As hard it may be to believe, the 2013 fantasy football regular season has reached the halfway mark. With any luck your team is in the thick of the playoff hunt, and hopefully the recommendations in this article have been of some assistance in that regard. However, whether you're 5-1 or 1-5, we're all facing the same problems, be it under-performing stars or the injuries that have claimed the likes of New England linebacker Jerod Mayo , who was lost for the season last week. That makes every lineup decision all the more difficult, especially as each week's games become more important for playoff positioning. That's where IDP "Studs and Duds" comes in. Every week during the 2013 season, I'll point out some IDPs who could be set to exceed expectations this week (studs) and some that for whatever reason are riskier plays than usual (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). Finally, the bye weeks are rolling right along, with the New Orleans Saints and Oakland Raiders taking Week 7 off. No Curtis Lofton or Charles Woodson this week. STUDS Rob Ninkovich, DE, New England (at New York Jets): After eight sacks last year, Ninkovich has managed only one sack through six games this season. This week's tilt with the New York Jets, who have allowed the fourth-most sacks in the NFL in 2013, should give Ninkovich a solid shot at breaking out of that funk. Dontari Poe, DT, Kansas City (vs. Houston): Poe has mixed in three huge stinkers with three huge games en route to a top-10 ranking among defensive linemen in Fantasy Sharks Default IDP Scoring . The odds are good that this week's matchup with a Houston Texans team giving up the second-most fantasy points to defensive linemen in 2013 will fall into the latter category. Cameron Wake, DE, Miami (vs. Buffalo): Wake has been hampered by a knee injury of late, but the 31-year-old had the bye week to get right heading into a matchup with a Buffalo team allowing pressure on nearly 25 percent of dropbacks and the most fantasy points to defensive linemen. Jon Beason, MLB, New York Giants (vs. Minnesota): The 28-year-old played well in his first start with the Giants, logging 12 tackles in a loss to the Chicago Bears. More importantly, Beason stayed on the field in passing situations, which should equate to plenty of tackle opportunities against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. Bruce Carter, OLB, Dallas (at Philadelphia): After spending some time in defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin's doghouse, Carter was re-installed as the every-down weak side linebacker last week against the Washington Redskins. Don't hesitate to get him lineups this week against a Philadelphia Eagles team that has been an IDP gold mine for linebackers this season. Colin McCarthy, MLB, Tennessee (vs. San Francisco): A bit of a blast from the proverbial past, McCarthy is back in the lineup for the Titans this week in place of the injured Moise Fokou . As spot-starts go, IDP owners could do much worse than McCarthy in a plus-matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. Antoine Bethea, FS, Indianapolis (vs. Denver): Bethea will welcome long-time teammate Peyton Manning back to Indianapolis Sunday night. Given how much Manning likes to target wide receiver Wes Welker and tight end Julius Thomas over the middle, there should be no shortage of opportunities for IDP production for Bethea. Glover Quin, SS, Detroit (vs. Cincinnati): Quin has been something of an IDP disappointment, with only 25 total tackles so far this season. If ever there was a game for the fifth-year pro to reverse that trend, it's Sunday against a Cincinnati Bengals squad allowing the third-most fantasy points to defensive backs. Greg Toler, CB, Indianapolis (vs. Denver): When looking for an IDP spot-start at cornerback, you want a sure tackler who isn't that great in coverage heading into a strong matchup. That makes Toler three for three as he and the Colts prepare for Sunday night's big showdown with the Denver Broncos. DUDS Michael Johnson, DE, Cincinnati (at Detroit): To an extent this applies to Carlos Dunlap as well. It's certainly no knock on either player's talent, but the Bengals rotate their defensive ends a lot, and this week's opponent (the Detroit Lions) has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to defensive linemen this year. Derrick Morgan, DE, Tennessee (vs. San Francisco): Morgan was a trendy pick as an IDP breakout candidate this year, but so far no dice. Now the 24-year-old is hampered by a shoulder injury, and even if Morgan does play this week his snaps will all but certainly be limited in a lousy IDP matchup. George Selvie, DE, Dallas (at Philadelphia): Selvie has played well in place of Anthony Spencer this year, but the fourth-year pro is already showing some signs of wearing down. Throw in a terrible IDP matchup with a Philadelphia Eagles club surrendering the fewest fantasy points to defensive linemen this season, and it's wise to look elsewhere in Week 7. James Anderson, OLB, Chicago (at Washington): After coming over from the Carolina Panthers, Anderson has emerged as a steady, veteran force on the Chicago defense. However, the 30-year-old is battling a sore back, and the Washington Redskins have given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points to linebackers in 2013. Lavonte David, OLB, Tampa Bay (at Atlanta): One of the few bright spots in a dark season in Tampa, David is an immensely talented young linebacker. However, the Atlanta Falcons offense is an injury-ravaged mess that's allowing the fewest fantasy points per game to linebackers in 2013. Erin Henderson, MLB, Minnesota (at New York Giants): Henderson has been a solid IDP option this season, ranking higher in fantasy points per snap (per The Huddle's Steve Gallo) than teammate Chad Greenway . However, the Giants haven't been a good IDP matchup for linebackers this year, so there's a decent chance Henderson posts his second so-so stat line in a row. Morgan Burnett, FS, Green Bay (vs. Cleveland): Burnett was one of the first defensive backs drafted this year, and, after losing the season's first month to a hamstring injury, IDP owners are no doubt anxious to get Burnett into lineups. However, it's worth bearing in mind that only the St. Louis Rams have allowed fewer fantasy points to defensive backs this season than the Cleveland Browns. Duke Ihenacho, SS, Denver (at Indianapolis): At first glance, Sunday night's showdown between the Broncos and Colts would appear to be a bonanza for defensive backs. However, the Colts have not been a good matchup for defensive backs to this point in 2013, due in large part to their ball-control, power-running offense. Da'Norris Searcy, SS, Buffalo (at Miami): This isn't a "sit" recommendation as much as a warning. Searcy has been rock-solid for IDP owners so far this year, and at this point he's nearly impossible to sit. However, it was injuries that got the third-year pro (who was nearly cut before the season) into the starting lineup, and, with the Buffalo secondary getting healthier, the clock could be ticking on Cinderella turning back into a pumpkin. Don't forget to check back here regularly at Fantasy Sharks for all your IDP needs, from Rankings and Projections to waiver wire pickups and strategy. Whatever you need, Fantasy Sharks has you covered! Looking for more IDP information? Be sure to check out all the other great IDP articles by the rest of the Fantasy Sharks' crew, the IDP Forum , IDP Manor , and for the latest injury news follow @IDPManor on Twitter. Gary Davenport is the IDP Senior Staff Writer at Fantasy Sharks and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association, In addition to his work at Fantasy Sharks and at IDP Manor, Davenport's IDP work has been featured in a number of national print publications and on both satellite and terrestrial radio.