It's beginning to look a lot like IDP Championship Week.

Oh, and that Christmas thing, too—if you're into gifts and food and fun and all that junk.

It's going to be an unprecedented Championship Week, too. By the time Sunday's 1:00 PM games kick off, there will already have been six games played—two on Christmas Day, one on Boxing Day (it's a Canadian holiday where you go next door and sucker-punch your neighbor, I think), and three on Saturday (Or as it's known some places, "Return the Hideous Sweater Aunt Linda Got You" Day).

That goofy schedule has caused a change in how we're handling this week's articles. There will be no Living the Stream this week (stop applauding), so this hack can crank out the Week 17 edition of Studs and Duds a day early. However, in this week's "Studs" section, I'll dedicate one player at each position to streaming options for those unfortunate souls with a hole in their lineup this week.

No one has to tell IDP managers the stakes this week in most leagues. Get a victory, and glory is yours. Come up short, and it's weeks of kicking yourself over the decisions that didn't pan out—over the calls that cost you the title.

Given that, this week also carries a 100 percent guarantee. Every one of these lineup corrections will be spot-on—except for the ones that aren't.

How's that for comforting?

Joking aside, Have a Safe and Wonderful holiday season. And good luck in your Championship Games.

Now let's get some wins, people!

That really didn't have anything to do with anything. It's just hilarious.

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 Nick Bolton, Kansas City (at PIT) (8)

It seems a bit weird to single out Bolton at all—he was selected among the top 10 linebackers in most IDP drafts over the summer. But while Bolton's NFL impact has remained as good as ever, the 24-year-old acknowledged to reporters that he and his teammates could do a better job of tackling in space.

"A lot of our tackles are one-on-one in space," he said. "It's kind of how our defense is and how teams are attacking us. It's kind of schematic and how the game kind of falls out, but we've got a lot of one-on-one tackles. We love the turnovers and everything, but we need the tackles as well."

After amassing just four solos in last week's win over the Texans, Bolton is two stops shy of 100 for the season and ranks 28th in fantasy points among linebackers. But the Chiefs can sew up the AFC's top seed with a win in Pittsburgh on Christmas, and the Steelers have been a favorable matchup for linebackers in 2024.

IDP Dud of the Week: LB T.J. Edwards, Chicago (vs. SEA) (32)

Edwards has been essentially just what fantasy managers expected this season—the veteran linebacker sits 12th in fantasy points at the position for the year. Edwards has also emerged as both the green dot linebacker and a defensive leader in Chicago, and he told reporters he's not afraid to speak his mind if he feels the unit isn't playing to its potential.

"There's an understanding that from coaches to players, we all need to be better," he said. "In this league, the really good teams take accountability. Not just players but coaches as well. And I feel that we have a team that does that. But again, it's one thing to say how good we can be and all those things, but it's another thing to go do it on Sunday."

Edwards doesn't have the highest IDP ceiling, but he is so attractive to fantasy managers in no small part because he rarely has a down week. However, if ever there was a time to Edwards to have that rare flop spot, it's this week against the Seahawks—Seattle has been mired at the bottom of the league in fantasy points surrendered to linebackers most of the season.

Week 17 IDP Studs

EDGE Boye Mafe, Seattle (at CHI) (4): Mafe's six sacks so far this season are off last year's pace, but he has a good shot at getting home Thursday—the Bears have allowed 60 sacks this season, tops in the NFC.

EDGE Kwity Paye, Indianapolis (at NYG) (2): Like Mafe, Paye hasn't quite been able to match his 2023 numbers this year. But also like Mafe, Paye draws a fantastic Week 17 matchup with a bad Giants line that should help him close the season strong.

EDGE Travon Walker, Jacksonville (vs. TEN) (3): Walker is on a three-game sackless streak, but he still has two games to notch 1.5 sacks and hit 10 for the second year in a row. The Titans have surrendered 47 sacks this year and the third-most fantasy points to defensive linemen.

LB Edgerrin Cooper, Green Bay (at MIN) (1): Cooper posted eight total tackles against a bad Saints team despite playing just 70 percent of the snaps. Playing a Vikings team giving up the most fantasy points to linebackers, the rookie will hit double digits in Sunday's NFC North clash.

LB Kaden Elliss, Atlanta (at WAS) (3): Elliss has quietly put together a top-12 fantasy season this year, and he has LB1 upside again this week against the Commanders, who have given up the third-most fantasy points to linebackers in 2024.

LB Anthony Walker Jr., Miami (at CLE) (2): Walker has been Miami's defensive signal-caller most of the season, but his production has been modest enough to relegate him to many waiver wires. He'll finish strong against a Browns team with no offense except running back Jerome Ford.

S Derwin James Jr., LA Chargers (at NE) (2): James hasn't been the elite IDP option that some had hoped for in 2024, but an excellent Week 17 matchup offers the star safety a chance to end a down campaign on a high note.

S Jordan Poyer, Miami (at CLE) (at CLE): Poyer hasn't been as productive in 2024 as he was in his Bills heyday, but the 33-year-old is going to finish with an interception in Week 17 against the Browns. Book it. In related news, Dorian Thompson-Robinson sucks as a quarterback.

S Demani Richardson, Tampa Bay (vs. CAR) (1): The rookie from Texas A&M has had his moments this year, including two games with 10-plus tackles. Sunday could bring a third—the Buccaneers have ranked at the top of the league in fantasy points allowed to safeties much of the season.

Week 17 IDP Duds

EDGE Jonathan Greenard, Minnesota (vs. GB) (31): Greenard's a top-five fantasy option for the year who is almost impossible to sit. But no team in the NFC has given up fewer fantasy points to defensive ends this season than the Packers.

EDGE Trey Hendrickson, Cincinnati (vs. DEN) (30): Hendrickson leads the league in sacks, but he's not a big tackle producer. The Broncos have surrendered the third-fewest sacks in the league this season—just 22 in 15 games.

EDGE Will McDonald IV, NY Jets (at BUF) (32): As a whole, McDonald has amassed 10 sacks for the year. But he has been a feast-or-famine IDP option, and the Bills are dead last in sacks allowed and fantasy points surrendered to defensive ends.

LB Terrel Bernard, Buffalo (vs. NYJ) (31): Bernard hasn't been the fantasy option we expected this year, largely because of injury. Finishing out the year against the second-worst matchup in the league for linebackers won't help matters.

LB Bobby Wagner, Washington (vs. ATL) (28): Wagner has been a tackling machine for over a decade, and the 2024 season has been no exception—118 total tackles in 15 games. But by his standards, those are actually down numbers, and the Falcons are a lousy matchup for linebackers.

LB Kyzir White, Arizona (at LAR) (30): Given the success Kyren Williams has had running the ball this year, one might think the Rams would be at least a decent fantasy matchup for linebackers in 2024. One would be wrong—and that doesn't bode well for White in Week 17.

S Kyle Dugger, New England (vs. LAC) (32): Dugger has been consistently productive of late, with at least eight total tackles in three straight games. That streak could be in trouble this week in the worst IDP matchup for safeties.

S Xavier McKinney, Green Bay (at MIN) (27): McKinney has been a top-10 fantasy safety this season, but that production has relied largely on interceptions. Now over his mid-season yips, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold just isn't throwing them.

S Donovan Wilson, Dallas (vs. PHI) (31): Wilson's production has been on the rise of late, largely because injuries have pummeled the linebackers in front of him. But the Eagles aren't a favorable fantasy matchup for safeties—caveat emptor.

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!

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.