Fantasy Football: Week 8 OL/DL matchups to target and avoid

• Stroud has been great when kept clean: Going against a Carolina Panthers defensive line that struggles to generate pressure, Stroud should be in for a good day.

• Another difficult matchup for Joe Burrow: Burrow’s passing totals when under pressure are some of the lowest in the entire league.

• 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 8.

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

Offensive line matchups to target

Houston Texans @ Carolina Panthers

• The Texans offensive line has allowed a 23.5% pressure rate this season — the seventh-best mark in the league.
• The Texans offensive line has also earned the seventh-best pass-blocking efficiency score (87.2) this season.
• The Panthers defensive line has earned a 68.6 pass-rush grade this season, which ranks tied for 20th.
• The Panthers defensive line has generated a 27.7% pressure rate this season —31st in the league.

Key player(s) to target

QB C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans

• Stroud has earned an 86.9 passing grade from a clean pocket this season, which is the eighth-best mark in the league.
• Stroud has also thrown all nine of his touchdown passes from a clean pocket — the third-most in the league.
• Stroud has also had a 1.2% turnover-worthy-play rate when kept clean this season — the fourth-best mark in the league.
• Stroud’s passing yards prop is currently set at 241.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook, which he has failed to hit only once in six games this season.

Baltimore Ravens @ Arizona Cardinals