IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 8

We have hit the halfway point of the fantasy football season. As you’re reading this, Metallica is cranking out “For Whom the Bell Tolls” as part of the Taco Bell IDP Halftime Show.

Metallica doing Super Bowl halftime would be incredible. Anyone who says differently just hates things that are awesome.

IDP managers are in all sorts of situations at the half. Some are up 34-3 and almost feel bad about dominating their overmatched opponents.

For the record, they do not feel bad even a little.

Others are getting waxed. It’s 21-3. They can’t figure out how things went sideways so quickly. What went so terribly wrong.

It probably had something to do with Bobby Okereke. Just saying.

Then there are all those folks locked in a battle. Maybe they are up 21-17. Maybe they are down 16-13. But whatever the score, it’s close. Victory or defeat could be decided by the first drive of the third quarter.

But that applies to everyone else, too. Ask the Atlanta Falcons about the perils of taking your foot off the gas too soon. Ask the New England Patriots about what can happen if you never stop fighting.

Y’all do realize this has been a metaphor, right?

If you don’t, I can’t help you. The same if you don’t like Metallica, you poor deluded soul. But what I can do is help you start the second half of the IDP season with a win.

It’s rather the point of IDP Studs and Duds here at Footballguys.

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).

No byes this week. Don’t ask why. Just enjoy it.

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 T.J. Edwards, Chicago (at WAS) (6)

Not many expected the Chicago Bears to come out of their bye week at 4-2, and the Chicago defense has anchored the team more often than not this year. Sixth-year veteran T.J. Edwards is the quarterback of that defense, and he told reporters that while the team has played well, there’s plenty of room for improvement.

“I mean, I feel like we’ve played well,” Edwards said. “Done some really good things in all facets of the game. But I think for us, we know that we can be a lot better. It’s a group that’s not complacent with anything that we do. I think from top to bottom we know that there’s a couple things that each group could do better, including myself. So, we’re excited to get things going.”

The Bears have played well as a team, but from an IDP perspective at least, Edwards has disappointed—he’s 30th in fantasy points per game among linebackers so far this season. But his first game post-bye could be a big one—the Commanders are already a favorable IDP matchup, and if Jayden Daniels sits Washington will likely lean that much more on the ground game.

IDP DUD OF THE WEEK: LB Lavonte David, Tampa Bay (vs. ATL) (32)

David is one of the very best off-ball linebackers of his era. He may well be the best coverage linebacker to ever play. At 34, David is still playing at a high-level—he’s fifth in fantasy points among linebackers after seven weeks. And as former tight end Cameron Brate told Bucs Total Access, he has no doubt that when the time comes, David will earn a bust in Canton.

"I feel like people are just waiting for Lavonte's downfall and it just never happens," Brate said. "He just keeps getting better. He is a fine wine. Lavonte is a Hall of Fame-level player. No question. It is unfortunate the way that it works because it comes down to how many Pro Bowls and All-Pros [you have], but Lavonte got the short end of the stick for so many years because he was classified in the same category as pass rushers, who had a ton of sacks. So, they would get all the accolades. Maybe he doesn't have all the All-Pros or Pro Bowls, but you look over the course of his career and he was one of the best linebackers, like true linebackers in the NFL."

Calling David a “Dud,” is an affront to all that is good and decent. It pains the Godfather to do so. But we’re far enough into the season that dismal matchups aren’t just coincidence or fluke. And for whatever reason, the Falcons are dead last in the league in fantasy points per game surrendered to linebackers.