For the elite fantasy players, the quality of an offensive line is rarely an issue. RB LaDainian Tomlinson has been a top fantasy back for his entire career and has never had a line that anyone would consider more than merely effective. Rather, the impact of an offensive line is felt by the players who are not gifted with the other-worldly ability, in that a good line can make a decent player become a fantasy stud. RB Thomas Jones is a perfect example. Jones arrived in Chicago having been forgotten by the NFL. He was a former super prospect who had fallen off the face of the earth in an offensive wasteland called Arizona. As a Bear last season, however, Jones became an every-week fantasy starter, largely because of Chicago's excellent offensive line (ranked #5 on this list). If he had stayed in Arizona, Jones would still be making a home on the waiver wire.

That said, don't let these rankings affect your judgment of a player like RB Edgerrin James; he's going to produce regardless of the Cardinals' ranking on this list. Instead, re-consider RB Chester Taylor and move him up a few spots on your draftboard because running behind LG Steve Hutchinson is going to make a big difference.

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1. CINCINNATI
The Bengals own the consensus top offensive line unit heading into 2006. They allowed only 21 sacks last season, second fewest in the NFL. Willie Anderson at RT has been to the Pro-Bowl each of the last three seasons. Eric Steinbach, who will be entering just his fourth season, is developing into one of the premier guards in the game. Levi Jones, the young LT, is better than Anderson but has yet to be recognized in the Pro-Bowl. He will be soon enough. This is a coordinated line that has played together for several seasons and is consistent at both run and pass blocking.

2. KANSAS CITY
Featuring two of the very best players at their respective positions, the Chiefs offensive line doesn't care who is running behind it. LT Willie Roaf has been to the Pro Bowl 11 times; RG Will Shields has played in it 10 times. Though neither of them are as quick anymore in pass-protection, they are still dominant run blockers who can carry any offensive line. Another Pro-Bowler, LG Brian Waters, anchors the left side of the line with Roaf. C Casey Wiegmann is an outstanding unit leader. Despite their age, there really is no reason to doubt this line which is as cohesive a unit as there is in the game. If not for the talented youth of the Bengals' unit, Kansas City would top this list.

3. PITTSBURGH
This Super Bowl champion unit gets the nod here. The Steelers live and die by the run, and this group is responsible for the Steeler's success the past few seasons. LG Alan Faneca is the best guard in football, no question. His combination of speed and power is unmatched, allowing him to annihilate a defensive lineman before flattening an unfortunate linebacker or safety. Pro-Bowl C Jeff Hartings is also among the best at his position. The rest of the line is young and promising. LT Marvel Smith and RG Kendall Simmons are just realizing their ability. RT Max Starks is a colossal bulldozer. The unit is much better at run-blocking but is a very solid pass-blocking team as well.

4. DENVER
No big surprise to see this group here. Year in and year out, this is one of the best offensive lines in football, proving that an offensive line is the building block for any successful offense. They allowed just 22 sacks last season (the mobility of QB Jake Plummer was certainly a factor), but more impressively, they are largely responsible for Denver's superb 4.68 yards per rushing attempt last season. A big concern with this unit is age. If they were a little younger, they'd rank in the top two. Hall-of-Fame C Tom Nalen has been playing forever; those knees are going to give out eventually. LT Matt Lepsis is entering his second decade of play too. The rest of the line is young and talented but will need to step up this season to support their two graybeards.

5. CHICAGO
The Bears' line sneaks into the top five by virtue of their run-blocking skills and their leader, C Olin Kreutz, who has made five consecutive Pro-Bowls. Kreutz brings a nasty temperament to the position which inspires the rest of the unit to bring the same demeanor to every down. LT John Tait is a better run-blocker than pass-blocker, but he is a rock on the corner for the Bears. RT Fred Miller is a veteran of over 10 seasons and has shown grit throughout his career. He won many followers last season when he refused to sit out against Carolina with a severely broken jaw. Their 30 sacks allowed last season is reason for concern but can be attributed to the inexperience of then-starting QB Kyle Orton.

