With the NFL playoffs underway, it is a time of reflection and rearrangement for many fantasy football owners. Another season has concluded and there are lessons and laments aplenty. There are, of course, many playoff formats of fantasy football to keep the juices flowing (including an excellent one here at Fantasy Sharks), and I do play in my share of those. For many fantasy enthusiasts it is not the same beast, and, like myself, their attention has already turned squarely towards 2014. With that in mind (and a lot of time on my hands being snowbound in Michigan) combined with an unhealthy obsession for Individual Defensive Player (IDP) football, here is an early look at some interesting names to keep on the radar heading into next season. This is a quick collection of names that I find coming up most frequently in my exchanges with fellow IDP junkies as we turn our collective attention to next season. Keep in mind that some of the players listed here are on teams that do not currently have head coaches or a definitive scheme that they will be playing in for 2014. While that certainly muddies the water a bit, we can still take a look at some IDP players who I feel are poised to be fantasy standouts in 2014. I'm taking a leap and figuring that if you are reading an article focused on next season in January that you share my obsession and realize that this is as fluid a list as you'll find this time of year. Paul Worrilow, MLB, Atlanta: This name comes as no surprise to IDP owners who picked him off the waiver wire early in 2013 and reaped the benefits. Worrilow may not always appear to be the best linebacker on the field but he posted an impressive 129 total tackles with two sacks in his rookie season. An injury to Sean Weatherspoon elevated the need for Atlanta to get Worrilow and fellow rookie linebacker Joplo Bartu on to the field and both performed admirably. With their glaring need for pressure creating defensive linemen off the edge, it's hard to see the Falcons looking to draft much linebacker help early. Both Worrilow and Bartu should have the chance to secure their positions heading into 2014. Audie Cole, MLB, Minnesota: Despite missing Week 17 with an ankle sprain that forced him to leave Week 16 after only five snaps, Cole announced himself on the IDP scene in 2013. Cole started in place of linebacker Erin Henderson and posted 42 total tackles from Weeks 12-15, with 25 of those stops being of the solo variety. Henderson is likely to ...

In the vast majority of IDP leagues, the sun has set. Week 16 brought with it the title game, a champion has been crowned and the season is over. However, there are some leagues that wait until Week 17 to hold their championship. It can be problematic, due mostly to teams who have clinched resting players, but who am I to judge? Especially since I'm playing in one myself. With one more game to be played there are folks out there looking for help, and that's where this week's abbreviated version of IDP Studs and Duds comes in. 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). Best of luck in your league's championship game! STUDS Justin Smith -- DE, San Francisco 49ers (at ARI): Smith had one of his better games of the season in last week's playoff clincher against Atlanta, the 34-year-old has a sack in two straight games, and the Cardinals have been a top-10 IDP matchup for defensive linemen this season. Muhammad Wilkerson -- DE, New York Jets (at MIA): Wilkerson has enjoyed a breakout third season, but hasn't logged a full sack in a month. Look for that dry spell to end this week against a Dolphins team that has surrendered the most sacks in the NFL in 2013. Joplo Bartu -- OLB, Atlanta Falcons (vs. CAR): With Sean Weatherspoon back on the shelf, Bartu is back in a three down role for the floundering Falcons. It led to a big game last week against the San Francisco 49ers, and there's little reason to think it won't again Sunday in another favorable IDP matchup with the Carolina Panthers. Moise Fokou -- MLB, Tennessee Titans (vs. HOU): Fokou may well be the least impressive three-down MIKE in the NFL, but that doesn't change the fact that even in a train-wreck season the Houston Texans have still been kind to opposing linebackers from an IDP perspective. Roman Harper -- SS, New Orleans Saints (vs. TB): The season-ending ankle injury suffered by rookie Kenny Vacarro thrusts Harper back into a full-time role at strong safety for the Saints in a must-win game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, making the veteran a solid IDP option in Week 17. Jim Leonhard -- SS, Buffalo Bills ...

