Quarterback
MVP: Matthew Stafford (Lions)
After tormenting his fantasy owners for the first 5 weeks of the season, Matthew Stafford came alive in Week 6. Stafford embarrassed the Bears weak corners all game long, finishing with 405 YDS and 4 TD in Sunday's afternoon shootout that ended with the Lions picking up their 1st victory of the season. While his Week numbers are impressive, Stafford is likely to revert to the less-than-stellar form of his first 5 games when the Lions face the talented defense of the Vikings in Week 7.
Honorable Mentions: Phillip Rivers (Chargers), Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Andrew Luck (Colts)
LVP: Marcus Mariota (Titans)
Marcus Mariota has had his fair share of struggles after his brilliant opening game against the Buccaneers. In the 3 games following his 4 TD, 0 INT, 158.3 QBR debut, Mariota has 4 TD, 3 INT, 2 fumbles and a QBR of 82.9. The highly-touted rookie hit a new low in Week 6 as he got manhandled by the Dolphins defense, finishing the afternoon with 219 YDS, 1 TD and 4 giveaways (2 INT and 2 fumbles lost). It was revealed yesterday that Mariota suffered a sprained MCL during the game, so his status for the Titans tough Week 7 matchup against the Falcons is unclear at this time. Even if Mariota doesn't miss any time, Mariota's spotty play makes him nothing more than a mid-level QB2.
Dishonorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings), Eli Manning (Giants)
Running Back
MVP: Devonta Freeman (Falcons)
Okay, this is just getting absurd now. Freeman has been putting up monster games like clockwork and he strung together another masterful performance (156 total yards, 2 combined TD on 18 touches) in the Falcons Week 6 loss to the Saints. Freeman has been the fantasy MVP of the 1st third of the season and there's no reason to believe that his level of production will tail off as the season progresses.
Honorable Mentions: Chris Ivory (Jets), LeGarrette Blount (Patriots), Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)
LVP: Eddie Lacy (Packers) (4 carries, 3 YDS, 2 catches, 17 YDS)
Last week I said that Lacy's time as a top-tier fantasy running back may be up. After his performance this week, I'm now starting to think that it is up. Lacy got out-touched by James Starks 11-5 and looked sluggish every time he touched the ball against a creampuff Chargers rush defense, finishing with just 20 total yards (17 receiving, 3 rushing) on 6 touches. With Starks putting up a 117-yard, 2 TD performance, Lacy's spot as the starter could very much be in jeopardy when the Packers return from bye in Week 8. If you're a Lacy owner and Starks is available in your league, add him as a handcuff ASAP.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dion Lewis (Patriots), Adrian Peterson (Vikings), Melvin Gordon (Chargers)
Wide Receiver
MVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
The most-targeted receiver in the NFL proved his worth once again in Week 6. After a quiet start, Hopkins eviscerated the Jaguars surprisingly solid secondary and ended up putting together the best game of his stellar 2015 season so far, registering an absurd 148 YDS and 2 TD's on 10 receptions. Hopkins is the number 1 ranked fantasy receiver through the first 6 weeks of the season and as long as he stays healthy, he's pretty much a lock to be a top 5/10 fantasy wideout for the rest of the year.
Honorable Mentions: Martavis Bryant (Steelers), Calvin Johnson (Lions), Alshon Jeffrey (Bears)
LVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers) (3 REC, 24 YDS)
The loss of Ben Roethlisberger has put a serious damper on Brown's production. Michael Vick's horrendous, inaccurate passing paired with Brown's inability to get on the same page as the over-the-hill quarterback have made him a complete non-factor in the last 3 games. Brown's 3 reception, 24-yard performance against the Cardinals in Week 6 was his worst performance since December 2012. With Roethlisberger more likely out again this week, Brown better hope that his rapport with 3rd-string quarterback Landry Jones is better than it was with Vick. Even though his numbers have been terrible over the few week, fantasy owners would be foolish to take Brown out of their lineups.
Dishonorable Mentions: A.J. Green (Bengals), Randall Cobb (Packers), Jeremy Maclin (Chiefs)
Tight End
MVP: Greg Olsen (Panthers)
Olsen made up for his lackluster performance in Week 4 by coming out of the bye week in top form. Olsen served as the catalyst for the Panthers comeback victory over the Seahawks, picking up 131 yards and a touchdown on 7 receptions. Olsen will put up more stinkers than the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Antonio Gates, but his status as the Panthers primary receiving threat makes him a very strong weekly TE1 play.
Honorable Mentions: Gary Barnidge (Browns), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks), Julius Thomas (Jaguars)
LVP: Richard Rodgers (Packers)
Outside of James Jones, the Packers receivers has been erratic as hell all season long. Rodgers is the latest victim of the Packers flavor-of-the-week approach, picking up just 34 yards on 2 receptions against the Chargers middling pass defense. After a couple of dynamite games in Week 2 and 4, Rodgers appears to be the clear 3rd or 4th option in the Packers passing game. Rodgers has very little fantasy value, even at a position as thin as tight end and is safely droppable in all 10-team and most 12-team leagues.
Dishonorable Mentions: Zach Ertz (Eagles), Larry Donnell (Giants), Martellus Bennett (Bears)
Defense
MVP: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles defense has carried them for most of this season and that was once again the case in Week 6. The Eagles were dominant against a hot Giants offense that had only turned the ball over 3 times in their first 5 games, finishing the night with 3 sacks, 2 INT's, a fumble recovery, a touchdown and just 7 points allowed. The Eagles defensive hotstreak could come to a close in Week 7 as they take on a Panthers offense that has done a pretty good job of putting up points and protecting the football in the early part of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, New York Giants
LVP: Baltimore Ravens (25 points allowed, 3 sacks, 0 takeaways)
The Ravens traditionally excellent defense just hasn't been the same in 2015 and their week 6 performance was perhaps the strongest indicator of their struggles to-date. The Ravens registered 3 sacks, 0 takeaways and allowed 25 points to a 49ers offense that has been extremely kind to fantasy defenses for much of 2015. The Ravens will have some good games here and there, but this bunch doesn't hold a candle to their wildly productive unit from a year ago.
Dishonorable Mentions: Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers
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