IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 8

We have hit the halfway point of the fantasy football season. As you’re reading this, Metallica is cranking out “For Whom the Bell Tolls” as part of the Taco Bell IDP Halftime Show.

Metallica doing Super Bowl halftime would be incredible. Anyone who says differently just hates things that are awesome.

IDP managers are in all sorts of situations at the half. Some are up 34-3 and almost feel bad about dominating their overmatched opponents.

For the record, they do not feel bad even a little.

Others are getting waxed. It’s 21-3. They can’t figure out how things went sideways so quickly. What went so terribly wrong.

It probably had something to do with Bobby Okereke. Just saying.

Then there are all those folks locked in a battle. Maybe they are up 21-17. Maybe they are down 16-13. But whatever the score, it’s close. Victory or defeat could be decided by the first drive of the third quarter.

But that applies to everyone else, too. Ask the Atlanta Falcons about the perils of taking your foot off the gas too soon. Ask the New England Patriots about what can happen if you never stop fighting.

Y’all do realize this has been a metaphor, right?

If you don’t, I can’t help you. The same if you don’t like Metallica, you poor deluded soul. But what I can do is help you start the second half of the IDP season with a win.

It’s rather the point of IDP Studs and Duds here at Footballguys.

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).

No byes this week. Don’t ask why. Just enjoy it.

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

IDP STUD OF THE WEEK: LB T.J. Edwards, Chicago (at WAS) (6)

Not many expected the Chicago Bears to come out of their bye week at 4-2, and the Chicago defense has anchored the team more often than not this year. Sixth-year veteran T.J. Edwards is the quarterback of that defense, and he told reporters that while the team has played well, there’s plenty of room for improvement.

“I mean, I feel like we’ve played well,” Edwards said. “Done some really good things in all facets of the game. But I think for us, we know that we can be a lot better. It’s a group that’s not complacent with anything that we do. I think from top to bottom we know that there’s a couple things that each group could do better, including myself. So, we’re excited to get things going.”

The Bears have played well as a team, but from an IDP perspective at least, Edwards has disappointed—he’s 30th in fantasy points per game among linebackers so far this season. But his first game post-bye could be a big one—the Commanders are already a favorable IDP matchup, and if Jayden Daniels sits Washington will likely lean that much more on the ground game.

IDP DUD OF THE WEEK: LB Lavonte David, Tampa Bay (vs. ATL) (32)

David is one of the very best off-ball linebackers of his era. He may well be the best coverage linebacker to ever play. At 34, David is still playing at a high-level—he’s fifth in fantasy points among linebackers after seven weeks. And as former tight end Cameron Brate told Bucs Total Access, he has no doubt that when the time comes, David will earn a bust in Canton.

"I feel like people are just waiting for Lavonte's downfall and it just never happens," Brate said. "He just keeps getting better. He is a fine wine. Lavonte is a Hall of Fame-level player. No question. It is unfortunate the way that it works because it comes down to how many Pro Bowls and All-Pros [you have], but Lavonte got the short end of the stick for so many years because he was classified in the same category as pass rushers, who had a ton of sacks. So, they would get all the accolades. Maybe he doesn't have all the All-Pros or Pro Bowls, but you look over the course of his career and he was one of the best linebackers, like true linebackers in the NFL."

Calling David a “Dud,” is an affront to all that is good and decent. It pains the Godfather to do so. But we’re far enough into the season that dismal matchups aren’t just coincidence or fluke. And for whatever reason, the Falcons are dead last in the league in fantasy points per game surrendered to linebackers.

WEEK 8 IDP STUDS

EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota (at LAR) (5): Greenard has been outshined so far this year by batterymate Andrew Van Ginkel. But the Vikings should be able to get after Matthew Stafford Thursday night behind a banged-up offensive line.

EDGE Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh (vs. NYG) (2): Highsmith played last week for the first time in almost a month, logging four total tackles and a pair of QB Hits. He’ll get sack No. 2 of the season Monday night against a Giants team again struggling to protect the quarterback.

