2005-06 Fantasy Football Draft Guide

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A quick look at the offensive lines from around the NFL for 2005-2006.

It’s not easy to judge NFL offensive linemen. They have no stats of their own — no tackles, yards or touchdowns. They work behind the scenes, but in front of everybody. In the 2005 Wageronfootball Fantasy Football Guide we try to give everybody some love. So here you go NFL offensive lineman. Your rankings and a little update on every team in the NFL. The 2005 NFL Offensive Line Review:

Page 2 - NFC TEAMS >>

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AFC WEST

Oakland Raiders
30 Sacks Allowed (6 th)
4.0 Yards Per Carry (Tie-19 th)

Most of the same faces return, but a few positions have changed. RT Robert Gallery and LT Barry Sims combined to form one of the league's best bookend tackles and are important to the protection of QB Kerry Collins. Hopefully for the Raiders, the shake-up will help them eclipse the league-low 1,295 yards that they gained in 2004. In a mild surprise, second-year C/G Jake Grove will likely supplant Adam Treu at center after finishing last season at right guard – next to center Treu. Former tackle Langston Walker will start at left guard and Brad Badger will begin the season as right guard, making LT Barry Sims and up-and-coming 2004 first-round pick RT Robert Gallery the only players returning to their positions.

San Diego Chargers
15 Sacks Allowed (3rd)
4.2 Yards Per Carry (Tie-14th)

The Chargers don't have one standout lineman on their roster, but the unit does block for the league's best running back in LT, who will lead all backs this year in fantasy points. You heard it here first. The Chargers experienced a rather charmed life on the offensive line in 2004: four players started every game, and C Nick Hardwick missed only two games. It’s a young line for the most part with second-year players Harkwick and RT Shane Olivea starting as rookies in 2004. All nine offensive linemen on the 53-man roster at the end of the season return, plus a healthy Courtney Van Buren and three rookies: fifth-round pick T Wesley Britt (Alabama), sixth-round selection G Wes Sims (Oklahoma) and seventh-round pick C Scott Mruczkowski. Van Buren started seven games as a rookie in 2003. Behind this line Brees will look to prove that last season's success was not a fluke.

Denver Broncos
15 Sacks Allowed (3rd)
4.4 Yards Per Carry (Tie-8th)

New offensive line coach Rick Dennison inherits a veteran group of linemen that comprise one of the best units in the league. Not to mention, this line and the genius of head coach Mike Shanahan seem to breed stud running backs on a consistent basis. For the 12th straight season, C Tom Nalen will man the middle of the line and will be flanked by guards Ben Hamilton and Cooper Carlisle, the latter of whom admirably replaced Dan Neil following Neil’s knee injury late in the 2004 season. Matt Lepsis will start at left tackle and George Foster will line up on the right, and once again the bench should be deep.

Kansas City Chiefs
32 Sacks Allowed (Tie-9th)
4.6 Yards Per Carry (3rd)

Kansas City’s OL was quite possibly the best in the league in 2004. The Chiefs' right offensive tackle job might not belong to Jordan Black automatically just because he finished last season there. Kevin Sampson, a second-year option out of Syracuse, was splitting time with Black at a recent mini-camp and might be given a good look in August before a decision is made. Expect another strong season from this unit, which will include stud LT Willie Roaf, LG Brian Waters, C Casey Wiegmann, RG Will Shields and RT Jordan Black. The return to prominence of Roaf in 04 was a positive, and consistent contributions from RG Will Shields and C Casey Wiegmann will make this the best unit in the league.

AFC NORTH

Cincinnati Bengals
31 Sacks Allowed (Tie-7th)
4.2 Yards Per Carry (Tie-14th)

One would think that things could only get better for Cincinnati’s offense in 2005, and they will. QB Carson Palmer should be allowed a glut of time in the pocket to find his receivers downfield and emerge as a solid sleeper candidate in all formats. Plus the Bengals return all 11 starters on offense from 2004, including all five starters on an OL that remained a healthy bunch throughout the year. T Willie Anderson, LT Levi Jones and RG Bobbie Williams started in every game, LG Eric Steinbach started 15 games and C Rich Braham started in 10 before suffering a slight fracture of a fibula on Dec. 12 at New England. Cincinnati also drafted Eric Ghiaciuc (Central Michigan) in the fourth round, and signed Ben Wilkerson (LSU) as a rookie free agent.

