Week 16 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Aaron Rodgers' ridiculous December continued with yet another eye-popping performance at Lambeau Field. The 2-time MVP shredded the Vikings D for 360 total yards (347 passing, 13 rushing) and was responsible for all 5 TD's (4 passing, 1 rushing) the Packers scored in an easy 38-25 win. Rodgers returned to dominant form in 2016 after a middling 2015 and should be a contender to be the 1st quarterback taken in 2017. 
Honorable Mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Tyrod Taylor (Bills), Kirk Cousins (Redskins)

LVP: Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Matthew Stafford's fairy tale-esque 2016 campaign didn't exactly end on the best note. While he wasn't bad enough to single-handily cost someone a championship, his owners certainly expected better than the 260 YD/0 TD/1 INT/1 Rush TD/1 FUM Lost line he put up against a merely decent Cowboys defense that has gotten burned by top-end passing offenses throughout the season. Stafford was a top 3-5 fantasy quarterback for a majority of this season and provided unreal value for his 10th-12th round draft position.
Dishonorable Mentions: Cam Newton (Panthers), Drew Brees (Saints), Eli Manning (Giants)

Running Back
MVP: David Johnson (Cardinals)
It's fitting that the NFL's most overlooked offensive player brought home the MVP honors during fantasy football title week. David Johnson was the driving force behind the Cardinals impressive upset victory in Week 16, picking up 136 total yards (95 rushing, 41 receiving) and 3 TD's on 32 touches against the Seahawks tough defense. Johnson proved naysayers like myself that questioned his status as a top 5 overall pick horribly wrong by morphing into the most consistent player in all of fantasy football in 2016. Barring a serious injury in Week 17 or OTA's, Johnson should be the uncontested number 1 pick in 2017. 
Honorable Mentions: Jay Ajayi (Dolphins), Le'Veon Bell (Steelers), Mark Ingram (Saints)

LVP: Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
Leave it to Jeremy Hill to put up his worst performance of the season when it matters most. Hill undoubtedly cost some people a championship with his embarrassing 7 carry/8-yard performance against the Texans on Saturday night. Despite this crippling dud and an underwhelming YPC (3.8), Hill's nose for the endzone (9 TD's, tied with DeMarco Murray for 8th among RB's) and strong ball security (0 fumbles on the year) made him a serviceable RB2 on the whole.
Dishonorable Mentions: Latavius Murray (Raiders), DeMarco Murray (Titans), Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Jordy Nelson (Packers)
Per usual, Jordy Nelson was the primary beneficiary of Aaron Rodgers' stellar day through the air. The Vikings lauded secondary had no answers for Nelson as he scooped up 154 YDS and 2 TD's on 9 receptions without any semblance of difficulty. Outside of Antonio Brown and Mike Evans, I don't think there was a more valuable fantasy wideout this season than Nelson.    
Honorable Mentions: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks), Dez Bryant (Cowboys), Sammy Watkins (Bills)

LVP: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)
After 3 straight weeks of being the only Broncos offensive player to deliver respectable numbers, Demaryius Thomas finally fell on his face against the Chiefs. A combination of sloppy conditions and failure to get on the same page with Trevor Siemian led to Thomas having his worst outing of the season (3 REC/20 YDS). Despite consistently subpar quarterback play and fellow starting wideout Emmanuel Sanders continuing to cut into his targets, Thomas managed to be one of the most reliable WR2's in the league this season. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos), Jordan Matthews (Eagles), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)

Tight End
MVP: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
Travis Kelce capped off his unreal season with an absolutely sensational performance. The Broncos linebackers and safeties simply couldn't cover Kelce as he put up 160 YDS and a TD on 11 receptions against the league's best pass defense. With 84 REC, 1,117 YDS and 4 TD's through 15 games, Kelce managed to consistently deliver for his owners at a position that had no shortage of duds in 2016.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks), Eric Ebron (Lions)

LVP: Zach Ertz (Eagles)
After being the team's leading receiver for 3 straight weeks, The Eagles suddenly shied away from Zach Ertz in Week 16. While Ertz did reel in both of his targets for 33 yards, the Eagles turned to Nelson Agholor (!) and the running game to take out the Giants on Thursday night. Ertz came on very strong down the stretch and should continue to be an integral piece in Doug Pederson's offense moving forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Coby Fleener (Saints), Hunter Henry (Chargers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)

Defense
MVP: New England Patriots
For the 2nd straight week, the New York Jets dysfunctional offense provided fantasy points galore for the opposing defense. The Patriots netted 3 INT's, 2 sacks and a fumble recovery against the NFL's biggest dumpster fire in their effortless 41-3 victory on Christmas Eve. While they've certainly delivered over the past month, the Patriots D was pretty average on the whole and didn't provide a great return on their 7th-9th round draft position.
Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers

LVP: Seattle Seahawks
If you play in a league that rewards strong defensive play, the Seahawks D likely screwed you over in Week 16. Despite facing a Cardinals offense that has been turnover and sack-prone throughout 2016, the Seahawks only mustered 1 sack and a fumble recovery in a painful 34-31 loss on Saturday afternoon. The Seahawks D have been an up-and-down all year and provided a lot of headaches for the people that used a relatively high draft pick on them.
Dishonorable Mentions: Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos

Week 15 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees recovered from a 2-week touchdown-less, 6 INT slump in the most Drew Brees way possible. The future Hall-of-Famer straight-up eviscerated the Cardinals 5th-ranked pass defense, finishing the afternoon with 389 YDS and 4 TD. Brees will look to build upon this success in Week 16 as the Saints host a hungry Buccaneers squad that is still fighting for a playoff spot.  
Honorable Mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Carson Palmer (Cardinals), Cam Newton (Panthers)

LVP: Marcus Mariota (Titans)
The Titans pulled off a shocking upset of the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium in Week 15, but Marcus Mariota didn't do much to aid in the victory. The 2nd-year signal caller was well below average, picking up 241 yards through the air, turning the ball over 2 times (an interception and a lost fumble) and failing to score a TD for the 2nd consecutive week. Mariota has an excellent chance of redeeming himself on Christmas Eve against a Jaguars team that he carved up (281 total yards, 2 TD) back in October. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Kirk Cousins (Redskins)

Running Back
MVP: Devonta Freeman (Falcons)
Just last week I said that Devonta Freeman would be a risky start for the rest of the season. He responded by having his best game of the season and once again proved why my fantasy football advice isn't worth taking. Outside of a lost fumble, Freeman was flawless against the 49ers, cruising to a 154-yard, 3 TD performance on 22 touches against the league's worst defense. While another day like this is highly unlikely, Freeman should be a decent RB2 for this week's tilt against the Panthers staunch run D. 
Honorable Mentions: Ty Montgomery (Packers), LeSean McCoy (Bills), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)

LVP: Kenneth Farrow (Chargers)
Melvin Gordon's replacement was by far the most popular waiver pickup of the week and he did absolutely nothing to reward the hundreds of thousands people that blindly put their faith in him. Farrow was simply awful against the Raiders leaky defense, getting held to 53 yards (39 rushing, 14 receiving) and a lost fumble on 17 touches. Even if Gordon can't play again in Week 16 against the lowly Browns defense, Farrow isn't worth starting.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Jay Ajayi (Dolphins), Carlos Hyde (49ers), Isaiah Crowell (Browns)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Brandin Cooks (Saints)
Just 3 weeks removed from a game in which he wasn't targeted at all, Brandin Cooks once again showed why he's the hardest player to gauge in all of fantasy football with an absolutely absurd performance in Week 14. Cooks looked like the second coming of Jerry Rice as he torched the vaunted Cardinals secondary for 186 YDS and 2 TD on 7 receptions. The next stop on the Brandin Cooks dice-rolling express is a matchup with a Buccaneers secondary that hasn't allowed a 100-yard receiver since Week 9.   
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Lockett (Seahawks), Jarvis Landry (Dolphins), Alshon Jeffrey (Bears)

