"The will to conquer is the first condition of victory." – Ferdinand Foch

In the majority of IDP leagues, Week 16 brings with it the semifinals. Four teams remain standing. All have had solid seasons and sport strong rosters. Every fantasy manager is looking to get Foched up—to turn the will to conquer into being the last team standing.

Into being champion.

Of course, that is easier said than done. There are no more easy outs. Every contest is a slugfest. Close games abound. Every fantasy point could make or break the entire season. Every lineup decision could be the difference between victory and defeat—between advancing and the season coming to an end.

There's just no margin for error at this point. And while no IDP manager (or pundit) is infallible (I was sure I was, but apparently some disagree), it's the teams with the most hits and the fewest misses that advance to Championship Week.

IDP Studs and Duds at Footballguys is here to help you sink your opponent's Battleship.

Get it? Hits? Misses?

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. 

IDP Stud of the Week: LB Akeem Davis-Gaither, Cincinnati (vs. CLE) (2)

When the 2024 season began, Davis-Gaither was an IDP afterthought—a special teams ace who was re-signed for his ferocity on returns. However, once Logan Wilson was lost for the season, the 27-year-old was thrust into a full-time role. As it turns out, Davis-Gaither's father is a longtime coach, and Keith Gaither told the team's website he has watched his son blossom as he's gotten more opportunities to show what he can do.

"The biggest thing for Akeem is he's playing so much faster inside the box as a linebacker," his father said. "Coming out of college, he was a rover outside playing in space. He's got a better understanding of the position. He's getting to know how to get off blocks, how to take on blocks. The reads are different. I think he's adjusting and learning. He's learning how to be a pro. And, he's put on weight."

Davis-Gaither has made the most of his added playing time this year—over the last three weeks, he has racked up a whopping 34 total tackles, although just 15 of those stops were solos. Now, Davis Gaither takes on a Cleveland Browns team, leading the AFC in fantasy points to linebackers. Even Dorian Thompson-Robinson can't totally ruin this matchup.

Probably.

IDP Dud of the Week: LB Blake Cashman, Minnesota (at SEA) (32)

Not that long ago, Cashman's career appeared headed nowhere. But last year's performance with the New York Jets earned him a contract with Minnesota, where he has become the defensive signal-caller and a leader of Minnesota's league-best run defense. As Tyler Dunne wrote for Go Long, Cashman's philosophy is simple—and decidedly old-school.

"I get in these modes," Cashman said, "where I want to crash out the game — 'F my body. I always want to be the one making the plays. I don't care how I'm going to feel. If this tight end's right on the sideline? I am not breaking stride. I am going right through his thighs.' Not thinking about anything. Just smack him."

Cashman has been productive with the Vikings—he has 81 total tackles in 11 games and ranks inside the top-25 in fantasy points per game among linebackers. But while Cashman may be hard-nosed, he's not talented enough to overcome an atrocious matchup with a Seattle Seahawks team that sits dead last in the NFL in fantasy points given up to linebackers.

Week 15 IDP Studs

EDGE Za'Darius Smith, Detroit (at CHI) (4): Smith has been a decent addition to a Lions defense that badly needed pass-rush help. The 32-year-old is a good bet to get a sack of Caleb Williams this week because any player facing the Bears is a good bet to sack Caleb Williams.

EDGE Nick Bosa, San Francisco (at MIA) (10): On some level it's bizarre to have to mention starting Bosa as a good idea. But that's where we are with the 49ers this season. Bosa should see increased snaps this week in a plus matchup with the Dolphins.

EDGE Travon Walker, Jacksonville (vs. LV) (6): Next to nothing has gone right for the Jaguars this season, but Walker's quietly 1.5 sacks away from hitting 10 for the second time in three years. He may well hit that benchmark Sunday against a Raiders team having an even worse season than the Jaguars.

LB Terrel Bernard, Buffalo (vs. NE) (6): The 2024 season hasn't gone according to plan for Bernard—he missed substantial time and had under-produced relative to expectations. This week's favorable matchup should offer the third-year pro a shot at some redemption in Week 16.

LB Tyrice Knight, Seattle (vs. MIN) (1): Knight has acquitted himself fairly well as a rookie this season, and with the Vikings allowing the most fantasy points to linebackers this season, the youngster is well-set to post a big stat line at an ideal time for IDO managers.

LB Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh (at BAL) (15): Queen is another linebacker who came up well short of expectations in 2024, even if his level of play from an NFL perspective has been solid. The last time the Steelers and Ravens met, Queen hit double-digits in total tackles.

S Dane Belton, NY Giants (at ATL) (4): Belton blew up for the Giants last week, throwing down 15 total tackles and adding a sack. He should continue his late-season surge this week in a top-five fantasy matchup for safeties with the Falcons.

S Grant Delpit, Cleveland (at Cincinnati) (5): The Bengals are playing as well offensively as any team in the NFL. The back end of the Cleveland defense should be plenty busy in a game Cincinnati badly needs to keep their fading playoff hopes alive.

S Xavier Woods, Carolina (vs. ARI) (6): Woods has been surprisingly effective this season—he ranks among the top-15 fantasy safeties in points. He should keep rolling this week in a rock-solid matchup for his position with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals.

Week 15 IDP Duds

EDGE Carl Granderson, New Orleans (at GB) (30): Granderson's numbers haven't been what they were a season ago when he flirted with 80 total tackles. Now he faces a Packers team surrendering the third-fewest fantasy points to defensive ends in 2024.

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, LA Chargers (vs. DEN) (31): Tuipulotu led all Chargers edge-rushers last week with a 65 percent snap share—and goose-egged. Now, he and the Chargers face a Broncos team that has given up just 20 sacks all season long and the second-fewest fantasy points to defensive ends.

EDGE Jared Verse, LA Rams (at NYJ) (25): Verse has had his moments for the Rams this season, and he could surpass the 60-tackle mark this week against the Jets. But he hasn't had a sack in well over a month, and the rookie isn't especially likely to get one of Aaron Rodgers in Week 16.

LB Daiyan Henley, LA Chargers (vs. DEN) (26): Henley has been quite the find for IDP managers since taking over as the Chargers' only every-down linebacker. But Thursday night's sketchy lineup with the Broncos could portend a down week at the worst possible time.

LB Micah McFadden, NY Giants (at ATL) (28): With Bobby Okereke (back) on the shelf, McFadden has taken over as New York's defensive signal-caller. But the Falcons have been a rotten fantasy matchup for linebackers most of this season.

LB Christian Rozeboom, LA Rams (at NYJ) (31): Since Week 9, Rozeboom ranks sixth among all linebackers in fantasy points. But LB1 numbers won't be easy to come by in a terrible IDP matchup for linebackers with the Jets.

S Jeremy Chinn, Washington (vs. PHI) (31): Chinn's first season in Washington has been a mixed bag of big weeks and disappearing acts. Sadly, the latter is more likely against an Eagles offense that is giving up the fewest fantasy points in the NFC to safeties in 2024.

S DeShon Elliott, Pittsburgh (at BAL) (28): Elliott is a top 10 safety for the season, and with 24 tackles over the past two weeks, the 27-year-old has been hot. Last time out against the rival Ravens, though, Elliott was held to a season-low two total tackles.

S Brandon Jones, Denver (at LAC) (32): The veteran safety is coming off his biggest outing of the year and ranks seventh at his position in fantasy points. But he also faces the only team in the league that has allowed less than 10 points a game to safeties in the Godfather's Default IDP Scoring.

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.