UPGRADES
Tennessee up 16 slots.
Pro Bowl left tackle Taylor Lewan returns from a four-game suspension this week for a home matchup against Buffalo. Lewan is a team captain and one of the more dynamic run-blocking tackles in the league. His return boosts the Titans' line to the top-tier.
Oakland up 8 slots.
Left guard Ritchie Incognito was added to the Raiders' grade with a conservative individual upgrade, based on his year-plus away from the game. After looking at the film against the Colts' win, Incognito is playing at the former Pro Bowl level expected in a best-case scenario. He came out of the gate dominant. Right guard Gabe Jackson is still likely inactive this with a knee injury (Josh Kline has been starting in his place) but once he returns, this line could carry a top-tier grade.
Cleveland up 4 slots.
Right tackle Chris Hubbard returned from foot injury prior to the divisional road win at Baltimore. The offense looked far crisper with Hubbard in the lineup. While natural guard Justin McCray gave an admirable effort, having him back on the bench the Browns' line again grades as a solid mid-tier unit.
Buffalo up 5 slots
Rookie Cody Ford is playing well at two spots right guard and right tackle. The Buffalo line can be compromised in pass protection but with Ford has made several key run blocks this season while rotating with Jon Feliciano and Ty Nsekhe. The Bills' line has clawed their way out of the low-tier and grade as a decent mid-tier option.
DOWNGRADES
Dallas down 5 slots.
All-Pro left tackle Tyron Smith sprained ankle during last week's loss against New Orleans. He did not practice on Wednesday and is likely inactive for the game this weekend at home against Green Bay. Cameron Fleming replaced Smith in the game and could do so again this weekend. Also monitor the status of right tackle La'el Collins who did not practice Wednesday with a back flare-up. Collins is still included in the ranks but the coaching staff could move guard Connor Williams to right tackle if the situation worsens. Xavier S'ua Filo would presumably start at left guard for Williams. Assuming only Smith misses the game, not Collins, the Cowboys' line drops to 8th overall in the ranks. But if both tackles are out, their grade could be a disaster
Washington down 9 Slots.
Right guard Brandon Scherff did not practice Wednesday with an ankle injury suffered two weeks ago. Scherff is likely inactive, with Wes Martin to get another start. Center Chase Roullier was inactive last Sunday against New York (Tony Bergstrom started) but Roullier was limited in practice and is included in the Week 5 ranks. Still without Scherff, and the Trent Williams' hold out continuing without obvious end in sight, this line currently grades in the low-tier.
Houston down 8 slots.
This is not anything personal against Max Scherping and Tytus Howard. In fact, Howard has played well at right tackle in his fairly limited action. But the model doesn't like a massive youth movement and starting these players two spots weigh this line's grade down from the teens to the high twenties. This is probably the right move for the long term, but rookies often have to learn hard lessons.
Carolina down 15 slots.
Right guard Trai Turner missed last week's game with an ankle injury. Turner is likely still out this week at Jacksonville. Greg Little played most of the last week's game in place of Turner but he is in the league's concussion protocol this week. Another rookie, Dennis Daley will likely start in place of Turner. Without their best lineman, this line carries a low-tier grade.
OTHER NEWS
- ATL - Alex Mack Elbow (still in ranks - monitor status). RG Wes Schweitzer in for Jamon Brown (concussion)
- CHI - Kyle Long hip injury but likely to play at Oakland (Rashad Coward)
- CIN - Alex Redmond returns from PED suspension and could factor into the guard conversation.
- DEN - RT JaWuan James knee was limited in practice (Could he play? If so, it would boost Denver's grade to mid-tier)
- GB - RT Bryan Bulaga shoulder was limited in practice but is likely to play against Dallas. Alex Light played half the snaps last week in Bulaga's place.
- KC - LT Eric Fisher (groin) likely still out (Cam Erving has been mixed in Fisher's place).
- MIN - RG Josh Kline (concussion) limited on Wednesday and could play. He is included in this ranks and this sends Dakota Dozier to bench.
- NYG - LT Nate Solder was limited with a neck injury, RG Kevin Zeitler did not practice with a shoulder injury but both are likely to play this weekend against Minnesota.
- NYJ - LG Kelechi Osemele shoulder/knee did not play on Wednesday. Coaches have hinted at (but not announced) changes to this floundering lineup. Natural left guard Alex Lewis could substitute for Osemele and Jonotthan Harrison could swap for struggling center Ryan Kalil. This is all beat writer speculation, however, and there have been no changes to current low-tier grade.
- SEA - Left tackle Duane Brown was limited on Monday and did not place Tuesday with a biceps injury. Brown played 100% of snaps last week and is still included in the ranks.
