Quarterback
MVP: Eli Manning (Giants)
Even the most optimistic Giants fan probably didn't envision Eli Manning playing this well in 2015. Manning's 2014 was plagued by horrible offensive line play and growing pains learning a new offense for the first time since his rookie year. 2015 couldn't be any more different as he's fully acclimated to Ben McAdoo's offense and playing his best football since the Giants last Super Bowl run in 2011. Manning put up his strongest outing of 2015 so far against the 49ers on Sunday night, throwing for 441 YDS and 3 TD's and adding 11 rushing yards on a scamper during the Giants game-winning drive.With 1,417 YDS, 10 TD's and just 2 INT's through the first 5 games, Manning is shedding the poor fantasy reputation he's developed over the past few years and morphing into a quality QB1 that can be consistently relied on to put up solid numbers.
Honorable Mentions: Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Andy Dalton (Bengals), Tom Brady (Patriots)
LVP: Peyton Manning (Broncos
While one Manning brother is on top of his game, the other one is hitting a new low. The elder Manning is finally showing signs of noticeable decline in play in 2015 and that regression hasn't been clearer than in his horrid outing (266 YDS, 0 TD's, 2 INT's) against the Raiders in Week 5. In Manning's defense, Demaryius Thomas and Owen Daniels both dropped potential touchdown passes in the 1st half, but his ineffectiveness against a middling Raiders defense is a mildly alarming sign for his fantasy owners. Manning has a solid shot of rebounding in Week 6 against a banged-up Browns secondary.
Dishonorable Mentions: Marcus Mariota (Titans), Matt Ryan (Falcons), Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Running Back
MVP: Doug Martin (Buccaneers)
Martin beckoned back to the glory days of his stellar 2012 rookie season in Week 5. Martin registered a remarkable 158 all-purpose yards (123 rushing, 35 receiving) and 3 TD's in the Buccaneers victory over the Jaguars on Sunday afternoon. Martin appears to have returned to form after 2 straight underwhelming, injury-riddled seasons and can be considered a top-end RB2/low-end RB1 in the current fantasy running back landscape.
Honorable Mentions: Justin Forsett (Ravens), Devonta Freeman (Falcons), Thomas Rawls (Seahawks)
LVP: Eddie Lacy (Packers) (13 carries, 27 YDS, 1 REC, 8 YDS)
It's been a really rough year for veteran RB's that were high fantasy picks as the likes of Marshawn Lynch, LeSean McCoy and DeMarco Murray have all been injured and/or severely underperformed in the first part of the season. Lacy is the latest victim of this disheartening trend as he put up a paltry 35 yards (27 rushing, 8 receiving) on just 14 touches against a so-so Rams rushing defense. Making Lacy's poor outing even worse is the fact that Aaron Rodgers had one of his weakest games in years, throwing 2 INT's and a modest (by his standards) 241 yards. Lacy has too much upside to remove from your starting lineup, but his time as a top-tier fantasy running back may be up.
Dishonorable Mentions: Alfred Morris (Redskins), Ameer Abdullah (Lions), Latavius Murray (Raiders)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Andre Johnson (Colts)
It's remarkable how much revenge can motivate a struggling player to turn the tide. After failing to register a catch in 2 straight games, Johnson regained his mojo against the Texans-his former employer- putting up his first solid stat line (77 yards and 2 TD on 6 receptions) as a member of the Colts. Johnson's play has been far too inconsistent on the whole to warrant a spot in his owner's starting lineups, but this performance is an encouraging sign that the 34-year old future Hall-of-Famer might not be completely out of gas yet.
Honorable Mentions: Allen Robinson (Jaguars), Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), Julian Edelman (Patriots)
LVP: Kendall Wright (Titans)
This was an odd week as most of the B-level receivers in good matchups delivered the goods and the superstar wideouts who posted weak numbers (Randall Cobb, Antonio Brown) did so against defenses that are in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. Wright was one of the few mid-level receivers who didn't take advantage of a good matchup, managing just 29 years on 3 catches against a Bills secondary that has surrendered huge games to Julian Edelman and Rishard Matthews this season. Wright remains the clear top target in the Titans passing game, but rookie Marcus Mariota's up-and-down play and Ken Wisenhunt's focus on spreading the ball around on offense makes him a somewhat sketchy WR3 option.
Dishonorable Mentions: Percy Harvin (Bills), Randall Cobb (Packers), Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers)
Tight End
MVP: Antonio Gates (Chargers)
Antonio Gates, how fantasy owners missed you so. Gates made a lot of noise in his 1st game back after serving a 4-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy, dicing up the Steelers defense for an absurd 92 YDS and 2 TD's on 9 receptions. Even at ripe old age of 35, Gates is showing no signs of slowing down and this performance immediately launches him to the top-tier of TE1's in fantasy football. If he's somehow available in your league and you don't own Rob Gronkowski, Greg Olsen, Tyler Eifert or Martellus Bennett, put in a waiver claim for him IMMEDIATELY.
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Eifert (Bengals), Gary Barnidge (Browns), Larry Donnell (Giants)
LVP: Charles Clay (Bills)
Coming off of 2 straight impressive performances against the Dolphins and Giants and with wide receiver Sammy Watkins and running back LeSean McCoy out of the lineup with injuries, Clay seemed primed to have another huge game against the lowly Titans defense in Week 5. Instead, the Bills offense completely sputtered and Clay reeled in just 1 catch on 3 targets for 7 yards. With quarterback Tyrod Taylor more than likely missing this week's game against the Bengals with a sprained MCL, Clay will be a risky TE1 play.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jason Witten (Cowboys), Owen Daniels (Broncos), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
Defense
MVP: Green Bay Packers
With their offense having a shockingly subpar game against the Rams stingy defense, the Packers D stepped up big time. The Packers defense pummeled the Rams lowly offense, allowing just 10 points and picking up 4 INT's, 3 sacks, a blocked field goal and a touchdown in Sunday's contest. The Packers are far from the most reliable fantasy defense out there, but they'll be a strong play once again in Week 6 as they take on the Chargers turnover-happy offense.
Honorable Mentions: Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots
LVP: New York Giants (27 points allowed, 2 sacks, 0 takeaways)
The Giants defense didn't live up to their billing as the hot waiver wire pickup of Week 5. The G-men failed to build off their strong outings in Week 3 and 4, putting up a below-average performance (27 points allowed, 2 sacks, 0 takeaways) against the lowly 49ers offense. While there are certainly much worse options out there, the Giants defense is too young and inconsistent to be anything more than a respectable streaming option.
Dishonorable Mentions: Baltimore Ravens, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
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