Cleveland Browns
41 Sacks Allowed (Tie-21st)
3.8 Yards Per Carry (Tie-25th)

this unit will need time to become cohesive and still lacks the depth that would move into the top 25 in the league. The Browns have backpedaled ever since 2002 thanks in no small part to struggles along its troubled line – recently one of the worst in the NFL. New head coach Romeo Crennel made the interior of the OL the team’s No. 1 priority during the offseason and signed free agent G Cosey Coleman (Buccaneers) and G Joe Andruzzi (New England), both of whom represent significant upgrades over the handful of guards the Browns have had the past few seasons. Having said this, the line should do a sufficient job at blocking for RBs Lee Suggs and Reuben Droughns.

Pittsburgh Steelers
36 Sacks Allowed (Tie-14th)
4.0 Yards Per Carry (Tie-19th)

QB Ben Roethlisberger was sacked once every 10 attempts -- but overall LG Alan Faneca and his linemates are a top-10 unit. Losing two key performers in RT Oliver Ross (signed by Arizona) and RG Keydrick Vincent (signed by Baltimore), the 2005 version of the Steelers line has the potential to improve. RG Kendall Simmons, the Steelers’ first-round pick in the 2002 NFL draft, returns to the team after missing last season with a knee injury. Big things are expected from second-year T Max Starks, who is the frontrunner to inherit Ross’ starting job. In addition, the Steelers addressed their need for depth by drafting OT Trai Essex (Northwestern) in the third round and OG Chris Kemoeatu (Utah) in the sixth round.

Baltimore Ravens
35 Sacks Allowed (13th)
4.2 Yards Per Carry (Tie-14th)

Baltimore’s OL certainly isn’t the reason that the Ravens’ passing game has finished 22 nd or worse in five of coach Brian Billick’s six seasons, but it does shoulder its share of the blame. While the team wasn’t all that aggressive in pursuing this need during the offseason, some important additions arrive in the person of G Keydrick Vincent (ex-Steeler), second-round pick OT Adam Terry and fourth-round selection C Jason Brown. Vincent is expected to replace departed G Bennie Anderson (signed by Bills). This unit will be important to the success of QB Kyle Boller and should open holes for RB Jamal Lewis. Ravens right offensive tackle Orlando Brown is still not at full strength due to knee problems. The team hopes Brown can team with rookie Adam Terry at right tackle.

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AFC SOUTH

Indianapolis Colts
14 Sacks Allowed (Tie-1st)
4.3 Yards Per Carry (Tie-11th)

The original starting five – LT Tarik Glenn, LG Rick DeMulling, C Jeff Saturday, RG Jake Scott and RT Ryan Diem – started the first six games together, and then only one more thereafter. By season’s end, the Colts had started five different line combinations including two rookies – Jake Scott and Ryan Lilja – who started a combined 12 games. The Colts saw most consistency from the tackle position, where Glenn and Diem both played in all 16 games. One of the most underrated lines in the entire league, this unit seems invisible at times due to the immense talent of the team's skill position players. The 2005 version of the OL will look a lot like the 2004 version and should meet with similar success despite losing DeMulling.

Houston Texans
49 Sacks Allowed (26th)
3.9 Yards Per Carry (Tie-22nd)

The Texans line has allowed an unreal 161 sacks over the past three seasons. QB David Carr has been sacked more than any other NFL QB over the past few years and, needless to say, it’s not all his fault. Young LT Seth Wand took most of the heat for the line’s failure to protect Carr, yet the team has enough confidence in Wand’s development to stick with him in 2005, albeit with free agent signee Victor Riley (ex-Saints) looking over his shoulder. Todd Wades’ job at RT is seemingly secure, meaning Riley’s best chance to earn lots of time may be if Wand falters. RB Domanick Davis should continue his development into a premier featured back

Jacksonville Jaguars
32 Sacks Allowed (Tie-9th)
4.1 Yards Per Carry (Tie-17th)

Jacksonville’s offensive line did a good job of protecting the QB and paved the way for a respectable 4.1 yards per carry, but the Jaguars’ offense remained among the weakest in the league nonetheless. Key will be whether or not starting LT Mike Pearson (knee) returns to health to begin the season. Pearson, a second-round pick in 2002 is currently entering the final year of his contract, and he continues to be limited we're told. We hear the Jaguars are hopeful rookie second-round pick Khalif Barnes will emerge as the starter at left offensive tackle, and with his addition in the draft there is reason for optimism on a line that did little to distinguish itself last season.