6. WASHINGTON
Noticing a trend yet? The Redskins' line anchors yet another run-dominant offense. They did a great job last season opening holes for RB Clinton Portis, and the 'Skins averaged 4.16 yards per rushing attempt as a team. LT Chris Samuels has never developed into one of the league's best tackles, but he is still very good and was selected to the Pro-Bowl last season. On the other side, RT Jon Jansen rebounded nicely last year from an injury that forced him to miss the entire 2004 season. C Casey Rabach started all 16 games last season, and you can be sure that the Ravens are kicking themselves for letting him go after 2004. The guards, buffered by the strength of Washington's tackles, are solid enough.

7. MINNESOTA
On paper, this is a great unit. The Vikings were aggressive in the off-season to improve what was one of the league's weakest lines. They traded with the Eagles for RG Artis Hicks who should start right away. The much-publicized addition of LG Steve Hutchinson was a gutsy move. Few believed that a guard could ever justify earning $50 million, but somehow Hutchinson did. He will anchor the interior and should help C Matt Birk as he returns from his surgery. Birk, a Harvard alumnus, is the key to this line. Former first-round pick LT Bryant McKinnie is finally beginning to justify his high selection after four seasons. If Birk can return at full strength and the youngsters on the right side take a step forward, this line could climb a couple of spots.

8. CAROLINA
Carolina is an excellent pass-blocking group. RT Jordan Gross is a very solid pass-blocker and will continue to develop into one of the league's better off-side tackles. C Jeff Mitchell is a very solid veteran in the middle of the line and brings a hard-nosed attitude every play. LG Mike Wahle, imported from Green Bay before last season, was a Pro-Bowler last season and is not yet 30. Overall, the unit desperately needs to improve its run blocking. They ranked 29th in the league last year by averaging only 3.45 yards per carry. Of course, 244 attempts by running backs not named Foster (including Stephen Davis and Nick Goings) didn't help anything.

9. ATLANTA
This unit average a league-best 4.79 yards per rushing attempt. Of course, QB Michael Vick and RB Warrick Dunn played a big role but credit the line for opening holes for the smallish Dunn. There are no big names across the unit, but they are young and well-coached. They have yet to decide between veteran LT Wayne Gandy and second-year LT Frank Omiyale. Expect Gandy, a very-good run-blocker, to begin the season. Omiyale will be ready eventually. With Vick at QB, it's hard to judge the unit as pass-blockers but credit them with the patience needed to deal with Vick's running tendencies.

10. SEATTLE
Yes, they loss LG Steve Hutchinson to Minnesota. Yes, they would be in the top 3 if they had retained him. And yes, they maintain top-10 status on the merits of LT Walter Jones alone. It is absolutely impossible to quantify the value of Jones. He is entirely dominant in every aspect at the position. He has far eclipsed Jonathan Ogden and Orlando Pace as the best left tackle in the NFL. Pro-Bowl C Robbie Tobeck is no slouch either. LG Floyd Womack, who has started in the past, will replace Hutchinson next to Jones. RT Tom Ashworth, who has started 30 games for the Patriots over the past 3 seasons, was a smart pick-up and will allow the Seahawks try other players at left guard if Womack doesn't work out.

11. NEW ENGLAND
It's hard to leave QB Tom Brady's "pocket of protection" out of the top 10. They are a smart, tough, versatile unit. They seem to be able to plug anyone into any hole and perform at a high level week-in and week-out. They aren't a particularly big group and struggle at times against more physical run defenses. LT Matt Light, who missed most of last season with a broken fibula, will return and should re-anchor a line that allowed far too many sacks last season. LG Logan Mankins, a first round pick in 2005, is being praised as the best young lineman in football and will get to prove it this season. Overall, it's hard to knock this group that battles adversity each season, and they'll likely be one of the top units again this season.

12. JACKSONVILLE
The Jaguars have an underrated line. They don't have any Pro-Bowlers, but they are relatively young and big. They have been able to bulldoze opposing defensive lines and have done a good job protecting QB Byron Leftwich. The unit will only get better with more experience. LT Khalif Barnes looks like he will be a very good anchor for a long time. The guards, RG Chris Naeole and LG Vincent Manuwai, are classic grinding guards. The team added several linemen for depth, including former top-5 pick RT Mike Williams from Buffalo; they hope that a change of scenery and responsibility will help Williams regain the dominance he once showed in college.