LVP: Jamison Crowder (Redskins)
Monday night was one to forget for Jamison Crowder. 2016's under-the-radar breakout fantasy star receiver was held in check by the Panthers young secondary for most of the night, getting just 24 yards on 4 receptions and losing the fumble that sealed a victory for the defending NFC champs. Crowder has hit a bit of a wall over the past few weeks after an excellent October and November, but his consistent targets will put him on the high-end WR3 radar for his championship week matchup against the Bears solid albeit beatable secondary. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Amari Cooper (Raiders), Randall Cobb (Packers), Sammy Watkins (Bills)

Tight End
MVP: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers)
On an underwhelming night for the Buccaneers key offensive pieces (Jameis Winston, Mike Evans, Doug Martin) promising young tight end Cameron Brate put together one of his finest performances to-date. The Harvard product was rock-solid all game long as he picked up a team-high 73 YDS and a TD on 5 receptions in a sloppy loss against the Cowboys. Brate will be a high-end TE1 in a Week 16 showdown with the Saints that could very well decide the Bucs playoff fate.
Honorable Mentions: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Greg Olsen (Panthers), Zach Ertz (Eagles)

LVP: Jordan Reed (Redskins)
Outside of getting ejected for punching Kurt Coleman, Jordan Reed did nothing of note against the Panthers on Monday Night Football. Reed managed just 1 catch for 6 yards before he was tossed at the end of the 3rd quarter. While his separated shoulder is definitely a concern, Reed will still be a low-end TE1 against the Bears if he isn't suspended for the helmet punch heard 'round the world.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tyler Eifert (Bengals), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

Defense
MVP: Miami Dolphins
Christmas came early for the Dolphins D as they absolutely hammered the hapless Jets in a Saturday night showdown at the Meadowlands. Outside of allowing an ugly 40 yard-TD pass from Bryce Petty to Robby Anderson on the opening drive, the Dolphins D was pretty much unstoppable, as they picked up 3 sacks, 3 INT's, a fumble recovery, a blocked punt and a touchdown in a commanding 34-13 win over the NFL's most depressed franchise not located in Cleveland. The Dolphins will be a risky albeit still solid play as they travel to play a Bills squad that doesn't tend to turn the ball over, but has struggled with pass protection (17 sacks allowed) over their past 5 games.  
Honorable Mentions: New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants

LVP: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings second-half woes translated to their usually stalwart defense in Week 15. The Vikings D looked helpless as they got blanked in the sack and turnover department in disheartening 34-6 loss to the Colts that all but killed any shot they had left of making playoffs. The Norsemen are taking on a red-hot Packers team in Week 16 that has been averaging 29 points per game during their current winning streak, so I would advise heading to the waiver wire to find a streaming option with a better matchup.
Dishonorable Mentions: Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 14 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
After back-to-back underwhelming performances against the Jets and Rams, Tom Brady returned to a form with an eye-popping performance against the Ravens. Outside of an ugly redzone interception in the 3rd quarter, Brady was simply unreal as he tore up the league's top scoring defense (406 YDS and 3 TD) in a huge Monday night win that put the Patriots in sole possession of the #1 seed in the AFC. As brilliant as he was against the Ravens, Brady owners should think twice about starting him this week as he goes up against the Broncos top-ranked passing D in Denver. 
Honorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Joe Flacco (Ravens)

LVP: Derek Carr (Raiders)
Derek Carr did not look anything like an MVP candidate against the Chiefs last Thursday. The combination of cold weather, playing in a hostile environment and bad drops from his receivers led to Carr playing the worst game of his 3-year career (17-41/117 TD/0 TD). The broken pinkie on Carr's throwing hand has had a pretty noticeable effect on the accuracy of his throws over the past couple of weeks and the status of his finger will be worth monitoring leading up to his Week 15 matchup against an underrated Chargers secondary. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Drew Brees (Saints), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)

Running Back
MVP: Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)
Le'Veon Bell is a cyborg. With Ben Roethlisberger putting up an epic 3 INT stinker, Bell took charge of the Steelers offense in a messy, snow-filled game in Buffalo, torching the Bills D for 298 total YDS (236 rushing, 62 receiving) and 3 TD's on 42 touches. Bell has yet another enticing matchup on the schedule this coming week against a woeful Bengals run D that just allowed 118 yards to Isaiah friggin' Crowell.  
Honorable Mentions: Carlos Hyde (49ers), Jeremy Hill (Bengals), Lamar Miller (Texans)

LVP: Devonta Freeman (Falcons)
Devonta Freeman was just about the only Falcons player that didn't go off against the Rams on Sunday afternoon. The 3rd-year back made nothing out of his small workload, picking up just 18 yards on 8 touches. Freeman has been up-and-down all year and will be hard to trust for the rest of the playoffs with a healthy Tevin Coleman-who scored a pair of TD's against the Rams- back in the fold.
Dishonorable Mentions: Spencer Ware (Chiefs), Mark Ingram (Saints), Devonate Booker (Broncos)

Wide Receiver
MVP: T.Y. Hilton (Colts)
T.Y Hilton atoned for his past sins in Week 14. Hilton made up for his underwhelming 49-yard performance in the Colts' initial clash with the Texans this season by almost single-handily keeping them in the game with his impressive 9 REC/115 YD/1 TD line this time around. Hilton's weekly flurry of targets will once again make a solid WR1 option in a brutal tilt against the Vikings elite secondary in Week 15. 
Honorable Mentions: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs), Davante Adams (Packers), DeSean Jackson (Redskins)

LVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
I think it's safe to say that no player killed more fantasy playoff dreams this weekend than Dez Bryant. Despite being targeted 9 times, Bryant managed just 1 catch for 10 yards and of course, that reception ended in a fumble that sealed the game for the Giants. Bryant's 2016 season has been a confusing ride full of triumphant highs and disheartening lows, and it's anyone's guess what version of Dez we'll see on Sunday night when the Cowboys face the Buccaneers tough secondary.
Dishonorable Mentions: Amari Cooper (Raiders), Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)

Tight End
MVP: Tyler Eifert (Bengals)
Tyler Eifert's efficient 2016 campaign continued against the Browns on Sunday afternoon. He led the charge for the Bengals banged-up receiving corps, picking up 48 YDS and a pair of back-breaking TD's on 5 receptions in an easy win for Marvin Lewis' struggling squad. Eifert has been great since returning from injury in mid-October and he has a pretty decent chance of having another solid performance against the Steelers mediocre pass defense in Week 15.
Honorable Mentions: Martellus Bennett (Patriots), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Zach Ertz (Eagles)

LVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
It was an ugly afternoon for the Seahawks at Lambeau Field and Jimmy Graham wasn't able to make it out of the fray unscathed. On a day where Russell Wilson got picked off 5 times, Graham mustered just 1 catch for 16 yards. Graham has an excellent bounceback opportunity in a home contest against the emotionally-broken Rams on Thursday night. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Reed (Redskins), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Coby Fleener (Saints)

