Quarterback
MVP: Kirk Cousins (Redskins)
Anyone who picked up Kirk Cousins on the waiver wire last week deserves a medal. The 1st year starter overcame his season-long road struggles with a masterful performance (365 YDS, 4 TD, 1 2-PT conversion) against the Eagles to clinch the NFC East crown for the Redskins.
Honorable Mentions: Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Drew Brees (Saints), Ryan Fitzpatrick (Jets)
LVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Ben Roethlisberger's stellar 2015 fantasy campaign ended in the worst possible fashion. Roethlisberger threw a pair of ugly INT's and failed to throw a touchdown against a lowly Ravens secondary that had allowed multiple passing touchdowns in all but 5 games prior to this week
Dishonorable Mentions: Eli Manning (Giants), Tom Brady (Patriots), Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Running Back
MVP: Tim Hightower (Saints)
There has been not been a more improbable NFL success story in 2015 than Saints running back Tim Hightower. The 29-year old running back -who hadn't played in the NFL since 2011- was thrust into the starting role in Week 14 when starter Mark Ingram was placed on season-ending IR with a shoulder injury had arguably the best game of his career in Week 16 against the Jaguars. Hightower put up 169 total yards (122 rushing, 47 receiving) and 2 TD's on 30 touches and was one of the primary reasons the Saints were able to put away the Jaguars so easily. Hightower was a late-season blessing at the injury-ravaged running back position and I'd be willing to wager that this performance single-handedly won a lot of people a fantasy championship.
Honorable Mentions: DeAngelo Williams (Steelers), Frank Gore (Colts), David Johnson (Cardinals)
LVP: Doug Martin (Buccaneers)
Doug Martin's unexpected return to the dominant form of his 2012 rookie campaign made him the one of the biggest fantasy steals of 2015. Unfortunately, Martin's fairy tale season had a tragic conclusion for his fantasy owners. Despite scoring an early TD, Martin couldn't much going (49 yards on 17 carries) against the Bears 27th ranked run defense and a pair of fumbles forced him to get benched for most of the second half. While Martin's performance would've been much worse if he hadn't scored, a single digit performance against a very beatable opponent is an undeniable disappointment.
Dishonorable Mentions: Denard Robinson (Jaguars), Charcandrick West (Chiefs), Alfred Morris (Redskins)
Wide Receiver:
MVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
Julio Jones got revenge on brash star corner Josh Norman and the Panthers defense after they held him to 82 yards and 0 TD's in Week 14. Jones frequently gassed the Pro Bowl-bound shutdown corner and any other Panther defender that was asked to cover him, finishing the game with an incredible 178 yards and a touchdown on 9 receptions. Despite the Falcons litany of struggles in the second half of the season, Jones remained a top 3 fantasy WR option and should be a top 5 overall pick in 2016.
Honorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Jets), Allen Hurns (Jaguars), Allen Robinson (Jaguars)
LVP: DeSean Jackson (Redskins)
Despite the recent development of a strong rapport with Kirk Cousins and being engaged in a prime revenge matchup against his former team, DeSean Jackson didn't do much to aid the Redskins offense in their grade-A evisceration of the Eagles in Week 16. The Eagles defense's inability to stop the short passing game made Jackson an afterthought in the offense as he reeled in 4 of his 6 targets for just 40 yards.
Dishonorable Mentions: Martavis Bryant (Steelers), Mike Evans (Buccanners), Antonio Brown (Steelers)
Tight End
MVP: Jordan Reed (Redskins)
Red-hot Redskins tight end Jordan Reed was largely responsible for crushing the playoff dreams of the Eagles with his 9 reception/129-yard/2 TD performance Saturday night at Lincoln Financial Field. Reed closed out the 2015 season with the most dominant stretch of play of his young career so far and if he can stay healthy through the offseason and training camp, he'll be one of the first tight end's off the board in next year's fantasy drafts.
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Austin Seferian-Jenkins (Buccaneers), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
LVP: Julius Thomas (Jaguars)
Julius Thomas was pretty much the only Jaguars pass-catcher not invited to their garbage-time scoring party against the Saints. Thomas mustered just 12 yards on 2 receptions in an afternoon that saw 3 different Jaguars receivers hit paydirt. This poor performance aside, Thomas' solid late-season play after an injury-plagued start to his inaugural season with the Jaguars is encouraging for his 2016 prospects.
Dishonorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Benjamin Watson (Saints), Greg Olsen (Panthers)
Defense
MVP: Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals defense reversed their recent middling output with one of the most dominant defensive performances in recent memory. The Cardinals massacred a Packers offense that had allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing defenses coming into this week, picking up 9 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, an interception and 2 TD's while allowing just 8 points.
Honorable Mentions: Houston Texans, St. Louis Rams, Minnesota Vikings
LVP: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks followed up their disappointing Week 15 performance against the Browns with an even more forgettable performance against the Rams. The Seahawks allowed just 17 points, but failed to register a single sack or takeaway against a Rams offense that they absolutely destroyed (2 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and a TD) in their 1st meeting this season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins
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