Quarterback:
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
At the ripe age of 37, Brees continues to be an A+ fantasy quarterback option. Brees shredded the suddenly inept Panthers defense for 465 YDS and 4 TD in the Saints 41-38 victory on Sunday. Brees has a much rougher matchup this week against the Chiefs, but it would be a shock if he didn't at least put up serviceable numbers.
Honorable Mentions: Marcus Mariota (Titans), Matthew Stafford (Lions), Cam Newton (Panthers)
LVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
This is a classic example of when a solid real-life game didn't translate to a good fantasy performance. Wilson was the model of efficiency against the Falcons (270 YDS, 67.6 CMP%, 0 turnovers) but failed to reach the endzone against a defense that had allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks going into Week 6. Wilson will be a questionable start in Week 7 as he faces an Arizona Cardinals defense that has surrendered the 5th fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks so far this season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Derek Carr (Raiders), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Running Back
MVP: LeSean McCoy (Bills)
It may have been a year overdue, but LeSean McCoy finally got his revenge on Chip Kelly. McCoy picked up 142 total YDS (140 rushing, 2 receiving) and 3 TD on 21 touches against the 49ers and undoubtedly haunted the dreams of his former head coach. The Bills have rode McCoy hard during their current 4-game winning streak and as long as that high volume of carries continues to net positive results, I expect him to maintain his status as one of the NFL's few true workhorse running backs.
Honorable Mentions: David Johnson (Cardinals), Lamar Miller (Texans), Terrance West (Ravens)
LVP: Isaiah Crowell (Browns)
After a surprisingly hot start, Isaiah Crowell has come crashing back down to earth in a big way. Crowell managed just 36 total yards (16 rushing, 20 receiving) on 11 touches against the Titans underrated run defense (they're currently ranked 7th in the league against the run) in Week 6. Despite his struggles in back-to-back weeks, the sheer volume of touches Crowell receives in Hue Jackson's run-first offense still makes him worth starting as an RB2 in most leagues.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carlos Hyde (49ers), Mark Ingram (Saints), Ryan Matthews (Eagles)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
Now THIS is the Odell Beckham Jr. fantasy owners have come to know and love since he entered in the league in 2014. After a brutal first half which included a lost fumble, Beckham came out of halftime 150% dialed in and ended up gassing the Ravens secondary for 222 YDS (a new career-high) and 2 TD's on 8 receptions. Eli Manning's inconsistency and his diva-esque emotional outbursts are going to lead to the occasional dud, but OBJ is still one of the strongest WR1 options in all of fantasy football.
Honorable Mentions: Brandin Cooks (Saints), Golden Tate (Lions), Julio Jones (Falcons)
LVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
There were a handful of other notable WR1/2's (Demaryius Thomas, Doug Baldwin, T.Y. Hilton, Jeremy Maclin, Allen Robinson) who struggled in Week 6, but none of them had as good of a matchup or carry the same level of prestige as Antonio Brown. Brown (4 REC/39 YDS 1 CAR/6 YDS) managed to get shut down by the much-maligned cornerback Byron Maxwell, who was just re-inserted into the starting lineup last week to replace the injured Xavien Howard after being benched for poor play earlier this season, in what what an absolutely disastrous outing for the Steelers offense in a shocking blowout loss against the lowly Dolphins. Back-to-back underwhelming performances is not out of the realm of possibility for Brown as the Steelers have the unfortunate task of facing the red hot Patriots with backup quarterback Landry Jones at the helm in Week 7.
Dishonorable Mentions: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), Doug Baldwin (Seahawks), Jeremy Maclin (Chiefs)
Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Rob Gronkowski has officially returned to his normal elite status. The Bengals defense had no answer for Gronkowski, as he mustered a career-high 162 YDS and 1 TD on 7 receptions in yet another Patriots blowout win at Gillette Stadium. There's no reason to believe that Gronkowski won't be similarly dominant in Week 7 as he faces a banged-up Steelers defense that is coming off of a game in which they allowed 81 yards to career backup MarQueis Gray.
Honorable Mentions: Coby Fleener (Saints), Hunter Henry (Chargers), Greg Olsen (Panthers)
LVP: Delanie Walker (Titans)
Marcus Mariota had his 2nd consecutive strong outing in Week 6 against the Browns, but star tight end Delanie Walker played almost no part in that success. Walker managed to only haul in a single reception for 21 yards.on just 2 targets (which somehow was still enough to be tied for 4th most on the team). Even with this poor outing, Walker is still by far the most potent threat in the Titans passing game and he has a very good chance to bounce back against the Colts horrid secondary in Week 7.
Dishonorable Mentions: Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jesse James (Steelers), Zach Ertz (Eagles)
Defense
MVP: Philadelphia Eagles
Despite surrendering 27 points and failing to register a sack against the Redskins on Sunday, a pair of TD's (a pick-6 and a kick return) allowed them to finish as the top fantasy defense for the 2nd time this season. Outside of the Vikings, Bills, Broncos, Seahawks and Cardinals, I don't believe there's a better fantasy option than the Eagles D right now.
Honorable Mentions: Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens
LVP: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers meltdown in Miami wasn't limited to the offensive side of the ball. Their normally productive defense looked like a bunch of shell-shocked Arena League players, as they allowed 30 points and managed zero takeways or sacks against a Dolphins offense that has become notorious for regularly turning the ball over and getting sacked over the past 5 years. The Steelers defense usually isn't this inept, but their lack of sacks (8, currently tied for 28th in the league) and inconsistent takeways (6, currently tied for 19th in the league) makes it hard to justify keeping them on your roster.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Los Angeles Rams, Cincinnati Bengals
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