The halfway point of the fantasy season is behind us and it's time to kick our weekly preparation into high gear. This is another week in which six teams are on a bye, increasing the importance of finding those sleeper candidates. Plowing through the distractions of Halloween week (what can I say ... a 10-year-old girl loves candy and 2-year-old cat loves candy wrappers) the staff of the '53 Deep' column has come up with the players to help lead teams to victory. Let's get to it ... LINEBACKERS Joplo Bartu, ATLANTA at Carolina: Since being inserted as a starter in Week 2, Bartu has played more than 93 percent of the team's defensive snaps. Over the past two games he has posted 15 total tackles and registered half a sack in consecutive starts. Bartu's versatility (and injuries) has seen him alternate between strong side linebacker and weakside linebacker, ensuring that he will have plenty of tackle opportunities this week. Daryl Sharpton, HOUSTON vs. Indianapolis: Sharpton steps into a starting inside linebacker role in place of the injured Brian Cushing . He has never played more than 12 games in a season and carries a huge injury risk (he's missing practices this week with foot and toe injuries), so utilizing him as soon as possible is a wise move. For as long as he's healthy, Sharpton will be manning a prime position for fantasy production. (*Monitor his status on game day. If he is out go with Chicago rookie linebacker Khaseem Greene here.) Jon Bostic, MLB, CHICAGO at Green Bay: In his first game as the starting middle linebacker replacing the injured D.J. Williams , Bostic logged 66-of-76 defensive snaps in Week 7. He finished with eight total tackles (six solo) and has a very fantasy friendly matchup this week. The Packers are using their new toy, rookie running back Eddie Lacy a ton (97 carries the past four games), showing a commitment to the run. Bostic is in for a huge week as Minnesota middle linebacker Erin Henderson finished with 14 total tackles against Green Bay last week. David Hawthorne, ILB, NEW ORLEANS at New York Jets: Hawthorne finally appears to be healthy and is playing as he did back in 2011 for Seattle. He put up eight solo tackles, a sack and a forced fumble last week against Buffalo. The Jets are going to look to limit the touches that quarterback Drew Brees gets this week by pounding the rock with former Saints running back Chris Ivory . Hawthorne will post excellent tackle numbers and also have chances at big play ...

It had to happen now. Injuries are a fact of life in the NFL and fantasy football. They pile up as the season wears on. However, the last thing that Individual Defensive Player (IDP) owners needed heading into a Week 8, where no fewer than six teams are taking the week off, is for a rash of injuries to suddenly strike the linebacker position. That's what they got. Houston's Brian Cushing is out for the season after breaking his leg against Kansas City. Chicago's Lance Briggs is out at least a month after suffering a fractured shoulder against Washington. Those injuries and this week's six-team siesta have left fantasy owners scrambling to plug the gaps in their lineups. Here's a look at some of the top options available for doing so. PICKUP OF THE WEEK Jon Bostic, MLB, Chicago Bostic was already in the starting lineup with the Bears due to a season-ending injury to veteran D.J. Williams, but a two-down role capped his IDP upside. Now, with Briggs on the shelf as well, the Bears will likely have little choice but to play the rookie in an every down capacity. Granted, with the Bears one of six teams taking this week off, Bostic is of little help to IDP owners right now, but for Briggs and Cushing owners in many leagues Bostic may represent the best consolation prize they're going to get. The youngster is a ferocious tackler and stout run defender, and if Bostic can hold his own in coverage he should see plenty of tackle opportunities with Briggs out. WEEK 7 WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS Star Lotulelei, DT, Carolina The waiver wire has been pretty bare on the defensive front this year, and Week 8 is certainly no exception. That could leave many owners in a bye week crunch looking for a player who can simply be a one week fill-in who will post at least so-so numbers. If you're in such a bind, consider Lotulelei. The rookie hasn't posted eye-popping numbers this season, but he is coming off a six-tackle effort against St. Louis heading into a Thursday night matchup with a Tampa Bay squad with no Doug Martin and a rookie quarterback in Mike Glennon. Jonathan Massaquoi, DE, Atlanta This is admittedly something of a "Hail Mary" call. However, Massaquoi, who took over at defensive end for the Falcons after Kroy Biermann went down, does have a couple things going for him. First, the second-year pro notched three tackles and half a sack in last week's win over Tampa Bay. Second, this week Massaquoi and the Falcons face the Swiss cheese Arizona offensive line. ...

