The Godfather is going to begin this week’s edition of IDP Studs and Duds by conveying some deep and profound wisdom. Imparting a technical term used only at the highest levels of fantasy football analysis-dom.

The nitty-gritty.

What? You believed all that drek? Have you literally ever read anything I’ve written?

We are knee-deep in the nitty-gritty now, though. With the IDP playoffs looming ever closer and so many fantasy managers hovering around .500, said managers need that which is “essential and basic.” “Specific practical details.”

(That’s what nitty-gritty means, according to smart people.)

Points equal wins. Wins equal playoffs. So IDP managers need points.

You can’t argue with math. And the goal of IDP Studs and Duds here at Footballguys is to offer advice on which players will (or won’t) score points.

Nitty. Freaking. Gritty.

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).

Four teams are on a Week 11 bye—the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, New York Giants, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At least Bobby Okereke can’t let IDP managers down this week.

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: DL Carl Granderson, New Orleans (vs. CLE) (1)

Like so many things in New Orleans this season, Granderson’s 2024 hasn’t gone according to plan—after being pegged as the Saints’ top edge rusher entering 2024, Granderson has just 3.5 sacks this season and is coming off a doughnut against the Atlanta Falcons last week. His preseason proclamations about a breakout 2024 have most assuredly not come to pass.

"It's always good to start off strong, but looking back at last year, it got rocky in the middle," he once said unironically. "For me, it's maintaining and being consistent, and the numbers will come. The middle of the season for me was kind of like you hit a wall, and then you turn it up when it's too late. So, moving forward to this season, I expect my production to start off hot and in the middle keep it going, and then toward the end crank it up even more."

Has Granderson flopped this season? Sort of—he’s DL26 through 10 weeks. But this week brings the kind of matchup that shoots a lineman 8-10 spots up the list. The Cleveland Browns have allowed a whopping 43 sacks in 2024—easily the most in the NFL. They are everyone’s “get right” opponent.

IDP DUD OF THE WEEK: LB Jamien Sherwood, NY Jets (vs. ATL) (30)

It has been quite the season of surprises in New York this season, but Jamien Sherwood has actually been a good one—not only has he filled in admirably for high-priced veteran C.J. Mosley, but he has outplayed him. Sherwood racked up a whopping 17 total stops a week ago, but he told reporters that he’s a lot more concerned about the team getting blown out than on piling up stops.

"That's something (tackling) we harp on every day," Sherwood said. "I missed a few. I feel my communication was good, but obviously wasn't good enough. Obviously super-upset with myself, figuring out ways where I can be better for my teammates, for my whole team."

Sherwood has admittedly been fantastic statistically—he’s had 11 or more tackles five times this season. But the Indianapolis Colts have switched quarterbacks and then switched back this year—and stayed a lousy matchup for linebackers the entire time. Sherwood comes closer to his season low in tackles this week than his season high.

Week 11 IDP Studs

EDGE Dante Fowler Jr., Washington (at PHI) (5): Fowler has revived his career in Washington—he’s sixth in fantasy points among defensive linemen in his first year with the Commanders. The Eagles also just so happen to be a plus IDP matchup for edge rushers.

EDGE Danielle Hunter, Houston (at Dallas) (9): Hunter hasn’t met expectations in his first year in Houston. But he’s also one hot streak away from changing that narrative heading into a plus matchup with Cooper Lance (does it matter?) and the Cowboys.

EDGE Andrew Van Ginkel, Minnesota (at TEN) (3): Van Ginkel’s ascension has been one of the best IDP stories in recent years, and his breakout 2024 campaign continues against a Titans team allowing the third-most fantasy points per game to defensive ends this season.

LB Demario Davis, New Orleans (vs. CLE) (2): Davis is what he is—a low-ceiling, high-floor LB3 capable of the occasional big game when the matchup is right. The Browns have been right for linebackers all season long.

LB Kenneth Murray Jr., Tennessee (vs. MIN) (1): Jack Gibbens has been a tear the past few weeks, but it’s Murray who continues to be Tennessee’s green dot linebacker against a Vikings team now leading the league in fantasy points per game given up to linebackers.

LB DeMarvion Overshown, Dallas (vs. HOU) (6): Overshown appears to have dodged a major injury when he tweaked his knee last week. Provided he’s a go Monday night, he has legitimate LB1 upside. Wait as long as you can, especially if he gets some practice in.

S Coby Bryant, Seattle (at SF) (1): Bryant was a sneaky-productive fantasy defensive back heading into Seattle’s bye week, and now the Seahawks face their most bitter rival in the best IDP matchup for defensive backs 10 weeks into the season.

S Kevin Byard III, Chicago (vs. GB) (6): Byard’s hot—a top-five defensive back over the past two weeks. Packers quarterback Jordan Love has both an array of passing-game weapons and a penchant for getting picked off. It’s something of a perfect-storm matchup.

S Tyrann Mathieu, New Orleans (vs. CLE) (8): The Clowns are a fantasy bonanza for opposing IDPs across the board. They just can’t help themselves. It’s not a huge stretch to imagine Mathieu snagging a Jameis Winston overthrow Sunday—even a little.

Week 11 IDP Duds

DT Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh (vs. BAL) (32): Heyward has quietly put together another solid season—the ageless wonder is seventh in fantasy points among defensive tackles. But no team is a worst IDP matchup for Heyward’s position this year than the rival Ravens.

EDGE Josh Sweat, Philadelphia (vs. WAS) (28): Sweat slowed down last week against the Dallas Cowboys, but before that, he was one of the hottest edge-rushers in the league. Sweat stays cold this week in a bottom-five IDP matchup with the Commanders.

EDGE George Karlaftis, Kansas City (at Buffalo) (32): Last week was the first time in a month that Karlaftis didn’t log a sack. Now the Chiefs face a quarterback in Buffalo’s Josh Allen, who has only been sacked 13 times in 10 games.

LB Cody Barton, Denver (vs. ATL) (31): The Falcons aren’t the worst IDP matchup for linebackers anymore, but they have been buried at the bottom of the league in that category all season long. After 10 weeks, that’s not suddenly changing.

LB Kaden Elliss, Atlanta (at DEN) (27): Elliss has been red-hot—double-digit tackles in each of the past four games. That streak ends Sunday in Denver against a Denver team that has struggled much of the season to get the run game going.

LB E.J. Speed, Indianapolis (at NYJ) (29): The Colts have been fielding two IDP-relevant linebackers much of the season, but that won’t be easy to do against a Jets team surrendering the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game to linebackers this season.

S Reed Blankenship, Philadelphia (vs. WAS) (27): After a solid start to the season (top-five numbers over the first month of 2024), Blankenship has started Christmas early and gone full Frosty the Snowman. In a bad matchup to boot? Pass.

S Minkah Fitzpatrick, Pittsburgh (vs. BAL) (28): Fitzpatrick is much more name than numbers this year, and a bottom-five IDP matchup with a quarterback who isn’t making mistakes (Lamar Jackson is in the proverbial zone) isn’t likely to halt that tailspin.

S Kyle Hamilton, Baltimore (at PIT) (26): Hamilton is almost impossible to sit—fantasy’s third-ranked defensive back has cemented his status as an elite fantasy option. He may be the No. 1 defensive back off the board in 2025. But this is a bad matchup. And bad matchups get everyone eventually.

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.