run game with Baker Mayfield having ample time to find his weapons in the passing attack.
The Cowboys let two longtime starters walk in free agency (left tackle Tyron Smith and center Tyler Biadasz). They were able to replace each of those positions through the draft in the first round (Oklahoma's Tyler Guyton) and third round (Kansas State's Cooper Beebe).
Both players have looked good throughout training camp; however, they will start the 2024 season with the Cleveland Browns defensive line. Guyton will either see a steady dose of Myles Garrett (15 sacks and 86 pressures) or Za'Darius Smith (six sacks and 60 pressures) coming at him off the edge.
There are also some concerns about Guyton transitioning from just one year of starting at right tackle at Oklahoma to replacing Tyron Smith at left tackle. He's done well throughout the preseason in his repetitions to show that he can make not only the move to the NFL but has the athleticism to win at left tackle.
Beebe won't have it as bad (especially being flanked by Tyler Smith and Zack Martin), but will still face off against Dalvin Tomlinson and Shelby Harris.
There are a lot of questions about how well Dallas' offense will function, especially with a questionable rushing attack behind Dak Prescott. Week 1 will certainly provide plenty of "welcome to the NFL" moments for its young offensive linemen.
New England Patriots at Cincinnati Bengals
New England's offensive line is a mess. Its starting left tackle (Chukwuma Okorafor) was benched in Pittsburgh in 2023 at right tackle and struggled this preseason. Its starting right tackle (Mike Onwenu) was slated to start at guard.
The depth behind those players (Vederian Lowe and Caedan Wallace) are both raw players who also struggled to protect the quarterback in the preseason. 2023 left guard Cole Strange is still working his way back from a knee injury, leaving Sidy Sow and rookie Layden Robinson at guard.
The area to focus on is the mismatch on the perimeter. Both Sam Hubbard (six sacks and 40 pressures) and Trey Hendrickson (20 sacks and 79 pressures) should have no problem collapsing the pocket and making plays in the backfield.
Fantasy gamers likely weren't leaning heavily on the Patriots this season regardless, but this team is an absolute avoid in all fantasy-relevant positions until the offensive line can get figured out.
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