Defense
MVP: Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons defense looked like the '85 Bears in their 42-14 win over the bumbling trainwreck otherwise known as the Los Angeles Rams. Taking advantage of Jared Goff's inexperience, special team miscues and the general ineptitude of the sadsack Rams, the Falcons forced 5 turnovers (2 INT's, 3 fumble recoveries), got 3 sacks and scored 2 TD's. The Falcons D will once again be worth a look in Week 15 as they head back to Atlanta to take on California's other disgraced football franchise (the 49ers). 
Honorable Mentions: Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins

LVP: Seattle Seahawks
I can't remember the last time the Seahawks D look this helpless. Richard Sherman, Bobby Wagner and co. had no answers for the suddenly-awake Packers offense, getting just 1 sack and 0 takeaways in a horrific 38-10 blowout road loss. The Seahawks are a strong bet to rebound on a short week against the Jared Goff-led Rams at home.
Dishonorable Mentions: Los Angeles Rams, New York Jets, San Diego Chargers

Week 13 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Andrew Luck (Colts)
Andrew Luck's return to the field after a 1-week absence couldn't have possibly gone any better. Luck carved up the Jets meandering defense for 304 total yards (278 passing, 26 rushing) and 4 TD in one of the most effortlessly dominant performances I've seen all season. Luck has a much rougher matchup on the docket for Week 14 as the Texans 5th-ranked pass defense rolls into Lucas Oil Field. 
Honorable Mentions: Carson Palmer (Cardinals), Matthew Stafford (Lions), Andy Dalton (Bengals)

LVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
This failure came as a total shock to every Drew Brees owner out there. Brees chalked-up a rare home stinker against the Lions below-average pass defense, throwing for 326 YDS, 0 TD and 3 INT (!) in an ugly loss for the Saints. Brees has to travel to Florida to take on a suddenly-stingy Buccaneers D that has allowed no 300-yard passers and only 4 TD's over their last 4 games in Week 14.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Tyrod Taylor (Bills), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Cam Newton (Panthers)

Running Back
MVP: Jordan Howard (Bears)
While future Offensive Rookie of the Year/dark horse MVP candidate Ezekiel Elliott has stolen all the headlines, the Bears rookie running back has quietly managed to put together one hell of a 2016 season. Howard had one of his finest performances to-date in a messy, snow-filled game at Solider Field, accumulating 117 YDS and 3 TD's on 32 carries against the 49ers bottom-ranked rush defense. Howard has been one of the few bright spots for an injury-plagued Bears squad this year and should continue to be an mid-tier RB1 for the upcoming playoff run.
Honorable Mentions: David Johnson (Cardinals), Thomas Rawls (Seahawks), Devonta Freeman (Falcons)

LVP: Lamar Miller (Texans)
The Green Bay Packers run D returned to their dominant early-season form just in time to stifle Lamar Miller at a snowy Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon. The combination of playing through a rib injury and poor blocking upfront lead to a season-low 18 yards (22 rushing, -4 receiving) on 15 touches for the Texans bellcow back. While Miller hasn't quite lived up to his status as a top-15 fantasy pick, he's still a high-end RB2 that is usually good for at least 10 points a week. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Todd Gurley (Rams), Mark Ingram (Saints), Rob Kelley (Redskins)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: Golden Tate (Lions)
The roller-coaster season of Golden Tate hit one of its highest points on Sunday against the Saints. Tate served as the focal point of the passing attack, picking up 145 YDS and a TD on 8 receptions in a blowout road win for the NFC North-leading Lions. Tate is as boom-or-bust as they come and will be a risky play in Week 14 against an underrated Bears secondary that has allowed the 17th most fantasy points to WR's this season.
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Lockett (Seahawks), Jordy Nelson (Packers), T.Y. Hilton (Colts)

LVP: Sammy Watkins (Bills)
The return of Sammy Watkins to the Bills lineup hit a bit of a snag in Week 13. A combination of constant bracket-coverage from the Raiders secondary and being out-of-sync with Tyrod Taylor for most of the game led to a very pedestrian statline (3 REC, 38 YDS) for the star wideout. Despite this underwhelming performance, Watkins has no shown no ill-effects from the foot injury that sidelined him for 8 games over the past 2 weeks and is worth playing as a WR2/3 in most leagues. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Michael Thomas (Saints), Mike Evans (Buccaneers), Brandon Marshall (Jets)

Tight End
MVP: Dwayne Allen (Colts)
Despite T.Y. Hilton leading the team in receiving with 146 yards, Dwayne Allen was the primary fantasy beneficiary of Andrew Luck's huge night. Allen scooped up 72 YDS and 3 TD's on just 4 receptions against a Jets D that looked like they had checked out before the game even started. Allen is nowhere near consistent and almost all of his value is tied to his ability to get in the endzone, but he's a decent streaming option if you're a fan of gambling.  
Honorable Mentions: Dennis Pitta (Ravens), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

LVP: Jason Witten (Cowboys)
Oh how the mighty have fallen. A rough night for Dak Prescott and a season-low time of possession phased Witten completely out of the game plan as he wasn't targeted at all in the Cowboys tight win over the Vikings. Witten's age has shown more than ever this season and I wouldn't recommend starting him against any defense that isn't highly susceptible to giving up receptions to TE's.
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Eric Ebron (Lions), Antonio Gates (Chargers)

Defense
MVP: Denver Broncos
The Broncos D returned to their familiar spot atop the fantasy D rankings in Week 13. The defending Super Bowl champs ripped up Blake Bortles and the Jaguars 22nd-ranked offense, finishing the afternoon with 2 INT, a fumble recovery and a sack in their 20-10 victory. The Broncos will be a must-start against a Titans offense that has struggled against top-ranked defenses this season. 
Honorable Mentions: Baltimore Ravens, New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs

LVP: Miami Dolphins
The recently-resurgent Dolphins D backtracked in a huge way in Week 13. Despite picking up a pair of takeaways (an INT and a fumble recovery), they allowed 38 points to a Ravens offense that has was firing on all cylinders out of the game. The Dolphins have a prime trap game matchup in Week 14 against an erratic Cardinals offense that has allowed the 3rd most fantasy points to opponents this season. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets

Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees once again set the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on fire in Week 12. Brees embarrassed a Rams pass defense that has been one of the best in the league for most of this season by hanging 310 YDS, 4 TD's and a 1-yard rushing TD on them in a huge statement win for the 5-6 Saints. Brees will be back in the friendly confines of the Superdome in Week 13 to face a leaky Lions pass defense that has allowed the 5th most fantasy points to QB's this season.
Honorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Colin Kaepernick (49ers)

LVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
Russell Wilson's otherwise strong November ended on a pretty sour note in Tampa Bay on Sunday afternoon. The Seahawks signal-caller had no answers for the Buccaneers shockingly aggressive defensive game plan, putting up just 231 total yards (151 passing, 80 rushing), 0 TD's and 2 INT's in a rough road loss. Wilson and the Seahawks return home in Week 13 to take on a banged-up Panthers secondary that has allowed multiple passing TD's in 4 of their last 6 games.
Dishonorable Mentions: Andy Dalton (Bengals), Matthew Stafford (Lions), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)