One month of the NFL season is in the books and approximately one third of the fantasy football season is over. As usual the IDP landscape is a wild and crazy one with as many twists and turns as the ending of a M. Night Shyamalan movie. Or at least "The Sixth Sense" because it was a good movie...the other ones were...umm...OK, it is his only good movie. You get the point folks. Let's keep riding the hummingbird that is the 2013 season and look at the IDP sleeper candidates for Week 5. LINEBACKERS Ahmad Brooks , OLB, SAN FRANCISCO vs. Houston: Brooks can often be overlooked as All Pro LBs Patrick Willis and Navorro Bowman grab the headlines for the 49ers. What can't be overlooked is the solid production Brooks has brought this season as he has put up 25 total tackles (20 solo) as well as 2½ sacks with two passes defended. The Texans are an excellent matchup for fantasy LBs and Brooks will continue to get his share of the tackles and big plays despite lining up alongside Bowman and Willis. Nick Roach , MLB, OAKLAND vs. San Diego: The Chargers are a top ten matchup in allowing fantasy points to the LB position. Roach mans the middle of the Raiders defense and has played every snap through four weeks. Last week he posted seven total tackles (six solo stops) and forced a fumble. Look for the Chargers to attack a weak Oakland run defense and for Roach to post very nice tackle numbers. Spencer Paysinger , MLB, NEW YORK GIANTS vs. Philadelphia: Paysinger is coming off a seven solo tackle and one sack game against Kansas City. The Eagles allow the most points to the LB position and Paysinger is the only three down LB on the Giants' roster. He's put up 23 total tackles (22 solo) through four weeks and is primed to have a monster game this week. Paysinger should be starting in all IDP formats this week. Joplo Bartu , SLB, ATLANTA vs. New York Jets: With Akeem Dent out and Paul Worrilow nursing a knee injury Bartu will be the healthiest Falcons LB on the field this week. The Jets will look to pound the rock with RB Bilal Powell and limit QB Geno Smith 's opportunities to turn the ball over. Bartu is coming off a six total tackle performance against the Patriots last week and could hit double digit stops this week. K.J. Wright , WLB, SEATTLE at Indianapolis: Wright has started the season a bit slowly with only 18 total tackles through four games. He has put up one sack and still carries some big play potential when used in blitz packages. The...

Welcome to Week 3 of the '53 Deep' Individual Defensive Player (IDP) sleepers article. Through two weeks we can safely assume one thing in the IDP world ... ASSUME nothing! After playing more than 60 snaps and posting double-digit tackles in Week 1, San Diego linebacker Bront Bird played six snaps in Week 2. Yes, six snaps. There is neither rhyme nor reason to why things happen in IDP leagues (other than, hey it's the Chargers), and as confounding as it can be, it is honestly one of the reasons I love IDP formats. It's also why I love writing this column each and every week because it is akin to Rocky Balboa chasing that chicken in preparation for his rematch with Apollo Creed. The IDP landscape is tricky and constantly shifting and it is so satisfying when we catch ahold of that sweet sleeper choice that propels a team to victory. With that in mind ... LINEBACKERS Joplo Bartu, OLB, ATLANTA at Miami: Bartu saw 63 snaps last week due to the injury suffered by Sean Weatherspoon and finished with six solo tackles as well as a quarterback hurry. Do not sweat the signings of Omar Gaither and Jamar Chaney as they are depth players and Bartu is going to play three downs for the Falcons this week. Miami is a top-five opponent in allowing points to the linebacker position, so Bartu could not fall into a better fantasy situation. He's athletic, and, in watching his performance last week and in the preseason, seems to have a nose for the football. Grab him and insert as a starter right away. Geno Hayes, SLB, JACKSONVILLE at Seattle: Surprisingly, Hayes has played every defensive snap for the Jaguars through two weeks. He's amassed 14 total tackles (11 solos) and defended a pass. This week should be an excellent one for all the Jacksonville fantasy linebacker options and Hayes will get his share. Seattle will pound the ball early with Marshawn Lynch and then most likely late as they sit on a big lead with Robert Turbin. That means a big day tackle wise for Hayes as a three down linebacker. Demario Davis, ILB, NEW YORK JETS vs. Buffalo: Davis finally has been given his chance to be an every down player for the Jets and has responded with 14 total tackles through two games. The Bills will look to get C.J. Spiller on track early in this game and that will give Davis plenty of tackle opportunities. Davis has also been credited with four quarterback hurries this season and there is the chance that he gets a sack this week. Big play numbers could help vault him...