IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 17

It's beginning to look a lot like IDP Championship Week.

Oh, and that Christmas thing, too—if you're into gifts and food and fun and all that junk.

It's going to be an unprecedented Championship Week, too. By the time Sunday's 1:00 PM games kick off, there will already have been six games played—two on Christmas Day, one on Boxing Day (it's a Canadian holiday where you go next door and sucker-punch your neighbor, I think), and three on Saturday (Or as it's known some places, "Return the Hideous Sweater Aunt Linda Got You" Day).

That goofy schedule has caused a change in how we're handling this week's articles. There will be no Living the Stream this week (stop applauding), so this hack can crank out the Week 17 edition of Studs and Duds a day early. However, in this week's "Studs" section, I'll dedicate one player at each position to streaming options for those unfortunate souls with a hole in their lineup this week.

No one has to tell IDP managers the stakes this week in most leagues. Get a victory, and glory is yours. Come up short, and it's weeks of kicking yourself over the decisions that didn't pan out—over the calls that cost you the title.

Given that, this week also carries a 100 percent guarantee. Every one of these lineup corrections will be spot-on—except for the ones that aren't.

How's that for comforting?

Joking aside, Have a Safe and Wonderful holiday season. And good luck in your Championship Games.

Now let's get some wins, people!

That really didn't have anything to do with anything. It's just hilarious.

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 Nick Bolton, Kansas City (at PIT) (8)

It seems a bit weird to single out Bolton at all—he was selected among the top 10 linebackers in most IDP drafts over the summer. But while Bolton's NFL impact has remained as good as ever, the 24-year-old acknowledged to reporters that he and his teammates could do a better job of tackling in space.

"A lot of our tackles are one-on-one in space," he said. "It's kind of how our defense is and how teams are attacking us. It's kind of schematic and how the game kind of falls out, but we've got a lot of one-on-one tackles. We love the turnovers and everything, but we need the tackles as well."

After amassing just four solos in last week's win over the Texans, Bolton is two stops shy of 100 for the season and ranks 28th in fantasy points among linebackers. But the Chiefs can sew up the AFC's top seed with a win in Pittsburgh on Christmas, and the Steelers have been a favorable matchup for linebackers in 2024.

IDP Dud of the Week: LB T.J. Edwards, Chicago (vs. SEA) (32)

Edwards has been essentially just what fantasy managers expected this season—the veteran linebacker sits 12th in fantasy points at the position for the year. Edwards has also emerged as both the green dot linebacker and a defensive leader in Chicago, and he told reporters he's not afraid to speak his mind if he feels the unit isn't playing to its potential.

"There's an understanding that from coaches to players, we all need to be better," he said. "In this league, the really good teams take accountability. Not just players but coaches as well. And I feel that we have a team that does that. But again, it's one thing to say how good we can be and all those things, but it's another thing to go do it on Sunday."

Edwards doesn't have the highest IDP ceiling, but he is so attractive to fantasy managers in no small part because he rarely has a down week. However, if ever there was a time to Edwards to have that rare flop spot, it's this week against the Seahawks—Seattle has been mired at the bottom of the league in fantasy points surrendered to linebackers most of the season.