Week 16 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Jared Goff (Rams)
Jared Goff's shockingly excellent sophomore season ended with yet another unexpected huge statline. Outside of a lost fumble that was returned for a TD in the 2nd quarter, Goff put together an impressive performance (301 YDS, 4 TD) in a 27-23 road shootout win over the Titans. Following his breakout campaign this year, Goff should be among the first 10 QB's off the board in 2018.
Honorable Mentions: Blake Bortles (Jaguars), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Alex Smith (Chiefs)

LVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees' so-so outing (239 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT) in a playoff-esque game against the Falcons undoubtedly disappointed a lot of championship-chasing owners that were expecting big things from the typically lights-out Saints QB. A vastly improved defense and strong running attack resulted in Brees posting his lowest TD (22) and yardage totals (4,089) since he joined the Saints in 2006 and if the 38-year old future Hall-of-Famer decides to re-sign with New Orleans this offseason, the perennial fantasy MVP will likely be downgraded to low-end QB1 status for the 1st time in over a decade.

Dishonorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys),  Matthew Stafford (Lions), Derek Carr (Raiders)

Running Back

MVP: Todd Gurley (Rams)
Todd Gurley's redemption campaign ended on the highest possible note. The 3rd-year bellcow back was the Rams offense's weapon of choice on Sunday as he shredded a visibly overwhelmed Titans defense for 276 YDS (118 rushing, 158 receiving) from scrimmage and 2 receiving TD's on 32 touches. The return of the tackle-shedding prowess he displayed as a rookie paired with his sudden emergence as a viable pass-catcher in 2017 makes Gurley a strong contender to be next year's top overall pick in both standard and PPR leagues.

Honorable Mentions: Dion Lewis (Patriots), C.J Anderson (Broncos), Melvin Gordon (Chargers)

LVP: Devonta Freeman (Falcons)
The man that's been dubbed by some people as "The Saints Killer" was MIA in New Orleans on Sunday afternoon. Devonta Freeman mustered a decent 56 YDS (36 rushing, 20 receiving) on 13 touches, but a crucial goal-line fumble and a large 2nd-half deficit derailed any chance of the league's highest-paid running back having another productive outing against the Saints. Despite getting less volume in new offensive coordinator Steve Skarskian's offense this season, Freeman should remain a mid-tier RB1 option going into 2018.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Christian McCaffery (Panthers), Kenyan Drake (Dolphins), Jonathan Stewart (Panthers)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
Games like the one he had in Week 16 remind me you of just how special Larry Fitzgerald is. The ageless wonder carved up an aimless, injury-depleted Giants defense for 119 YDS and a TD on 9 receptions. Despite playing with a revolving door of QB's, Fitzgerald managed to post his 3rd straight 100 reception, 1,000-yard season in 2017. If Fitz decides to come back for a 15th NFL season in 2018, there's no reason to believe that the 34-year old gridiron legend couldn't continue to be productive.

Honorable Mentions: Ted Ginn Jr. (Saints), Julio Jones (Falcons), JuJu Smith-Schuster (Steelers)

LVP: Alshon Jeffrey (Eagles)
Alshon Jeffrey put together his 1st truly debilitating fantasy dud as a member of the Eagles this week by failing to catch a pass against a well below-average Raiders secondary. While yard total was only slightly above average (781), Jeffrey was a deadly redzone threat this season (9 TD's in 15 games) and his strong chemistry with Carson Wentz will make him a strong double-digit TD candidate for the foreseeable future.

Dishonorable Mentions: Michael Crabtree (Raiders), Devin Funchess (Panthers), Adam Thielen (Vikings)

Tight End

MVP: Eric Ebron (Lions)
Eric Ebron was the only member of the Lions to notch a quality fantasy performance (5 REC/83 YDS/1 TD) in a gut-wrenching upset loss to the Bengals that officially closed the door on their slim playoff hopes. The always erratic Ebron will hit the free agent market in March, making his future fantasy prospects a complete mystery at this point in time.

