Consistency
Holding The Line: NFC North
Ron Rigney has a look at what players have changed his new team and what that means for his fantasy football consistency!.
The latest changes to the offensive line have had the greatest impact on NFL teams and fantasy football, and Ron Rigney highlights those changes in terms of the consistency of the weapons they protect.
5/12/2026 Edition*
AFC NORTH
Minnesota Vikings
Additions
Ryan Van Dermark, Free Agent
Caleb Tiernan, Round 3,Pick 97
Gavin Gerhardt, Round 7,Pick 235
Heading into 2025, this looked like one of the best offensive lines in the NFL, with maulers across the board. Life came at them fast, and when 2025 was all said and done, the starting combination played less than 100 snaps together due to injury.
The Vikes pass protection didn’t do any favors for an already shaking QB position. In 2025, they allowed 60 sacks and 106 QB pressures. Only three teams averaged fewer than the paltry 166.7 passing yards per game than the Vikings. Minnesota also finished near the bottom of the league in passing touchdowns and passer rating. The entire passing attack was a hot mess, due both to a lack of offensive line continuity and depth and to sloppy QB play.
The run game didn’t fare much better, either, given the 26 offensive line combos used. The rushing attack was led by Jordan Mason with 758 yards on the ground. Minnesota ran the ball a bit more effectively than they threw it, but they were still in the lower third of the league on most rushing stats.
Heading into 2026, the name of the game is health. This is another unit that is poised for a bounce-back if they can stay healthy. The addition of Van Dermark will add depth at both tackle spots. Tiernan has a chance to play significant time at guard, while Gerhardt should be in the mix for the starting center spot with the retirement of Ryan Kelly. The QB spot should be better with Kyler Murray, and the team just signed former 49er wideout Jauan Jennings, so there should be tons of weapons for whoever the starter is. On paper, this is another Top -10 unit in the league, and should lead to consistency from the names you’re used to drafting on this offense.
More Big Guy Fantasy Football
Chicago Bears
Additions
Braxton Jones, Free Agent
Jedrick Wills Jr. , Free Agent
Logan Jones, Round 2,Pick 57
The Bears made the offensive line a priority heading into 2025, and the result was one of the top units in the league in both pass protection and rushing. This allowed then second year QB Caleb Williams to make significant strides in his development. Combine this with one of the best overall rushing attacks in the league, and it’s easy to see why Chicago made it as far as they did.
The Bears’ pass protection took a huge step forward in 2025, cutting their sacks allowed total from 68 to 24. According to PFF.com the offensive line in Chicago posted an 87.7% pass blocking efficiency grade, which was one of the highest in the league. Despite the strong play, the LT spot was a bit suspect and is vital to the success of their young QB. Look for Caleb Williams to be well-protected once again in 2026.
The Bears’ rushing attack was one of the league’s best, averaging 144.5 yards per game, good for third in the entire league. The interior line was the strength, but RT Darnell Wright excelled in run blocking and established himself as one of the best at his position. With D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai back behind the same solid offensive line, you can draft Chicago RBs with confidence and can expect consistency.
This should continue to be one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL and should build off their 441 points scored in 2025. The additions of Jones and Wills Jr. will add to the depth at LT and will make up for the loss of Ozzy Trapilo, who is expected to miss the season due to a torn patellar tendon. Logan Jones is the center of the future, and shouldn’t need to be called upon this season, but should be able to handle it if he finds himself in the lineup. Despite the questions at LT, the remaining four spots along the line are as good as you can find anywhere and will continue to be that good in 2026. There is a lot to like from a consistency standpoint in Chicago heading into 2026.
Detroit Lions
Additions
Cade Mays, Free Agent
Larry Borom, Free Agent
Ben Bartch, Free Agent
Blake Miller, Round 1, Pick 17
When an offensive line that is part of a Dan Campbell-coached team, you can bet that it becomes the focus of the offseason. After having one of the top O-lines in the league, the Lions ended the season ranked in the middle of the pack of most offensive line metrics. Penei Sewell continued his domination at RT and was the bright spot on an offensive line that struggled to replace the retired Frank Ragnow and find its identity.
In terms of overall pass blocking grade, the Lions finished 23rd according to PFF.com. The interior of the line struggled as they looked to find continuity that never came. The team didn’t give up a ton of sacks, and Jared Goff posted similar numbers to 2024, and was his same inconsistent self, but the team just seemed flat and unable to play with that edge that Dan Campbell teams are known for.
Run blocking was still the strength of the Lions’ O-line, and despite regressing from 2024, it still finished in the top third in PFF.com run blocking grade. Again, the interior of the line was an issue in moving people off the football, and the line had seven games under 100 yards rushing as a team, a sharp increase from the one game under the century mark in 2024.
Detroit did as much as anyone to address this need, as Dan Campbell’s teams want to pound the rock. Cade Mays was brought in to start at center, as the team was never able to compensate for the loss of Frank Ragnow. Ben Bartch and Larry Borom will provide depth at tackle and guard, respectively. In the first round of the draft, Detroit took Clemson RT Blake Miller, who should step in and start, allowing Sewell to finally move to LT. Miller should be the starter from day one, and he is a textbook Dan Campbell guy. I fully expect this offensive line to get back to being one of the top units in the league. Expect consistency from the usual suspects on this offense.
Green Bay Packers
Additions
Jager Burton, Round 5, Pick 153
The M.O. for the Packers’ 2025 offensive line is a very familiar one. Injuries and a lack of depth led to inconsistency, affecting the team’s overall performance. Injuries to guard Zach Tom and center Elgton Jenkins caused the team to scramble to replace their production, and the Pack simply never found that consistency.
According to PFF.com, the Packers’ pass-blocking unit was among the worst in the NFL, ranking just 26th in efficiency rating. It wasn’t just the backups who underperformed, as the interior starters ranked low in just about every PFF.com pass blocking metric as well. Despite this, Green Bay allowed the fifth fewest sacks in the league with 29. The low sack total speaks to both the offensive scheme, which relied on the run, and short, quick passes to take pressure off the O-line. Jordan Love’s ability to dodge pressure and extend plays also helped make up for the subpar line play.
The Packers’ run game remained in the bottom third in the league for a fifth straight year in most categories and made things tough for Josh Jacobs, despite posting an 80% clutch rating. Jacobs was solid most weeks in fantasy, but it was no thanks to his line. Luke Musgrave was called upon as a blocker in the Packers run game frequently, hurting his fantasy chances after the injury to Tucker Kraft.
The focus this off-season was on the defensive side of the ball, with little new blood being brought in on the offensive line. The only new addition was Kentucky C Jager Burton, who will slot in behind the re-signed Sean Rhyan and should be the center of the future, but also provides interior depth now. For Green Bay, it will be the same faces along the offensive line in 2026, but can they stay healthy? Is there enough depth?
Thank you for stopping by! You can find and follow this article’s author, Ron Rigney, and more of his great NFL content on the X!
L – New Places / Old Consistent Faces” width=”970″ height=”90″ />Consistent Faces
