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UPGRADES

Kansas City up 22

Friday Update: Mitchell Schwartz (back) did not practice on Thursday and is unlikely to play this weekend. This line is 15th without him, but expect a return to the top 5 (the 22 slot upgrade) when he does in fact return to health.

Maybe it's the poker books I've been reading of late, but there's a great deal of variance to this Kansas City offensive line situation. First, let's explore the downside: left tackle Eric Fisher, right tackle Mitchell Schwartz and backup Martinas Rankin were added to the COVID Close Contact list and are currently not practicing with their team. Should these players test positive, it would be a shaky lineup on Sunday Night Football against Las Vegas, featuring players like undrafted free agent Yasir Durant and Mike Remmers at tackle, with Bryan Witzmann in a swing role. That's a bad outcome (and the entire LVR defense is in a similar spot). But if we assume the players on the contact list test clean and are available, the line should be Fisher - Nick Allegretti - Austin Reiter - Andrew Wylie - Mike Remmers. This upgrade takes into account the future return of Schwartz and also due in part to the return of Austin Reiter who started at center for Daniel Kilgore prior to the Week 9 bye.

Las Vegas up 9

Left tackle Kolton Miller (ankle) returned to practice this week and is expected to be ready for the divisional game against Las Vegas on Sunday Night Football. Brandon Parker has been stellar in relief for Miller over the last two games, and he could factor into the right tackle conversation this week. Sam Young (still starting for Trent Brown) was forced from the end of last week's win over Denver and is fighting through a leg injury. Brown (still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list) is likely to be cleared to workout this week and could return to game action in Week 12. The same cannot be said of Richie Incognito, who suffered a setback in his rehab from an Achilles tendon injury and has no timetable for return. With Miller's return, this is an above-average line with the upside to be elite down the stretch.

LA Chargers up 15

Right tackle Bryan Bulaga and right guard Trai Turner both returned to health in time to start Week 10 against Miami. Bulaga played 100% of snaps while Trai Turner managed about 75%. This week Turner apologized to teammates after a crucial personal foul penalty he incurred during the fourth quarter of the close loss. Business as usual for Turner, who finally forms the power duo with Bulaga the coaches wanted this offseason. With the return of their veterans, the Chargers' line climbs out of the cellar of the rankings. They have a favorable match-up this weekend against the New York Jets' defensive front.

Chicago up 6

This is a begrudging upgrade. Technically, center Cody Whitehair returned to start Monday Night Football against Minnesota. However, Whitehair did not look like his normal self, and the line could not protect quarterback Nick Foles. Physical right tackle Rashaad Coward also made crucial errors in pass protection. The team could get Bobby Massie (knee) back at some point. Perhaps this is giving Whitehair too much of the benefit of the doubt but this lower tier line moves slightly higher headed into their bye week.

DOWNGRADES

Washington down 7

Cornelius Lucas suffered an ankle sprain last week against Detroit and the team turned to right tackle Morgan Moses to swap to left tackle. Moses played well and can be expected to do it again this week against Cincinnati. It's the right tackle position which is a problem. With Geron Christian added to the injured reserve with a knee injury after missing the last three games, David Sharpe saw his first time of 2020. Sharpe struggled against the Lions, but unfortunately for the Football Team, they are running out of healthy tackle options.

LA Rams down 19

Former Pro-Bowl left tackle Andrew Whitworth was carted off last week against Seattle. The team placed Whitworth on injured reserve this week with a severe knee injury, and at 38-years-old, his career may be in doubt. Joe Noteboom replaced Whitworth last week. Over the last two months of the season, the former third-round pick out of TCU will get every opportunity to win the job long term. While this might be good for the long-term vision of the team, in the near term it is fair to expect this line to struggle without their best player.

Seattle down 3

Center Ethan Pocic missed last week with a concussion and doesn't look like he will be able to clear the league's protocol before Thursday Night Football against Arizona. Journeyman Kyle Fuller (former seventh-round pick from Baylor on his fourth NFL team) played 100% of last week's center snaps despite having a high ankle sprain. The coaches probably wish they didn't trade B.J. Finney to Cincinnati, as they will be forced to use Fuller again, for lack of other options. At left guard, veteran Mike Iupati has returned to health and should start over Jordan Simmons, who is nursing a calf injury. This line is solid but the issues at the center position are of concern.

