MVP: Cam Newton (Panthers)
On a day where Aaron Rodgers' return from a broken collarbone was supposed to be the big story, Cam Newton came in and stole the show. The Panthers dual-threat QB amassed 300 total YDS (242 passing, 58 rushing) and 4 passing TD's in a 31-24 victory that all but eliminated the Packers from playoffs contention. Despite posting a handful of duds along the way, Newton has bounced back nicely from a poor 2016 and barring a complete meltdown against the Buccaneers this week, should finish the year as a top 10 fantasy QB.
Honorable Mentions: Jameis Winston (Buccaneers), Eli Manning (Giants), Blake Bortles (Jaguars)
LVP: Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
Just when you thought Phillip Rivers had returned to the reliable QB1 form he displayed during the first 7-8 years of his career, he proceeds to have a full-blown implosion in a critical spot. Rivers made the Chargers road to the playoffs a whole lot tougher thanks to the pitiful performance (227 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT) he had against the Chiefs easily burnable defense. The always unpredictable Rivers will be a volatile QB1 against the Jets in fantasy championship week.
Just when you thought Phillip Rivers had returned to the reliable QB1 form he displayed during the first 7-8 years of his career, he proceeds to have a full-blown implosion in a critical spot. Rivers made the Chargers road to the playoffs a whole lot tougher thanks to the pitiful performance (227 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INT) he had against the Chiefs easily burnable defense. The always unpredictable Rivers will be a volatile QB1 against the Jets in fantasy championship week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Jared Goff (Rams), Matt Ryan (Falcons)
Running Back
MVP: Todd Gurley (Rams)
Aside from the remarkably strong play of their defense, Todd Gurley was the primary reason that the Rams were able to obliterate Seattle on Sunday afternoon. Gurley roasted a banged-up Seahawks defense for 180 total YDS (152 rushing, 28 receiving) and 4 TD's (3 rushing, 1 receiving) on 24 touches. The 3rd-year back has handsomely rewarded anyone that took a chance on him with a late 2nd-early 3rd round pick with consistent, dual-threat production that has made his dismal sophomore season feel like a distant (albeit painful) memory.
Aside from the remarkably strong play of their defense, Todd Gurley was the primary reason that the Rams were able to obliterate Seattle on Sunday afternoon. Gurley roasted a banged-up Seahawks defense for 180 total YDS (152 rushing, 28 receiving) and 4 TD's (3 rushing, 1 receiving) on 24 touches. The 3rd-year back has handsomely rewarded anyone that took a chance on him with a late 2nd-early 3rd round pick with consistent, dual-threat production that has made his dismal sophomore season feel like a distant (albeit painful) memory.
Honorable Mentions: Kareem Hunt (Chiefs), Mark Ingram (Saints), Devonta Freeman (Falcons)
LVP: Carlos Hyde (49ers)
Competent-to-excellent performances from all of the league's star backs has left the merely decent RB2 Carlos Hyde as Week 15's fantasy donkey. Hyde was repeatedly stuffed by the Titans solid front 7, registering an abysmal 25 YDS on 16 carries. Despite Jimmy Garoppolo's strong play over the last 3 games, Hyde should be the focal point of Kyle Shanahan's offensive gameplan in Week 16 when the 49ers take on the Jaguars top-ranked passing defense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jammal Williams (Packers), Mike Davis (Seahawks), Lamar Miller (Texans)
Competent-to-excellent performances from all of the league's star backs has left the merely decent RB2 Carlos Hyde as Week 15's fantasy donkey. Hyde was repeatedly stuffed by the Titans solid front 7, registering an abysmal 25 YDS on 16 carries. Despite Jimmy Garoppolo's strong play over the last 3 games, Hyde should be the focal point of Kyle Shanahan's offensive gameplan in Week 16 when the 49ers take on the Jaguars top-ranked passing defense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jammal Williams (Packers), Mike Davis (Seahawks), Lamar Miller (Texans)
Wide Receiver
MVP: Sterling Shepard (Giants)
Sterling Shepard's monster performance against the Eagles was quite possibly the most pleasant surprise of the fantasy semifinals. The University of Oklahoma product was Eli Manning's favorite target, securing 11 receptions for 139 YDS and a TD, on an afternoon where the Giants offense was shockingly productive. Shepard has emerged as an admirable fantasy option in the absence of Odell Beckham Jr. and will look to close out the season strong against the Cardinals this week.
Sterling Shepard's monster performance against the Eagles was quite possibly the most pleasant surprise of the fantasy semifinals. The University of Oklahoma product was Eli Manning's favorite target, securing 11 receptions for 139 YDS and a TD, on an afternoon where the Giants offense was shockingly productive. Shepard has emerged as an admirable fantasy option in the absence of Odell Beckham Jr. and will look to close out the season strong against the Cardinals this week.
