The dark days have arrived. As Individual Defensive Player (IDP) owners far and wide get ready to start the playoff push, Week 8 presents the biggest challenge of the year. Several prominent individual defensive players were felled by injuries last week. Throw in six teams on a bye, and the pool of available talent this week is more like a puddle. As if that wasn't bad enough, I enter this week attempting to shake off my worst week recommendations-wise so far this year. Granted, it wasn't all bad, but between a snap count for Miami defensive end Cameron Wake and an injury for Indianapolis cornerback Greg Toler, there was more than a little egg on my face in Week 7. That's OK. I like eggs, and I have soap, so after cleaning myself off it's back into the fray for another edition of "IDP Studs and Duds." Every week during the 2013 season, 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). 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 here with a bang, with San Diego, Houston, Chicago, Baltimore, Tennessee and Indianapolis all taking Week 8 off. Get players from those teams out of your lineup. STUDS Chris Clemons, DE, Seattle (vs. St. Louis): Clemons has gotten right back into the swing of things after missing the early part of the season while recovering from an ACL tear suffered in last year's playoffs. Clemons has racked up at least half a sack in four straight games, and that streak should keep going this week in a top-five IDP matchup with St. Louis. Cameron Jordan, DE, New Orleans (vs. Buffalo): Jordan has excelled in his first season as a 3-4 defensive end, logging five sacks in six games. The third-year pro should keep that momentum rolling this week against the Bills, who have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing defensive linemen this year. Rob Ninkovich, DE, New England (vs. Miami): Ninkovich tallied eight sacks last year, but has managed only one to this point in 2013. If ever there was a matchup for the 29-year-old to break out of his funk, it's Sunday against tackle Jonathan "turnstile" Martin and the Miami Dolphins. Martin has allowed six sacks in 2013, second-most in the NFL. David Harris, ILB, New York Jets (...

With the initial wave of free agency signings drawing to a close, the Individual Defensive Players (IDP) outlook for many teams is beginning to take shape. Needs that were going to be addressed in April's draft have been filled, and many big name IDP players will be donning new uniforms in 2013. The AFC South is no exception as the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts look to improve on rosters that saw both teams make the playoffs last season while the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars look for any port in a storm and try to forget the 2012 season. Whether Jacksonville and Tennessee can contend with Indianapolis and Houston is irrelevant for our purposes (for the record ... they can't), examining how their new additions will offer IDP fantasy value is another story altogether. Let's take a look at each team and their 2013 defensive free agent signings with an eye on the IDP fantasy implications. INDIANAPOLIS: The Colts burst out of the gate as free agency opened and made several moves to try and improve their defense by signing former Arizona cornerback Greg Toler as well as pass-rushing outside linebackers Erik Walden (Green Bay) and Lawrence Sidbury (Atlanta). They also re-signed cornerback Darius Butler who joined the team prior to Week 5 last season and produced four interceptions from the slot corner position. From a fantasy standpoint, there doesn't look like much to get excited about outside of Toler, who finished the 2010 season as a Top 10 fantasy defensive back. He missed the entire 2011 season with a torn ACL and returned last season to play 11 games for Arizona. He managed to post 27 combined tackles, two interceptions (one he returned for a touchdown) and eight passes defended while playing 308 snaps. He'll get the chance at a starting position with Indianapolis, and his proclivity to give up the big play will have quarterbacks testing him all season long. Should he manage to stay healthy, all that attention from opposing offenses will add up to nice fantasy production. Expect at least low-end DB3 production from Greg Toler in 2013. Erik Walden managed to amass nine sacks during his three-year stint with Green Bay and somehow parlay that into a fat deal with the Colts. He will get the opportunity to start opposite Robert Mathis as a pass rushing outside linebacker but does not have a history of production that warrants serious fantasy consideration. Walden did put up 60 combined stops and three sacks back in 2011 for the ...

First off, let me acknowledge that at times there are players listed here that actually end up not dressing for that week's game. In the last two weeks, Anthony Spencer and Ropati Pitoitua come to mind. Unfortunately, with deadlines to meet, there is no chance to see the Friday practice reports before the article is submitted. It happens, so what will be done in the future is that I will try and suggest another player to plug-in should a player be uncertain to suit up that week. OK, enough excuse making, it is time to look at week six sleepers who can replace BYE week options, or injured starters to carry IDP teams to victory. DEFENSIVE BACKS Greg Toler, CB, ARIZONA, vs. BUFFALO: Toler has surpassed William Gay in the secondary rotation for the Cardinals and has a nice match-up in week six with the Bills coming to town. Toler doesn't shy away from contact; he has twelve solo tackles in the last two games and is weak enough in coverage that he will be thrown at. Look for the Bills will to attack the strong Cardinals defense through the air after watching Sam Bradford toss two touchdowns last week. Should Toler miss the game due to a nagging hamstring issue, insert William Gay. Craig Dahl, S, ST LOUIS, at MIAMI: Dahl was looking over his shoulder at the hard charging Darian Stewart, until Quintin Mikell suffered a concussion last week. It appears that Stewart and Dahl will both be on the field until Mikell returns and the Dolphins represent a fantasy friendly opponent for safeties. Dahl has twenty-nine total tackles and while he lacks any big plays on his resume to date, can get fantasy owners decent production as a bye week fill-in this week. Buster Skrine, CB, CLEVELAND, vs. CINCINNATI: Skrine has been surprisingly effective as a fantasy cornerback, amassing twenty-nine total tackles in five games. This production will keep him on the field, despite the return of Joe Haden from his suspension. Skrine has seven passes defended, teams will avoid throwing at Haden, continue to target Skrine and that keeps his fantasy value high against the Bengals this week. Aaron Williams, CB, BUFFALO, at ARIZONA: The Cardinals are a good fantasy match-up for cornerbacks and Williams will absolutely add to the four passes defended he has put up so far this season. While teams tend to attack rookie corners, and Williams lines up opposite Stephon Gilmore. The fact is, Williams is only in his second season and drawing plenty of throws his way. He and Gilmore will both be ...