IDP Start-Sit, Studs and Duds: Week 15

Fantasy football's second season has arrived.

If you're reading this column, then odds are congratulations are in order. In most IDP leagues, Week 15 brings with it the fantasy playoffs. Months of preparation and roster management and setting lineups have paid off with an opportunity to achieve the ultimate goal and win a championship.

It's time to celebrate, if only briefly. To have a playoff party.

However, you can't party too hard—at least not yet. That's because the job isn't done yet. There are still two or three games that need winning—and none of those wins will be easy. All of the teams remaining alive have had successful seasons. Their rosters are replete with talent. There will be no easy outs.

From here out, every point is critical. Every lineup call can be the difference between advancing to the next round or calling it a season just short of the finish line. The margin for error is effectively zero.

Fortunately, IDP Studs and Duds at Footballguys is here to help you make decisions that will propel your team to the semifinals.

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 Barrett Carter, Cincinnati (vs. Baltimore) (1)

It has been a rollercoaster of a rookie season for Carter, who has gone from a Day 3 pick to the green dot linebacker for the Bengals. It's a lot of responsibility for a player who not much was expected from him in 2025, but while speaking to reporters, the 23-year-old said he believes he's up to the task.

"I love being the new kid on the block, and that people don't see me as a 23-year-old rookie. They see me as a leader," Carter said. "I'm just trying to step into that role and be what this team needs. I don't take it lightly. For me, it's just about going back to work, going back to the drawing board, trying to be the best leader, and best player, best man this team needs to get some Ws. It's a blessing."

After a red-hot start after taking over for Logan Wilson, Carter's numbers have cooled considerably of late. But the former Clemson standout is playing every defensive snap and has hit or surpassed the 10-tackle mark four times ahead of a matchup with a Baltimore Ravens team leading the league in fantasy points allowed to linebackers.

IDP DUD OF THE WEEK

EDGE Micah Parsons, Green Bay (at Denver) (31)

The Packers paid a high price to obtain Parsons in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys, and so far, the fifth-year pro appears to have been worth every penny. Parsons is generally regarded as one of the best edge rushers in the NFL, but while talking to reporters, he insisted that he still isn't getting the respect he deserves.

"I think every week people question my worth," he said. "People try to belittle me and try to take away my name. When you're the best, that's what happens – you are talked about, you're looked at more closely. I could go out there and have five sacks, and people would say, 'Oh, it's coverage sacks. They held the ball.' They're going to find something."

Parsons has been outstanding in Green Bay—his 12.5 sacks are already more than he had a year ago, and he ranks inside the top 10 fantasy edge rushers. But this week Parsons faces an uphill climb—the Broncos have given up the fewest sacks in the NFL and the fewest fantasy points in the AFC to edge rushers.

WEEK 15 IDP STUDS