Honorable Mentions: Michael Crabtree (Raiders), Rishard Matthews (Titans), Michael Thomas (Saints)
LVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
Doug Baldwin was one of the many impact players that ended up getting completely stifled as the Seahawks got completely embarrassed by the Rams on their home field. Baldwin only pulled in 1 catch for 6 YDS as Wade Phillips' aggressive defense managed to hold MVP candidate Russell Wilson to only 142 YDS through the air. Angry Doug has put together his worst statistical season (67 REC, 866 YDS, 5 TD) since 2014 this year, but his fantasy owners should be reasonably optimistic that he'll be able to close out this somewhat underwhelming campaign on a high note versus a Cowboys secondary that has had difficulty containing top pass-catchers throughout the 2017 season.
Doug Baldwin was one of the many impact players that ended up getting completely stifled as the Seahawks got completely embarrassed by the Rams on their home field. Baldwin only pulled in 1 catch for 6 YDS as Wade Phillips' aggressive defense managed to hold MVP candidate Russell Wilson to only 142 YDS through the air. Angry Doug has put together his worst statistical season (67 REC, 866 YDS, 5 TD) since 2014 this year, but his fantasy owners should be reasonably optimistic that he'll be able to close out this somewhat underwhelming campaign on a high note versus a Cowboys secondary that has had difficulty containing top pass-catchers throughout the 2017 season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Devin Funchess (Panthers), Adam Thielen (Vikings), A.J. Green (Bengals)
Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Rob Gronkowski returned from his 1-game suspension with arguably the finest game of his Hall-of-Fame career. Gronk ended up being one of the deciding factors in the thrilling shootout between the Patriots and Steelers, picking up an eye-popping 168 YDS and the game-clinching 2-point conversion on 9 receptions. A revenge-driven Bills secondary will be tasked with trying to contain this nearly unstoppable goliath as the Patriots return home to Gillette Stadium with a chance to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the 5th time in the last 6 years.
Rob Gronkowski returned from his 1-game suspension with arguably the finest game of his Hall-of-Fame career. Gronk ended up being one of the deciding factors in the thrilling shootout between the Patriots and Steelers, picking up an eye-popping 168 YDS and the game-clinching 2-point conversion on 9 receptions. A revenge-driven Bills secondary will be tasked with trying to contain this nearly unstoppable goliath as the Patriots return home to Gillette Stadium with a chance to clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs for the 5th time in the last 6 years.
Honorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Evan Engram (Giants)
LVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
The bad side of Jimmy Graham reared its ugly head again in Week 15. Graham fared even worse than the aforementioned Doug Baldwin, picking up -1 YD on 1 reception in the Seahawks deflating 42-7 loss to the Rams. Despite posting less than 10 receiving YDS in 4 games, Graham's high TD total (9)was enough to make him a top-tier TE1 in 2017.
The bad side of Jimmy Graham reared its ugly head again in Week 15. Graham fared even worse than the aforementioned Doug Baldwin, picking up -1 YD on 1 reception in the Seahawks deflating 42-7 loss to the Rams. Despite posting less than 10 receiving YDS in 4 games, Graham's high TD total (9)was enough to make him a top-tier TE1 in 2017.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jared Cook (Raiders), Hunter Henry (Chargers), Austin Hooper (Falcons)
Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Baltimore Ravens
A week after getting decimated by the Steelers, the Ravens hard-nosed, takeaway-happy defense was handed the gift of playing the Browns mistake-prone offense. Baltimore picked up 2 sacks, 2 INT and 2 fumble recoveries (1 of which was returned for a TD) in an easy 27-10 win that kept them in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt. Dean Pees' group will look to close out their impressive 2017 with a bang against a Colts offense that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season.
A week after getting decimated by the Steelers, the Ravens hard-nosed, takeaway-happy defense was handed the gift of playing the Browns mistake-prone offense. Baltimore picked up 2 sacks, 2 INT and 2 fumble recoveries (1 of which was returned for a TD) in an easy 27-10 win that kept them in the thick of the AFC playoff hunt. Dean Pees' group will look to close out their impressive 2017 with a bang against a Colts offense that has allowed the 4th most fantasy points to opposing defenses this season.
Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs
LVP: Seattle Seahawks
This atrocious performance from the Seahawks might've offered up a glimpse of the potentially grim future for this former defensive juggernaut. While a couple of sacks and an INT prevented them from finishing with negative points, this group's struggle to stop the run combined with the offense's inability to sustain drives resulted in them surrendering a whopping 40 points to the Rams on Sunday afternoon. Injuries and inconsistent play rocked Seattle's typically stout defense this season and it'll be interesting to see if their aging corps players (Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett) will be able to return to their former glory in 2018.
This atrocious performance from the Seahawks might've offered up a glimpse of the potentially grim future for this former defensive juggernaut. While a couple of sacks and an INT prevented them from finishing with negative points, this group's struggle to stop the run combined with the offense's inability to sustain drives resulted in them surrendering a whopping 40 points to the Rams on Sunday afternoon. Injuries and inconsistent play rocked Seattle's typically stout defense this season and it'll be interesting to see if their aging corps players (Earl Thomas, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Michael Bennett) will be able to return to their former glory in 2018.
Dishonorable Mentions: Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals
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