IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 15

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will." – Vince Lombardi

It's the IDP playoffs in most leagues, so a motivational quote seemed a good way to start this week's column. From here on, there is no room for failure. Lose another game in 2024, and that's that. No championship. The pressure is at its zenith. Fantasy managers have to put their noses to the grindstone. Out work their opponent. Out-hustle them. Fight for every inch. Tear themselves to pieces for every inch.

OK, might be laying it on a bit thick.

The truth is though, there really is no margin for error now. Every opponent is a quality one. Every fantasy point matters. Start the right guys, and it's on to Week 16. Sit the wrong ones, and you're fresh out of reasons not to go ahead and hit the store to buy a gift for that cousin you don't even really like.

No one wants to shop for Carl. He's insufferable.

It's absolutely vital this week to hit on as many lineup calls as possible. To squeeze the maximum amount of juice out of that lineup. Luckily, as it happens you have a fantasy football Nutribullet right here—in the form of this week's edition of IDP Studs and Duds 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).

Now let's get after 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 Nick Bolton, Kansas City (at CLE) (2)

Many IDP managers probably consider Bolton something of a disappointment for the season—the fourth-year pro started the season slow and remains outside the top-20 for the season at his position. While speaking to reporters, Bolton himself admitted that he hasn't played to his standards for much of this season.

"We've just got to find ways to get guys on the ground," Bolton said. "I think we're getting [population] at the ball, which is great. We missed a couple of tackles, but they're not leading to all those explosive plays because of the rallying to the ball. I believe if we can get the first guy [and] get him on the ground, it will help us get in some more manageable downs for us."

Bolton has picked things up of late—16 total tackles and a sack over the last two weeks. He should carry that momentum over into the IDP playoffs—the Browns lead the league in fantasy points allowed to IDPs overall and are second in points surrendered to linebackers. This week at least, fantasy managers get the top-10 IDP option they expected on draft day.

IDP Dud of the Week: LB Fred Warner, San Francisco (vs. LAR) (31)

Like Nick Bolton. Warner is widely regarded as one of the best young off-ball linebackers in the NFL. But while Bolton started slow and has come on of late, Warner came blazing out of the gate but has cooled way off of late. That's partly because Warner is playing with a broken bone in his ankle, although he told reporters that he's not looking for sympathy.

"It's something I deal with every game," Warner said. "I get on that table before every game and get it shot up every single game just to be able to roll. But it's not an excuse. It's just what it is. That's the NFL. You're not going to be healthy. You've got to go out there, you've got to find ways to execute, to play at a high level and to win every single week."

Warner's numbers are way down—he hasn't had more than six tackles in a game in over a month. Even a slumping Warner is hard for fantasy managers to sit in a must-win week, but in addition to being nowhere close to 100 percent, Warner draws a Los Angeles Rams team that has cratered as a matchup for his position over the season's second half.