Quarterback
MVP: Jalen Hurts (Eagles)
Hurts was able to find the endzone on the ground (3 TD's-his 2nd straight multi-rushing score performance) and through the air (1) against the Bengals on Sunday afternoon, which considerably elevated his good but hardly eye-popping yardage total (273). Overall, this was probably the best Hurts has looked all season, and his owners will be crossing their fingers that this will be a springboard for a huge 2nd half for the Eagles signalcaller.
Honorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Falcons), Brock Purdy (49ers), Baker Mayfield (Buccaneers)
LVP: C.J. Stroud (Texans)
A botched snap that resulted in a -10 YD rushing attempt, lost fumble and a single TD throw banished an otherwise pretty good bounceback performance from Stroud (25/37, 285 YDS) versus the Colts after his career-worst outing in Green Bay to the fantasy cellar. He has the reeling Jets on a short week in Week 9, but the just confirmed ACL tear for Stefon Diggs paired with the continued absence of Nico Collins could very well extend the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year's fantasy misfire streak to 3.
Dishonorable Mentions: Caleb Williams (Bears), Anthony Richardson (Colts), Joe Burrow (Bengals)
Running Back
MVP: James Cook (Bills)
Everything was easy for the Bills offense in Seattle in Week 8, but things looked particularly effortless for Cook as he scooped up 133 scrimmage YDS and ran for 2 scores on 20 touches (17 carries, 3 receptions) in another blowout victory for the runaway AFC East leaders. Cook has a meeting with the Dolphins squad he scored 3 TD's against earlier this season in Week 9.
Honorable Mentions: Josh Jacobs (Packers), De'Von Achane (Dolphins), Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots)
LVP: Nick Chubb (Browns)
Chubb's second game after returning from an ACL tear wasn't much better than the first as he turned his 16 carries against the Ravens elite run D into 52 YDS. It should be tough sledding for Chubb once again this week when the Chargers and their 11th ranked run defense head to Cleveland.
Dishonorable Mentions: Kenneth Walker III (Seahawks), Zack Moss (Bengals), Austin Ekeler (Commanders)
Wide Receiver
MVP: CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys)
The explosion Lamb owners have been waiting all season for finally happened on Sunday night as the Cowboys star WR had no trouble getting open all game long versus the 49ers and ended up with a ridiculous 13/146/2 line in a game that the Cowboys made surprisingly competitive late after a dismal start. Lamb has another plus matchup with the Falcons below average secondary on deck.
Honorable Mentions: Ladd McConkey (Chargers), Marvin Harrison Jr. (Cardinals), DeVonta Smith (Eagles)
LVP: Amari Cooper (Bills)
After a storybook start to his Bills career, Cooper immediately faded into the background in his 2nd game with the team. As somebody who watched the bulk of this game live, I can tell you that the play where he slipped on a route that led to Josh Allen throwing his 1st pick of the season was the only time I even noticed he was on the field. The box score reflects that as well as he caught just 1 pass for 3 YDS and was only targeted one other time the whole game. This was a particularly discouraging performance from Cooper as Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir played lights out and Dalton Kincaid scored his first TD in a month against a Seahawks defense that looked lost in coverage damn near every time Allen dropped back to pass. Cooper will look to return to form against the Dolphins on Sunday.
Dishonorable Mentions: Michael Pittman Jr. (Colts), D.J. Moore (Bears), Drake London (Falcons)
Tight End
MVP: Cade Otton (Buccaneers)
While some in the fantasy world were debating whether Jalen McMillian or Sterling Shepard was going to emerge as the Bucs top receiving option in the absence of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Otton wasted no time proving that they were ignoring the clear leader in the clubhouse all along. Baker Mayfield has loved throwing to Otton since he got to Tampa last season and their connection was on full display as the 3rd year TE caught 9-of-10 targets for 81 YDS and 2 TD's in another painful shootout loss to the Falcons. If for some reason Otton is available in your league and you need an upgrade at TE, make him a top wire target this week. His target share is going to be absurdly high the rest of the way even when Evans presumably comes back in Week 12 or 13 and his consistency level from around Week 10 of last season through now has been quietly impressive.
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Pitts (Falcons), George Kittle (49ers), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
LVP: Pat Freiermuth (Steelers)
A week after having his 2nd best game of the season, Freiermuth was back to TE purgatory with a quiet 2/19 performance against the Giants last night. Boom-or-bust has been the nature of Freiermuth since he came in the league and it's unlikely that Russell Wilson's insertion into the starting lineup is going to do anything to change that.
Dishonorable Mentions: Cole Kmet (Bears), Jake Ferguson (Cowboys), Dalton Schultz (Texans)
Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Lions
This hasn't been said much during the Dan Campbell-era in Detroit, but the defense and special teams powered the Lions stellar performance this past week by securing a sack, 4 takeaways (2 INT's, 2 FUM REC's) and a punt return TD from Kalif Raymond in a 51-14 victory over the Titans. With noted gunslinger Jordan Love potentially being on the shelf after being forced out of last week's game with the Jaguars with a groin strain, they probably won't have much value for this week's pivotal divisional clash with the Packers.
Honorable Mentions: Steelers, Chargers, Texans
LVP: Vikings
Fully loaded for the first time in weeks with the return of both Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp, the Rams offense ran through the Vikings stout defense for 4 straight quarters in a 30-20 loss for the Vikes. They were able to get a pick on Matthew Stafford, but that's where the highlights ended as their vaunted pass rush failed to get a single sack for the first time all season and they extended their single takeaway streak to 2 after getting multiple in each of their first 5 games. A date with the now Joe Flacco-led Colts awaits them in Week 9.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jets, Ravens, Bears
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