Running Back
MVP: Mark Ingram (Saints)
Mark Ingram's 2016 campaign continues to deify logic. The up-and down Saints running back was able to gas a Rams rushing attack that has held the likes of David Johnson and Jay Ajayi to under 100 yards this season for 167 total yards (146 rushing, 21 receiving) and a pair of TD's on 15 touches on the afternoon. Ingram has yet to piece together back-to-back impressive performances this season and that benchmark seems like its going to allude him once again as he is set to face a Lions defense that has allowed the 5th least fantasy points to RB's in Week 13.
Honorable Mentions: LeSean McCoy (Bills), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), David Johnson (Cardinals)

LVP: Frank Gore (Colts)
Frank Gore was practically doomed to fail in Week 12. With Andrew Luck sidelined by a concussion and an already talent-deprived offensive line missing 4 starters tasked with blocking for him, the Steelers stacked the box and ended up holding the ageless workhorse back to 31 yards (28 rushing, 3 receiving) on 16 touches. Gore has another rough assignment in Week 13 as he faces the Jets 4th-ranked rush D.   
Dishonorable Mentions: Lamar Miller (Texans), Rashad Jennings (Giants), Matt Forte (Jets)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
Antonio Brown reaffirmed his status as a fantasy football legend with a magical performance on Thanksgiving night against the Colts. Brown made the most of a pretty moderate amount of targets (6), hauling in 5 receptions for 91 YDS and 3 TD's. 2016 has been a down year by Brown's absurdly high standards (82 REC, 998 YDS, 10 TD's through 11 games), but he is still a top 5 fantasy receiver and an uncontested weekly matchup-proof starter. 
Honorable Mentions: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs), Davante Adams (Packers), Michael Thomas (Saints)

LVP: Amari Cooper (Raiders)
You could make a solid argument for giving the LVP to Julio Jones after his quiet afternoon against Patrick Peterson or Brandin Cooks following his shocking doughnut against the Rams, but given the ease of matchup, I have to give this dreaded distinction to Amari Cooper. Cooper let Michael Crabtree, Seth Roberts and Clive Walford get all the shine against the Panthers depleted secondary, finishing the game with a paltry 22 yards on 4 receptions. Even though he's only found paydirt 3 times in 2016, Cooper has had an excellent sophomore season, and is a strong contender to be a top 10 wideout against the Bills in Week 13. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), Allen Robinson (Jaguars), Brandin Cooks (Saints)

Tight End
MVP: Jordan Reed (Redskins)
Despite suffering a separated shoulder in the 2nd quarter, Jordan Reed managed to play through the pain and put together his best game of the year so far. Reed served as the catalyst for the Redskins 2nd-half offensive explosion, picking up 95 yards and 2 TD's on 10 receptions in their narrow loss to the Cowboys. Reed's status is up in the air for Week 13, but he'll be a must start against the Cardinals tough pass defense if he's active. 
Honorable Mentions: Tyler Eifert (Bengals), Delanie Walker (Titans), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

LVP: Eric Ebron (Lions)
A week after finally delivering a top-tier performance, Eric Ebron slipped right back into the realm of disappointment. The Lions tight end was invisible on Thanksgiving against the Vikings, putting up a goose egg and only getting targeted 1 time on a day where Matthew Stafford threw the ball 40 times. Despite his erratic play, Ebron should be used as a TE1 for his week 13 tilt against the Saints.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Zach Ertz (Eagles), Greg Olsen (Panthers), Jason Witten (Cowboys)

Defense
MVP: New York Giants
The Browns got an early jump on the holiday season by showing off their immense generosity and giving the Giants D a ton of fantasy points. The Giants were able to string together one of the impressive beatdowns of the Browns helpless offense to-date, picking up 7 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and a TD in their 27-13 win in front of the eternally-suffering Dawg Pound. The Giants have turned into a viable fantasy defense over the past month, but their owners should look for other options in Week 13 as they face a Steelers offense that has only allowed 3 sacks and committed 1 turnover since returning from bye in Week 9. 
Honorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers

LVP: Buffalo Bills
The Bills D once again failed to capitalize on a sensational matchup in Week 12. The Bills picked up a mere 2 sacks, forced 0 takeaways and allowed 21 points to a Jaguars offense that has been dysfunctional and turnover-prone for a vast majority of the season. The Bills have fallen from grace after their incredible start to the season and shouldn't be played in any circumstances in Week 13 as they travel across the country to take on the Raiders potent, turnover-averse offense. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Arizona Cardinals, Houston Texans, Tennessee Titans

Week 10 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
While it was a painful afternoon for the suddenly-incompetent Packers against the suddenly-respectable Titans, Aaron Rodgers still delivered for his fantasy owners. The Packers signal-caller took full advantage of garbage time to put up 399 total yards (371 passing, 27 rushing) and 3 TD's (2 passing, 1 rushing) in one of the most embarrassing losses in recent history for the Cheeseheads. He may be in the middle of one of the worst seasons of his 12-year career, but Rodgers is still a matchup-proof QB1 for fantasy purposes.  
Honorable Mentions: Marcus Mariota (Titans), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

LVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
I'll admit that this isn't exactly a fair pick because of the matchup, but no other prominent QB put up a weaker performance than Tom Brady did in Week 10. Brady look like a mere mortal for the first time since returning from his Deflategate suspension in Week 5, picking up 316 YDS, 0 TD and an INT against the Seahawks aggressive defense. Brady is highly unlikely to falter again in Week 11 as he returns to his hometown to take on the pathetic 49ers.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Andy Dalton (Bengals), Carson Wentz (Eagles)

Running Back
MVP: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)
Ezekiel Elliott just continues to wow. The Cowboys rookie standout put up arguably his finest performance to-date as he carved up the Steelers defense for 209 YDS (114 rushing, 95 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on 23 touches in an exhilarating shootout at Heinz Field on Sunday afternoon. Elliott will look to continue his month-long reign of terror against the Ravens top-ranked rush defense in Week 11. 
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Matthews (Eagles), DeMarco Murray (Titans), Le'Veon Bell (Steelers)

LVP: Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)
The recent struggles for Jonathan Stewart (a.k.a. the world's most polarizing fantasy running back) continued in Week 10. Stewart couldn't find any room to run against the Chiefs weak run D, finishing with just 39 yards on 13 carries. Stewart has chance to get back on track this week against a Saints defense that he picked up 85 YDS and 2 TD's against in Week 6. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Carlos Hyde (49ers), Mark Ingram (Saints), Tim Hightower (Saints)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
Don't look now, but the late-season, touchdown-vulturing version of Doug Baldwin might be back. Baldwin caught all 3 of Russell Wilson's touchdown passes to beef up an otherwise average statline (6 receptions, 59 yards) in the Seahawks upset win over the Patriots on Sunday night. The Seahawks balanced attack and Wilson's love of spreading the ball around to different receivers will result in underwhelming performances, but Baldwin is still an undeniable WR2 with low-end WR1 upside. 
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Allen Robinson (Jaguars), Jordy Nelson (Packers)

LVP: Alshon Jeffrey (Bears)
The funk that Alshon Jeffrey has been in for all of 2016 doesn't seem like it can be broken. Despite being handed a dream matchup against the Buccaneers struggling secondary, Jeffrey couldn't produce, finishing the game with just 4 receptions for 47 yards. Jeffrey was just suspended for the next 4 games after testing positive for a banned substance, so his owners should look to pick up Cameron Meredith or Eddie Royal off of waivers to replace him.
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Jets), Randall Cobb (Packers), DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)

