Fantasy Football: Week 12 OL/DL matchups to target and avoid

• A good matchup to trust Matthew Stafford: The Rams offensive line has performed better recently, drawing a favorable matchup for one of the better quarterbacks from a clean pocket this season.

• A deeper option in Keaton Mitchell: Mitchell’s playing time has been on the rise and draws a great matchup to take advantage of against a poor Chargers run defense unit.

• Dominate your fantasy league in 2023: For up-to-date fantasy draft rankings and projections, check out PFF’s fantasy rankings tool!

Estimated reading time: 7 minutes

Whether you’re looking for some important tie-breakers in fantasy start/sit decisions or an advantage in DFS, knowing which players have the most and least beneficial matchups each week can help.

Understanding which teams have the advantage in the trenches can be a key to weekly fantasy football results. These are some of the more crucial matchups to be aware of as fantasy managers head into Week 12.

Click here to see this week’s entire offensive line/defensive line matchup tool on PFF.com.

Offensive line matchups to target

Los Angeles Rams @ Arizona Cardinals

• The Rams offensive line has not been great this season with just a 53.3 pass-blocking grade, but they have been better lately, earning a league-leading 82.8 pass-blocking grade since Week 9.
• This unit also had a strong outing last time they faced the Cardinals in Week 6, earning an 81.3 pass-blocking grade, which ranked as the fifth-best mark for the week.
• The Cardinals defensive line ranks just 26th as a team in pass-rush grade this season (64.8).
• Arizona’s defensive line has generated a 30.8% pressure rate which ranks 29th.

Key player(s) to target

QB Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams 

• Stafford has earned a 91.0 passing grade from a clean pocket, which ranks as the fifth-best mark among quarterbacks this season.
• Stafford is also throwing for 8.0 yards per attempt from a clean pocket — a top-10 mark among quarterbacks.
• Stafford’s 6.3% big-time-throw rate from a clean pocket ranks as the sixth-best mark among quarterbacks.

Las Vegas Raiders versus Kansas City Chiefs

• The Raiders offensive line has earned a 72.3 run-blocking on the year, which is the fifth-best mark on the year.
• The Raiders offensive line has generated 1.4 rushing yards before contact per attempt — a top-10 mark this season.
• The Chiefs defensive line has earned a 45.5 run defense grade, which ranks as the second-worst mark in the league this season.
• Kansas City has also allowed 1.6 rushing yards before contact per attempt, which is tied for the third-worst mark this season.

Key player(s) to target

RB Josh Jacobs, Las Vegas Raiders

• Jacobs is coming off one of his worst fantasy performances of the season in Week 11 but should be in for a nice bounce-back spot this week in a favorable matchup.
• On runs that generate at least one yard before contact, Jacobs has managed 662 rushing yards — the third-most among running backs.
• Jacobs has also been able to take advantage of favorable matchups in the trenches, as he leads the league in total rushing yards before contact when given at least one yard before contact (371).
• Jacobs’ current rushing total is set at 63.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Atlanta Falcons versus New Orleans Saints 

• The Falcons offensive line has allowed a pressure rate of just 23.0% this season, which ranks as the third-best mark.
• The Saints defensive line has been about league average in pass-rush grade (72.6) and pressure rate (31.4%) this season.
• The Falcons hold a 19% advantage according to the PFF OL/DL matchup tool, which is the fifth-best advantage of the week.

Key player(s) to target

TE Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons 

• Pitts has been difficult to trust all season long due to usage, but this is at least a favorable matchup on paper for him to deliver a startable fantasy performance.
• Pitts has earned the highest target rate on the Falcons when there is no pressure on the play with a 24.9% target rate.
• Pitts also leads the team (min. 25 routes run) in yards per route run (2.04) on non-pressured dropbacks.
• Pitts has also posted a 77.6 receiving grade on non-pressured dropbacks which leads the team.
• Pitts’ lone receiving touchdown this year came on a non-pressured dropback as well.

Baltimore Ravens @ Los Angeles Chargers

• Baltimore’s offensive line is generating 1.8 rushing yards before contact per attempt — the best mark in the league.
• Baltimore’s offensive has earned a 68.2 run-blocking grade, the ninth-best mark this season.
• The Chargers are giving up 1.3 rushing yards before contact per attempt, which ranks 22nd this season.
• The Chargers defensive line has managed a 58.1 run defense grade, which is just average this season (17th).

