Quarterback
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
This was the Drew Brees performance that his fantasy owners had been waiting for all season. Brees lit up a banged-up Ravens secondary for 420 yards and 3 TD's on Monday night. His night could've been even better if it wasn't for a dropped Jimmy Graham TD in the 2nd quarter and a a costly INT in the 3rd quarter. Brees has another solid matchup against an injury-riddled secondary in Week 13 as the Saints travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers.
Honorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Tony Romo (Cowboys)
LVP: Jay Cutler (Bears)
Jay Cutler found new ways to sadden his fantasy owners this week by putting up weak numbers in a game where he didn't turn the ball over multiple times. Cutler threw for a measly 130 and a TD and lost a fumble against a Buccaneers defense that has been pretty bad against QB's for a majority of the season. Cutler has a horrendous matchup against the Lions on Thanksgiving day, so avoid starting him unless you absolutely have to.
Dishonorable Mentions: Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Joe Flacco (Ravens), Mark Sanchez (Eagles)
Running Back
MVP: Justin Forsett (Ravens)
There has not been a bigger pleasant surprise in fantasy football this year than Justin Forsett. Forsett's early success appeared to be a fluke, but he's been absolutely dominate in just about every game this season and rose out of the Ravens running back committee to become the clear-cut starter. Forsett had a career night against the Saints on Monday Night Football as he went for a ridiculous 182 yards and 2 TD's on 22 carries. Forsett should continue to get high volume for the rest of the season and will likely serve as one of the keys to a lot of fantasy player's success come playoff time.
Honorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Eddie Lacy (Packers), Matt Forte (Bears)
LVP: Alfred Blue (Texans)
Rookie Alfred Blue had a great day in Week 11 starting in place of the injured Arian Foster. That success did not carry over to Week 12 as Blue got held in check in his 3rd career start, picking up just 66 yards (46 rushing, 20 receiving) on 19 touches against the Bengals mediocre defense. Foster is on track to return this week, so unless Foster misses another game, Blue's fantasy value is very limited moving forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Andre Ellington (Cardinals), Jerrick McKinnon (Vikings)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)
Remember when Demaryius Thomas was asleep at the wheel for the first 3 weeks of the season? Didn't think so. Thomas has been electric since the Broncos return from bye in Week 5, picking up double digit fantasy points in every single game over that span. Thomas was once again fantastic this week as he put 89 yards and 3 TD's on a Dolphins secondary that has been suffocating wideouts all season long. Thomas is unstoppable right now and unless something inexplicably terrible happens, he will be a top 3 fantasy wideout for the rest of the 2014 season.
Honorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), Dez Bryant (Cowboys), T.Y Hilton (Colts)
LVP: Sammy Watkins (Bills)
The Bills unloaded on the Jets on Monday night, following a week of limited practice and emotional heartache due to the wild blizzard that dumped 60+ inches of snow on the Buffalo area. About the only Bill who didn't get in on the action was rookie wideout Sammy Watkins. Robert Woods took the brunt of the targets, leaving Watkins to finish with just 35 yards on 3 receptions. Watkins' groin injury has certain held him back and with a matchup against Browns shutdown corner Joe Haden on the horizon, don't look for Watkins to bounce back in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Bears), Percy Harvin (Jets), Kendall Wright (Titans)
Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Saints)
Jimmy Graham certainly did not have his best outing on Monday night against the Ravens, dropping a number of passes and failing to get open in a couple of key situations that ultimately cost the Saints the game. That being said, Graham was still able to haul in a pair of TD's and put up the best TE performance of Week 12 by a pretty wide margin. The TE position has been absolutely awful this year, so even with Graham having a down year, he remains one of the very few good options at the position.
Honorable Mentions: Delanie Walker (Titans), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
LVP: Larry Donnell (Giants)
Oh Larry Donnell.... Donnell's up-and-down status was down once again this week as he got almost completely silenced by the Cowboys on Sunday night. Donnell didn't pick up a catch until the 4th quarter and finished with just 24 yards on 2 receptions on the evening. We've seen this movie before and Donnell will almost certainly bounce back and have a game where he puts up ridiculous numbers within the next couple of weeks. Donnell is an aggravating player, but his redzone ability in a terrible TE class makes him undroppable in most leagues.
Dishonorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Coby Fleener (Colts), Martellus Bennett (Bears)
Defense
MVP: Buffalo Bills
As I mentioned earlier, the Bills came out and decimated the Jets after an emotional week for them as a franchise on Monday night. The defense was a large part of the beatdown as they allowed just 3 points and picked up 7 sacks, an interception, a blocked punt and a touchdown on the night. The Bills are an absolute force on defense and even with a tough remaining schedule that includes matchups against the Browns, Broncos, Packers and Patriots- who are all in the bottom 10 at allowing fantasy points to defenses, this a unit that must be started week after week.
Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers
LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs defense hasn't been nearly as good in 2014 as they were a year ago. This was perfectly evidenced by their shockingly poor performance against the Raiders last Thursday. The Chiefs allowed 24 points, picked up 1 sack and a fumble recovery in a game that gave the Raiders their first win since November 17th, 2013. The Chiefs have been a middling defense all season long and with a tough schedule over the last month season, they just can't be counted on to deliver.
Dishonorable Mentions: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos
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