MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
For the first 2 months of the 2017 season, there was a national debate about whether or not Ben Roethlisberger's days as a top-tier QB were officially over. Since the calendar turned to November, he's been one of the hottest QB's in the NFL and this run of excellence continued during the 1st week of the fantasy playoffs. Roethlisberger made the Ravens 12th-ranked pass defense look like a scout team as he torched them for 506 YDS and 2 TD's in another improbable win for the 11-2 Steelers. Despite the warpath he's been on for the past month, I have a hard time trusting Big Ben to deliver against a highly motivated Patriots squad in Week 15's marquee matchup.
Honorable Mentions: Carson Wentz (Eagles), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
LVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
Miami once again proved to be a house of horrors for the typically brilliant Tom Brady. The 5-time Super Bowl Champ was uncharacteristically sloppy and unpoised (24-43, 233 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT) in a stunning upset loss to the lowly Dolphins last night. Despite his poor play in 2 straight weeks, I'd be shocked if Brady didn't bounce back in a major way against an injury-depleted Steelers secondary that just got lit up by Joe Flacco.
Miami once again proved to be a house of horrors for the typically brilliant Tom Brady. The 5-time Super Bowl Champ was uncharacteristically sloppy and unpoised (24-43, 233 YDS, 1 TD, 2 INT) in a stunning upset loss to the lowly Dolphins last night. Despite his poor play in 2 straight weeks, I'd be shocked if Brady didn't bounce back in a major way against an injury-depleted Steelers secondary that just got lit up by Joe Flacco.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Derek Carr (Raiders), Marcus Mariota (Titans)
Running Back
MVP: Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)
While his YDS per touch weren't overly impressive (5.6), Le'Veon Bell still put together an absurd fantasy statline. Bell picked up 125 yards from scrimmage (48 rushing, 77 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on 24 touches in the Steelers remarkable 39-38 comeback against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. With home field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line, Bell will more than likely be the Steelers primary offensive weapon this week versus the Patriots weak run defense.
While his YDS per touch weren't overly impressive (5.6), Le'Veon Bell still put together an absurd fantasy statline. Bell picked up 125 yards from scrimmage (48 rushing, 77 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on 24 touches in the Steelers remarkable 39-38 comeback against the Ravens on Sunday Night Football. With home field advantage throughout the playoffs on the line, Bell will more than likely be the Steelers primary offensive weapon this week versus the Patriots weak run defense.
Honorable Mentions: Jonathan Stewart (Panthers), Jordan Howard (Bears), Todd Gurley (Rams)
LVP: Latavius Murray (Vikings)
Poor Latavius Murray simply didn't stand a chance against the Panthers on Sunday. A combination of Carolina's stout front preventing him from finding any room to run and the Vikings playing from behind for most of the game led to Murray's horrible 11-touch, 20 YD performance. Murray has greatly exceeded expectations since taking over as the Vikings primary back following the season-ending ACL injury to star rookie Dalvin Cook in early October and should be able to return to his typical high-end RB2 role in Week 15 against a Bengals defense that has really struggled to contain the run in recent weeks.
Poor Latavius Murray simply didn't stand a chance against the Panthers on Sunday. A combination of Carolina's stout front preventing him from finding any room to run and the Vikings playing from behind for most of the game led to Murray's horrible 11-touch, 20 YD performance. Murray has greatly exceeded expectations since taking over as the Vikings primary back following the season-ending ACL injury to star rookie Dalvin Cook in early October and should be able to return to his typical high-end RB2 role in Week 15 against a Bengals defense that has really struggled to contain the run in recent weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: LeGarette Blount (Eagles), Lamar Miller (Texans), Christian McCaffery (Panthers)
Wide Receiver
MVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
Seemingly nothing can stop DeAndre Hopkins from dominating right now. The dream team of Tom Savage and T.J. Yates forced the ball to the star wideout for the majority of the game with spectacular results (149 YDS and 2 TD on 11 receptions) in a 26-16 loss to the suddenly competent 49ers. Hopkins will look to continue his nearly season-long reign of dominance against the Jaguars top-ranked passing defense in Week 15.
Seemingly nothing can stop DeAndre Hopkins from dominating right now. The dream team of Tom Savage and T.J. Yates forced the ball to the star wideout for the majority of the game with spectacular results (149 YDS and 2 TD on 11 receptions) in a 26-16 loss to the suddenly competent 49ers. Hopkins will look to continue his nearly season-long reign of dominance against the Jaguars top-ranked passing defense in Week 15.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Davante Adams (Packers), Cooper Kupp (Rams)
LVP: Mike Evans (Buccaneers)
Mike Evans underwhelming 2017 campaign continued on Sunday afternoon against the Lions. The Bucs top wideout struggled to separate from Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay, finishing the game with only 2 receptions for 25 yards. Evans, who hasn't found the endzone since Week 7, has been wildly ineffective in both games since Jameis Winston returned from injury and his fantasy owners can't feel good about rolling him out this week against a stingy Falcons secondary that has shut down just about every top wideout they've faced this season.