Key player(s) to target

RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens

• Mitchell stands out as a potential deeper league play this week because his role has been optimal in recent weeks, but it is trending in the right direction and for those on the fence about starting him this week, he could deliver a strong performance in a favorable matchup.
• Mitchell has earned 14.2 yards per carry when given at least one yard before contact per attempt this season, which is the best mark in the league (min. 10 carries).
• Mitchell has also earned a 93.8 rushing grade when given at least one rushing yard before contact per attempt, the second-best mark this season.
• With Mitchell’s playing time steadily rising he should have a few more attempts to deliver those explosive runs, which he’s already delivered on 20% of his carries.
• Mitchell’s rushing prop is currently set at 42.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Offensive line matchups to avoid

New York Jets versus Miami Dolphins

• The Jets offensive line has allowed a 41.3% pressure rate, which is the second-worst mark this season.
• The Jets offensive line has also earned just a 49.7 pass-blocking grade — the fourth-worst mark this season.
• Miami’s defensive line has generated a 35.2% pressure rate, which ranks as the sixth-best mark this season.
• Miami’s defensive line has earned a 76.0 pass-rush grade, the eight-best mark this season.

Key player(s) to avoid

WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets

• The Jets are now onto their third-string quarterback in Tim Boyle this week, so the situation around Wilson just continues to get worse for potential fantasy production.
• Wilson’s 64.1 receiving grade on pressured dropbacks ranks just 40th at his position (min. 100 routes run).
• Wilson’s 0.94 yards per route run on pressured dropbacks ranks just 36th among the same qualifying wide receivers.
• Wilson’s receiving yards total is currently set at 54.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.

Cincinnati Bengals versus Pittsburgh Steelers

• The Bengals offensive line has generated just 1.0 yards before contact per rush attempt, which ranks tied for 29th this season.
• The Steelers defensive line has earned a league-leading 69.8 run defense grade this season.
• Pittsburgh has also allowed just 1.1 rushing yards before contact per attempt which is tied for 12th best this season.

Key player(s) to avoid

RB Joe Mixon, Cincinnati Bengals

• The Bengals offense is already expected to be less efficient without Joe Burrow at quarterback, and that could translate into their rushing offense as well in a less-than-favorable matchup.
• Mixon is managing 2.4 rushing yards per attempt when contact two or fewer yards from the line of scrimmage, which ranks tied for 33rd among qualifying running backs.
• Mixon also ranks just 39th in yards after contact per attempt (2.4) when contact two or fewer yards from the line of scrimmage.
• Mixon’s 51.6 rushing grade when contacted two or fewer yards from the line of scrimmage ranks 49th among 66 qualifying running backs.

Denver Broncos versus Cleveland Browns

• The Broncos offensive line has done a decent job dealing with opposing pass rushers this season but faces a much tougher task against the Browns this week.
• Denver’s offensive line has allowed a 25.0% pressure rate this season, the 12th-best mark in the league.
• The Browns defensive line has earned a 91.1 pass-rush grade, which is tied for the best mark in the league.
• Cleveland’s defensive line has generated a 38.6% pressure rate, the third-best mark this season.

Key player(s) to avoid

WR Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos

• Jeudy has earned just a 10.7% target rate on pressured dropbacks, which ranks tied for 70th among wide receivers (min. 50 routes run).
• Jeudy’s 1.19 yards per route run on pressured dropbacks is tied for 44th among the same qualifying wide receivers.
• Jeudy’s 69.8 receiving grade on pressured dropbacks ranks tied for 44th as well among qualifying wide receivers.

Los Angeles Chargers versus Baltimore Ravens

• The Chargers offensive line has earned just a 55.2 run-blocking grade which ranks 28th this season.
• The Chargers offensive line is also tied for 26th in generating rushing yards before contact per attempt (1.0).
• The Ravens defensive line has earned a 68.4 run defense grade which ranks as the third best mark this season.
• Baltimore is also above average in limiting rushing yards before contact per attempt (13th).

Key player(s) to avoid

RB Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

• This one is for Ekeler’s rushing prop which is currently set at 48.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook – a number that Ekeler has exceeded just three times this season.
• Ekeler has earned a 44.0 rushing grade when contacted two or fewer yards from the line of scrimmage which ranks 64th among 66 qualifying running backs.
• Ekeler has also generated just two explosive runs when contacted two or fewer yards from the line of scrimmage.
• Ekeler has managed a first down or touchdown on just 12.0% of rushing plays when contact two or fewer yards from the line of scrimmage which ranks 41st among qualifying running backs.