Honorable Mentions: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Vernon Davis (Redskins)

LVP: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)
Kyle Rudolph was by far one of championship week's most surprising and aggravating busts. Not only did Rudolph's 4-game TD streak come to a close, he only managed 6 yards against a Packers defense that has gotten destroyed by tight ends all season long. Rudolph's place as a solid, but not overly expectional fantasy TE will remain the same as long as he's in a Vikings uniform.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Greg Olsen (Panthers), Delanie Walker (Titans)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Arizona Cardinals
Arizona's D delivered any fantasy owner that stuck with them a nice championship week surprise with a 2 sack, 3 takeway (including a fumble recovery for a TD) performance in an effortless-looking 23-0 win against an already checked-out Giants squad. This group failed to live up to their elite-level projections for most of this season, but they have enough young talent and pass-rushing prowess to potentially right the ship in 2018.

Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers

LVP: Jacksonville Jaguars
The league leader in takeaways, sacks and passing defense looked like a bottom-5 defense on Sunday afternoon, picking up only 1 sack, an INT, a blocked extra point and worst of all, surrendering 38 points to the Jimmy Garoppolo-led 49ers. This crushing meltdown was a brutal end to a season where the Jags emerged as an elite fantasy defense that was capable of reeling off a 20+ point performance at any given time. They're a near-lock to be the 1st defense selected in next season's drafts. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Los Angeles Rams, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens 

Week 15 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
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. 

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.

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)

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.

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.  

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

Dishonorable Mentions: Los Angeles Chargers, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals 

Week 14 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
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.

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.

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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Dishonorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks 

Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)
This was the quintessential Ben Roethlisberger performance that fantasy owners have experienced dozens of times over the past 13 years. Roethlisberger flashed poor decisionmaking that resulted in costly mistakes (2 INT's) for his team, but ultimately he made enough big-time plays to put together a masterful fantasy line (351 YDS, 4 TD's, 1 2-PT conversion and a surprising 25 YDS on the ground) to lead the Steelers to a narrow win over the Packers on Sunday night. After a thoroughly underwhelming 1st half of the season where he only cleared 20+ fantasy points twice, Big Ben has been outstanding over the past 3 weeks and will look to keep his hot streak alive against a tough Bengals secondary in Week 13.
Honorable Mentions: Philip Rivers (Chargers), Case Keenum (Vikings), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

LVP: Marcus Mariota (Titans)
The Titans pulled off an improbable late rally to beat the lowly Colts this week and if you're wondering why they had to battle back in a game that was a presumed easy victory, look no further than their franchise QB. Marcus Mariota threw a pair of INT's and mustered just 184 yards through the air against the league's worst passing defense on an afternoon where bundles of good fortune and even sloppier play from their opponents helped the Titans improve to 7-4 on the year. Mariota hasn't even come close to delivering on his 5th-6th round ADP this season and will likely remain frustratingly erratic despite a very favorable slate of matchups over the next few weeks.

Dishonorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Eli Manning (Giants), Alex Smith (Chiefs)

Running Back

MVP: Alvin Kamara (Saints)
With Kareem Hunt and Leonard Forunette crashing back down to earth in a major way after their historically strong starts, Alvin Kamara is starting to make a case for himself as the best back in 2017's stacked rookie class. Kamara brought electricity to the field on an afternoon where the Saints high-powered offense were slowed down significantly by the Rams physical, blitz-happy defense, notching 188 total YDS (87 rushing, 101 receiving) and a pair of TD's on just 11 touches. The dual-threat rookie sensation will look to extend his double-digit scoring streak to 7 games against the Panthers elite defense in Wee 13.