Tennessee Titans
44 Sacks Allowed (Tie-23rd)
4.5 Yards Per Carry (Tie-4th)

The Titans needed to improve their line to protect brittle QB Steve McNair, so the selection of RT Michael Roos in the draft was a nice move. Starting tackle Fred Miller is now starting for Chicago, and the Titans didn’t waste any time looking for a replacement by drafting three offensive tackles in the first five rounds. The favorite to claim the job is second-round pick Roos (Eastern Washington), who is known as a great drive blocker in the run game. We like Rookie David Stewart a 6-6 317lb Mississippi State grad who has looked good in camp. This unit is youthful but does have a lot of potential.

AFC EAST

New England Patriots
26 Sacks Allowed (5th)
4.1 Yards Per Carry (Tie-17th)

The Patriots hope that what worked for them in the past works for them in 2005. Gone is Joe Andruzzi to Cleveland, but recent history shows that the Pats do a great job of patching together strong offensive lines. The loss of Andruzzi did prompt head coach Bill Belichick to draft a pair of guards, including Logan Mankins (Fresno State) in the first round and Nick Kaczur (Toledo) in the third round. With this new offensive line depth the Patriots have solidified things on their offensive line and Corey Dillon and Tom Brady should see productive fantasy stats this year. Mankins could emerge as a starter either at left guard replacing Andruzzi or at right tackle. New England should get another boost from the return of RT Tom Ashworth, whose 2004 season ended with a back injury after only six starts.

Buffalo Bills
38 Sacks Allowed (Tie-18th)
3.9 Yards Per Carry (Tie-22nd)

The Bills have one heck of a hole to fill with the departure of free agent Jonas Jennings to the 49ers. Frontrunner to inherit the position is Mike Gandy, who was cut by the Bears last November after starting five games at left guard. The Bills have several versatile athletes on their line, so coach Jim McNally should be able to mold a solid unit. Trey Teague, a former tackle himself, may also compete for that job, but it is likely that Teague will stay at center. It can only help that second-year QB J.P. Losman has something that former QB, Drew Bledsoe lacked: operable feet. Losman, who runs fast and throws long, should spice up the offense as long as he’s not knocked silly. In order to add depth, the Bills drafted C Ray Preston (Illinois) in the fourth round and G Justin Geisinger (Vanderbilt) in the sixth round.

Miami Dolphins
42 Sacks Allowed (Tie-29th)
3.5 Yards Per Carry (Tie-29th)

this unit has a lot to prove in both the run and pass aspects of the offense and will further diminish the limited value of QBs A.J. Feeley and Gus Frerotte. There’s a slim chance that the Dolphins OL could lurch into the realm of respectability this season, and that is the truth. Miami opened the 2004 campaign with five fresh faces on the line, and it showed in the stats. The Dolphins allowed 52 sacks and blocked the running game to a 3.5-yard average, both marks at or near that worst in the NFL. The same group is back together this year with the addition of T Stockar McDougle, a member of a line in Detroit that allowed only 48 sacks the past two years combined. Help is also on the way in the person of new offensive line coach Hudson Houck, architect of the great Dallas lines of the 90s.

New York Jets
52 Sacks Allowed (Tie-29th)
4.5 Yards Per Carry (Tie-4th)

This line won't be one of the league's elite, but it should do enough to allow Pennington and RB Curtis Martin to produce. The defection of RT Kareem McKenzie via free agency to the crosstown-rival Giants is a big blow absorbed somewhat by the promise shown by second-year T Adrian Jones. Jones, an athletic ex-college tight end who showed a lot of promise in 2004, has a slight edge over Marko Cavka to inherit the RT vacancy left by the departure of McKenzie. The rest of the line looks solid and includes up-and-coming G Brandon Moore, All-Pro C Kevin Mawae and veteran T Jason Fabini, who has started the team’s last 80 games.

Page 2 - NFC TEAMS >>

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Have a Great Week. Check out the Fantasy Football page for this weeks NFL fantasy player rankings, studs & duds, who's Hot and who's NOT, as well as the NFL fantasy football waiver wire. Try out our NFL Sportsbooks in the Review, and good luck with your fantasy football drafts this year. Dave B. Email Me.

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