Tight End
MVP: Delanie Walker (Titans)
Week 10 was Delanie Walker's way of showing how important he is to the functionality of the Titans offense. Walker provided a huge spark to the Titans inconsistent passing attack with a 9 REC/124 YDS/1 TD performance that helped lead his squad to a huge blowout win over the Packers. Walker's favorable late-season schedule and guaranteed weekly flurry of targets makes him a candidate to be a top-3 TE1 come year's end. 
Honorable Mentions: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Antonio Gates (Chargers)

LVP: Zach Miller (Bears)
There were a lot of victims of Jay Cutler's horrific performance against the Buccaneers, but Zach Miller is arguably at the top of that list. Miller was ignored for most of the day and as a result, he failed to take advantage of a stellar matchup, finishing the afternoon with just 32 yards on 4 receptions. Despite his weak performance in Week 10, Miller is the top candidate to receive an uptick in targets in the wake of Alshon Jeffrey's suspension, and should be viewed as a top-end TE1 for the next 4 weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Reed (Redskins), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)

Defense
MVP: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens became the latest defense to victimize the poor Cleveland Browns offense. They picked up 4 sacks, 2 INT and a fumble recovery while allowing just 7 points to the NFL's worst team in yet another Thursday Night Football instant classic. The Ravens defense has exceeded their preseason expectations and can now be classified as a solid weekly fantasy option for owners in 12-14 team leagues.  
Honorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans

LVP: Green Bay Packers
The recent problems with the Packers defense escalated to a new level in Week 10. The Titans put up a whopping 47 points and completely avoided turning the ball over against the once-vaunted D on Sunday afternoon. With a tough schedule on the horizon and no end to their struggles in sight, the Packers D can safely be dropped.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dallas Cowboys, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots 

Week 7 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Andrew Luck (Colts)
After a so-so performance against the Texans in Week 6, Andrew Luck came back in a big way this week. Luck carved up the Titans solid secondary, picking up 353 YDS and 3 TD through the air and an additional 17 yards on the ground. Luck's gunslinger mentality makes him susceptible to crippling stinkers every once in a while, but he's still an elite QB1 option that should be started every week.   
Honorable Mentions: Drew Brees (Saints), Tyrod Taylor (Bills), Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

LVP: Eli Manning (Giants)
Eli Manning's October cold streak followed him across the pond. While Manning played a clean, turnover-free game in London on Sunday, the Rams defense forced to him throw short passes all game, which resulted in pretty middling performance (196 YDS and 0 TD) for the Giants signal-caller. Manning's fortunes seems like they're bound to turn around soon as the Giants face the Bengals, Browns and Bears in 3 of their first 4 games following their Week 8 bye. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Derek Carr (Raiders)

Running Back
MVP: Melvin Gordon (Chargers)
2016's most improbable fantasy success story just wrote his impressive chapter to date. Melvin Gordon was borderline unstoppable in Week 7 as he picked up 121 total yards (68 rushing, 53 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) in the Chargers comeback OT win over the Falcons. Gordon has been a regular in the endzone in 2016 (10 TD in 7 games) and given the Chargers general lack of weapons on the offensive side of the ball, there's no reason to believe he won't continue to regularly find paydirt for the rest of the season.
Honorable Mentions: Jay Ajayi (Dolphins), LeGarrette Blount (Patriots), Matt Forte (Jets)

LVP: Terrance West (Ravens)
Marty Mornhinweg's puzzling offensive playcalling and a matchup against a stout Jets run KO'd Terrance West in Week 7. West managed 10 yards on a mere 8 carries in yet another ugly loss for the Ravens, who have now lost 4 straight since their 3-0 start. West is still the top dog in the Ravens crowded backfield committee and he should continue to be a mid-level RB2 as long as he remains the starter. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Howard (Bears), Matt Jones (Redskins), Christine Michael (Seahawks)

Wide Receiver
MVP: A.J. Green (Bengals)
After 2 consecutive so-so to decent outings, A.J. Green delivered his 3rd "holy shit" performance (150+ yards) of the still relatively young 2016 season. Green brought in all 8 balls thrown his way for 169 yards and a TD-an absurd 1-handed leaping grab on a hail mary that will live in infamy for the rest time-against the Browns porous secondary. Green has another plus matchup in Week 8 against a potentially Josh Norman-less Redskins secondary.   
Honorable Mentions: Mike Evans (Buccaneers), T.Y. Hilton (Colts), Randall Cobb (Packers)

LVP: Allen Robinson (Jaguars)
Allen Robinson nightmarish 2016 campaign hit a new low in Week 7. Despite facing a Raiders secondary that has gotten repeatedly torched this season, Robinson managed to have just 2 receptions for 9 yards on 8 targets (tied with Marqise Lee for most on the team). The struggles of Blake Bortles paired with his sudden inability to get separation from opposing defensive backs on a regular basis has led to a serious regression from the 3rd-year receiver in 2016. This strong candidate for fantasy bust of the year is currently a risky WR3 play at best.
Dishonorable Mentions: Amari Cooper (Raiders), Jordy Nelson (Packers), Alshon Jeffrey (Bears)

Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
In a shocking turn of events, Rob Gronkowski tore shit up in Week 7. The Steelers admittedly did a decent job covering Gronk for most of the game, but unfortunately for them, they still allowed him to pick up 93 YDS and a TD on just 4 receptions. Gronkowski is back in kill mode and the only thing the rest of the NFL can do now is pray.  
Honorable Mentions: Delanie Walker (Titans), Jack Doyle (Colts), Julius Thomas (Jaguars)

LVP: Martellus Bennett (Patriots)
On a day where one half of the Patriots dynamic tight end duo was unstoppable, the other one was basically invisible. Martellus Bennett picked up 1 catch for 5 yards on just 2 targets as the Patriots focused on a more of a run-first attack against the Steelers. Bennett's downfield ability and redzone targets make him one of the most intriguing TE's in the league, but his owners should be wary of using him as a weekly starter because of Tom Brady's love for spreading the ball around to different receivers each week.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Hunter Henry (Chargers), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Dennis Pitta (Ravens)

Defense
MVP: Philadelphia Eagles
A week after earning the top defensive spot through a pair of touchdowns, the Eagles picked up the honor in a more traditional fashion this week. The Eagles terrorized a Vikings offense that hadn't turned the ball all over coming into this game, picking up 6 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries, an interception and a kick return TD while only allowing 10 points. The Eagles defense aren't a strong contender to go for the MVP 3peat in Week 8 as they face the turnover/sack-averse Cowboys offense, but should be still played regardless.  
Honorable Mentions: Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers

LVP: Buffalo Bills
The Bills recent hot streak came to a crashing halt on Sunday. The Bills got 1 sack, failed to get a takeaway and surrendered 28 points in a surprising loss against the Dolphins, who are suddenly showing life after an ugly 1-4 start. The Bills have a rough matchup against the Tom Brady-led Patriots in Week 8, so I would advise their owners to go to stream a replacement option such as the Jets, Chargers or Raiders this week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 5 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Marcus Mariota (Titans)
Apparently all Marcus Mariota needed to turn things around was to face a team that is in more turmoil than his Titans. Mariota was a fantasy goldmine against the dysfunctional Dolphins this week, picking up 163 YDS and 3 TD's through the air and an additional 60 YDS and a TD on the ground. It remains unclear whether he's truly overcome his early-season struggles or this was merely a fluke strong performance against a weak defense, but Mariota is worth keeping around as a QB2 in 12+ team leagues.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Phillip Rivers (Chargers)