Honorable Mentions: Jamaal Williams (Packers), Joe Mixon (Bengals), Tevin Coleman (Falcons)

LVP: Mark Ingram (Saints)
While his running mate was busy breathing life into the offense, Mark Ingram was getting stuffed seemingly every time he touched the ball. A combination of ineffectiveness and relatively limited opportunities due to the Saints playing from behind for a vast majority of the game led to Ingram posting a rare dud (36 YDS from scrimmage on 13 touches) during his spectacular 2017 campaign. Bouncing back in Week 13 versus Carolina's stout run D that has only surrendered 2 TD's to RB's in their last 6 games will be a very tough task. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Kareem Hunt (Chiefs), Jordan Howard (Bears), Leonard Forunette (Jaguars)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
Julio Jones finally delivered the inhuman performance his fantasy owners had ben waiting for all season in Week 12. The Buccaneers secondary looked like an army of aimless mannequins as Jones eviscerated them for 253 YDS and 2 TD's on 12 receptions. Jones is unlikely to replicate this level of productivity during his hotly-anticipated faceoff with Vikings shutdown corner Xavier Rhodes this week.

Honorable Mentions: Antonio Brown (Steelers), Robby Anderson (Jets), Keenan Allen (Chargers)

LVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
Even the ever-consistent Doug Baldwin will stumble in terrific matchups from time-to-time. Baldwin made very little impact on his 3 touches (2 receptions for 25 YDS and a carry for -5 YDS) against an inexperienced 49ers secondary that has gotten routinely torched by their opponents throughout 2017. Angry Doug will look to redeem himself against a tough but beatable Eagles secondary in Week 13. 

Dishonorable Mentions: T.Y. Hilton (Colts), Golden Tate (Lions), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos)

Tight End

MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Rob Gronkowski was due for a monster game after a respectable yet not overly productive 4-game stretch following his last multi-TD eruption against the Jets in Week 6 and he delivered just that against the Dolphins suddenly horrific defense on Sunday afternoon. Gronkowski picked up 82 YDS and a pair of effortless-looking scores on 5 receptions in yet another easy victory for the defending Super Bowl Champs. I'd be stunned if he didn't match or exceed these numbers against a lackluster Bills defense in Week 13. 

Honorable Mentions: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Hunter Henry (Chargers)

LVP: Vernon Davis (Redskins)
Outside of the a-holes that had the gall and lack of awareness to bring up the politics at the dinner table, no one ruined more Thanksgiving's than Redskins tight end Vernon Davis. Davis failed to haul in his only target against the Giants coverage-challenged defense on a sorry-ass evening of football where every 'Skins pass-catcher not named Jamison Crowder struggled mightily. Even after back-to-back duds, Davis will be a low-end TE1 option as long as Jordan Reed remains on the shelf.

Dishonorable Mentions: Evan Engram (Giants), Jared Cook (Raiders), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

Defense

MVP: Los Angeles Chargers
While the return of Tyron Smith slightly improved things, the Chargers still managed to manhandle the Zeke-less Cowboys offense on Thanksgiving Day. 2 sacks and a pair of INT's including a game-clinching pick-6 by rookie corner Desmond King helped the Bolts roll to a lopsided 28-6 victory. This unit has been very impressive over the past month and with the winless Browns rolling into the StubHub Center this week, that streak is unlikely to come to a halt.

Honorable Mentions: New England Patriots, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles

LVP: Pittsburgh Steelers 
Despite a healthy sack total (4), the Steelers defense failed to take advantage of an excellent matchup against a Brett Hundley-led Packers offense that was coming off an ugly 5-turnover performance in their narrow 31-28 victory on Sunday Night Football. 2017's most improved defense will be a decent play against the Bengals below-average offense in Week 13.

Dishonorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons

Week 11 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks) 
After a quiet (by his standards) Week 10, Russell Wilson returned to his fantasy MVP status in Week 11. Despite a pair of back-breaking turnovers that helped put the Seahawks in a deep hole in the 1st half, Wilson ended up putting together a spectacular performance (334 total YDS, 3 TD, 1 2-PT Conversion) in a narrow loss against the Falcons on Monday night. Wilson will have redemption on the brain in Week 12 when he squares off against a weak 49ers secondary that he struggled against back in Week 2.
Honorable Mentions: Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Tom Brady (Patriots)

LVP: Dak Prescott (Cowboys) 
Thoughts and prayers if you put Dak Prescott in your lineup this week. The Cowboys quarterback put together an all-time stinker on Sunday night against the Eagles, turning the ball over 4 times (3 INT's and a lost fumble) while amassing just 155 total YDS and failing to reach the endzone for only the 2nd time this season. Prescott has been awful since Ezekiel Elliott started serving his suspension and if star left tackle Tyron Smith is out of the lineup for the Cowboys Thanksgiving Showdown with the Chargers, don't hesitate to bench him.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Alex Smith (Chiefs), Jared Goff (Rams), Eli Manning (Giants)

Running Back

MVP: LeSean McCoy (Bills)
LeSean McCoy proved to be the lone bright spot on a hellish afternoon for the Bills. Shady accounted for 126 YDS (114 rushing, 12 receiving) and a pair of scores in a turnover-plagued 54-24 loss to the Chargers. Even with the Bills currently imploding in spectacular fashion after their excellent 5-2 start, McCoy should remain a mid-tier RB1.

Honorable Mentions: Latavaius Murray (Vikings), Mark Ingram (Saints), Alvin Kamara (Saints)

LVP: Doug Martin (Buccaneers)
I think that it's safe to say that the days of Doug Martin being a viable NFL running back are over. Martin was wildly ineffective (38 YDS on 19 carries) against a Dolphins run D that had gotten blown up by the likes of Jonathan Stewart, Alex Collins and 31-year old Marshawn Lynch in the last 3 weeks. Even with the heavy volume of touches he's been receiving with Ryan Fitzpatrick under center the past 2 weeks, the back formerly known as The Muscle Hamster won't be worth playing in any non-emergency situation for the Bucs week 12 tilt versus the Falcons middling rush defense.  

Dishonorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Titans), Adrian Peterson (Cardinals), Kenyan Drake (Dolphins)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
In a turn of events that surprised absolutely no one, Antonio Brown followed up a lackluster game with an absolutely monstrous one. Brown sliced and diced his way through the Titans below-average secondary all night long (144 YDS and 3 TD's on 10 receptions) as the Steelers rolled to a 40-17 win. The league's best WR has another plus matchup in Week 12 against a weak Packers secondary that has allowed the 6th most fantasy points to opposing receivers this season.   

Honorable Mentions: Keenan Allen (Chargers), Brandin Cooks (Patriots), Adam Thielen (Vikings)

LVP: DeVante Parker (Dolphins) 
Unlike his peers on the Dolphins anemic offense, DeVante Parker had miraculously managed to avoid putting up a true fantasy dud in any of the 6 games he'd appeared in this season. That solid run of competency came to an end in Week 11. Parker fell bellow his high floor (60+ YDS and/or a TD), securing just 4 receptions for 26 YDS against the Buccaneers suspect secondary. With Jay Cutler's status up in the air as of today, Parker will be a risky WR3 play against an improving Patriots secondary in Week 12. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Golden Tate (Lions), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos), Stefon Diggs (Vikings)

Tight End

MVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)
Jimmy Graham the Touchdown God strikes again!!! Graham reeled in his 7th TD of the season and put together another solid all-around performance (7 REC/58 YDS/1 2-Point Conversion) in the 'Hawks tough loss to the suddenly rejuvenated Falcons. Graham will look to score for the 8th time in 7 games this week against a 49ers D that has surrendered a TD to TE's in 4 straight games. 

Honorable Mentions: Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Delanie Walker (Titans), Tyler Kroft (Bengals)

LVP: Zach Ertz (Eagles)
Even the most stable guys are bound to put up duds every once in a while. After posting at least 8.1 fantasy points in his previous 7 games, Zach Ertz was a complete non-factor (2 REC, 8 YDS) on a night where the Eagles didn't really need their passing attack to beat the brakes off of the Zeke-and-Tyron Smith-less Cowboys. Ertz, whose appears to still be battling the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Eagles pre-Bye Week showdown with the Broncos on November 6th, should be a decent play against a solid yet beatable Bears secondary in Week 12.    