13. INDIANAPOLIS
The Colts' line has often been praised as one of the best and brightest in the NFL. The unit allowed just 17 sacks last season. In theory, this unit should rank in the top-10. Unfortunately, they were exposed in the playoffs against the Steelers blitzing defense, and QB Peyton Manning publicly embarrassed them after the game for their failure. With that in mind, it is yet to be seen how they will respond in the coming season. Their best players, Pro-Bowlers C Jeff Saturday and LT Tarik Glenn, are over 30. The group has never been a particularly strong run-blocking line and averaged only 3.66 yards per rushing attempt last season despite RB Edgerrin James.

14. NY GIANTS
The Giants' unit has often been criticized as soft, but they really showed their ability last season by leading a rushing attack that ranked third in the NFL in rushing yards per attempt. While they allowed 28 sacks, much of the blame can be laid on the struggles of QB Eli Manning's in his first season as a starter. The line is young but experienced and will only get better with more chemistry. LT Luke Petitgout, loved by some and hated by others, finally seems to be fulfilling expectations. RG Chris Snee is one of the best young linemen in football. Like the Colts, this line would rank higher, probably in the top-10, if not for a disastrous performance in the playoffs. The speed of the Panthers' defense exposed this unit as slow and unresponsive. They will need to be more prepared if they are to lead this offense to the playoffs again.

15. PHILADELPHIA
This offensive line has earned a reputation because of its tackles, RT Jon Runyan and LT Tra Thomas. Both are getting older, and both are overrated. Runyan has not been dominant since his first seasons in Philadelphia. Thomas has been a Pro-Bowler in the past, but he is slow and getting slower. RG Shawn Andrews, a former tackle, is a bulldozer but at nearly 350 lbs. lacks the speed of the elite guards. The team added depth and eventual starters through the draft. LG Max Jean-Gilles from Georgia could be a starter sooner rather than later, but RT Winston Justice from USC is several seasons away from producing effectively. The real bright spot on this line is C Hank Fraley, who missed half of last season with a severe shoulder injury. He is the keystone of the Eagles' line, and if he can return healthy, he'll provide a push in the middle that the team lacked without him in 2005.

16. CLEVELAND
The Browns did an excellent job improving their line through free agency this off-season. C LeCharles Bentley is a great player and will make an immediate impact in the trenches of the AFC North. He has played in the Pro-Bowl twice in just four seasons. The team also added LT Kevin Schaffer from Atlanta. He is entering his fifth season and is an upgrade over departed LT L.J. Shelton. Between those free agents, this unit might finally be able to compete against the AFC North's brutal defenses. Offensive lines generally take a couple of seasons to develop the chemistry needed to become dominant, but this unit definitely has the pieces in place to take those steps in coming years.

17. BALTIMORE
This is another offensive line, like Philadelphia's, that is living off reputation more than production. Yes, LT Jonathan Ogden is one of the greatest ever at the position. Yes, he has missed the Pro Bowl only in his rookie season. And yes, Ogden was so dominant in 2003 that he single-handedly paved the way for RB Jamal Lewis's 2000+ yard season. Unfortunately, Ogden's end is near, and he has publically considered retirement. With his decline, the rest of the line has suffered. LG Edwin Mulitalo, who relied heavily on Ogden's ability to clear several defensive players at once, has appeared lost, especially in pass protection. The right side of the line isn't much better and is a work-in-progress. Really, the fortune of this unit relies on Ogden, and if he continues to decline, the group will fall apart along with him.

18. ST. LOUIS
Yet another offensive line relying on the dominant skills of a left tackle. LT Orlando Pace has aged well and has remained largely injury-free throughout his career. He is still one of the best. RG Adam Timmerman is getting old as well, but he still provides valuable interior blocking. The Rams rely heavily on the pass-blocking of this group which struggled last season while starting two rookies for much of the season. RT Alex Barron and LG Claude Terrell should be more confident this year, and both have the talent to help reverse the Rams' fortune. LG Richie Incognito should also contend for Terrell's spot. The question mark: can the Rams dominate at the point of attack to help RB Steven Jackson establish a power running game?

