IDP Matchup Plays: Living the Stream: Week 15

It's Week 15—and in most leagues, that means that Living the Steam has coasted some boats right onto Postseason Pond.

Yes, the aquatic metaphors are being beaten to a watery death. Wait until next week—after two weeks of holiday analogies, you'll be begging for a couple of half-assed references to boats and bodies of water.

Fantasy managers who have made it this far into the season and still have something to play for generally have good teams—or so I've heard. But even good teams have holes. Maybe they recently suffered an injury, such as the one that ended DeMarvion Overshown's season Monday night. Maybe they have been juggling streaming options for a while now because of an earlier injury or an underperforming player.

Whatever the reason, just because the boat has made it from the rapids of the regular season to the smaller pond of the playoffs, that doesn't mean they can stop paddling.

In fact, there's an additional threat now. Every opponent from here out is also a quality team. A low score is apt to get you bounced. Fail to paddle hard enough, and the Lost Ness monster will get them.

That one's so bad it would be embarrassing if I was capable of being embarrassed.

IDP Matchup Play: EDGE Matthew Judon, Atlanta (at Las Vegas)

When the Atlanta Falcons acquired Judon just before the season began, the team hoped to acquire the anchor on the edge who would bolster the league's worst pass rush a season ago. Instead, Atlanta got 12 tackles and a sack-and-a-half over the first two games of the season, followed by two-plus months of nothing as Atlanta again languished at the bottom of the NFL in sacks.

While addressing the media a few weeks ago, even Judon admitted that his first season with the Falcons has been a disappointment.

"I'd say a D," Judon said. "I've just got to play better, more production, better numbers, better pressure rate, get the quarterback down more. That's what I came here for."

The 32-year-old appears to have taken his own advice—in two of the past three games, Judon has recorded a sack—including one last week against the Minnesota Vikings. This week, Judon and the Falcons face a Las Vegas Raiders team, allowing the sixth-most fantasy points per game to defensive ends and starting a third-string quarterback.

IDP Matchup Play: EDGE George Karlaftis, Kansas City (at Cleveland)

Statistically speaking, Karlaftis has underwhelmed in his third season—after 10.5 sacks in 2023, the former Purdue standout has just five so far this season. However, Karlaftis' impact on games hasn't been accurately impacted in those stats, and he told reporters the only statistic he really cares about is the scoreboard at the end of the last game of the season.

"You don't you don't count them in the middle of the season," he said. "You count them when the season's done. [But] that's what every week's for — just being able to constantly improve and get better every single week — work our tails off and chips will fall where they do... I'm not talking statistics and stuff like that. I'm talking just from our play because we know we can be a lot better. The standard for us is a lot higher."

Week 15 sets up well as a game where Karlaftis' in-game and box-score impacts could intersect. The Browns have struggled to protect the quarterback in 2024, allowing an AFC-high 53 sacks. Cleveland has also surrendered more fantasy points to defensive ends this year than any team in the NFL.

IDP Matchup Play: LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Cincinnati (at Tennessee)

Monday's win over the Dallas Cowboys aside, it has been a rough season for the Bengals—especially on defense. That the team lost veteran Logan Wilson to a season-ending injury most assuredly didn't help matters. But in Logan's absence, fifth-year veteran Akeem Davis-Gaither has stepped up and played well.

Against Dallas, Davis-Gaither recorded a team-high eight tackles with five solos and a pass breakup. The 27-year-old also led the Bengals in tackles with 13 in the team's Week 13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps most importantly, Davis-Gaither hasn't played a snap share under 88 percent in either game.

Davis-Gaither was re-signed last offseason to a one-year deal largely because of his special teams prowess. But pressed into a larger role defensively, he has piled up solid stats—and in Week 15, the Bengals travel to face a Titans team giving up the fourth-most fantasy points this season to linebackers who will lean on the run game as long as they possibly can.

IDP Matchup Play: LB Mack Wilson Sr., Arizona (vs. New England)

The Arizona defense isn't exactly loaded with star power—safety Budda Baker is likely the team's best-known player on that side of the ball. However, Cardinals linebackers coach Sam Siefkes told reporters that opponents sleep on their LB corps at their own peril—in part because veteran journeyman Mack Wilson Sr. is a more-than-capable NFL starter.

"I think the fact that when he plays," Siefkes said, "his strongest attribute is that he doesn't think. He goes to a place where he knows it good enough to be able to just execute, and he feels strongly about that. When guys have that ability, it allows them to play faster which equates to more physicality."

Wilson's numbers haven't been jaw-dropping—67 total tackles, three sacks, and LB39 numbers in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring. Sunday's matchup with a New England Patriots team allowing the third-most fantasy points to linebackers should at least get the sixth-year veteran into LB3 territory, and the top 25 isn't outside the realm of reason.

IDP Matchup Play: S Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis (at Denver)

Colts safety Nick Cross has been able to essentially maintain the torrid pace he started the season with, but things haven't gone as smoothly for Blackmon—his numbers are down considerably relative to early in the season. But the fifth-year veteran told reporters that his plan all season long has been to finish the 2024 campaign strong.

"For me," Blackmon said, "it's kind of one of those things that I do want to finish this out. I want to be one of the guys that can be on the field and reliable and available throughout the whole season. That's one of those things that's been on my mind, and I want to do everything I can for this team to take the next step."

Over the first month of the 2024 season, Blackmon was a top-five safety. And last time out, he at least partly shook off a long funk with an interception. Blackmon's final month of 2024 sets up well for a start like the first one—this season, the Broncos have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to safeties.

IDP Matchup Play: S Amani Hooker, Tennessee (vs. Cincinnati)

The Titans hit a new nadir in last week's loss to the equally pitiful Jaguars, but the reality is that the Tennessee defense hasn't played badly in 2024—the team ranks first in the AFC in total defense. Veteran safety Amani Hooker has played a large role in that defensive success, and the 26-year-old told reporters he's just doing his best to be in the right place at the right time.

"I try to be in the right spot," Hooker said. "Trust in my guys throughout the week, our film study. All game long, we're talking about what we see. I mean, they help me out. We help each other out. So, credit to my guys that help me be in that position to lead. And just got to try to take advantage of all of the opportunities."

Heading into Sunday's matchup with a Bengals team surrendering the sixth-most fantasy points to safeties this season, Hooker ranks second on the Titans in tackles and leads the team in interceptions. We just saw both Malik Hooker (no relation—I think) and Donovan Wilson of the Dallas Cowboys both post solid stat lines against Cincy.

Gary Davenport ("The Godfather of IDP") is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow him on Twitter (Can't make him call it X) at @IDPSharks.