IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 10

Somehow, it's already Week 10 of the 2025 fantasy football season.

Actually, that "how" is something called "time." But this writer doesn't believe in it, because according to "time" I'm old—and that can't be right.

How we got here isn't important. What is important is that we're here. The stretch run for the IDP playoffs is just around the corner. And for quite a few fantasy managers, that means that time is running out on their odds of making the playoffs.

Great movie. Can't really show the rest of that scene here, though.

Sure, being 6-3 or 7-2 is great at this point—those teams have some margin for error. But even they can't afford to let off the gas. Not if they want a Round 1 bye when the playoffs start.

But for the many folks sitting at 5-4 and 4-5 (or worse), their margin for error is essentially gone. Over the next month-plus, each loss could be the one that puts the final nail in the coffin for the 2025 campaign. The defeat that sticks a fork in the season.

That means that every personnel move and lineup decision becomes that much more important. Every call becomes critical. IDP managers need to milk every single point possible from the lineup.

IDP Studs and Duds at Footballguys is here to help you yank some utters in Week 10.

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 10 is yet another four-team bye week—the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans are off. No Barrett Carter or Nick Bolton for IDP managers 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 Jamien Sherwood, NY Jets (vs. Cleveland) (2)

The Jets underwent quite the defensive shakeup this week—defensive tackle Quinnen Williams and cornerback Sauce Gardner were traded, and linebacker Quincy Williams was surprisingly traded. While speaking to reporters, Sherwood said he knows that he'll need to step up given all of that attrition.

"I wouldn't necessarily call it pressure," Sherwood said. "But obviously, you know I want to live up to expectations because I did earn it. I know what type of player I am. Obviously, I want to play up to those expectations. I don't feel like I need to do more because I trust the men around me to do their job as well. It's about me doing my job consistently."

Sherwood has been OK for IDP managers this season—he's LB17 in fantasy points after nine weeks. But the fifth-year veteran could legitimately be a top-five linebacker in Week 10—for all of the offensive struggles in Cleveland this season, the Browns have been consistently generous to opposing linebackers.

IDP DUD OF THE WEEK

EDGE Maxx Crosby, Las Vegas (at Denver) (32)

In what has been another miserable season in Vegas, Crosby has yet again been a bright spot—after four tackles and a sack a week ago against the Jaguars, Crosby sits fifth in fantasy points among edge-rushers. While addressing the media, Broncos offensive coordinator Joe Lombardi said that he's well aware Denver will have its hands full with the 28-year-old.

"He is a phenom," Lombardi said. "Obviously, he has a ton of ability. He's so disruptive, but it's the motor that really stands out, like you said. Just every single play, it's all out. You can't help but just get distracted by him every play. You just watch, and there he is again, causing disruption. Just tough, great stamina, and just a motor that every single play is a hundred percent. There are a lot of guys that are dangerous, and sometimes they might pick and choose their spots, and he picks every single spot."

Sitting Crosby is effectively impossible for 95 percent of fantasy managers. But expectations need to be tempered Thursday night—the Broncos are dead last in fantasy points per game given up to edge-rushers, and no NFL quarterback has been dropped fewer times this year than Bo Nix.

WEEK 10 IDP STUDS