Fantasy Football Top Picks-May Top 10 NFL Offensive Lines

May 2010 Top Fantasy Football Picks-The 10 NFL Offensive Lines

While they may not be included in your fantasy draft, they are the main reason behind why your fantasy players perform so well. That’s right, it’s all about the offensive line. Taking a look at the O-line can give you an edge when trying to distinguish between similar players.

A good offensive line can mean the difference between 1,000 and 1,500 yards rushing or 2500 and 3500 yards passing. You also want an offensive line that is tough on the goal line.  Here are my fantasy football picks for the Top 10 Offensive Lines for 2010. Stay on top of my tips and updates at http://johnnynfl.com.

1.   New York Jets- It doesn’t get any better than C Nick Mangold and T D’Brickashaw Ferguson . G Brandon Moore and T Damien Woody are also two of the best at their positions, but losing G Alan Faneca will likely hurt a little. Only a little, though, because rookie Vlad Ducasse should take over and do a fine job. Faneca may be missed at times, but there is still not an offensive line that has as much talent at every position.

2.   New York Giants- C Shaun O’Hara, G Chris Snee,  and T’s David Diehl and Kareem McKenzie have been among the best in the business for more than half a decade. G Rich Seubert has also proven to be a valuable starter, and he could  be challenged by rookie Mitch Petrus. They also have William Beatty at T should anything happen to Diehl or McKenzie.  The Giants will go back to dominating the line of scrimmage once again in 2010.

3.    Minnesota Vikings- AdrIan Peterson is awesome, but having an offensive line that has G Steve Hutchinson and  T Bryant McKinnie sure does make things a little easier. 2nd year T Phil Loadholt is also good and getting better, and the same could be said about G Anthony Herrera.  He could be challenged by rookie Chris DeGeare, however. C John Sullivan still has some work to do though, and if he improves they could take over one of the top two spots.

4.    New Orleans Saints- G Jahri Evans and T Jonathon Stinchcomb have become two of the best offensive lineman in the league. C Jonathon Goodwin and G Carl Nicks have also proven to be solid starters and rookie Charles Brown will likely be an improvement at T as well. This is why the Super Bowl champions will likely be very good once again.

5.    Dallas Cowboys- C Andre Gurode may not be as dominant as he once was, but he is still one of the better centers in the league. G Leonard Davis is also one of the best in the league, and newly acquired ex-Ram Alex Barron is in his prime and will likely be one of the top tackles in the league. G Kyle Kosier and T Marc Colombo are also under-rated players who are very good starters, and rookie T Sam Young also has potential to become a very good player. The offensive lines in the NFC East are part of what have made them one of the most dominant divisions in football over the last 20 to 30 years.

6.    Baltimore Ravens- Matt Birk is one of the top 3 centers in the league, and G Ben Grubbs and T Michael Oher are among the best at their positions as well.  If Oniel Cousins or rookie Ramon Harewood start they will still be all right, but if they re-sign Jared Gaither they will be even better. G’s Chris Chester or David Hale need to prove that one of them can be a reliable starter and this line could move up in the rankings.

7.    Cleveland Browns- A surprising choice, but one that has potential. T Joe Thomas is one of the top 3 or 4 in the league at his position. 2nd year C Alex Mack has the potential to be one of the better centers in the league as well. G Eric Steinbach is a proven starter and rookie G Shaun Lauvao has the potential to be a good starter as well. If either Tony Pashos or John St. Clair can prove themselves at the other T, they can be a pretty solid unit.

8.   New England Patriots- Tom Brady completes passes because his offensive line doesn’t let him get touched very often. C Dan Koppen and T Matt Light are getting older, but are still two of the best at their position. G Stephen Neal and T Nick Kaczur are under-rated tough guys who are as good as almost any starter in the league. Rookie C Ted Larsen is a talent who will be groomed to take over Koppen’s place when he leaves, and T Sebastian Volmer  and rookie T Thomas Welch are also waiting in the wings. This is why the Patriots continue to be a threat to win their division every season.

9.   Miami Dolphins- Much like the NFC East, the AFC East has also been known for its defensive and offensive lines. The Dolphins have gone from one of the worst to one of the best in three years and should continue to improve. T Jake Long is one of the top 5 tackles in the NFL and is now surrounded by solid veterans. T Vernon Carey and G’s Justin Smiley and Donald Thomas are under-rated performers who have proven to be solid starters. C Jake Grove will get pressure from ex-Ram Richie Incognito for his starting job, and if one of them can play well for 16 games, this line could be very good.

10.    Kansas City Chiefs- This is one area that could help improve the whole Chiefs offense. C Casey Weigmann has been around for more than a decade and may not get as much respect as he deserves. G Brian Waters may no longer be one of the top 5, but he is still a very good starter. G Ryan Lilja from the Colts will also be an improvement, and T Brandon Albert is also a good starter. If T’s Ike Ndukwe, Ryan O’Callaghan, or Barry Richardson can prove to be a solid starter, this line may move up in the rankings.

Of course this list was based upon May roster. There were still some free agent lineman that can make a number of teams better. These lines could have a crucial impact on your fantasy stars, so we’ll keep you posted as things get closer to the season.  Get instant updates when you follow me at http://twitter.com/johnnynfl .