"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.