Before we go any further, let's get one thing clear. If you're still playing fantasy football in Week 18, then you are a complete degenerate—and that's meant as a compliment.

Week 18 championship games are madness. Chaos. Chaotic madness. Teams who aren't in the playoffs often sit nicked-up guys who would play if the game mattered even a little. Teams who have clinched playoff seeding sit starters rather than risk injury in a meaningless game. The player pool is a swirling mass of uncertainty—more so than any other week of the year.

It also means an extra week of fantasy football, which is never a bad thing. And it presents an opportunity of sorts for IDP managers. It's easier to overcome being an underdog in a week where matchup plays abound. Of course, those matchup plays are also needed to plug holes created by players sitting out, but hey—no plan is perfect.

IDP Studs and Duds here at Footballguys aims to help every IDP manager every week. So, for one final time before the 2024 campaign is relegated to history, let's get to work.

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 Jack Campbell, Detroit (vs. MIN) (1)

It has been a rollercoaster season for Campbell, who went from draft season breakout candidate to disappointing reserve to part-time linebacker to the green dot defensive signal-caller for a 14-2 Lions team. As Tim Twentyman wrote for the Lions website, Campbell said he's putting everything he has into success in his increased role.

"I'm just continuing to progress and improve and learn," Campbell said. "Especially right now in the position I'm in trying to be a leader. Trying to lead by example but also vocally. Getting guys caught up and in-game trying to make sure everyone knows what they are doing. Just playing within the scheme and not trying to press. All those things have been my focus."

Campbell still ranks outside the top 25 fantasy linebackers for the season, but he has amassed 125 total tackles and ranks well inside the top 20 over the second half of this season. The Vikings have allowed more fantasy points to linebackers than any team in the league, opening the door for the second-year pro to blow up in the season's final contest.

IDP Dud of the Week: LB Jordyn Brooks, Miami (at NYJ) (31)

For the season, Brooks has been everything IDP managers hoped for this year—he's seventh in fantasy points at the position. He has also logged the most tackles by a Dolphins linebacker since Zach Thomas in 2006, and Dolphins linebackers coach Joe Barry told reporters that Brooks is everything a team could as for at the position.

"There are so many things that an inside linebacker has to do now in today's football," he said. "They not only have to play the run, but they obviously have to play the pass. They get matched up on tight ends. They get matched up on running backs. Sometimes they are formationally on a receiver, a slot. In this system we do a lot of things with our linebackers from a pressure standpoint, so you've got to be a good blitzer. You have to be able to beat offensive linemen. You have to be able to beat backs," Barry said. "Those are all things [Brooks has] done very well for us."

It's not easy to consider sitting a top-10 fantasy option. But it will not be easy for Brooks to maintain that level of production this week against the Jets. The New Yok offense seemingly gets worse with each passing week, and no team in the AFC has given up fewer fantasy points to linebackers after 17 weeks.

Week 18 IDP Studs

EDGE Rashan Gary, Green Bay (vs. CHI) (4): Since Green Bay's bye week, Gary has quietly been a top-15 defensive end. He closes the season against the Bears and quarterback Caleb Williams, who has been dropped an NFL-high 67 times.

EDGE Josh Sweat, Philadelphia (vs. NYG) (2): Sweat's 41 total tackles and eight sacks aren't what fantasy managers hoped for this season, but he'll notch sack No. 9 Sunday against a Giants team that has struggled in pass protection all season long.

EDGE Tuli Tuipulotu, Los Angeles Chargers (at LV) (7): Tuipulotu has been the Chargers' most reliable edge-rusher this year, which is saying something, given he's teammates with Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. In need of 1.5 sacks for 10 on the season, Tuipulotu may just get there against the Raiders.

LB Akeem Davis-Gaither (at PIT) (5): Davis-Gaither went from special teams ace to starter after Logan Wilson got hurt to calling the defensive signals for the Bengals. He'll add one more title in Week 18—IDP league-winner.

LB Luke Gifford, Tennessee (vs. HOU) (4): Gifford has been productive of late, with at least eight total tackles in each of the past three weeks. He'll make it four in a row Sunday in a plus matchup against the AFC South champions.

LB Marist Liufau, Dallas (vs. WAS) (3): It has been a baptism by fire for Liufau over the past month or so, and at times it has shown. But he'll close out his first NFL season on a high note against a Commanders team that has surrendered the third-most fantasy points to linebackers.

S Will Harris, New Orleans (at TB) (5): Harris isn't a great IDP asset. Nor is he an especially talented NFL safety. But he's a capable veteran starter looking to finish a down season strong in a highly favorable matchup for safeties with the Buccaneers.

S Jalen Thompson, Arizona (vs. SF) (1): There's no question that Budda Baker should be in starting lineups this and every week. But Thompson could also be in for a good game against a Niners team that has led the league in fantasy points allowed to safeties for most of the season.

S Xavier Woods, Carolina (at ATL) (6): Woods has spent much of the 2024 season lurking around the fringes of IDP relevance. The veteran will entrench his status as sneaky value this year with a strong finish in Week 18 against the Falcons.

Week 18 IDP Duds

DT DeForest Buckner, Indianapolis (vs. JAX) (30): Buckner has missed time this season, but in terms of fantasy points per game, he's second among defensive tackles. With that said, as bad as the Jaguars have been this season, the team has allowed the sixth-fewest sacks in the NFL.

EDGE Alex Highsmith, Pittsburgh (vs. CIN) (24): Highsmith has had his moments when healthy this year, although injuries marred much of his season. But the Bengals haven't been kind to edge-rushers this season, allowing the ninth-fewest fantasy points to the position.

EDGE Harold Landry III, Tennessee (vs. HOU) (23): Landry has eight sacks on the season, and two total tackles this week will put him over 70 stops for the season. But the odds of a smash week aren't great in a bad matchup for edge-rushers with the Texans.

LB Kaden Elliss, Atlanta (vs. CAR) (30): Elliss has been an excellent fantasy asset this season—he's third among all linebackers in fantasy points this year. But he draws a clunker of a matchup to close the season with the Carolina Panthers.

LB Foyesade Oluokun, Jacksonville (at IND) (29): Oluokun has been arguably the biggest IDP disappointment of the season at linebacker—and a bottom-five fantasy matchup for his position with the Colts in Week 18 isn't going to help matters any.

LB Christian Rozeboom, Los Angeles Rams (vs. SEA) (32): Rozeboom has been solid for both fantasy managers and the Rams since taking over as the team's No. 1 off-ball linebacker. Unfortunately, as IDP matchups for the position goes, it doesn't get any worse than the Seahawks.

S Jessie Bates III, Atlanta (vs. CAR) (29): Bates has been as advertised this season—he's fourth among safeties in fantasy points for the season. But in news that should surprise no one, the Panthers haven't been a good IDP matchup for safeties in 2024.

S Dane Belton, New York Giants (at PHI) (31): Belton will be remembered as an IDP playoff hero by many this year. But he could just as easily be a Week 18 zero against a Giants team giving up the fewest fantasy points in the NFC to safeties this season.

S Tre'von Moehrig, Las Vegas (vs. LAC) (32): Moehrig has been from the IDP penthouse to the outhouse and back again this season. Unfortunately, he draws the worst matchup in the league for safeties this week with the Chargers.

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.