IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 6

It seems like the 2025 season started just yesterday, but we're already five weeks into the fantasy campaign. And IDP teams are barreling in every direction.

For some, the first month-plus has been nothing but smiles and happy time. Los Angeles Rams edge-rusher Byron Young has been piling up sacks. Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks has been racking up stops. And those managers are stacking wins like flapjacks.

For others, however, the first five games have been a disaster. The early pick spent on Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin hasn't panned out even a little. Their top edge-rusher has been hurt. With just a single win or an 0-5 mark, those sad souls are all but doomed.

Doomed, I say!

Then there's the big pack of teams sitting somewhere in the middle. They are cautiously optimistic after a 3-2 start. Working hard to get back to .500 at 2-3. Both are trying to get some positive momentum going lest things get out of hand.

Unless they are sitting at 0-5, the long-term goals of all those managers remain the same—make the fantasy playoffs and win a championship. To do that, they must first achieve the short-term goal of earning a win in Week 6.

That's where IDP Studs and Duds at Footballguys comes in.

Each week during the 2025 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 2025 in The Godfather's Default IDP Scoring. 

IDP STUD OF THE WEEK

LB Patrick Queen, Pittsburgh (vs. Cleveland) (1)

Queen amassed 129 total tackles in his first season with the Steelers in 2024, but just 65 were solos, and the 26-year-old's first year in the Steel City was widely considered a disappointment. However, as Jacob Punturi wrote at SI, Queen's play has been a big part of Pittsburgh's 3-1 start in 2025.

"His tackling efforts are huge, but he's also been a disruptor in the middle of the field and helping to create the turnover-heavy pace the Steelers are putting up," he said. "He has 5.5 stuffs, according to ESPN statistics, highlighting how often he's been in the backfield during running plays. He also has one sack and two passes defended, showing the full range of what he can bring to the defensive side of the ball."

The Steelers defense has struggled this year (28th in yards allowed per game), and the Browns are sure to lean hard on rookie running back Quinshon Judkins on Sunday. Cleveland has been a fantasy goldmine for linebackers dating back to last season, and there's little reason to think that will change in Week 6.

IDP DUD OF THE WEEK

LB Devin White, Las Vegas (vs. Tennessee) (32)

White is one of the surprise success stories of 2025—the former top overall IDP linebacker has resurrected his career in Sin City and ranks among the top-25 linebackers in some fantasy scoring systems. While speaking to reporters, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has seen the White from his Tampa heyday on the field this season.

"Devin had some rough times the last couple years," Carroll said. "He got knocked around in a couple places and really couldn't find his groove. Couldn't get his rhythm back in the game, didn't play very much. [Raiders General Manager John Spytek] had been with him in Tampa when he had those great years. He was a phenomenal player early in his career. So, it's not a surprise he's able to play like that, it just hasn't happened for a couple years."

Fading White this week isn't about the player. Or even about the fact that his production has cooled of late. It's about a Titans team that is 31st in the league in total offense, is barely averaging 85 yards a game on the ground, and has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to linebackers.

WEEK 6 IDP STUDS