Quarterback
MVP: Justin Herbert (Chargers)
Not only did Herbert put together a monster fantasy performance (382 YDS, 3 TD's, 90 Rushing YDS) on Sunday night against the Steelers, he made NFL history by becoming the 1st ever quarterback to throw for 350 YDS and rush for 90 in a game. This was a much-needed explosion for Herbert-who outside of a strong showing against the Eagles in Week 9 had been really struggling since Week 6. Despite this incredible outing, fantasy owners should lower their expectations for this week as Herbert will have the difficult task of going into Denver and squaring off against the Broncos tough secondary-who has surrendered the 4th fewest fantasy points to QB's this season.
Honorable Mentions: Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Kirk Cousins (Vikings), Jalen Hurts (Eagles)
LVP: Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
The promise of an epic shootout between 2 of the league's best QB's in Kansas City on Sunday really flopped as the game turned into a battle of the defenses and kickers after the 1st quarter. While Patrick Mahomes wasn't particularly sharp either (260 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT, FUM Lost), Prescott looked much worse-turning the ball over 3 times (2 INT's and a fumble) and throwing for 216 scoreless YDS as the 'Boys suffered their 2nd deflating loss in the last 3 weeks. The absence of both CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper for Thursday's showdown with a tough Raiders secondary makes a bounceback seem very unlikely.
Dishonorable Mentions: Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Ryan Tannehill (Titans), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Running Back
MVP: Jonathan Taylor (Colts)
What Taylor did to the Bills on Sunday afternoon was borderline cruel. The Colts back took advantage of a soft, overrated Bills front and their willingness to turn the ball over (3 INT's, 1 lost fumble) by amassing a preposterous 214 total YDS (185 rushing, 19 receiving) and 5 TD"s (4 rushing, 1 receiving) on 35 touches. Taylor has been on a superhuman tear after a reasonably quiet September-registering over 100+ scrimmage YDS and at least 1 TD in 8 straight games. A matchup with a stingy Bucs run D seems like the logical ending point for such a streak, but Taylor is playing at such a high level right now that it feels like an injury could be the only thing that's capable of slowing him down.
Honorable Mentions: Austin Ekeler (Chargers), Joe Mixon (Bengals), Nick Chubb (Browns)
LVP: Alex Collins (Seahawks)
Performances like this are just a reminder of how much the Seahawks miss Chris Carson. Collins failed to provide the offense with any sort of spark, managing just 36 YDS on 10 carries against a banged-up Cardinals defense. With Russell Wilson struggling mightily in both games since returning from IR and opponents making a concerted effort to stop the run to prevent the offense from getting back on track, things aren't looking great for Collins or any of the other Seahawks backs.
Dishonorable Mentions: Mike Davis (Falcons), D'onta Forman (Titans), Saquon Barkley (Giants)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Justin Jefferson (Vikings)
The entire Vikings offense played lights out against the Packers on Sunday, but Jefferson ended being the MVP as he went off for a season-high 169 YDS and 2 TD's on 8 catches. This unpredictable Vikings team will need him to step up again when they take on the 49ers on Sunday afternoon in a game that could prove to have massive implications in the crowded NFC Wild Card race.
Honorable Mentions: Davante Adams (Packers), Elijah Moore (Jets), Darnell Mooney (Bears)
LVP: Tee Higgins (Bengals)
Joe Mixon was the lone standout on the Bengals offense on Sunday against the Raiders as Joe Burrow only threw for 149 YDS on 20 completions. Naturally, this meant Higgins didn't have much of a role in the gameplan-as he caught 2 of the 3 targets that came his way for a paltry 15 YDS. Failing to reach the endzone since Week 2 and seeing Ja'Marr Chase siphon nearly all of Burrow's downfield targets, Higgins has been a huge letdown for the people who spent a top 50-60 pick on him.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandin Cooks (Texans), Kenny Golladay (Giants), Emmanuel Sanders (Bills)
Tight End
MVP: Zach Ertz (Cardinals)
The continued absence of DeAndre Hopkins and Chase Edmonds paved the way for Ertz to put up the type of commanding performance we haven't seen from him since at least 2018 (8 REC/88 YDS/2 TD's) in Sunday's win over the Seahawks. The move to Arizona seems to have rejuvenated Ertz and while the likely return of Hopkins after their bye this week will undoubtedly reduce his target share, having an established redzone role in a high-volume passing offense should help him remain a weekly factor in fantasy.
Honorable Mentions: Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Darren Waller (Raiders), George Kittle (49ers)
LVP: Kyle Pitts (Falcons)
Breaking News: Bill Belichick successfully took away his opponent's top offensive weapon for the 9,000,000th time. With Cordarrelle Patterson out of the lineup, Belichick didn't even have try too hard to eliminate Pitts (he finished the night with 3 catches for 29 YDS) from the equation and make life very miserable for Matt Ryan and the one-dimensional Falcons offense last Thursday night. Even if Patterson sits again this week, there's almost no chance that Pitts isn't more of a factor against a porous Jaguars passing defense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Hunter Henry (Patriots), Jared Cook (Chargers), Cole Kmet (Bears)
Defense/Special Team
MVP: Patriots
The aforementioned reign of terror committed on the Falcons offense also resulted in a monster fantasy performance for Belichick's defense. Aided by some horrible offensive line play, a couple of hilarious garbage time picks from both of the Falcons hopeless backup QB's (Josh Rosen, Felipe Franks) and an inexplicable illegal formation penalty that took a field goal off the board, the Pats went off for 4 sacks and 4 INT's (including a pick 6 by Kyle Van Noy on Rosen's INT) in an easy 25-0 victory. A really beat up Titans offense that just committed 5 turnovers against the lowly Texans awaits the suddenly dominant Pats defense next.
Honorable Mentions: Buccaneers, 49ers, Colts
LVP: Bills
So much for the #1 scoring and fantasy defense... Jonathan Taylor and a few timely plays from Carson Wentz ensured that the Bills had a miserable day at the office-surrendering 41 points without getting a single sack or takeaway. A Week 11 showdown with the Trevor Siemian-led Saints is exactly the kind of soft landing spot this group needs to get their confidence back before they head into a brutal December stretch that includes the Bucs and 2 meetings with the surging Patriots.
Dishonorable Mentions: Steelers, Chargers, Titans
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