Free agent LB Brad Jones met with Packers officials for roughly an hour on Wednesday.

It's the first time the sides are known to have met since the start of free agency. Jones proved invaluable down the stretch last season, starting Green Bay's final 12 games. Per the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, he played all but seven defensive snaps after joining the starting lineup. Jones visited the Titans last week.

The player rep for free agent LB Brad Jones claims eight teams are showing interest in his client.

They could be just due-diligence calls, too. Jones did flash big-time promise in the second half of 2012, outplaying A.J. Hawk at inside linebacker in Green Bay. He was drafted by Chiefs GM John Dorsey and would be a fit in Kansas City.

We've reached Week 15 of the 2012 NFL season, and that means that in many IDP leagues the field has been whittled to four, as the playoffs are underway and fantasy championship week is just around the corner.

As such every matchup becomes crucial, and every lineup decision becomes critical. Odds are pretty good that the team you play this week is every bit as loaded as you are, so the last thing you can afford is for one of your starters to lay an egg in a hotly contested game.

So, with the knowledge that now is not the time to make mistakes 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 e-mail 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

Cliff Avril -- DE, Detroit Lions (at AZ): With at least one sack in four straight games Avril makes his second appearance on the "Studs" list, due in large part to the fifth-year pro facing an Arizona Cardinals team that has given up the most sacks in the NFL this year by a significant margin.

LaMarr Houston -- DE, Oakland Raiders (vs. KC): The third-year pro has heated up of late, with nine tackles and two sacks over the past two games, and that hot streak should continue Sunday against a Kansas City Chiefs team that has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to defensive linemen this season.

Julius Peppers -- DE, Chicago Bears (vs. GB): Last week Peppers was listed on the "Duds" list, but that certainly isn't the case this week, as the 11th-year veteran will be squaring off against a Green Bay Packers team surrendering the second-most fantasy points to defensive linemen and against whom Peppers had a sack in their first meeting this year.

Nick Barnett -- OLB, Buffalo Bills (vs. SEA): Barnett had one of his better games of the season last week with 10 total tackles last week against the St. Louis Rams, and Barnett should make it two big games in a row this...