19. DALLAS
A decade ago, the Cowboys' fielded the largest, and arguably best, offensive line in NFL history. LG Larry Allen became the face of the unit; RG Nate Newton became the mugshot. Thank you. I'll be here all week. But Allen is gone to San Francisco, and the Cowboys, who have playoff aspirations as usual, begin the process of re-building an offensive line. Coach Bill Parcells will push the group hard, and they are ready to respond. LT Flozell Adams is very solid, and the signing of RT Jason Fabini will help protect QB Drew 'The Living, Breathing, Passing, Statue' Bledsoe. The middle of the line is a bit suspect and may not be able to provide the running room that RB Julius Jones needs.

20. TAMPA BAY
This line is an underrated line that performed above expectations last season. Are they among the better units? Not yet, but they will be soon enough. This line is very, very young. The most experienced starter is C John Wade who is entering his 9th season. After him, RT Kenyatta Walker has completed 5 seasons. The rest are all younger and have at least a full-year's experience under their belts. LT Anthony Davis is expected to do big things this year. The key, however, is Walker, who defends the blind-side of left-handed QB Chris Simms. A notorious underachiever until last season, the former first-round pick must be able to dominate opposing defensive ends. If he can thwart the assault on Simms, the Buccaneers have a good chance to improve on their first-round playoff loss last season.

21. SAN DIEGO
It's easy to look good with RB LaDainian Tomlinson carrying the ball behind them, and the Chargers' line is nothing if not consistent. Consistently mediocre. Tomlinson does a great job creating his own space, but it's scary to think what he could do with one of the lines at the top of this list. C Nick Hardwick is a Pro-Bowler in the making, no question. They've struggled at the tackle positions with injury and inconsistency, so San Diego drafted LT Marcus McNeill out of Auburn. The impossibly enormous McNeill has appeared ready to start but with a history of injury and the return of LT Roman Oben, expect San Diego to take it slow with him until he is absolutely needed.

22. TENNESSEE
Since their Super Bowl appearance, the Titans' offensive line has slowly changed from one of the team's strengths to perhaps its greatest weakness. The deterioration culminated this season with the retirement of LT Brad Hopkins, a two-time Pro-Bowler who spent 13 seasons with the organization. RT Michael Roos, who started every game last season as a rookie, will replace Hopkins. He'll be ready. The big story here is the addition of C Kevin Mawae. For the first time in a decade, Mawae missed games. When healthy, he is a top center, one of the few in the NFL who can hold their own at the line of scrimmage without support from the guards. Coach Jeff Fisher will pray for a full recovery so that Mawae can solidify his unit.

23. MIAMI
The Dolphins made a lot of moves in the off-season, adding a lot of potential starters to an offense that seemed to be scratching the surface in 2005. With the emergence of RB Ronnie Brown and the acquisition of QB Daunte Culpepper, Miami's line must perform. LT L.J. Shelton was added through free agency; he'll be very solid but unspectacular. RT Vernon Carey has a full-season starting under his belt and has the ability to become a stand-out complement to Shelton. The guard spot is a bit of a question-mark, but C Seth McKinney is very capable. Ultimately, the performance of this line will make the difference between a Dolphins playoff run or another long off-season.

24. NEW ORLEANS
Aside from RG Jermane Mayberry, the Saints' feature one of the NFL's youngest lines. None of the other four projected starters have more than three years experience. C Jeff Faine, acquired from the Browns, is talented and will only get better. The losses of C LeCharles Bentley and LT Wayne Gandy are going to sting, especially Bentley's departure. He was one of the top interior linemen in football. Gandy was getting old, so the Saints' traded him to make room for LT Jammal Brown to move from the right. Brown was great as rookie last season and will be a dominator for years to come.

25. NY JETS
Salary cap problems forced the Jets to rid themselves of Hall-of-Fame C Kevin Mawae and RT Jason Fabini, leaving them with gaping holes at key positions. Fortunately, the Jets had two first-round draft picks and used them both on line prospect. But no matter what any draftnik says, fourth overall pick LT D'Brickashaw Ferguson is no Tony Boselli. He will not step right into the lineup and dominate. Rather, the Jets' other rookie who will hold his own immediately. Having played in the brutal Big Ten, C Nick Mangold will start immediately in place of the departed Mawae. He is a tough center with the mentality of a guard. The rest of the line is extremely suspect. If the two rookies develop fast, this line has a chance to give QB Chad Pennington the eternity he needs to throw the ball.