Detroit down 3

Right guard Halapoulivaati Vaitai (foot) missed the game against Washington, and veteran Oday Aboushi replaced him. Vaitai has been struggling with a foot issue all season, playing through it, and at this point, it's fair to downgrade his overall grade based on the chronic nature of his injury. With Joe Dahl still unavailable (back), the team lacks better options. Expect Vaitai to start but not necessarily finish this weekend at Carolina.

Miami down 2

The shuffle continues in Miami, as Jesse Davis moved (again) from right guard to right tackle. The move gives fourth-round rookie Solomon Kindley his right guard back but puts the promising second-round rookie Robert Hunt to limited snaps in extra tight end roles. While this was the team's opening day lineup, without Hunt, the shuffle appears to be a downgrade in overall talent level. In other news, center Ted Karras had two errant snaps last week. No change to his grade but it could be something watch going forward.

Tennessee down 3

During last week's Thursday Night Football loss against Indianapolis, center Ben Jones injured his knee and was replaced by Aaron Brewer. Left guard Rodger Saffold rolled his ankle and gave way to Jamil Douglas. Neither are practicing this week but given ten days to recover before Baltimore, the starters should be ready to play. Right tackle Dennis Kelly (knee) missed nine snaps last week and was replaced by David Quessenberry. Kelly returned to the game and has been limited in practice. All of these players are still included in the rankings, but this line has to be downgraded due to the sheer number of injuries of late. Without their best player in Taylor Lewan, this once highly ranked group falls to the bottom of the rankings.

OTHER NEWS

ARZ - With Justin Murray out (hand), veteran J.R. Sweezy reclaimed his right guard spot last week against Buffalo.

BAL - D.J. Fluker started at right tackle Sunday night, but he was replaced by Patrick Mekari, who moved over from right guard. Ben Powers came off the bench to finish at right guard.

BUF - Ike Boettger started 100% of snaps for Cody Ford last week against ARZ. Center Jon Feliciano played for Mitch Morse (concussion). The team is on their bye week

CAR - Trent Scott and Dennis Daley split LT reps for Okung 60/40 vs TBB. Okung (calf) is limited in practice but expected to miss his 6th game of the season.

CIN - Hakeem Adeniji started last week at LT and Quinton Spain started at RT. Jonah Williams was a late scratch (stinger) last Sunday but both he and Bobby Hart should return this week. Still in ranks.

DAL - Center Tyler Biadasz (hamstring) did not practice on Weds, but he is still included in the ranks for this weekend's game at MIN.

DEN - Calvin Anderson got his first career start playing right tackle against LVR with Elijah Wilkinson unavailable. A natural left tackle Anderson was abused in pass protection. Look for Demar Dotson (back/hand) to start this week vs. MIA.

HOU - LT Laremy Tunsil has missed practice with a non-Covid Illness. Tunsil is still in the ranks but his condition should be monitored pre-game.

MIN - RG Ezra Cleveland has missed practice this week with an ankle injury. Cleveland did play 100% of snaps last week and should be good for the game vs DAL.

NYJ - LT Mekhi Becton was a full participation in practice (chest) and should be ready for this week at LA Chargers. Also, the team signed oft-injured guard/center Pat Elflein. Five other teams put in claims for the former Ohio State Buckeye.

NYG - RG Kevin Zeitler was forced from the Eagles game with a concussion. G Will Hernandez played last 12 snaps in his place. The Giants also fired offensive line coach Marc Columbo and promoted Dave DeGuigliamo. The team is on their bye week.

PHI - After Sua Opeta started at LG and Matt Pryor started at RG last week, expect Nate Herbig and Isaac Suemalo to return this week at Cleveland. It's not an upgrade as the Eagles' line already grade in the top-3.

SFO - The team moved Daniel Brunskill to center, stabilizing that position. However, right guard is now a problem, with Tom Compton and Colton McKivtiz splitting reps, and neither able to hold up last week against NOS. The team is on their bye week.

FULL RANKINGS