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IDP Studs and Duds - Week 12 (fantasysharks.com)
6 Months Erin Henderson LB MIN, Thomas Davis LB CAR, Ray Lewis LB BAL, Dannell Ellerbe LB MIA, Donald Butler LB SD Comment

It's Week 12 of the 2012 NFL season, and as you settle into your post-Thanksgiving feast sweat pants and run Icy Hot on your Black Friday bruises. It's time to get down to the business of setting Individual Defensive Player (IDP) lineups in advance of one of the most important fantasy weeks of the regular season.

Last week's recommendations went fairly well, as while Atlanta defensive end John Abraham and Jacksonville linebacker Paul Posluszny lived up to their billing, linebacker Donald Butler continued to confound me. Recommend him as a start he faceplants. Tell folks to sit him and he has a solid game. I see how it is.

So, with the knowledge that Butler is out to get me, it's time for another week of IDP "Studs and Duds," where I'll point out some individual defensive players who could be set to exceed expectations this week (studs) and some that for whatever reason are riskier plays than usual (duds).

That 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, before we get on with the show, if you have a specific IDP start/sit question you'd like my take on you can email me at askgary@fantasysharks.com or post the question in the "Kilroy Krystal Ball" thread in the Fantasy Sharks IDP Forum. I can't promise I'll get to every question, but I'll do the best I can.

STUDS

Elvis Dumervil, DE, Denver (at Kansas City): Dumervil's shoulder injury didn't appear to be a significant hindrance a week ago, as the seventh-year pro tallied six stops, a sack and a forced fumble. Start Dumervil with confidence this week against a Kansas City Chiefs team allowing the fifth-most fantasy points this year to defensive linemen.

Robert Quinn, DE, St. Louis (at Arizona): No team in the National Football League has allowed more sacks or fantasy points to the position than the Arizona Cardinals, and there's no reason to think that the turnstile will stop spinning this week when Quinn and the Rams come to town.

Justin Tuck, DE, New York Giants (vs. Green Bay): After pulling a vanishing act for most of the season, Tuck's production has picked up of late. That trend should continue as the eighth-year veteran comes out of his bye to face a Green Bay Packers squad that has been a Top 5 IDP matchup for defensive linemen in 2012.

Thomas Davis, OLB, Carolina (at Philadelphia): The eighth-year veteran exploded last...

A Look at Some IDP Preseason Darlings and Their Fantasy Potential f... (fantasysharks.com)
9 Months Stewart Bradley LB DEN, Jordan Senn LB CAR, Anthony Dixon RB SF, Cyrus Gray RB KC, Cedric Peerman RB CIN Comment

Gauging a player's fantasy worth off of preseason performance can be a double-edged sword for fantasy owners. For every head-turning performance turned in by a Ben Tate, as in the 2011 preseason, there is a Cedric Peerman or Anthony Dixon, circa 2010, who put up three and four touchdowns, respectively. Then the regular season rolls around and neither is a factor for fantasy purposes, rendering their preseason feats useless for evaluation purposes.

The same perilous situation affects the defensive side of the ball as starters are rested and kept to very limited action, allowing names to jump off the stat sheets who are not normally thought of as fantasy relevant. A better example would be a look at the top two running backs this preseason, Cyrus Gray (Kansas City) and Joique Bell (Detroit). Do we really expect to see either of these players among the Top 50 fantasy producing players at their position? Didn't think so. So, let's delve into the defensive side of the ball and examine some preseason darlings to date and their chances to actually contribute once the ‘real' season begins.

Jordan Senn, OLB, Carolina: After being allowed to check out his worth on the free agent market, Senn re-signed with the Panthers as mainly a special teams player. He leads the NFL this preseason with 17 total tackles and actually has had some moderate success when called upon for extended playing time. He amassed more than 70 total stops last season and forced three fumbles while filling in on an injury ravaged Carolina linebacking corps. As the kickoff of the 2012 season nears, the Panthers are once again nursing some nicks and bruises among their linebackers. Jon Beason has yet to suit up for a preseason contest while recovering from an Achilles injury and oft-injured Thomas Davis is dealing with a calf problem. Davis is also attempting to comeback from three ACL surgeries and is far from a lock to make it through the season unscathed. Senn is undersized at 5-foot-11 and 225 pounds but is the primary backup to both Beason and Davis, so he could hear his name called again to step in and contribute for Carolina in 2012. His preseason success is less of a ‘red herring' and more of a reminder to fantasy owners that he can get the job done if given the opportunity.

Stewart Bradley, ILB, Arizona: Bradley was a huge disappointment last year, his first in Arizona, as he failed to unseat Paris Lenon in the Cardinals defense and put up only 31 total tackles. Entering his second...

Thomas Davis LB CAR
9 Months Carolina Panthers Comment

Panthers WLB Thomas Davis (ACL surgeries) made his preseason debut Sunday night against the Jets, playing primarily in nickel packages.

He registered a first-quarter sack of Mark Sanchez, and is on track to be the first player in league history to return from three ACL tears in the same knee. Davis won't be a starter, but he should be able to cover tight ends and blitz in the nickel on occasion. On early downs, he'll play behind Luke Kuechly.

Thomas Davis LB CAR
9 Months Carolina Panthers Comment

Panthers WLB Thomas Davis (knee, calf) hasn't been ruled out for Week 1.

"If Thomas is feeling strong enough and we feel he's made a strong enough recovery, we feel that he'll play," coach Ron Rivera said. "He looks good right now." Attempting to become the first player in league history to come back from three ACL tears to the same knee, Davis missed a large chunk of camp with a calf injury, but saw his workload ramped up on Monday. If he's active, Davis' snaps figure to be limited early in the regular season.

Thomas Davis LB CAR
9 Months Carolina Panthers Comment

Panthers WLB Thomas Davis (calf) returned to practice Wednesday.

Davis only ended up missing a week. More importantly, his thrice-repaired ACL appears to be holding up for now.

Thomas Davis LB CAR
10 Months Carolina Panthers Comment

Panthers WLB Thomas Davis is sidelined with a strained right calf.

Davis hasn't practiced since Sunday, but an MRI didn't reveal any damage to his surgically-repaired right knee. Attempting to become the first player in NFL history to come back from three ACL tears to the same knee, Davis "could" return to practice next week. Certain to miss Carolina's first preseason game, it will be a concern if Davis isn't ready for Carolina's second exhibition tilt.

Thomas Davis LB CAR
10 Months Carolina Panthers Comment

Panthers coach Ron Rivera believes WLB Thomas Davis' surgically-repaired knee is "fine."

"He's on track and doing a lot of good things," Rivera said of Davis, who is attempting to come back from his third right ACL tear. Davis got the night off for the Panthers' first padded practice Monday, but has apparently otherwise been full-go. How Davis looks in the preseason will be all-important in determining his 2012 status.

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