Fantasy Football: Week 5 OL/DL matchups to target and avoid

• Another strong week ahead for James Conner: He draws one of the best matchups for running backs this week against the Cincinnati Bengals.

• Riding the Romeo Doubs momentum: Doubs has been a go-to target on clean dropbacks this year and even with Christian Watson back should still factor in heavily this week.

• 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: 8 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 5.

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

Offensive line matchups to target

Houston Texans @ Atlanta Falcons

• The Texans offensive line has allowed a 24.9% pressure rate so far this season, which ranks 13th in the league.
• Houston’s offensive line also ranks 11th in pass-blocking efficiency (86.4), which weights the severity of pressures allowed (sacks, hits, hurries).
• The Falcons defensive line ranks just 25th in pass-rush grade this season.
• Atlanta’s defensive line also ranks 26th in sack conversion rate so far this year.
• Atlanta’s defensive line is tied for the fourth-slowest time to pressure (2.63) in the league.

Key player(s) to target

QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans 

• Stroud has been a great early-season streaming option at the quarterback position, partly due to the volume of passing plays that the Texans have run but with help from some positive matchups as well.
• Stroud has done a significant amount of his damage from a clean pocket so far this season, earning an 88.5 passing grade (fifth) when he isn’t pressured.
• Stroud has also thrown all six of his passing touchdowns from a clean pocket, which includes three big-time-throws and no turnover-worthy-plays or interceptions.
• He should continue to have a lot of clean dropbacks in this game, providing him another strong week of fantasy potential.
• Stroud’s passing touchdown prop is currently set at 1.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.