Mike Evans underwhelming 2017 campaign continued on Sunday afternoon against the Lions. The Bucs top wideout struggled to separate from Pro Bowl corner Darius Slay, finishing the game with only 2 receptions for 25 yards. Evans, who hasn't found the endzone since Week 7, has been wildly ineffective in both games since Jameis Winston returned from injury and his fantasy owners can't feel good about rolling him out this week against a stingy Falcons secondary that has shut down just about every top wideout they've faced this season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Robby Anderson (Jets), Brandin Cooks (Patriots), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
Tight End
MVP: Jared Cook (Raiders)
Right on cue, the world's most volatile fantasy tight end managed to bolster his owner's spirits a week after destroying them. Jared Cook was on the receiving end of Derek Carr's lone garbage time TD pass to cap off a nice 5 reception, 75 YD performance against the Chiefs on Sunday. With injuries aplenty making this notoriously depth-deprived position even thinner than usual, feel free to keep rolling the dice on Cook for the rest of the season.
Right on cue, the world's most volatile fantasy tight end managed to bolster his owner's spirits a week after destroying them. Jared Cook was on the receiving end of Derek Carr's lone garbage time TD pass to cap off a nice 5 reception, 75 YD performance against the Chiefs on Sunday. With injuries aplenty making this notoriously depth-deprived position even thinner than usual, feel free to keep rolling the dice on Cook for the rest of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Hunter Henry (Chargers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), O.J. Howard (Buccaneers)
LVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
After finding the endzone in 4 straight games, Jimmy Graham failed to register a reception against the Jaguars outstanding pass D. Even with this monumental dud on his resume, Graham has still managed to score 9 TD's in his 8 last games, so he'll be a no-brainer starter against the Rams this week.
After finding the endzone in 4 straight games, Jimmy Graham failed to register a reception against the Jaguars outstanding pass D. Even with this monumental dud on his resume, Graham has still managed to score 9 TD's in his 8 last games, so he'll be a no-brainer starter against the Rams this week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Stephen Anderson (Texans), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers)
Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Denver Broncos
Don't look now, but the Broncos defense finally had a game where they played up to their exceptional talent level. An impressive 4 sack, 2 takeaway (an INT and a fumble recovery) performance helped Denver snap their 8-game losing streak with a 23-0 victory over the Jets. The Broncos talented, but underachieving D have a decent shot of finding success once again this Thursday against a Colts offense that has allowed 19 sacks and turned the ball over 5 times in their last 5 games.
MVP: Denver Broncos
Don't look now, but the Broncos defense finally had a game where they played up to their exceptional talent level. An impressive 4 sack, 2 takeaway (an INT and a fumble recovery) performance helped Denver snap their 8-game losing streak with a 23-0 victory over the Jets. The Broncos talented, but underachieving D have a decent shot of finding success once again this Thursday against a Colts offense that has allowed 19 sacks and turned the ball over 5 times in their last 5 games.
Honorable Mentions: Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers
LVP: New England Patriots
The Patriots defensive resurgence took a huge unexpected hit in a 27-20 loss to the Dolphins last night. Matt Patricia's troops managed just 2 sacks and 0 takeaways on a night where Jay Cutler, Kenyan Drake and Jarvis Landry regularly exploited the early-season deficiencies (run D, massive coverage lapses, poor linebacker play) that they'd done a good job of hiding since the Jets game in mid-October. Even though I expect them to win by a decent margin, the Pats D will be a below-average fantasy play this week against a Steelers offense that doesn't allow a lot of sacks and has only turned the ball over in 1 of their last 4 home games.
The Patriots defensive resurgence took a huge unexpected hit in a 27-20 loss to the Dolphins last night. Matt Patricia's troops managed just 2 sacks and 0 takeaways on a night where Jay Cutler, Kenyan Drake and Jarvis Landry regularly exploited the early-season deficiencies (run D, massive coverage lapses, poor linebacker play) that they'd done a good job of hiding since the Jets game in mid-October. Even though I expect them to win by a decent margin, the Pats D will be a below-average fantasy play this week against a Steelers offense that doesn't allow a lot of sacks and has only turned the ball over in 1 of their last 4 home games.
Dishonorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks
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