Quarterback
MVP: Dak Prescott (Cowboys)
After starting off the game with a horribly misjudged floater of a throw that defensive end Josh Sweat promptly picked off and returned for a score, Prescott was a force to be reckoned with against the Eagles. Dak stayed cool under pressure and made big play after big play, throwing for 347 YDS and 3 TD's as well as rushing for 41 scoreless YDS as he guided the Cowboys to a huge divisional win in what very could've been the best game of the 2022 regular season so far. Prescott will look to put together another gem versus the Titans bottom 3 pass D on Thursday night.
Honorable Mentions: Jared Goff (Lions), Josh Allen (Bills), Kirk Cousins (Vikings)
LVP: Justin Herbert (Chargers)
If you were relying on Herbert to win you a fantasy title over the past few weeks, you more than likely came up empty. Herbert put together his 3rd straight infuriating performance where he played fine in reality but put together an ugly statline (255 YDS, 0 TD, INT, FUM Lost) that led to single digit fantasy points. Between the rib injury that slowed him down from late September through mid-November and the albatross that is Joe Lombardi's playcalling, Herbert has provided pretty poor value with his top 55 ADP and these multiple extended runs of poor production in the same season should knock him down about 5-15 spots on draft boards in 2023.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Buccaneers), Justin Fields (Bears), Derek Carr (Raiders)
Running Back
MVP: Cam Akers (Rams)
It's only fitting for the bizarre, unlucky operation that is the 2022 Rams that the guy that got exiled from the team for roughly 2 months over a trade request when they were still in the playoff mix earlier this year has become the offensive focal point when they're playing out the string. Following his 1st 100-YD performance of the season, Akers put forth an even better effort against-running wild against the Broncs for 118 YDS and 3 TD's on 23 carries and adding 2 receptions for 29 YDS in a shocking 51-14 blowout victory for the ailing Rams on Christmas Day. Unless Baker Mayfield turns the ball over multiple times, Akers should have no trouble being productive again against the Chargers civ of a run defense in Week 17.
Honorable Mentions: Saquon Barkley (Giants), D'Onta Foreman (Panthers), Austin Ekeler (Chargers)
LVP: Rhamondre Stevenson (Patriots)
No one in the NFL will be more excited to see the calendar flip to January than Stevenson. His nightmare December was capped off by being completed bottled up by the Bengals resurgent defense (33 scrimmage YDS on 15 touches) and losing a fumble in the redzone when the Patriots were only a few yards away from scoring the TD that would've earned them a highly improbable comeback victory against one of the league's best teams. Stevenson and his fantasy owners will hope that his cold streak finally comes to an end against the Dolphins average defense on Sunday afternoon.
Dishonorable Mentions: Aaron Jones (Packers), Josh Jacobs (Raiders), D'Andre Swift (Lions)
Wide Receiver
MVP: CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys))
The biggest beneficiary of Prescott's huge passing performance was one Cedarian DeLeon Lamb. No single player or coverage strategy the Eagles deployed could prevent from Lamb getting open consistently and that allowed him to erupt for 10 REC, 120 YDS and 2 TD's. Like Dak, Lamb will hope to have another big day this week in a very favorable matchup against the Titans.
Honorable Mentions: DeVonta Smith (Eagles), Justin Jefferson (Vikings), Jaylen Waddle (Dolphins)
LVP: Davante Adams (Raiders)
Frigid, snowy conditions, surprisingly strong play from the Steelers corners (Levi Wallace, Cameron Sutton, Arthur Maulet) and a painfully awful performance from Derek Carr caused Adams to have yet another extremely quiet game (2 REC/15) as the Football Gods made the Raiders pay for their preposterous lucky win over the Patriots the prior week with an ugly late game choke job against a young, not particularly good Steelers team. Considering the strong likelihood of negative gamescript emerging and how strong their run defense is, Adams has surprisingly decent odds of having a bounceback game against the 49ers on Sunday.
Dishonorable Mentions: Stefon Diggs (Bills), Mike Evans (Buccaneers), DeAndre Hopkins (Cardinals)
Tight End
MVP: T.J. Hockenson (Vikings)
It was death by a thousand checkdowns and redzone targets for the Giants defense last Saturday as Hockenson hauled in a season-high 13 catches for 109 YDS and 2 TD's in yet another heart attack win for the miraculously 12-3 Vikings. Hockenson has been a much more consistent player since he joined the Vikings at the trade deadline and even if he flops during this week's game against the Packers, he should have no issue finishing the year as a top 5 fantasy TE.
Honorable Mentions: George Kittle (49ers), Tyler Higbee (Rams), Evan Engram (Jaguars)
LVP: Gerald Everett (Chargers)
Everett copied Pat Friermuth's performance from Week 15 as he failed to even draw a target on a night where the Colts barrage of turnovers constantly handed the Chargers short field-which meant a heavy dose of running the ball with both Austin Ekeler and Joshua Kelley and throwing to Keenan Allen. The return of both Allen and Mike Williams has kneecapped Everett's production in recent weeks and starting him against the Rams in Week 17 would only be wise if you're a firm believer in the power of the revenge game narrative.
Dishonorable Mentions: David Njoku (Browns), Cole Kmet (Bears), Mark Andrews (Ravens)
Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Rams
The Broncos offense got absolutely cooked by the Rams defense as Russell Wilson and Brett Rypien combined to throw 4 picks (1 of which was returned for a TD) and take 6 sacks in a demoralizing 51-14 loss that led to embattled 1st year HC Nathaniel Hackett getting fired 2 games early. The Rams D/ST should be an alright streaming option this week against a Chargers offense that gives up multiple sacks per week and has turned the ball over 2 times in 2 straight games
LVP: Broncos
After almost 4 straight months of resistance, the Broncos D has finally joined the offense in mastering the arts of implosion and questionable effort. The whopping 4 turnovers and early double digit deficit largely brought on by said turnovers made the Broncos D throw in the towel pretty much right away and they went onto allow a whopping 45 points without registering a single sack or takeaway against the Rams Baker Mayfield-led offense. Unless a return to divisional play and the ousting of Hackett provides an unexpected spark, this group should be in line for another huge flop against the Chiefs in Week 17.
Dishonorable Mentions: Browns, Titans, Jets
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