IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 9

It's Halloween week—and a terrifying time for many fantasy managers.

Sure, some fortunate souls are sitting at 6-2 or 7-1 and cruising along. Edge rushers like Brian Burns of the New York Giants are piling up sacks. Linebackers like Jordyn Brooks of the Miami Dolphins are racking up tackles. The wins keep stacking up, and all is well and right with the world. But for every team that is rolling, there's one that is 4-4 and trying to keep the season afloat. And another at 3-5 or 2-6, desperate to get a win in Week 9.

For those latter groups, the margin for error has dwindled to next to nothing. Make the wrong lineup calls this week and take another loss, and the season could be deader than a rando teenager in a slasher flick.

That's unfortunate.

Those managers badly need to maximize their lineup this week. To just keep running instead of hiding in an abandoned barn like a doofus. And like Dr. Loomis coming to Laurie Strode's rescue in Halloween, IDP Studs and Duds here at Footballguys is here to help.

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 9 is another four-team bye week—the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are all off. No Myles Garrett, Jamien Sherwood, Zack Baun, or Lavonte David this week.

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 Kaden Elliss, Atlanta (at New England) (1)

After finishing third in fantasy points among linebackers a year ago, Elliss got off to a slow statistical start this year—the 30-year-old was LB49 over the first six weeks of the season. However, while addressing the media, Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said that Elliss' impact on the Atlanta defense goes well beyond stats.

"[Elliss] has been a huge part of the success here," Ulbrich said. "He's another one that, gosh, and I know I'm sounding a bit redundant right now, but the character of everyone, but Kaden especially, is so unique. Another guy that is 100% about the team."

Elliss has turned up his statistical production over the past couple of weeks—21 total tackles over the past two weeks, including a season-high 12 stops last week against the Miami Dolphins. That hot streak should continue in a top-three matchup for linebackers with the Patriots on Sunday.

IDP DUD OF THE WEEK

EDGE George Karlaftis, Kansas City (at Buffalo) (30)

Karlaftis is off to a solid start to the season—he's on pace to smash his career high in total tackles and post 9.5 sacks and is a top-15 fantasy option among edge rushers. After getting a fat extension in the offseason, Karlaftis told reporters he's doing his best to help the team's younger defensive linemen the same way he was helped back in the day.

"Three years ago, I had a guy called Frank Clark. And he was out here with me every single day after practice. I've been fortunate enough to know Ashton (Gillote) for a couple years now, and working with him, and trying to pass down the torch," Karlaftis said. "Kinda like Frank did me, Carlos (Dunlap), Chris (Jones), all those guys I had my rookie year. That's really what it's about. I just hope I can do my part in developing these young guys."

Karlaftis doesn't get the run he deserves as one of the league's better young edge rushers, but the 24-year-old should be benched where possible this week. The Bills have long been a garbage matchup for opposing edge rushers—as it turns out, Josh Allen isn't an especially easy quarterback to sack.

WEEK 9 IDP STUDS