EDGE George Karlaftis, Kansas City (at LV) (4): In last week’s win over the San Francisco 49ers, Karlafitis logged his second sack of 2024. He and defensive tackle Chris Jones should have success getting after Gardner Minshew II’s mustache this week in Vegas.

LB Alex Anzalone, Detroit (vs. TEN) (4): Anzalone is the ultimate example of an average NFL player who becomes a valuable IDP asset because of snaps and not talent. But he’s a green-dot linebacker in a top-five IDP matchup. The table, as they say, is set.

LB Divine Deablo, Las Vegas (vs. KC) (8): After missing three games with an injury, Deablo has seen a snap share north of 90 percent each of the last two weeks. Expect to see a lot of Kareem Hunt banging away at a soft Raiders run defense on Sunday.

LB Kyzir White, Arizona (at MIA) (5): It’s possible that the return of Tua Tagovailoa will throw the matchup data where the Cardinals are concerned on its head. But they’ve been fifth in fantasy points per game allowed to linebackers, and White will be out there for every snap.

S Julian Blackmon, Indianapolis (at HOU) (3): Both of the Colts safeties have been productive assets over the first half of the season. No reason to think that won’t continue Sunday in a plus matchup with a potent Houston offense.

S Jordan Whitehead, Tampa Bay (vs. ATL) (4): The Falcons haven’t been as miserly with safeties as they have been with linebackers this season. That sets up both Whitehead and Antoine Winfield Jr for a big Week 8 in an even bigger NFC South showdown.

S Xavier Woods, Carolina (at DEN) (5): The Broncos aren’t exactly a grip-and-rip offense, but that hasn’t stopped safeties from racking up fantasy points against them. The issues at linebacker in front of Woods don’t hurt, either.

WEEK 8 IDP DUDS

EDGE Myles Garrett, Cleveland (vs. BAL) (11): The Ravens aren’t a terrible IDP matchup. But no quarterback in the NFL has been sacked fewer times than Lamar Jackson, and Garrett continues to battle multiple nagging injuries.

EDGE Danielle Hunter, Houston (vs. IND) (28): The Texans have one of the best one-two punches on the edge of any team in the league. But for all his flaws, Anthony Richardson of the Colts has only been sacked 10 times this season.

EDGE Greg Rousseau, Buffalo (at SEA) (30): There are flashes here and there of the player Rousseau could potentially be. But the truth is at this point Rousseau is who he is—a matchup-dependent DL2 with a bad one this week in Seattle.

LB Cody Barton, Denver (vs. CAR) (25): In news that should surprise exactly no one, the Panthers rank toward the bottom of the NFL in both tackle opportunities allowed per game and fantasy points given up to linebackers. Bad news for Barton.

LB Trevin Wallace, Carolina (at DEN) (31): Wallace appears to be doing his level best after getting the deep end of the pool treatment on a terrible football team. Now he draws a rotten IDP matchup as well. It’s rather a lot to ask.]

LB Dorian Williams, Buffalo (at SEA) (30): Williams has been ridiculously efficient this season, and there’s a real chance that Terrel Bernard (ankle) doesn’t play. But the Seahawks have been a poor IDP matchup for linebackers all season long.

S Brian Branch, Detroit (vs. TEN) (31): Is it possible that Branch will intercept Mason Mayonnaise or whoever plays quarterback for the Titans this week? Yes. But that’s what it will take for a good stat line—the Titans don’t allow tackles on the back end.

S Coby Bryant, Seattle (vs. BUF) (30): Bryant took over for the injured Rayshawn Jenkins last week and led the Seahawks in tackles. Asking for a second surprise smash line against the Bills is asking to be disappointed/

S Tyler Nubin, NY Giants (at PIT) (29): The rookie safety has been on a nice statistical roll—nine total tackles in each of his last three starts. That run stops this week in a bad matchup for safeties with the Steelers—new quarterback or not.

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.