The fantasy football world has lagged behind when it comes to effectively measuring the impact blocking has on fantasy production, so last year I devised a grading system that uses multiple advanced metrics to project how blocking matchups will impact fantasy football performance in the upcoming week's contests. (The details of the system can be found here.)
The entire list of the Week 5 overall matchup grades are posted below, along with a detailed look at how those blocking grades could impact certain start-sit decisions this week.
Most favorable Week 5 fantasy blocking matchups
Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Oakland Raiders)
Outside of Melvin Gordon and Philip Rivers, most of the Chargers players have been inconsistent fantasy prospects with high ceilings when things go their way.
This matchup leans heavily towards one of those high ceiling outings. The Chargers rank seventh in my run blocking grades due in part to rating sixth in my good blocking rate (GBR) metric that measures how often a team's blockers provide quality blocking to the club's ball carriers (48.4 percent). They are equally strong in my pass blocking grades, as their No. 6 ranking in that category partially stems from the Chargers placing ninth in pass pressure rate (PPR) allowed (24.7 percent).
Those blocking strong suits should generate maximum value against a Raiders defense that has "F" grades in pass rushing and overall front seven grades and was only a couple of percentage points away from receiving an "F" grade in rush defense.
This overwhelming mismatch could propel Gordon to 25-30 points, vault Rivers into the 20-plus point category, make Keenan Allen a low-tier WR1 and turn Austin Ekeler and Mike Williams into high upside flex candidates.
Los Angeles Rams (at Seattle Seahawks)
Since this game is in Seattle and the Seahawks rank in the top 12 in fantasy points allowed per game to quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends, some fantasy managers may have a bit of hesitation in placing Rams players into their starting lineups.
Any trepidation should be obliterated by the powerhouse Rams offensive line that grades out as the best in the league for a wide variety of reasons. This group ranks first in quarterback contact rate (QCR, 5.9 percent) and average time allowed in pocket (TIP, 2.5 seconds) while ranking third in PPR (21.1). They also provide Todd Gurley II with some of the most consistent run blocking to be found, ranking second in GBR (50.9).
The Seahawks' defense hasn't fared well in GBR (47.9 percent, ranked 24th) and their inconsistent pass rush metrics place them 18th in my pass rushing grades. Their fantasy points allowed totals are also skewed in their favor in part due to facing the limited Dallas and Arizona offenses during the past two weeks.
This isn't a time to overthink the situation. Gurley, Jared Goff, Cooper Kupp, Brandin Cooks and Robert Woods all posted 20-plus points last week in ESPN standard scoring leagues and they could all repeat that feat in this matchup, so be sure to get them into as many starting lineups as possible.
Jacksonville Jaguars (at Kansas City Chiefs)
The Jaguars don't have as many impact fantasy prospects as the Rams, but Jacksonville did show what type of upside its offense has last week when they had four players post 20-plus fantasy points.
If they were able to do that against a mediocre Jets defense, one can only imagine how elevated the fantasy point ceiling is against a Chiefs defense that might be the worst in the NFL. Kansas City's rush defense is a sieve, placing last in yards per carry before first defensive contact (YBCT, 4.1) and 31st in my good blocking productivity (GBP) metric that measures overall rush defense prowess (4.3).
Jacksonville's running back injuries haven't prevented this team from ranking seventh in GBP (3.8). The Jaguars blocking wall also does a fine job of giving Blake Bortles time to throw, as they rate sixth in TIP (2.4).
The Jaguars will likely employ a slow-the-game-down game plan that might place a relatively low fantasy point ceiling on their players, but this extreme blocking edge makes T.J. Yeldon a high percentage play to score 15 or more points (assuming Leonard Fournette is not able to return from his hamstring injury in time to play in this contest), puts Bortles into the QB2 tier for two-quarterback leagues and gives Dede Westbrook and Donte Moncrief very good odds of scoring 15 or more points.
Least favorable Week 5 fantasy blocking matchups
Minnesota Vikings (at Philadelphia Eagles)
As noted in my Week 4 fantasy blocking review article, the Vikings have posted some of the worst run blocking metrics in the 2018 season. They rate last in GBP (2.0), next to last in YBCT (1.5) and their running backs have tallied only 38 combined rushing yards over the past two games.
They couldn't ask for a more unfavorable rush defense matchup, as the Eagles rank first in YBCT (1.2), fourth in GBP (2.5), fifth in GBR (36.5) and have allowed a league-low 160 rushing yards to opponents' running backs.
This is by far the most unfavorable blocking matchup to be found on the Week 5 board, so it is definitely a time to keep Dalvin Cook or Latavius Murray on the bench.
Seattle Seahawks (vs. Los Angeles Rams)
The Seahawks deserve more than bit of credit for their run blocking performance against Arizona last week, as they posted season high marks in GBR (50 percent) and GBP (4.3) against the Cardinals.
That newfound run blocking prowess could keep Chris Carson or Mike Davis in the starting running back or flex candidate conversation this week, but don't let that mask the tremendous pass blocking mismatch to be found here. The Rams' defense ranks second in PPR (36.1) and fourth in TIP (2.1) and faces a Seattle pass-blocking unit that places 31st in both PPR (38.8) and sack rate allowed (11.5)
The intense pass rush pressure and a lack of rushing yard production are two reasons why Russell Wilson rates 25th in quarterback fantasy points during the past three weeks. It is possible that the Rams' offense will get out to a huge lead that requires Wilson to throw early and often in an effort to keep up, but it is equally likely that this pass blocking disadvantage will hamstring the Seahawks' passing offense as it has done for most of this season. Wilson is a possible start option as a QB2 in two-quarterback leagues, but he should not be considered a starting-caliber quarterback in most league formats in Week 5.