Quarterback
MVP: Andrew Luck (Colts)
Well Andrew Luck bounced back in just about the best possible way after a rough game against the Chargers last week. Luck was just about pitch-perfect in the biggest (regular season) game of his career overshadowing Peyton Manning's return to Indianapolis with a 4 TD (3 passing, 1 rushing) performance that was the catalyst behind a huge Colts victory on Sunday night. In reality and the fantasy game this year, Luck has proven his worth and paved his way into the upper-echelon of quarterbacks in the league.
Honorable Mentions: Andy Dalton (Bengals), Robert Griffin III (Redskins), Peyton Manning (Broncos), Matthew Stafford (Lions)
LVP: Nick Foles (Eagles)
So much for the Nick Foles craze in Philly. A week after torching the Buccaneers and threatening to take the Eagles starting quarterback job from Michael Vick, Foles put up a huge dud against a Cowboys secondary that has been very generous at allowing fantasy points to quarterbacks all season long. Foles put up a whopping 80 yards through the air and another 25 yards on the ground before getting concussed early in the 4th quarter and being forced to leave the game. Foles was all the waiver-wire rage last week and now with the concussion and this horrid performance, he'll be amongst the most dropped players this week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Tony Romo (Cowboys), Jay Cutler (Bears), Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
Running Back
MVP: Matt Forte (Bears)
With all the major injuries that happened to the Bears on Sunday against the Redskins, the Bears needed some kind of positivity to take away from an otherwise disastrous game and that much-needed positivity came from running back Matt Forte. After a slow start on the day, Forte put on the burners for 91 yards and 3 TD's. He didn't perform his typical dual-threat duties (He only had 16 receiving yards,) but his trio of touchdowns more than make up for that. Forte definitely put big smiles on the faces of his fantasy owners in another slow week for running back production.
Honorable Mentions: Frank Gore (49ers), Chris Johnson (Titans), Ryan Matthews (Chargers), Jaquizz Rodgers (Falcons)
LVP: Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
Chalk this is up as pure shock. In a game with a new starting quarterback that is still learning the system and playing a defense that can't stop a nosebleed, Adrian Peterson only had 12 carries for a horrible 28 yards. I don't what was going through the heads of head coach Leslie Frazier and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave when devising this game plan, but it's clear that it did not work. The team runs through Peterson and that should especially be the case when your quarterback just joined the team two weeks ago (On a related sidenote: Josh Freeman threw 51 times and in typical Freeman fashion, he underwhelmed mightily.) In a slight silver lining Peterson had his highest receiving total of the season (28 yards,) but that still doesn't make this performance any less disappointing.
Dishonorable Mentions: Trent Richardson (Colts), DeAngelo Williams (Panthers), Alfred Morris (Redskins), Giovani Bernard (Bengals)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Calvin Johnson (Lions)
After a one-week reprieve from inhuman numbers, Calvin Johnson returned to his superhuman ways with 9 catches, 155 yards and 2 TD's on the day (one of which was a 50-yard bomb that Johnson caught in triple-coverage.) Just when you have a slight hint of doubt in Johnson's production, he comes out and destroys the competition. Johnson hasn't been quite as dominant in 2013 as he was last season, but he's still a lock at WR1 and one of the most consistent receivers in the realm of fantasy football.
Honorable Mentions: A.J. Green (Bengals), Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers), Eric Decker (Broncos), Harry Douglas (Falcons)
LVP: Josh Gordon (Browns)
You can tell it was a horrible weak for the Browns offense, when their biggest (and pretty much lone) weapon gets held to 21 yards on the day. This is the first game Gordon hasn't been exceptional since returning from suspension and since the offense runs through him and Jordan Cameron, Gordon remains a must-start every week.
Dishonorable Mentions: DeSean Jackson (Eagles), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals), Justin Blackmon (Jaguars), Kenbrell Thompkins (Patriots)
Tight End
MVP: Jermichael Finley (Packers)
This may be the last big performance of the season for Jermichael Finley, as he left Sunday's game with a spinal cord contusion. Prior to the injury, Finley was great catching all 5 of his targets for 72 yards and a touchdown. Definitely an unfortunate end to one of the better tight ends in the league's season (and hopefully it won't be his last given the severity of the injury.) Finley's fantasy owners should look to the wavier wire and pick up his replacement Andrew Quarless or if they are available, Jordan Reed, Jeff Cumberland or Delanie Walker immediately to fill in the huge void he leaves.
Honorable Mentions: Jordan Cameron (Browns), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Jordan Reed (Redskins), Delanie Walker (Titans)
LVP: Tony Gonzalez (Falcons)
With Julio Jones out for the year and Roddy White inactive, it looked like the perfect time for Tony Gonzalez to shine. Well that was not the case as Gonzalez finished the day with just 2 catches for a paltry 30 yards. With the uncertainty surrounding the Falcons passing game moving forward this year, Gonzalez owners are going to hope he can become more prevalent in the passing offense or make a trade for Harry Douglas if they want to find a way to benefit off of the Falcons passing game.
Dishonorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Vernon Davis (49ers), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Heath Miller (Steelers)
Defense
MVP: Carolina Panthers
Arguably the most underrated defense in the league thrived on Sunday picking up 4 sacks, 3 takeaways and a defensive touchdown against the Rams.
Honorable Mentions: Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, San Fransisco 49ers, Buffalo Bills
LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
This top 5 fantasy defense stumbled for the first time all season getting no takeaways against a team that has been serving them in spades all year long. They did manage 5 sacks on the day, but this is still a major disappointment for such a dominant defense against such a shaky offense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Baltimore Ravens, Minnesota Vikings
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