Dishonorable Mentions: Evan Engram (Giants), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Jason Witten (Cowboys)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Baltimore Ravens
For the 3rd time this season, the Ravens D flat-out dominated their opponents in a shutout. Baltimore swarmed and suffocated the Brett Hundley-led Packers offense for 4 quarters, picking up 6 sacks and 5 takeaways (3 INT, 2 FUM REC) in an impressive victory for the de facto AFC Wild Card contenders. With their relatively favorable schedule throughout the fantasy playoffs, the Ravens could very well end up unseating the Jaguars as the top fantasy defense by season's end. 

Honorable Mentions: Los Angeles Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers

LVP: New Orleans Saints
After racking up a string of impressive performances, the Saints D finally displayed some flaws for the first time since their Week 6 shootout with the Lions. Despite their key stops in the 4th quarter and overtime, Dennis Allen's troops mustered just 2 sacks and 0 takeaways in their remarkable 34-31 comeback win over the Redskins. Even if top corner Marshon Lattimore ends up being good to go following the ankle injury he suffered on Sunday afternoon, the Saints are unlikely to return to their form against the Rams explosive and mistake-averse offense in Week 12.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs

Week 3 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
Everyone's favorite 40-year old quarterback/sketchy nutrition book peddler was at it again in Week 3. Outside of a lost fumble that resulted in a touchdown, Tom Brady was outstanding on Sunday as he picked up 378 YDS, 5 TD and a successful 2-point conversion against the Texans banged-up defense. Brady has played outstanding since his awful opening night performance against the Chiefs and will look to keep his hot streak going in Week 4 versus a Panthers defense that just surrendered 3 TD's to Drew Brees.
Honorable Mentions: Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

LVP: Cam Newton (Panthers)
For the first time in 2017, an opposing quarterback failed to light up the Saints abysmal defense. Cam Newton was a god damn mess in front of his home crowd on Sunday afternoon, mustering a sorry-ass statline (193 total YDS, 3 INT and a rushing TD) against a defense that had surrendered 7 TD in the previous 2 games. The Panthers offense has been anemic all season long and with top WR Kelvin Benjamin expected to miss at least a few weeks with a knee injury, I would recommend benching Newton indefinitely in deeper leagues and dropping him in shallower ones.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Derek Carr (Raiders), Philip Rivers (Chargers), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers)

Running Back

MVP: Todd Gurley (Rams)
Todd Gurley's stunning bounceback campaign hit a new peak in Week 3. Gurley was once again the centerpiece for the Rams suddenly viable offense against the 49ers, picking up 149 total YDS (113 rushing, 36 receiving) and 3 TD's (2 rushing, 1 receiving) on 33 touches in last week's shockingly great edition of Thursday Night Football. If Gurley can maintain his current scoring rate, he has an excellent chance of being the #1 overall fantasy back this season.

Honorable Mentions: Jordan Howard (Bears), Chris Thompson (Redskins), Kareem Hunt (Chiefs)

LVP: Jay Ajayi (Dolphins)
Dolphins workhorse running back Jay Ajayi managed to fill his fantasy owners with rage and disgust by posting a mere 25 yards (16 rushing, 9 receiving) on 13 touches again the New York F'n Jets. While his seemingly chronic knee ailment could have somewhat of an effect on his usage in the coming weeks, Ajayi should still be considered a high-end RB1 when the 'Phins travel across the pond to face the Saints in Week 4. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Marshawn Lynch (Raiders), Javorius Allen (Ravens), Mike Gillislee (Patriots)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Stefon Diggs (Vikings)
If you were brave enough to put Stefon Diggs in your lineup this week, your faith was rewarded tremendously. The Vikings top WR miraculously posted 173 YDS and 2 TD on 8 receptions against the Buccaneers pretty decent secondary with backup quarterback Case Keenum at the helm. Even though they displayed some nice chemistry during this spectacular performance, Diggs will remain a risky fantasy play as long as Keenum is under center.