LVP: Eli Manning (Giants)
Going into Week 5, it seemed like Eli Manning had been handed a gift from the football gods. He was facing a Packers team that was ranked 28th in the league against the pass and was without both of their starting corners (Sam Shields and Damarious Randall). Unfortunately for Manning's fantasy owners, he didn't take advantage of this enticing matchup. The combination of an excellent pass-rushing performance from the Packers front 7 and a healthy amount of missed throws led to yet another very subpar performance (199 YD/1 TD/1 FUM) from Manning. The inevitability of performances like this one are the downside of owning Manning, but his ability to go off at anytime makes him very difficult to get rid of.
Dishonorable Mentions: Joe Flacco (Ravens), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)

Running Back
MVP: David Johnson (Cardinals)
With the delightful Drew Stanton filling in for the concussed Carson Palmer under center, the Cardinals offense ran through David Johnson in Week 5. The sophomore running back demonstrated his 2-way prowess by gouging the weak 49ers defense for 185 total yards (157 rushing, 28 receiving) and 2 TD on 30 touches. Johnson is one of the few highly-drafted RB's to live up to their elite billing so far this season and he should continue to be an integral part of the Cardinals offense as they try to crawl back to the top of the NFC West after a rough 2-3 start.
Honorable Mentions: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Jordan Howard (Bears), Tevin Coleman (Falcons)

LVP: Lamar Miller (Texans)
Lamar Miller continued his early-season woes in the Texans Week 5 tilt with the undefeated Vikings. While the Vikings early 24-0 lead limited his opportunities (he had 9 touches on the day), his 24 total yards (20 rushing, 4 receiving) is still wildly disappointing for a guy who is being utilized as an RB1 in approximately 50-60% of leagues. With just 453 total yards and 0 TD's through the first 5 games of the year, Miller has proven to be a monumental letdown for owners that used a late 1st/early 2nd round pick on him. 
Dishonorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Jerick McKinnon (Vikings), Matt Forte (Jets)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: T.Y. Hilton (Colts)
Late-game heroics have once again elevated T.Y. Hilton to the top of the weekly wide receiver list. A game-winning 35-yard TD grab was the cherry on top for Hilton's impressive 10 reception/171-yard performance against the Bears on Sunday afternoon. Hilton is the only consistent playmaker the Colts have on offense right now, which means Andrew Luck will force an obscene amount of throws his way each and every week regardless of matchup.  
Honorable Mentions: Sammie Coates (Steelers), Amari Cooper (Raiders), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)

LVP: Jarvis Landry (Dolphins)
Jarvis Landry's weak performance this past Sunday against the Titans is just a case of tough luck. Landry reeled in all 3 of the targets sent his way in the game, but Ryan Tannehill bizarrely threw just 18 passes on the day as the Dolphins got manhandled by the Titans at home. This is the 1st game of the season in which Landry got less than 10 targets and 55 receiving yards (he finished this game with 28), so it's probable that he'll return to his WR2/3 form against the Steelers in Week 6.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Julio Jones (Falcons), John Brown (Cardinals), Julian Edelman (Patriots)

Tight End
MVP: Martellus Bennett (Patriots)
Despite Rob Gronkowski putting up his Gronk-caliber performance (5 REC, 109 YDS) of the season this week, Martellus Bennett still managed to steal the show. The Black Unicorn (6 REC/67 YDS) was a frequent flyer in the endzone on Sunday as he caught all 3 of Tom Brady's TD passes in the Patriots blowout win over the Browns. Even with Gronkowski starting to look like himself again, Bennett can still be used as a TE1 in most matchups.  
Honorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Delanie Walker (Titans), Dwayne Allen (Colts)

LVP: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)
The up-and-down play of Kyle Rudolph continued in Week 5. Rudolph followed-up back-to-back excellent performances against the Panthers and Giants in which he netted 125 YDS and 2 TD's on 12 receptions with a 2 REC/15 yard-stinker against the Texans. Despite his inconsistency, Rudolph's pivotal role in the Vikings passing game makes a low-end TE1 with a mid-range ceiling moving forward. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Jason Witten (Cowboys)

Defense
MVP: Buffalo Bills
It took far longer than expected, but the Bills defense is starting to look like the bully Rex Ryan and his defensive coordinator Dennis Thurman promised it would be when they arrived in Buffalo prior to last season. The Bills did surrender 19 points to the Rams below average offense, but their 4 sacks, 3 takeaways (2 interceptions and a fumble recovery) and touchdown more than made up for that middling points allowed total. The Bills have been among the elite fantasy defenses so far in 2016 and if they're somehow still available in your league, you need to pounce on them immediately.  
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots

LVP: Carolina Panthers
In real life, the Panthers defense fared pretty decently in Week 5 considering the injuries that are currently plaguing their defensive line and secondary. However from a fantasy prescriptive, they were thoroughly underwhelming. The Panthers failed to generate a takeaway against a Buccaneers offense that 2nd in the league in turnovers going into this game and only picked up 2 sacks to offset the 17 points they allowed. Until the Panthers get some of their currently dinged-up players back on field, they should only be considered an emergency option in fantasy.
Dishonorable Mentions: Houston Texans, Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos

Week 4 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
With the possible exception of Browns running back Isaiah Crowell, there has not a bigger surprise fantasy standout this season than Matt Ryan. The Falcons signalcaller somehow managed to top his brilliant 396 YD/3 TD performance against the Raiders in Week 2 with a ridiculous 503 YD/4 TD performance against the reigning NFC Champion Panthers on Sunday. Ryan faces his toughest opponent to-date in Week 5 as the Falcons travel to Denver to take on the dominant Broncos defense, but despite the brutal matchup, there's no reason to believe his absurd early-season production level is going to suddenly come to a screeching halt.   
Honorable Mentions: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

LVP: Matthew Stafford (Lions)
Matthew Stafford has been one of the biggest steals in all of fantasy football so far in 2016, but none of that surprising early-season excellence was on display this week. Stafford was remarkably inefficient, mustering just 213 YDS, a successful 2 point-conversion and 0 TD's while throwing a pair of INT's against a Bears defense that's currently decimated by injury. Stafford has a good shot of putting up stinky numbers yet again in Week 5 as the Lions take on the stingy Eagles defense, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Eli Manning (Giants), Marcus Mariota (Titans)

Running Back
MVP: DeMarco Murray (Titans)
As skeptical as I am that's he going to be able sustain his current level of success for the entire season, there's no denying that DeMarco Murray has been excellent through the first 4 weeks of 2016. Murray once again looked like a true workhorse back against the Texans, picking up 119 total yards (95 rushing, 24 receiving) and 2 TD's on 27 touches. Murray has been the lone spark of life on the Titans offense this year and as of right now, he's easily the strongest RB1 option in fantasy football.  
Honorable Mentions: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys), Isaiah Crowell (Browns), Matt Jones (Redskins)

