Quarterback:
MVP:Andrew Luck (Colts)
The Andrew Luck that fantasy players know and love appears appears to be back. The Colts franchise quarterback showed no signs of the injuries or inefficiency that plagued his 2015 campaign as he shredded the Lions defense for 406 total yards (385 passing, 21 rushing), 4 TD and a successful 2-point conversion on Sunday afternoon. Luck's true level of effectiveness will be tested in week 2 as the Colts take on the stalwart Broncos defense.
Honorable Mentions: Drew Brees (Saints), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers), Matthew Stafford (Lions)
LVP: Tyrod Taylor (Bills)
Tyrod Taylor was a popular option for fantasy players who waited until the late rounds to select a quarterback, but he did nothing to justify that buzz in Week 1 against the Ravens. Taylor was ultra-conservative and largely ineffective as the dual-threat quarterback mustered just 122 total yards (111 passing, 11 rushing) in a failed revenge matchup against his former team. Taylor has a rough matchup in Week 2 against the Jets D (they picked up 7 sacks against the Bengals strong offensive line in Week 1), so his owners might want to consider playing their backup or heading to the wavier wire to pick up a streaming option with a softer matchup (Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemain, Jimmy Garoppolo).
Dishonorable Mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
Running Back:
MVP: DeAngelo Williams (Steelers)
DeAngelo Williams picked up right where he left off in 2015 with an eye-popping performance in the season opener. The league's oldest active running back at 33 looked like a 25-year old entering his prime as he annihilated the Redskins defense for 171 total yards (143 Rushing, 28 receiving) and a pair of scores on 32 touches. His value is going to inevitably go down when starter Le'Veon Bell returns from suspension in Week 4, but in the interim, he's an excellent low-end RB1/high-end RB2 play.
Honorable Mentions: Spencer Ware (Chiefs), C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Carlos Hyde (49ers)
LVP: Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
For a 2nd consecutive year, Adrian Peterson opened up the season on a disastrous note. The 31-year old perennial Pro Bowler looked sluggish and had no answer for the Titans stacked boxes, finishing with a paltry 31 yards on 19 carries. Peterson's chances of bouncing back in Week 2 are far from guaranteed as he faces the Packers stout run defense that held the Jaguars to 48 total rushing yards this past week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Devonta Freeman (Falcons), Todd Gurley (Rams), Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Brandin Cooks (Saints)
It was an absurd week for wide receivers as 16 players finished with at least 90 yards. Amidst all the stacked stat lines, Brandin Cooks ended up emerging as the top dog in the realm of fantasy football. Cooks, aided by a franchise-record 98-yard-touchdown, scooped up 143 receiving yards, 2 TD's and an 11-yard rush on a jet sweep in the Saints shootout with the Raiders on Sunday afternoon. Despite the greater reception and yardage total from Willie Snead in Week 1, Cooks is still the undisputed top wideout in New Orleans and has serious top 10 fantasy receiver potential for this season.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), A.J. Green (Bengals), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
LVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
The return of a fully-healthy Dez Bryant for the 1st time since last year's season opener was not the triumph fantasy owners who spent a high draft-pick on him had hoped for. Bryant was a bizarrely small part of the Cowboys game plan as he was targeted just 5 times and reeled in only 1 reception for 8 yards on the game. It would be a shock if offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott didn't try to get Bryant more involved in the offense when they square off against the Redskins, who just got flat-out torched by Antonio Brown, in Week 2.
Dishonorable Mentions: Golden Tate (Lions), Brandon Marshall (Jets), Sammy Watkins (Bills)
Tight End
MVP: Dwayne Allen (Colts)
With Rob Gronkowski out with a hamstring injury and Jimmy Graham playing at less than 100%, Week 1 ended up being a pretty anti-climatic week for tight end's across the league. Colts starter Dwayne Allen ended up being the week's top scorer with a pretty average 53 YD/1 TD/1 2-Pt conversion statline in the Colts offense-heavy battle with the Lions. While Allen's numbers weren't earth-shattering, he should end up being a solid, low-end TE1 option if he can stay healthy all season long.
Honorable Mentions: Julius Thomas (Jaguars), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Greg Olsen (Panthers)
LVP: Coby Fleener (Saints)
The Saints 400+yard passing party on Sunday didn't include Coby Fleener. The team's highly-touted free-agent pickup was pretty much invisible, registering a single catch for 6 yards on only 4 targets . It's far too early to write off Fleener completely, but his lack of production on such a huge day for Drew Brees and the passing attack is a very bad early sign for his productivity in 2016.
Dishonorable Mentions: Gary Barnidge (Browns), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Martellus Bennett (Patriots)
Defense
MVP: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings defense were called upon to step up their game with journeyman Shaun Hill under center and star running back Adrian Peterson slumping and holy hell, did they deliver. The Vikes D shook off early struggles and ended being the catalyst for the Vikings 25-16 come-from-behind victory against the Titans, picking up 2 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks, an interception and a pair of defensive touchdowns on the day. If for some reason the Vikings defense is on the wavier wire in your league, put in a claim for them immediately and cross your fingers that you land them.
Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills
LVP: Los Angeles Rams
Week 1 was not kind to the recently-relocated Rams and their projected top-5 fantasy defense. The Rams were uncharacteristically sloppy and silent in the season opener, as they allowed 28 points and failed to registered a sack against a 49ers offense that was widely projected to be one of the worst in the league heading into 2016. The Rams have a bad habit of phoning it in against lower-level competition and playing poorly at the start of the season, so there's no reason to hit the panic switch yet.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders
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