IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 8

It's halftime--sort of.

In the majority of leagues, the 2025 fantasy football regular season is halfway over. Seven games have been played, and beginning this week, seven remain.

For some fortunate souls, the first half was a dream. Edge rushers piled up sacks. Linebackers racked up tackles. And they stacked wins like all-you-can-eat pancakes at IHOP.

For others, though, the last seven weeks have been a nightmare. Injuries ravaged the roster. Players didn't come close to meeting expectations. Loss after loss after really(?) have left their seasons teetering on the brink before it's even Halloween.

Then there are most IDP managers. Things ain't been perfect. Or disastrous. The only certainty right now is that nothing is certain. Championships could be won. Playoffs could be missed. Every week will be a battle from here out.

And that's how it should be.

This analyst has never been a fan of looking any farther ahead than the next matchup. Get enamored with a hot start and start making plans for a first-round bye, and you'll all but certainly lose it. Each week is a season unto itself. Next week is a next week problem.

And IDP Studs and Duds is all about living in the now.

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).

Week 8 is also the first Byepocalypse—six teams are off. No Arizona Cardinals, Detroit Lions, Jacksonville Jaguars, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, or Seattle Seahawks. The list of prominent IDPs who will be fishing in Cancun is not short—and there will be more than a few fringe "starters" this week.

Hitting on one could be the difference between happy-time and losing stinks.

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

EDGE Laiatu Latu, Indianapolis (vs. Tennessee) (1)

Latu was the first defender drafted a year ago, and after a relatively modest rookie season, he appears to be turning a corner, including logging a pair of interceptions in the Colts' first seven games. While speaking to the media, Latu said that the picks are nice and all, but he needs to be better at the big plays he was drafted to make—getting to the quarterback.

"We got lock-down DBs in the back that's forcing (the opposing QBs) to hitch the ball," he said. "Then, we got dudes up front, applying pressure that's making them get that ball out early, so I feel like I should be catching interceptions. But on top of that, I still need to get better at my fundamentals because I still need more sacks."

Latu had just four sacks as a rookie and two so far this season, but his advanced metrics are far more appealing. He has an excellent chance to turn analytics into sacks against the woeful Titans Sunday—Tennessee is second in the NFL in sacks allowed and leads the league in fantasy points per game allowed to edge rushers.

IDP DUD OF THE WEEK

LB Bobby Okereke, NY Giants (at Philadelphia) (32)

Last week's fourth-quarter collapse by the Giants was historic—in all the worst ways for guys like Okereke, who is one of the leaders of the New York defense. While talking to reporters, though, the seventh-year veteran was the first to step up and admit that he played a part in a loss that won't soon be forgotten.

"Everyone's got to look at the man in the mirror. It's easier to point the finger, but from a team perspective, it's better to point the thumb and figure out what I can do better as an individual. So, that's what we're all about to do, and we're excited for this upcoming opportunity."

The problem for Okereke this week is twofold. After a red-hot start to the year, the 29-year-old has just 11 solo tackles over the last three games combined. He also faces an Eagles team this week that is dead last in fantasy points per game surrendered to linebackers. He's a so-so LB4 in Week 8—even with the byepocalypse.

Week 8 IDP Studs