LVP: Charles Sims (Buccaneers)
Charles Sims followed up an impressive outing in his first career start against the Rams in Week 3 with a bona fide stinker against the Broncos in Week 4. Just about nothing went right for the 3rd-year back out of West Virginia on Sunday as the Broncos prolific defense held him to just 35 yards (28 rushing, 7 receiving) on 17 touches and forced him to lose a costly fumble in the 2nd quarter that helped give the reigning Super Bowl Champions the momentum they needed to pummel the Buccaneers into oblivion. Sims' slump looks like it could be short-lived as he is going up against the suddenly vulnerable Panthers defense in Week 5. 
Dishonorable Mentions: LeGarrette Blount (Patriots), Latavius Murray (Raiders), Matt Forte (Jets)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
A lot of speculation emerged around the status of Julio Jones-who has been dealing with ankle and calf ailments-following his underwhelming performance (1 REC/16 YDS) against the god awful Saints secondary last week. Jones promptly proved that speculation that he was being bogged down by injuries to be nothing but white noise with a complete and total evisceration of the Panthers defense in Week 4. Jones stomped on the souls of the Panthers defensive backs for 60 minutes, finishing with an absolutely ridiculous 300 YDS and a touchdown on 12 receptions. Jones is the type of rare, inhuman aerial weapon that you can feel comfortable locking into your starting lineup every week, regardless of matchup.   
Honorable Mentions: Michael Crabtree (Raiders), A.J. Green (Bengals), Will Fuller (Texans)

LVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
Near-constant double coverage got the best of DeAndre Hopkins in Week 4. The Texans star wideout wasn't able to get any separation against the Titans underrated secondary, as he picked up just 1 catch for 4 yards on a season-low 6 targets. The combination of defenses honing in on him more than ever and slower-than-expected process of developing a rapport with new quarterback Brock Osweiler has led to a slow start for Hopkins, but I firmly believe that he'll able to get back on track within the next few weeks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), DeSean Jackson (Redskins), Travis Benjamin (Chargers)

Tight End
MVP: Jordan Reed (Redskins)
The importance of Reed's role in the Redskins offense was re-confirmed in their narrow win over the Browns in Week 4. On a day where the Redskins other receivers bizarrely couldn't get much of anything going (the other 6 players that caught passes from Kirk Cousins finished with a combined total of 110 yards) against the Browns well below-average secondary, Reed came to the rescue by reeling in 9 of his 10 targets for 73 YDS and 2 TD. Reed is starting to justify his early-round draft status with his play over the past few weeks and as long as he stays healthy, he should be at least a top-5 TE in 2016.  
Honorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)

LVP: Dennis Pitta (Ravens)
The Dennis Pitta comeback tour hit its 1st bump in the road this week against the Raiders. Joe Flacco's safety net simply wasn't called upon as Pitta finished the afternoon with 3 receptions for 17 YDS on 5 targets (tied with Bershad Perriman for 4th most on the team). Pitta owners shouldn't panic over this underwhelming performance as he is still a crucial cog in the Ravens passing game and one of the team's only legitimate redzone targets.
Dishonorable Mentions: Coby Fleener (Saints), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Delanie Walker (Titans)

Defense
MVP: Los Angeles Rams
Facing a divisional opponent once again brought the best out of the Rams defense. The Rams made life hell for the Cardinals offense, picking up 3 sacks, 3 INT's and 2 fumble recoveries while allowing just 13 points. The Rams have re-affirmed their place among the elite fantasy defense options after their horrific Week 1 performance cast widespread doubt about their status for 2016. They appear to be line to put up another solid performance in Week 5 when they take on the up-and-down Bills.
Honorable Mentions: Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals

LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs followed up the most impressive defensive performance of 2016 so far with arguably one of the weakest. The Chiefs defense straight-up embarrassed themselves as they surrendered 43 points to the Steelers offense without managing a takeaway to make up for the tidal wave of points they allowed. This catastrophic meltdown should end up going down as just a bump in the road for this talented group and I expect them to promptly return to form when they return from bye in Week 6. 
Dishonorable Mentions: New England Patriots, New York Jets, Arizona Cardinals

Week 3 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Matthew Stafford (Lions
Facing a massive 31-10 deficit at halftime, the Lions were forced to rely on a pass-heavy offense, and those early struggles ended up deeply rewarding Matthew Stafford's fantasy owners. Stafford's strong second half led to an excellent 385 YD/3 TD/1 INT statline as the Lions narrowly lost 34-27 to the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon. Stafford has been one of the strongest fantasy options in 2016 thus far and his hot start has a great shot of continuing in Week 4 as the Lions take on the Bears weak, injury-riddled defense.
Honorable Mentions: Drew Brees (Saints), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers), Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

LVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
Ryan Fitzpatrick's disastrous 6 INT performance against the Chiefs was clearly the worst quarterback performance of the week, but his ineptness didn't effect nearly as many as fantasy players as Ben Roethlisberger's did. The Eagles aggressive front applied constant pressure and forced Big Ben to have an uncharacteristically sloppy performance (257 YDS, 0 TD, 1 INT, lost fumble) in a game that was universally disastrous for the Black and Yellow. Ironically, Roethlisberger's Week 4 matchup comes against the Chiefs defense that forced the Jets to turn the ball over 8 times this week, which makes a bounceback performance far from probable. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Ryan Fitzpatrick (Jets), Carson Palmer (Cardinals), Marcus Mariota (Titans)

Running Back
MVP: Devonta Freeman (Falcons)
After a relatively quiet start to the season, Devonta Freeman woke up in a big way this week. The Falcons running back torched the Saints lowly defense for 207 YDS (152 rushing, 55 receiving) and a TD on 19 touches. Freeman is currently locked in a timeshare with 2nd-year back Tevin Coleman and isn't likely to put up eye-popping numbers like this on a regular basis, but he's still worth starting every week in 2016's messy RB climate.
Honorable Mentions: Tevin Coleman (Falcons), Carlos Hyde (49ers), LeSean McCoy (Bills)

LVP: DeAngelo Williams (Steelers)
DeAngelo Williams has finally come back down to earth. A combination of the Steelers being forced to strictly pass after going down by multiple scores very early in the game and the Eagles honing in on him forced Williams to put up a lackluster 44 yards (21 rushing, 23 receiving) on just 12 touches. With Le'Veon Bell officially being reinstated from his suspension this week, Williams' fantasy value is bound to rapidly diminish.
Dishonorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Matt Forte (Jets), Jerick McKinnon (Vikings)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Marvin Jones Jr. (Lions)
Marvin Jones Jr. made the most of his targets against the Packers on Sunday afternoon. On just 6 receptions, Jones Jr. racked up an absurd 205 yards and a touchdown. With Golden Tate struggling out of the gate, Jones Jr. has established him as the Lions go-to receiver and subsequently earned a spot as a high-end WR2 with a WR1 ceiling.
Honorable Mentions: Terrelle Pryor Sr. (Browns), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos) T.Y. Hilton (Colts)

LVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
Where the hell was Julio Jones last night? Despite getting targeted a team-high 7 times, Jones was almost completely left out of the Falcons torching of the Saints defense, finishing with just a single catch for 16 yards. While Jones is currently dealing with ankle and calf ailments, it's still shocking that he made so little noise against the league's worst defense. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers), Brandin Cooks (Saints), Jeremy Maclin (Chiefs)

