Does Joe Alt’s Return Make Justin Herbert a Top Fantasy Option? Offensive Lines and Their Fantasy Impact, Week 9

Thomas Emerick
October 30, 2025

The tip of the Chargers’ spear had been dulled without both Joe Alt and Rashawn Slater. Passing efficiency had slowed in late September and October for a unit that produced bona fide fantasy starters through the league’s first month in Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, and Quentin Johnston.

Slater is done for 2025, but Alt’s return last Thursday generates a sustainable second wind for a Bolts offense now helping Oronde Gadsden II and Ladd McConkey get across the finish line on projections. In the four games where Alt played more than 10 snaps, the Chargers’ EPA per pass play of 0.31 would rank third in the league for a full season. In the four other games without Alt anchoring that unit, their EPA/pass of -0.1, if spanned across a full season, would rank fourth-worst in the NFL.

Herbert remains the league’s most pressured quarterback, but the rate of pressure attributed to Herbert nearly doubles when Alt is out. Los Angeles is staring down a chasm on their tackle depth chart right now due to injuries, and Alt’s sophomore season has further confirmed he’s in the mix with the league’s best tackles. Hopefully that Chargers injury luck doesn’t hit Alt again this season.

Below we’ll explore other areas where teams are gaining offensive line continuity and, conversely, experiencing disruptions up front.

Who’s losing and returning fixtures on the starting OL?

Three teams gained continuity and five teams lost it up front in Week 8.

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Thomas Emerick

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James Cook’s Rushing Title Runs Through the League’s Only Stable Blocking Unit: Offensive Lines and Their Fantasy Impacts, Week 17

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Last week featured almost entirely bad news on the injury front, particularly in the offensive trenches. The Bills were the only team in the league during Week 16 with five OL starters in the lineup who’ve played together since last season and qualify as incumbents. This continuity has catalyzed James Cook’s rushing title campaign, along with him just being an awesome running back. Disruptions to…...

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Maybe Quinshon Judkins Isn’t the Real Problem in Cleveland: Offensive Lines and Their Fantasy Impacts, Week 16

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Several offensive lines got blitzed with injuries last week and managed varying levels of success with plugging the leak. Meanwhile, Buffalo had the welcome return of RT Spencer Brown to max out their continuity with five year-over-year starters rolling in late December. This catalyzed the rally down 21 in snowy Foxborough: only two combined pressures came from the offensive tackle position, bookended by Brown (one hurry,…...