If you are reading this, you are probably a degenerate—in a good way.
For most fantasy managers, the season is over. Last week was the title game. One person is starting off the new year with a smile from ear to ear after winning a championship. Another is Captain Frowny Face after coming up just short of fantasy's ultimate goal.
All losses sting. But none worse than in the Championship Game—watching someone else get crowned can bring out anyone's inner Dennis Green.
However, there are those who stretch the season out as long as possible by holding their title tilt in Week 18. There's a potential pitfall there, of course—some teams will be resting players because they have nothing to play for, whether it's a banged-up star on a tomato can or a player gearing up for the postseason. It's not as big an issue with IDPs as on offense, but it still happens.
However, if you're willing to risk that and are playing for your league's championship in Week 18, then you need all the help you can get to set the best possible lineup and start 2026 off right.
And IDP Studs and Duds here at Footballguys is all about being marginally helpful, so once more it's into the fray—albeit with an abridged edition that contains 37 percent less blathering.
You're welcome.
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. Baltimore) (1)
Despite serving as Pittsburgh's green dot linebacker again this season, Queen ranks second on the Steelers with 118 total tackles this year—63 of which are assists. He ranks outside the top-30 linebackers in fantasy points for the season.
Excited yet?
However, Queen has posted double-digit stops on five occasions this season. The Ravens lead the league in fantasy points allowed to linebackers in 2025. And with Lamar Jackson banged up last week, Baltimore running back Derrick Henry carried the ball 36 times.
IDP DUD OF THE WEEK
LB Lavonte David, Tampa Bay (vs. Carolina) (31)
David is creeping up on his 36th birthday, but a birthday cake that requires a fire permit hasn't stopped David from surpassing 100 total tackles for the fourth consecutive year and the 12th time in David's 14 NFL seasons.
However, David's 108 tackles for the season mark his lowest total since he played just 12 games in 2021. David's assist ratio this year is 48.1 percent—up almost 15 percent relative to last year. David ranks outside the top-20 in fantasy points after a top-five finish in 2024. And he faces a Panthers team that has surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to linebackers this year.
WEEK 18 IDP STUDS
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