Quarterback
MVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Despite his status as one of the elite QB's in the league, Russell Wilson hasn't exactly been a fantasy stud over the course of his career thus far. That was not the case in Week 5 as Wilson put up a combined total of 323 yards (201 passing, 122 rushing) and 3 TD's (2 passing, 1 rushing) in Monday night's game vs. the Redskins. In a run-first offense in Seattle, Wilson remains too risky to start weekly, but he's a top-flight QB2 who can serve as a plug-and-play QB1.
Honorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Jay Cutler (Bears), Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
LVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Ben Roethlisberger wasn't able to build off his success of his season-best outing last week against Buccaneers on Sunday against the Jaguars. There was nothing outright terrible about Roethlisberger's numbers (272 yards, a TD and a fumble), he just wasn't able to put the video games numbers that Phillip Rivers and Andrew Luck had put up on the Jaguars the past couple of weeks. Roethlisberger's bounceback potential is a little bit sketchy this week as he faces the stealthily tough secondary of the Browns on the road.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matthew Stafford (Lions), Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Nick Foles (Eagles)
Running Back
MVP: Arian Foster (Texans)
Arian Foster continues to defy the odds. Foster light up the Cowboys for 157 yards and 2 TD's on the ground in the Texans overtime loss on Sunday afternoon. Someone that has had as many injuries over the years as Foster has shouldn't be able to still produce at such a high level. Foster owners are being rewarded handsomely for taking a chance on him; he's one of the very few reliable weekly RBI plays in the league this season.
Honorable Mentions: Andre Ellington (Cardinals), Eddie Lacy (Packers), Pierre Thomas (Saints)
LVP: Matt Asiata (Vikings)
I've said it before and I'll say it again: Matt Asiata is only affective when he gets in the endzone. That point was proved once this week as Asiata put up middling numbers (72 yards and a fumble) against a horrible Packers run D last Thursday night. Asiata owners will continue to have a love/hate relationship with him all year long. His value as a fantasy player is completely dependent on whether or not he gets TD's. His goal-line touches in this rough RB economy make him too valuable to sit, but he is far too inconsistent to rely on week-in and week out.
Dishonorable Mentions: Giovani Bernard (Bengals), Doug Martin (Buccaneers), Alfred Morris (Redskins)
Wide Reciever
MVP: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)
The Demaryius Thomas of 2013 has returned! Thomas used the bye week to shake his early season struggles and, appeared to be beyond rejuvenated as he lit up the Cardinals for an eye-popping 226 yards on 8 receptions and 2 TD's on Sunday. It's great to see Thomas overcome his early season woes, and return to the level of production we've come to expect from one of the league's most dominant receivers. Ridiculous numbers could be in the cards yet again for Thomas in Week 6 as the Broncos face the lowly Jets secondary on the road.
Honorable Mentions: DeSean Jackson (Redskins), Kendall Wright (Titans), Brian Quick (Rams)
LVP: Percy Harvin (Seahawks)
You have to feel for Percy Harvin this week. Harvin had 3 TD's(!) called back because of penalties in the Seahawks Monday night contest with the Redskins. Because of the 3 nullified TD's, Harvin ended up with a pretty underwhelming statline with just 34 total yards (27 receiving, 7 rushing) on 6 touches for the night. Harvin is still the Seahawks' top wideout and as long as he remains healthy, so don't sleep on him and his home run playmaking ability in the future.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers), Keenan Allen (Chargers), Rody White (Falcons)
Tight End
MVP: Greg Olsen (Panthers)
Greg Olsen got sweet revenge against his ex-mates on the Bears with a 72 yard/2 TD performance in the Panthers huge comeback win on Sunday. Olsen is probably the best fantasy tight end not named Julius Thomas at the moment, so it would be foolish for anyone that has him to not start him every single week.
Honorable Mentions: Julius Thomas (Broncos), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
LVP: Jordan Cameron (Browns)
There are few players that have been as disappointing in the world of fantasy football in 2014 than Jordan Cameron. Cameron seemed like a top contender to be a top 5 TE in a Browns offense that lacked proven offensive weapons and will be without star wide receiver Josh Gordon until Week 12. Instead, Cameron has looked sluggish out of the gate and been an almost complete-non factor in the 3 games he's appeared so far in 2014. Cameron's latest stinkfest was a 33-yard performance against the banged-up Titans defense on Sunday. To be fair, Cameron is battling a nagging shoulder injury, but DeSean Jackson has the same injury as him and hasn't been slowed down in the slightest. Cameron still has a ton of upside with his freakish athleticism and general lack of talent on the Browns offense, but unless he turns it around fast, he'll remain one of the biggest fantasy busts of 2014.
Dishonorable Mentions: Larry Donnell (Giants), Martellus Bennett (Bears), Delanie Walker (Titans)
Defense
MVP: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles defense were once again the top dogs in Week 5 as they put up 4 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and 2 defensive/special teams scores against the Rams on Sunday. Their deadly special teams and high takeaway volume more than makes up for the fact they allow a ton of points per game. They may not be this productive every week, but they have definitely emerged as a legitimate weekly defensive starter.
Honorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, San Diego Chargers, Pittsburgh Steelers
LVP: Seattle Seahawks
The defending champs may have one of the top overall defenses in the league, but they continue to disappoint in the realm of fantasy football. The Seahawks defense had another quiet evening against the Redskins-who got obliterated by the Giants middling defense a week ago-registering only a single sack and failing to get a takeaway. The Seahawks have a massive disappointment so far and if they can't put up solid production against the Cowboys at home on Sunday, any high hopes for this defense in fantasy can officially be voided.
Dishonorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos
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