FULL RANKINGS
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Old
|
Diff
|
Score
|
Overall Grade
|
Run Grade
|
Pass Grade
|
Cohesion
|
Notes
|
|
1
|
New Orleans
|
1
|
0
|
35.63
|
A+
|
A+
|
A+
|
4
|
|
|
2
|
Philadelphia
|
2
|
0
|
35.15
|
A+
|
A+
|
A+
|
5
|
|
|
3
|
Pittsburgh
|
4
|
1
|
33.58
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
4.5
|
|
|
4
|
Green Bay
|
5
|
1
|
32.83
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
5
|
|
|
5
|
Indianapolis
|
6
|
1
|
32.3
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
5
|
|
|
6
|
Chicago
|
7
|
1
|
32.18
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
5
|
|
|
7
|
Tennessee
|
23
|
16
|
32.05
|
A
|
A+
|
A-
|
5
|
LT Taylor Lewan returns from suspension.
|
|
8
|
Dallas
|
3
|
-5
|
31.43
|
A-
|
A
|
B+
|
4
|
LT Tyron Smith ankle injury (Cameron Fleming)
|
|
9
|
Seattle
|
9
|
0
|
31.03
|
A-
|
A
|
B+
|
4
|
|
|
10
|
Kansas City
|
10
|
0
|
30.78
|
B+
|
B+
|
B+
|
4
|
LT Eric Fisher groin injury (Cam Erving).
|
|
11
|
Oakland
|
19
|
8
|
30.63
|
B+
|
A
|
B
|
4
|
LG Richie Incognito dominant in return (individual upgrade).
|
|
12
|
Atlanta
|
11
|
-1
|
30.55
|
B+
|
A-
|
B
|
3
|
C Alex Mack elbow injury (STILL IN RANKS MONITOR STATUS).
|
|
13
|
Detroit
|
12
|
-1
|
30.55
|
B+
|
B+
|
B+
|
5
|
|
|
14
|
Jacksonville
|
14
|
0
|
30.43
|
B
|
B+
|
B-
|
4.5
|
|
|
15
|
Baltimore
|
15
|
0
|
30.43
|
B
|
B+
|
B-
|
4
|
|
|
16
|
LA Chargers
|
17
|
1
|
30.3
|
B
|
B+
|
B-
|
4.5
|
LT Russell Okung (blood clots) still on NFI list (Trent Scott).
|
|
17
|
Cleveland
|
21
|
4
|
30.18
|
B-
|
B
|
C+
|
4
|
RT Chris Hubbard returned from foot injury (Justin McCray to bench).
|
|
18
|
NY Giants
|
18
|
0
|
30.15
|
B-
|
B-
|
B-
|
5
|
|
|
19
|
LA Rams
|
20
|
1
|
30.15
|
B-
|
B
|
C+
|
4
|
RG Austin Blythe returned from injury (Jamil Demby to bench).
|
|
20
|
Buffalo
|
25
|
5
|
30.08
|
B-
|
B
|
C+
|
5
|
Cody Ford playing well at multiple spots (individual and cohesion upgrade)
|
|
21
|
Houston
|
13
|
-8
|
29.68
|
C+
|
B-
|
C
|
4.5
|
Youth movement at LG and RT.
|
|
22
|
Tampa Bay
|
22
|
0
|
29.55
|
C+
|
B-
|
C
|
4.5
|
|
|
23
|
Carolina
|
8
|
-15
|
29.53
|
C
|
C+
|
C-
|
4
|
RG Trai Turner ankle injury (Dennis Daley).
|
|
24
|
Minnesota
|
26
|
2
|
29.53
|
C
|
C+
|
C-
|
4
|
|
|
25
|
Washington
|
16
|
-9
|
29.44
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
4
|
RG Brandon Scherff ankle injury (Wes Martin). LT Trent Williams holding out (Donald Penn).
|
|
26
|
NY Jets
|
24
|
-2
|
29.4
|
C
|
C
|
C
|
4
|
|
|
27
|
San Francisco
|
27
|
0
|
28.9
|
C-
|
C
|
D+
|
4.5
|
|
|
28
|
Denver
|
28
|
0
|
28.75
|
C-
|
C
|
D+
|
4
|
RT Ja\'Wuan James knee multi-week injury (Elijah Wilkinson).
|
|
29
|
Miami
|
32
|
3
|
28.28
|
D+
|
D+
|
D+
|
4
|
LT Jesse Davis returns to lineup after elbow injury (Isaiah Prince to bench).
|
|
30
|
New England
|
29
|
-1
|
28.25
|
D+
|
D
|
C-
|
4
|
|
|
31
|
Cincinnati
|
31
|
0
|
27.68
|
D
|
C-
|
D-
|
4
|
LT Cordy Glenn in concussion protocol (Andre Smith). LG Michael Jordan returned from knee injury (Billy Price to bench).
|
|
32
|
Arizona
|
30
|
-2
|
27.65
|
D
|
D
|
D
|
3
|
|
If you have a question about a player, team or matchup not specifically talked about in this article, please feel free to contact the author via Twitter.