It's Week 7. By the time the dust settles on this week, the regular season will have hit the halfway mark. And that could mean vastly different things for IDP managers.
Managers heading into Week 7 at 4-2 or 5-1 are all smiles. They invested in Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt's consistency. Reveled in San Francisco 49ers linebacker Fred Warner's hot start. Butts have been kicked. Names Taken.
There are the 2-4 and 1-5 crowd. The group that has been blasted by injuries. The folks that invested an early pick in New York Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke. At this point, they are just trying to keep the season on the rails. It might not be over just yet, but it's getting late early.
While you're smiling, frowning or one of the 3-3 managers who have don't a fair amount of both (never mind the screaming), the mission this week is the same, In fact, it's the same as the mission every week.
Don't get too caught up in your record. Live in the now. And get a win in Week 7.
That's where IDP Studs and Duds here at Footballguys comes in.
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.
Stud of the Week: LB Logan Wilson, Cincinnati (at CLE) (1)
Wilson doesn't often get the credit he deserves as one of the better off-ball linebackers in the game despite anchoring the middle of the Cincinnati defense for the past four seasons. Wilson has never been named to a Pro Bowl, but Jordan Dajani of CBS Sports included the 28-year-old in his rankings of the best in the NFL at his position.
“For the third straight season,” Dajani wrote, “Wilson led the Bengals in tackles with a career-high 135, and added one sack, nine passes defensed, two forced fumbles and tied for the team lead in interceptions with four. In fact, the Bengals' official website claims Wilson's 11 career interceptions are the most by any linebacker since he entered the league in 2020. He is also one of just two players to record 10 interceptions, five sacks, and five forced fumbles since 2020, the other being safety Harrison Smith.”
Wilson has gotten off to a solid statistical start to the 2024 campaign—he ranks among the top 15 linebackers in fantasy points after six weeks. Wilson has a chance at the top 10 after Week 7—the Cleveland offense may be a five-alarm dumpster fire, but the Browns have also allowed more fantasy points to linebackers in 2024 than any team in the NFL.
Dud of the Week: EDGE Harold Landry III, Tennessee (at BUF) (32)
The Tennessee Titans are a mess, but that can't be blamed on a defense that is the only one in the NFL that has allowed less than 250 yards per game. Edge rusher Harold Landry III is arguably the best player on that defense, and he told reporters that every time he steps on the field, he's attempting to do three things.
"I always say: Every time I step on the field, I am trying to prove that I am that versatile, consistent and productive player," Landry said. "Every time I step on the field, I am trying to check all three of those boxes."
Landry has been just as good for IDP managers as he has been for the Titans, racking up three sacks and ranking inside the top-five defensive ends in fantasy points per game. The problem in Week 7 isn't the player. It's the matchup—the Bills are dead last in fantasy points per game allowed to edge rushers, largely because Josh Allen just doesn't absorb many sacks—just eight in six games this season.
Week 7 IDP Studs
EDGE Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati (at CLE) (1): Both Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson should feast this week in Cleveland. The Browns offensive line has been atrocious, surrendering eight more sacks than any team in the league.
EDGE Will McDonald IV, NY Jets (at PIT) (5): The Steelers are making a change at quarterback, and while Russell Wilson doesn't hold the ball as long as Justin Fields, he also doesn't have Fields' mobility. McDonald's breakout season continues Sunday night.
EDGE Josh Sweat, Philadelphia (at NYG) (3): Sweat is getting sweaty of late—the seventh-year veteran has logged a sack in back-to-back games. Three in a row is a decent bet Sunday against the Giants, who are once again struggling to protect Daniel Jones.
LB Alex Anzalone, Detroit (at MIN) (6): Don't read too much into Anzalone's down Week 6—the Dallas Cowboys couldn't generate any kind of consistent offense. This week against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings should be a different story.
LB Trevin Wallace, Carolina (at WAS) (2): Wallace has been tossed into the deep end—a rookie making the defensive play calls due to Shaq Thompson's Achilles tear. No team in the NFC has allowed more fantasy points to linebackers this year than the Commanders.
LB Dorian Williams, Buffalo (vs. TEN) (3): Williams hasn't been a true three-down linebacker this year, but his tackle efficiency numbers have been fantastic. Add in a top-three IDP matchup with the Titans, and you have the ingredients for a big week.\
S Jalen Pitre, Houston (at GB) (4): Pitre was never going to back up the ridiculous numbers he posted as a rookie—especially in his new role this season. But the Packers set up as the type of match-up that will enable Pitre to dial back the clock for a week.
S Justin Reid, Kansas City (at SF) (1): Reid is an overshadowed member of the Chiefs defense and is more than capable of making the most of a favorable fantasy matchup. For safeties this year, it doesn't get any better than the San Francisco 49ers.
S Isaiah Pola-Mao, Las Vegas (at LAR) (3): Pola-Mao hasn't been able to duplicate his big first start yet, which has seen him fall from favor with some IDP managers. The same folks will try to grab the youngster off the waiver wire after he lights up the Rams.
Week 7 IDP Dude
EDGE Will Anderson Jr., Houston (at GB) (27): Anderson is coming off a monstrous three-sack effort against the New England Patriots last week. But the Green Bay Packers have only given up eight sacks all season.
EDGE Carl Granderson, New Orleans (vs. DEN) (26): Granderson is banged up, but it appears he will give it a go Thursday night against the Broncos. But for a rookie quarterback, Bo Nix has done a good job of evading pressure and getting rid of the ball.
EDGE Matthew Judon, Atlanta (vs. SEA) (29): Judon hasn't been the difference maker for the Falcons that Atlanta traded for, and now he draws a bottom-five fantasy matchup for defensive ends with the Seahawks. Another slow week awaits.
LB Jerome Baker, Seattle (at ATL) (32): Baker has been on a nice little rip of late—21 total tackles and a forced fumble over the past two weeks. But he's not the kind of talent who can overcome the worst fantasy matchup in the league for linebackers.
LB Demario Davis, New Orleans (vs. DEN) (31): That Davis is still playing at the level he is at the age of 35 is fairly remarkable. But the Denver ground game has been stuck in the mud much of this season, which has hurt the IDP production of opposing fantasy linebackers.
LB Troy Reeder, LA Rams (vs. LV) (21): Reeder is an average player who has been an average IDP option heading into a matchup with a reeling Raiders offense that has already told Santa Claus all it wants to be for Christmas is average.
S Quentin Lake, LA Rams (vs. LV) (28): Lake's a better talent than Reeder, but much of what was written about the latter also applies to the former. The Vegas offense is well and truly offensive—and trading Davante Adams won't help matters.
S Taylor Rapp, Buffalo (vs. TEN) (32): Rapp had a big outing last week against the New York Jets, logging eight total tackles and three passes defensed. There will be no second act this week against Tennessee's non-existent passing game.
S Jalen Thompson, Arizona (vs. LAC) (31): Budda Baker is almost impossible to sit, but the Chargers are a rotten fantasy matchup for defensive backs. In five games this season, Justin Herbert has topped 200 passing yards once and has yet to hit 250 in a game.
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.