Honorable Mentions: Brandin Cooks (Patriots), Sammy Watkins (Rams), T.Y. Hilton (Colts)

LVP: Amari Cooper (Raiders)
Both of the Raiders starting receivers were worthy candidates for this dubious honor, but Amari Cooper managed to do even less than Week 2 darling Michael Crabtree. Like everyone else on the Raiders offense not named Jared Cook, Cooper had an awful showing against the Redskins, finishing the night with a single reception for 6 yards. Cooper has been a massive dud in back-to-back weeks and will more than likely struggle again when he takes on the Broncos "No Fly Zone" corner trio (Chris Harris Jr., Aqib Talib, Bradley Roby) in Week 4.

Dishonorable Mentions: Michael Crabtree (Raiders), J.J. Nelson (Cardinals), Jeremy Maclin (Ravens)

Tight End

MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Rob Gronkowski spent this week proving he had no ill effects from the groin injury he suffered against the Saints in Week 2. Gronk gave the Texans depleted secondary fits all game long, posting 89 YDS and a TD on a team-high 8 receptions. As long as he remains on the field, Gronkowski will be the best fantasy (and real-life) tight end on the planet.

Honorable Mentions: Jared Cook (Raiders), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers)

LVP: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
The feed Travis Kelce initiative suffered a huge setback on Sunday. The Chiefs star tight end was a complete non-factor against the Chargers, catching his only target for 1 yard in a game that his team had won by the time the 1st quarter had concluded. Kelce is still Alex Smith's top short-yardage target in the passing game and should continue to be the top fantasy tight end not named Rob Gronkowski in 2017.

Dishonorable Mentions: Hunter Henry (Chargers), Jack Doyle (Colts), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Kansas City Chiefs
In a wonky Week 3 where normally below-average groups like the Redskins, Jets and Bengals topped the defensive scoring leaderboards, the Chiefs managed to be one of the few mainstays that delivered the goods. The Chiefs harassed Philip Rivers and co. all afternoon, picking up 3 INT's and a pair of sacks in an easy 24-10 win against the lowly Chargers. Bob Sutton's group has looked pretty respectable through the inaugural stretch of the season and should be able to retain that level of efficiency against the Redskins erratic offense next Monday night.  

Honorable Mentions: Jacksonville Jaguars, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans

LVP: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens were the latest team to fall victim to the supernatural force that is the London version of the Jaguars. Blake Bortles and co. hung 44 points on this typically stout defense during their annual visit to their international home. I fully expect this group to bounce back this week when they face a Steelers team that has an extensive history of struggling at M&T Bank Stadium.

Dishonorable Mentions: Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos

Week 2 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Tom Brady (Patriots)
In a shocking twist, Tom Brady followed up an underwhelming game with an unreal one. Brady effortlessly carved up the Saints horrid defense at the Superdome on Sunday, scooping up 447 YDS and 3 TD's in the Patriots 1st lopsided win of 2017. With the JV Patriots (aka the Texans) headed to Gillette Stadium in Week 3, Brady should once again put up big numbers.
Honorable Mentions: Carson Wentz (Eagles), Drew Brees (Saints), Derek Carr (Raiders)

LVP: Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)

Jameis Winston's season debut didn't go exactly as planned from a fantasy standpoint. Thanks to the Bears 4 1st half turnovers, the Buccaneers ran a very conservative offense for the last 2 and a half quarters, which subsequently caused Winston to have a pretty quiet game (204 YDS, 1 TD). Winston will look to put up bigger numbers this week when he faces a Vikings defense that just surrendered 243 YDS and 2 TD's to Ben Roethlisberger.

Dishonorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Cam Newton (Panthers), Matthew Stafford (Lions)

Running Back

MVP: C.J. Anderson (Broncos)

A running back took over the Broncos/Cowboys game on Sunday afternoon and it wasn't the one that people expected it to be. C.J. Anderson had one of the most impressive games of his career to-date as he shredded the Cowboys disorganized D for 154 total yards (118 rushing, 36 receiving) and 2 TD's on 28 touches. Anderson has looked pretty solid to start off 2017 and appears like he can be trusted as a weekly RB2.

Honorable Mentions: Todd Gurley (Rams), Ty Montgomery (Packers), Kareem Hunt (Chiefs)

LVP: Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys) 

The league's reigning rushing champion looked mortal for the 1st time in almost a full year. While gameflow certainly didn't help, Ezekiel Elliott got eviscerated by the Broncos front 7, finishing with a career-low 22 yards (8 rushing, 14 receiving) on 13 touches. Zeke will remain in the RB1 conversation when the Cowboys square off against the Cardinals next Monday night.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Howard (Bears), DeMarco Murray (Titans), LeSean McCoy (Bills)

Wide Receiver

MVP: Michael Crabtree (Raiders) 

The Raiders resident touchdown vulture repeatedly swooped in for the kill against the Jets on Sunday. Michael Crabtree's 3 TD grabs capped off another solid performance (6 REC, 80 YDS) for the veteran wideout, whose career has been revitalized since joined the Silver and Black back in 2015. With his constant involvement in the passing attack and uncontested monopoly on the Raiders redzone targets, Crabtree is locked in as a high-end WR2.

Honorable Mentions: Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos), Davante Adams (Packers), Martavis Bryant (Steelers)

LVP: Amari Cooper (Raiders)

Not everyone can feast in a dream matchup and Amari Cooper ended up being the Raider who was left starving this week. The Jets defense held Cooper to just 4 receptions and 33 YDS receiving on an afternoon where they allowed 45 points and 410 total yards to the Raiders high-powered offense. Cooper has been susceptible to putting up duds in excellent matchups since he entered the league in 2015, so there's no reason to be concerned about his productivity at this point in time.   

Dishonorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals), Brandin Cooks (Patriots)

Tight End

MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)

The Rob Gronkowski that fantasy owners know and love was out in full force in Week 2. Gronkowski feasted on the slew of different defenders the Saints deployed to cover him, posting 116 YDS and a TD in 6 receptions. Gronk did miss the last few series of the game after suffering a groin injury early in the 4th quarter, but he currently appears to be set to suit up against the Texans this Sunday.

Honorable Mentions: Travis Kelce (Chiefs), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Delanie Walker (Titans)

LVP: Jimmy Graham (Seahawks)

For a 2nd straight week, Jimmy Graham was the biggest victim of the Seahawks anemic passing attack. Graham reeled in a single pass for 1 yard as porous offensive line play once again forced Russell Wilson to run for the hills 90% of the time he dropped back to pass. Unless the Seahawks can suddenly start giving Wilson more than 0.3 seconds to throw, Graham won't be worth starting in any league.

Dishonorable Mentions: Austin Hooper (Falcons), Julius Thomas (Dolphins), Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens defense made life hell for the Browns young offense, picking 3 sacks and 5 takeaways (4 INT, 1 FUM REC) in a dominant 24-10 win at M&T Bank Stadium. This unit has a strong chance of continuing their strong start when they travel to Londontown to face the Blake Bortles-led Jaguars in Week 3.

Honorable Mentions: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals

LVP: Jacksonville Jaguars

R.I.P. Sacksonville September 10, 2017-September 17, 2017. The Jaguars D came crashing back to Earth in week 2 after an unreal performance in the season opener, mustering a sack and an INT in a disastrous 37-16 loss to the Titans. The Jags will likely find a happy medium between their performances in the first 2 weeks of the season when they make their annual trip to jolly ol' England this week to face the Ravens, who have surrendered 3 sacks and turned the ball over 3 times in their first 2 games of 2017.

Dishonorable Mentions: Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots