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Sometimes fantasy GMs focus too much on raw, counting stats for running backs. How many yards did they rush for? How many touchdowns did they score? Perhaps, taking it one step further, they end up looking at some "manufactured" numbers such as yards per carry, yards after contact, etc... But there is something more that correlates to running back performance that is often overlooked: the strength of the offensive line they play under.
It is definitely hard to assess how much impact any OL has on running back performance on a play-by-play basis, but at the end of the year, it's easy to look at season-long data and make a strong correlation between the strength of offensive lines and the production that comes from the backfield. While quarterbacks and wide receivers are also affected by how good the OL that protects them or gives them time to work their routes is, the biggest impact any good or bad OL causes is on running backs.
Today, I will hand you a few top-tier OLs (as ranked by PFF) and the rushers that will benefit from playing under them. Let's get to it!
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2021 Best Offensive Line Situations
PFF No. 1 OL - Cleveland Browns
Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt, D'Ernest Johnson
After finishing the 2020 season ranking as the best OL in the NFL, things didn't change one bit for these Browns. Cleveland's big boys up front enter the 2021 campaign ranking, once more, as the best unit by PFF grades and assessment. Not bad, considering the moves that took place throughout the past months in terms of free-agent signings and the draft. No franchise could edge the Browns, though, who are returning all five starters from the first- and second-graded 2020 OL in pass- and run-blocking, respectively.
That is, simply put, adding wood to a very healthy fire that stays in place for another season. What I mean is, Nick Chubb and Kareem Hunt are magnificent players on their own and out of context, but put in such a great blocking unit, they are just going to be boosted through the roof. Both Browns finished 2020 as top-12 RBs and although Chubb was much better on a per-game basis (17.3 FPPG in PPR leagues), it was Hunt who got to play all 16 games and finished above with 218.5 total PPR points (13.7 FPPG).
QB Baker Mayfield and WRs Jarvis Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. should also benefit from a superb OL that can do it on both pass and rush plays. The latter two are locks to perform to the highest of levels, but the former is definitely going to need all of the help he can get while manning the pocket. Draft the rushers without hesitation, the wideouts (most of all Landry, who has monster value) more of the same, and feel good about a superbly-protected Mayfield too entering 2021.
PFF No. 2 OL - Indianapolis Colts
Jonathan Taylor, Marlon Mack, Nyheim Hines
The Colts are one of only four teams to improve their ranking five or more spots from the end of 2020 to the start of 2021. Not bad, that rise. While some Colts had a "down" year last season compared to the sky-high projections (expected-best unit) entering the season, the truth is that while "underperforming," they still were better than six other units around the NFL. Although their prime addition through this offseason--former Chief Eric Fisher--might miss a few weeks after undergoing Achilles surgery recently, that was all Indy needed to secure the no. 2 rank entering 2021.
The Colts have a very strong backfield in which Jonathan Taylor, playing just his sophomore season, needed all of one year to overtake everybody in the rotation and clearly got the RB1 role all for himself. Marlon Mack is coming back after virtually missing all season last year, but Taylor's top-six finish in the PPR format nothing but secured his honcho role in this offense. Nyheim Hines, given his profile, is perhaps the tailback that will see the biggest boost of all Colts. Hines can do it on the ground, but his exploits come mostly on pass-plays toward him, where he's excellent and racked up 482 receiving yards on 63 receptions including four touchdowns. Target Hines late and make him your FLEX starter; he won't upset you.
As far as pass-blocking goes, remember that Indy is bringing a new quarterback to its system after acquiring much-maligned former Eagle Carson Wentz. He should have it easy transitioning from Philly to Indy thanks to a strong-as-nails OL next season. Wentz is QB2 fodder these days, and it is not that Indy boasts a terrific receiving corps, so the fact that the Colts boast a great OL can't be looked down on when it comes to the QB+WR upside in fantasy leagues. Even then, though, I wouldn't pay any sort of top-120 (10 full rounds in 12-team drafts) pick for any of those players.
PFF No. 6 OL - Dallas Cowboys
Ezekiel Elliott, Tony Pollard, Rico Dowdle
The Cowboys' offensive line, truth be told, could get much worse after closing last season ranking a measly 27th-best by PFF metrics; in other words, Dallas had the sixth-worst OL of the whole NFL. Ugh. The Cowboys, though, can keep calm and proceed as always because their OL was down mostly because of injury woes and not because of a lack of talent, and that's why they now have the sixth-best OL in the league. As the folks over at PFF point out, there are some concerns at the center position, but other than that, this should be one of the most solid lines in 2021.
Does Ezekiel Elliott need any sort of boost via a strong OL? No, sir. Playing under a putridly barren line last year, Zeke still racked up 223.7 PPR points to the tune of a 14.9 FPPG average, good for RB9 on the year... without the help of Dak Prescott--who was injured most of 2020. Elliott is a monster, good or bad line in front of him, and you should keep drafting him as high as it gets. Pollard, though, should benefit much more than Elliott as a gadget player logging less than half as many opportunities as Elliott on a weekly basis.
Pollard has been the ultimate backup RB to roster in case Elliott goes down, but it's not that he is totally unworthy even playing his RB2 role--for a FLEX at most, that is, with the odd start on spot games. Pollard averaged 7.5 FPPG last season and finished below Elliott in both targets and carries. Prescott is out, and that should also help both Cowboys rushers next season as defenses will need to stay honest about the passing game after a year in which mighty Andy Dalton was all they had to care about...
PFF No. 18 OL - Los Angeles Chargers
Austin Ekeler, Justin Jackson, Joshua Kelley
The Chargers have experienced a similar boost in their ranking as that of the Cowboys. It's not as high as that one (+21 spots) but it's good enough to have LA ranked 18th-best after finishing 2020 with the absolute worst OL of the year. A 14-spot improvement, that is, has the Chargers sitting at the 18th spot right now, pretty much right in the middle of the pack.
While it is not that the Chargers have loaded with potential Hall of Famers, there is a definitive improvement on the OL compared to last season's league-worst unit. They signed a few starters--including PFF's best FA center Corey Linsley--and drafted a starting left tackle in rookie Rashawn Slater with the 13th overall pick, so the new faces are definitely expected to strengthen the OL quite a bit. Should we be excited about that? You bet!
Austin Ekeler has been a fantasy RB dream since he took on the reins of the Chargers' backfield. In fact, PFF has him projected to be an impressive RB6 come 2021. That's right, folks, a top-half RB1 finish for Ekeler is coming... and fantasy GMs are drafting just as the RB11 these days! Take advantage of the glitch in the Matrix and get yourself a top-12 rusher for half the price. Quite a bargain!
Justin Herbert was also fantastic last season as a rookie, and hopefully, the improved OL will also have a positive impact in his sophomore year by helping him avoid pressure and sacks as he keeps growing as a pro-QB. Other than that, Keenan Allen is the lone WR projected to a top-100 overall finish, and the other two rushers (Justin Jackson and Joshua Kelly) should only be late-round fliers in super-deep leagues/WW targets more than anything else.
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