Quarterback
MVP: Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Considering that Burrow had his best game of the year against the Ravens back in Week 7 when their defense was considerably healthier, it was logical to believe that he'd fare even better against them in their current fully depleted state. What actually happened was something that only a bold few could've predicted: Burrow put up 525 YDS and 4 TD's in a 41-21 rout that put the Bengals in 1st place in the tight AFC North race. He'll face a much tougher test in the fantasy season finale against a Chiefs defense that has been really stingy of late.
Honorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Josh Allen (Bills), Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs)
LVP: Matthew Stafford (Rams)
Stafford sincerely may have been the worst player on the field for the Rams on Sunday. The veteran QB did everything he could to keep the Vikings in the game, tossing 3 INT'S and throwing for just 197 YDS and 1 TD against a bottom tier defense. Although he's cooled off significantly after his MVP-caliber start and this huge dud in a really ideal spot is plenty of cause of concern, he has a good chance of being a high-end play against the aforementioned Ravens aloof mannequin defense in Week 17.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Buccaneers), Justin Herbert (Chargers), Derek Carr (Raiders)
Running Back
MVP: Justin Jackson (Chargers)
The bright spots were few and far between for the Chargers in their brutal loss to the bottom feeder Texans, but Jackson was certainly one of them (even though he did lose a fumble) as he scored 2 TD's, caught 8 passes for 98 YDS and rushed 11 times for 64 YDS in his fill-in start for Austin Ekeler. Jackson will be on the RB1/2 radar again for this Sunday's contest with the Broncos if Ekeler doesn't clear COVID protocols in time.
Honorable Mentions: Damien Harris (Patriots), Joe Mixon (Bengals), Nick Chubb (Browns)
LVP: Saquon Barkley (Giants)
To be fair to Barkley, Jake Fromm and the defense were playing so poorly that the Giants couldn't stick with the run against the Eagles. However, that doesn't fully excuse Barkley's lackluster effort when he did get the ball and the horrific statline (15 CAR, 32 YDS, 1 REC, -4 YDS) that resulted from it. Injury-prone and stuck on a poorly coached team with a limp offense, it's going to take several miracles for Barkley to return to the fantasy stud that he once was. His draft position for next season should take the nosedive (likely to the mid-to-late 3rd round) it's magically avoided for 2 straight years.
Dishonorable Mentions: Alvin Kamara (Saints), Myles Gaskin (Dolphins), Tony Pollard (Cowboys)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Tee Higgins (Bengals)
After Ja'Marr Chase killed the Ravens in their 1st meeting, Burrow decided that it was only fair for Higgins to get in on the action this time around. The 2nd year wideout posted career highs in both receptions (12) and YDS (194) while also making a pair of endzone trips in the dominate showing for the Bengals. Higgins' owners will hope that he can end his very up-and-down 2021 campaign on a high note against the Chiefs on Sunday.
Honorable Mentions: Davante Adams (Packers), A.J. Brown (Titans), Deebo Samuel (49ers)
LVP: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs)
Fantasy players got a huge boost in morale when Hill cleared COVID protocols last Saturday ahead of the Chiefs game against the Steelers. That juice didn't last long though as Hill only caught 2 passes for 19 YDS on a day where the Travis Kelce-less offense leaned on Byron Pringle and Mecole Hardman in the passing game before going into full clock-killing mode in the 2nd half of this wire-to-wire blowout. Regardless of Kelce's availability, Hill should return to his normal WR1 role against a very beatable Bengals secondary on Sunday.
Dishonorable Mentions: Russell Gage (Falcons), Tyler Lockett (Seahawks), Van Jefferson (Rams)
Tight End
MVP: Mark Andrews (Ravens)
Emergency quarterback extraordinaire Josh Johnson only had eyes for Andrews during Sunday's loss against the Bengals. The star tight end reeled in 8 catches for 125 YDS and a TD in a game where the Ravens didn't have the luxury of staying committed to the run for long. Andrews wraps up his stellar 2021 with a date with the Rams on Sunday afternoon.
Honorable Mentions: Dalton Schultz (Cowboys), Gerald Everett (Seahawks), Kyle Pitts (Falcons)
LVP: George Kittle (49ers)
What happened with Kittle last Thursday in Nashville was puzzling and infuriating. He caught 2 passes for 21 YDS in a single drive in the 1st quarter then only got 1 target FOR THE REST OF THE GAME. Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk were able to make several plays after that, so it's not like the Titans were really locking anybody down. The prospect of Trey Lance starting over the injured Jimmy Garoppolo when the team takes on the Texans on Sunday makes Kittle's Week 17 forecast a nightmarish headache, but let's face it, there's no scenario in which he's active where people are going to bench him.
Dishonorable Mentions: Hunter Henry (Patriots), Mike Gesicki (Dolphins), Rob Gronkowski (Buccaneers)
Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Dolphins
The expectation was that Brian Flores' ultra-aggressive defense would be able to overwhelm a rookie QB who had 1 day of practice with the 1st team ahead of the game and was playing behind a makeshift offensive line. That expectation proved to be completely correct as Flores threw the kitchen sink at Ian Book and he responded by taking 8 sacks, throwing 2 INT's (including a pick 6) and leading the Saints to just 3 points. The Dolphins will remain a viable starting option when they take on the Titans in Week 17.
Honorable Mentions: Cowboys, Buccaneers, Eagles
LVP: Chargers
Davis Mills and Rex Burkhead absolutely worked over the Chargers defense on Sunday, leading them to post a dismal 35 points allowed/1 sack/0 takeaway performance. Despite this awful showing and the already confirmed absences of Chris Harris Jr. and Nasir Adderly as well as the uncertain availability of Joey Bosa, they'll be a low-end streaming play against the Drew Lock-led Broncos this week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Patriots, Colts, Cardinals
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