Quarterback
MVP: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
With the possible exception of Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, there has not a bigger surprise fantasy standout this season than Matt Ryan. The Falcons signalcaller somehow managed to top his brilliant 396 YD/3 TD performance against the Raiders in Week 2 with a ridiculous 503 YD/4 TD performance against the reigning NFC Champion Panthers on Sunday. Ryan faces his toughest opponent to-date in Week 5 as the Falcons travel to Denver to take on the dominant Broncos defense, but despite the brutal matchup, there's no reason to believe his absurd early-season production level is going to suddenly come to a screeching halt.
Honorable Mentions: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
LVP: Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Matthew Stafford has been one of the biggest steals in all of fantasy football so far in 2016, but none of that surprising early-season excellence was on display this week. Stafford was remarkably inefficient, mustering just 213 YDS, a successful 2 point-conversion and 0 TD's while throwing a pair of INT's against a Bears defense that's currently decimated by injury. Stafford has a good shot of putting up stinky numbers yet again in Week 5 as the Lions take on the stingy Eagles defense, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Eli Manning (Giants), Marcus Mariota (Titans)
Running Back
MVP: DeMarco Murray (Titans)
As skeptical as I am that's he going to be able sustain his current level of success for the entire season, there's no denying that DeMarco Murray has been excellent through the first 4 weeks of 2016. Murray once again looked like a true workhorse back against the Texans, picking up 119 total yards (95 rushing, 24 receiving) and 2 TD's on 27 touches. Murray has been the lone spark of life on the Titans offense this year and as of right now, he's easily the strongest RB1 option in fantasy football.
Honorable Mentions: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Isaiah Crowell (Browns), Matt Jones (Redskins)
LVP: Charles Sims (Buccaneers)
Charles Sims followed up an impressive outing in his first career start against the Rams in Week 3 with a bona fide stinker against the Broncos in Week 4. Just about nothing went right for the 3rd-year back out of West Virginia on Sunday as the Broncos prolific defense held him to just 35 yards (28 rushing, 7 receiving) on 17 touches and forced him to lose a costly fumble in the 2nd quarter that helped give the reigning Super Bowl Champions the momentum they needed to pummel the Buccaneers into oblivion. Sims' slump looks like it could be short-lived as he is going up against the suddenly vulnerable Panthers defense in Week 5.
Dishonorable Mentions: LeGarrette Blount (Patriots), Latavius Murray (Raiders), Matt Forte (Jets)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
A lot of speculation emerged around the status of Julio Jones-who has been dealing with ankle and calf ailments-following his underwhelming performance (1 REC/16 YDS) against the god awful Saints secondary last week. Jones promptly proved that speculation that he was being bogged down by injuries to be nothing but white noise with a complete and total evisceration of the Panthers defense in Week 4. Jones stomped on the souls of the Panthers defensive backs for 60 minutes, finishing with an absolutely ridiculous 300 YDS and a touchdown on 12 receptions. Jones is the type of rare, inhuman aerial weapon that you can feel comfortable locking into your starting lineup every week, regardless of matchup.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Crabtree (Raiders), A.J. Green (Bengals), Will Fuller (Texans)
LVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
Near-constant double coverage got the best of DeAndre Hopkins in Week 4. The Texans star wideout wasn't able to get any separation against the Titans underrated secondary, as he picked up just 1 catch for 4 yards on a season-low 6 targets. The combination of defenses honing in on him more than ever and slower-than-expected process of developing a rapport with new quarterback Brock Osweiler has led to a slow start for Hopkins, but I firmly believe that he'll able to get back on track within the next few weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), DeSean Jackson (Redskins), Travis Benjamin (Chargers)
Tight End
MVP: Jordan Reed (Redskins)
The importance of Reed's role in the Redskins offense was re-confirmed in their narrow win over the Browns in Week 4. On a day where the Redskins other receivers bizarrely couldn't get much of anything going (the other 6 players that caught passes from Kirk Cousins finished with a combined total of 110 yards) against the Browns well below-average secondary, Reed came to the rescue by reeling in 9 of his 10 targets for 73 YDS and 2 TD. Reed is starting to justify his early-round draft status with his play over the past few weeks and as long as he stays healthy, he should be at least a top-5 TE in 2016.
Honorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
LVP: Dennis Pitta (Ravens)
The Dennis Pitta comeback tour hit its 1st bump in the road this week against the Raiders. Joe Flacco's safety net simply wasn't called upon as Pitta finished the afternoon with 3 receptions for 17 YDS on 5 targets (tied with Bershad Perriman for 4th most on the team). Pitta owners shouldn't panic over this underwhelming performance as he is still a crucial cog in the Ravens passing game and one of the team's only legitimate redzone targets.
Dishonorable Mentions: Coby Fleener (Saints), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Delanie Walker (Titans)
Defense
MVP: Los Angeles Rams
Facing a divisional opponent once again brought the best out of the Rams defense. The Rams made life hell for the Cardinals offense, picking up 3 sacks, 3 INT's and 2 fumble recoveries while allowing just 13 points. The Rams have re-affirmed their place among the elite fantasy defense options after their horrific Week 1 performance cast widespread doubt about their status for 2016. They appear to be line to put up another solid performance in Week 5 when they take on the up-and-down Bills.
Honorable Mentions: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals
LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs followed up the most impressive defensive performance of 2016 so far with arguably one of the weakest. The Chiefs defense straight-up embarrassed themselves as they surrendered 43 points to the Steelers offense without managing a takeaway to make up for the tidal wave of points they allowed. This catastrophic meltdown should end up going down as just a bump in the road for this talented group and I expect them to promptly return to form when they return from bye in Week 6.
Dishonorable Mentions: New England Patriots, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals
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