IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 6

Well folks, we've made it five weeks into the 2024 IDP season. Not quite sure how to feel about that? Join the club.

This year has been as unpredictable and injury-riddled as any in recent memory. We say that every year, but that doesn't mean it isn't occasionally true. The leaderboards at all three IDP positions are a veritable who's who of "who?" There are more big names who have flopped so far than I can count. And the linebacker position has been powerslammed with injuries. Tombstoned, even.

It ain't been pretty.

For the IDP managers who avoided the injuries and landed the surprise stars, things have been great. The points and wins are piling up, and they are feeling good at 4-1. At the other end of the spectrum are injury-ravaged teams with New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke (Seriously. Dude. What the what?) who are 1-4 and reeling. Many are hovering just over or under .500 and hoping they can ride the early wave without wiping out.

But no matter the circumstances, every IDP manager wants one thing in Week 6. Victory. To know which players to start and who needs to ride the pine.

That's where IDP Studs and Duds here at Footballguys comes in.

Each week during the 2024 season, I'll point out some Individual Defensive Players who could be set to exceed expectations this week (Studs), as well as some that, for whatever reason, are riskier plays than normal (Duds).

This isn't necessarily to say that every "Stud" is a must-start (it depends on your other options) or that every "Dud" should be glued to your bench (just that the odds of a letdown week are greater than usual).

Numbers in parentheses denote ranking in fantasy points allowed to that position in 2024 in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring. 

Stud of the Week: LB Zack Baun, Philadelphia (vs. Cleveland) (1)

There has been no shortage of surprises in Philly this season, and one of the first was Zack Baun earning a starting job at inside linebacker over Devin "Not on the Team Anymore" White. After four games, Baun is Philly's leading tackler by a wide margin, and his transformation from edge-rusher to off-ball linebacker has been one of this year's biggest IDP surprises. For the 27-year-old, however, it's all just a work in progress.

"It's a growth process," Baun told reporters recently. "And it gets tough at times, but you gotta keep your mind just set on like, ‘I'm learning, I'm growing, I'm learning, I'm growing. I'm making mistakes, but I'm learning, I'm growing.' And it paid off."

Frankly, Baun is kind of low-hanging fruit—he's LB12 in terms of points per game this year. But after a down Week 4 and a bye, some IDP managers may be a tad nervous about Baun. Don't be—as bad as Cleveland is they are a fantasy bonanza for linebackers, largely because they can't move the ball more than six yards at a pop. Baun is an LB1. But this week, he may well be the LB1.

Dud of the Week: LB T.J. Edwards, Chicago (vs. Jacksonville) (30)

There are a few surprise 3-2 teams five weeks into the 2024 season. The Chicago Bears are among them, and with all due respect to Caleb Williams, it's the Bears defense that has carried the team to this point. Edwards is the quarterback of that defense—the "green dot" signal-caller. While talking to reporters, he attributed the team's defensive success to improved chemistry after a full offseason together.

"I've said this before, the chemistry is something that's big in this league," Edwards said. "Understanding how guys in front are going to play, understanding just how the D-line fits certain things and at backer, knowing how we're fitting every play. I think from this point last year to this year, it was a way different ballgame. So, I think our comfort level is just so much better. Having a good comfort level with the coaches, understanding the scheme fully and getting those new guys acclimated and ready to go. So, I think honestly the comfort level, the chemistry that we've built in the offseason and now just the understanding of how our guys play, for sure."

Edwards came roaring out of the gate with 15 total tackles in a Week 1 win over Tennessee. But over his last three games, Edwards has just eight solos after 15 in the first two. He's in something of a statistical slump, and a bottom-three fantasy matchup for his position with Jacksonville's herky-jerky offense isn't likely to fix that.