Tight End
MVP: Zach Miller (Bears)
Zach Miller was a popular fill-in option for owners of currently dinged-up TE1's Delanie Walker and Antonio Gates and he ended up nicely rewarding the people that inserted him into their lineups this week. Miller was Brian Hoyer's favorite target in the Bears ugly primetime loss against the Cowboys, picking up 78 yards and 2 TD on 8 receptions. Despite his success in Week 3, I still wouldn't recommend starting Miller outside of emergency situations. 
Honorable Mentions: Coby Fleener (Saints), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)

LVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Rob Gronkowski's 2016 debut didn't exactly go as planned. The perennial top fantasy tight end was basically a ghost against the Texans, only seeing the field for 14 plays and failing to catch his only target of the game. Gronkowski was still visibly hobbled by the hamstring that held him out of the first 2 games of the season and despite all of the upside he brings to the table every time he steps on the field, he'll be a very risky play until he's at 100%. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Julius Thomas (Jaguars), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Dwayne Allen (Colts)

Defense
MVP: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs defense put up the type of performance in Week 3 that doesn't seem possible outside of a video game. The Chiefs defense/special teams put on a takeaway clinic against the Jets, picking up 6 INT's, 2 fumble recoveries and scoring a pair of TD's that catapulted them to an easy 24-3 victory. The Chiefs face a much tougher task against the Steelers in Week 4, but any owner has to feel good about their chances to be a top 3-5 fantasy defense this year after this unreal performance. 
Honorable Mentions: Minnesota Vikings, Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots

LVP: Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks defense put up a solid real-life performance in Week 3, but that success wasn't reflected in their fantasy numbers. The Seahawks allowed 18 points, failed to register a sack and only managed a single INT in their blowout win over the embattled 49ers. The Seahawks D get a more-than-ideal opportunity to redeem themselves against the turnover-happy Jets offense in Week 4.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 1 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback:  
MVP:Andrew Luck (Colts)
The Andrew Luck that fantasy players know and love appears appears to be back. The Colts franchise quarterback showed no signs of the injuries or inefficiency that plagued his 2015 campaign as he shredded the Lions defense for 406 total yards (385 passing, 21 rushing), 4 TD and a successful 2-point conversion on Sunday afternoon. Luck's true level of effectiveness will be tested in week 2 as the Colts take on the stalwart Broncos defense.    
Honorable Mentions: Drew Brees (Saints), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers), Matthew Stafford (Lions)

LVP: Tyrod Taylor (Bills)
Tyrod Taylor was a popular option for fantasy players who waited until the late rounds to select a quarterback, but he did nothing to justify that buzz in Week 1 against the Ravens. Taylor was ultra-conservative and largely ineffective as the dual-threat quarterback mustered just 122 total yards (111 passing, 11 rushing) in a failed revenge matchup against his former team. Taylor has a rough matchup in Week 2 against the Jets D (they picked up 7 sacks against the Bengals strong offensive line in Week 1), so his owners might want to consider playing their backup or heading to the wavier wire to pick up a streaming option with a softer matchup (Joe Flacco, Trevor Siemain, Jimmy Garoppolo).
Dishonorable Mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Phillip Rivers (Chargers)

Running Back:
MVP: DeAngelo Williams (Steelers)
DeAngelo Williams picked up right where he left off in 2015 with an eye-popping performance in the season opener. The league's oldest active running back at 33 looked like a 25-year old entering his prime as he annihilated the Redskins defense for 171 total yards (143 Rushing, 28 receiving) and a pair of scores on 32 touches. His value is going to inevitably go down when starter Le'Veon Bell returns from suspension in Week 4, but in the interim, he's an excellent low-end RB1/high-end RB2 play.
Honorable Mentions: Spencer Ware (Chiefs), C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Carlos Hyde (49ers)

LVP: Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
For a 2nd consecutive year, Adrian Peterson opened up the season on a disastrous note. The 31-year old perennial Pro Bowler looked sluggish and had no answer for the Titans stacked boxes, finishing with a paltry 31 yards on 19 carries. Peterson's chances of bouncing back in Week 2 are far from guaranteed as he faces the Packers stout run defense that held the Jaguars to 48 total rushing yards this past week. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Devonta Freeman (Falcons), Todd Gurley (Rams), Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Brandin Cooks (Saints)
It was an absurd week for wide receivers as 16 players finished with at least 90 yards. Amidst all the stacked stat lines, Brandin Cooks ended up emerging as the top dog in the realm of fantasy football. Cooks, aided by a franchise-record 98-yard-touchdown, scooped up 143 receiving yards, 2 TD's and an 11-yard rush on a jet sweep in the Saints shootout with the Raiders on Sunday afternoon. Despite the greater reception and yardage total from Willie Snead in Week 1, Cooks is still the undisputed top wideout in New Orleans and has serious top 10 fantasy receiver potential for this season. 
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), A.J. Green (Bengals), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)

LVP: Dez Bryant (Cowboys)
The return of a fully-healthy Dez Bryant for the 1st time since last year's season opener was not the triumph fantasy owners who spent a high draft-pick on him had hoped for. Bryant was a bizarrely small part of the Cowboys game plan as he was targeted just 5 times and reeled in only 1 reception for 8 yards on the game. It would be a shock if offensive coordinator Scott Linehan and rookie quarterback Dak Prescott didn't try to get Bryant more involved in the offense when they square off against the Redskins, who just got flat-out torched by Antonio Brown, in Week 2. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Golden Tate (Lions), Brandon Marshall (Jets), Sammy Watkins (Bills)

Tight End
MVP: Dwayne Allen (Colts)
With Rob Gronkowski out with a hamstring injury and Jimmy Graham playing at less than 100%, Week 1 ended up being a pretty anti-climatic week for tight end's across the league. Colts starter Dwayne Allen ended up being the week's top scorer with a pretty average 53 YD/1 TD/1 2-Pt conversion statline in the Colts offense-heavy battle with the Lions. While Allen's numbers weren't earth-shattering, he should end up being a solid, low-end TE1 option if he can stay healthy all season long.
Honorable Mentions: Julius Thomas (Jaguars), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Greg Olsen (Panthers)

LVP: Coby Fleener (Saints)
The Saints 400+yard passing party on Sunday didn't include Coby Fleener. The team's highly-touted free-agent pickup was pretty much invisible, registering a single catch for 6 yards on only 4 targets . It's far too early to write off Fleener completely, but his lack of production on such a huge day for Drew Brees and the passing attack is a very bad early sign for his productivity in 2016.
Dishonorable Mentions: Gary Barnidge (Browns), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Martellus Bennett (Patriots)

Defense
MVP: Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings defense were called upon to step up their game with journeyman Shaun Hill under center and star running back Adrian Peterson slumping and holy hell, did they deliver. The Vikes D shook off early struggles and ended being the catalyst for the Vikings 25-16 come-from-behind victory against the Titans, picking up 2 fumble recoveries, 2 sacks, an interception and a pair of defensive touchdowns on the day. If for some reason the Vikings defense is on the wavier wire in your league, put in a claim for them immediately and cross your fingers that you land them. 
Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Buffalo Bills

LVP: Los Angeles Rams
Week 1 was not kind to the recently-relocated Rams and their projected top-5 fantasy defense. The Rams were uncharacteristically sloppy and silent in the season opener, as they allowed 28 points and failed to registered a sack against a 49ers offense that was widely projected to be one of the worst in the league heading into 2016. The Rams have a bad habit of phoning it in against lower-level competition and playing poorly at the start of the season, so there's no reason to hit the panic switch yet. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots, Oakland Raiders