26. DETROIT
While it is difficult to label an offensive line ranking at #26 "underrated," there is a significant dropoff between the Lions' unit and the rest of this list. Detroit actually has three good linemen in RG Damien Woody, C Dominic Raiola, and LT Jeff Backus. The team retained Backus this off-season by giving him the franchise tag. Raiola, having come from the great rushing team at Nebraska, is small but quick and effective. Woody is a former center who is much more valuable at the guard position. The other two spots, however, are unsettled. The Lions' need to decide who is starting there soon; offensive line by committee has never proven positive in any aspiring offense.

27. ARIZONA
This line faced several obstacles in 2005 and still helped lead one of the NFL's top 10 offenses. They were forced to start rookie RG Elton Brown and lost C Alex Stepanovich for most of the season but still managed to finish as the top ranked passing offense in the NFL. Strangely, the team also finished dead last rushing offense and average which could be blamed on the injuries and the shortcomings of RBs Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington. Still, some of the fault lies with the line, and they absolutely must improve in that facet this season if they are to take advantage of the addition of Pro-Bowl RB Edgerrin James.

28. OAKLAND
There are many questions with this line regarding the eventual lineup, but it appears that they could be ready to make a big leap in 2006. New head coach Art Shell is a Hall-of-Fame lineman and will demand excellence from this group. It appears that former LT Barry Sims will move to the interior, allowing RT Robert Gallery to move to the left. Huge expectations have been put on the shoulders of Gallery who was supposed to dominate right out of college. That has not been the case, and Gallery must step up in his third year and overpower all opponents at his new position. Mammoth RT Langston Walker will likely slide into the spot vacated by Gallery's move. This line has a chance to do big things this season, and the Raiders will need them if they are going to improve on the three dismal seasons since 2002.

29. SAN FRANCISCO
The signing of former Cowboy LG Larry Allen was surprising to many. The 49ers will not be ready to compete for several seasons, and so many pundits believe that the money spent on Allen is money wasted. Allen is nearing the end of a Hall-of-Fame career, quickly. He is no longer anywhere near the force he has been in the past. The most reasonable explanation is that the 49ers believe he can mentor some of their younger linemen, such as RG Justin Smiley or RT Kwame Harris. This team isn't going anywhere this season or next, and so it's only right to label their line "developing."

30. BUFFALO
The Bills' unit could very easily contend for the worst in the league, and they did very little to improve the group in the off-season. They got rid of RT Mike Williams, who was tremendously disappointing in his stay with Buffalo. They added LG Tutan Reyes and C Melvin Fowler, but neither of them can even be considered better than average. As a group, the line has experience, but the problem is that they just aren't any good.

31. HOUSTON
This line has never been good. In fact, it's very possible that the Texans have fielded several of the worst lines in NFL history. QB David Carr has endured a never-ending assault every season. They have drafted poorly, often ignoring the offensive line entirely. They are not, however, the worst offensive line in the NFL. They stole C Mike Flanagan from Green Bay and drafted two terrific linemen, Ts Charles Spencer from Pitt and Eric Winston from Miami. The two rookies won't start immediately and Flanagan is a middling center, but the Texans are finally showing a commitment to the offensive line that they have never shown in the past. That has to be worth something. Right?

32. GREEN BAY
And, in an upset, the Packers win the race for the bottom spot in these rankings. Losing C Mike Flanagan to the Texans was the kicker. This unit is just bad. It is really a miracle that QB Brett Favre would agree to return with this group trying to protect him. Rookie LG Daryn Colledge, a second round pick, will start immediately. LT Chad Clifton and RT Mark Tauscher are veterans, but they aren't able to handle the speed of most NFL defensive ends. Favre has battled addiction, asinine coaching, and Wisconsin's cold throughout his career, but he has never had to experience this. Welcome to Hell Brett Favre.