Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers: 2019 Edition

Quarterback
MVP: Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
Jackson's wizardry was on full display last night as he torched a pretty damn good Rams defense throwing for 169 YDS and 5 TD's while gaining an additional 95 YDS on the ground. The top MVP candidate will face one of his stiffest tests of 2019 thus far when the 49ers elite D heads into Baltimore this Sunday for a potentially epic showdown.    
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Tannehill (Titans), Sam Darnold (Jets), Jameis Winston (Buccaneers)

LVP: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
Just when it looked like Ryan and the Falcons were starting to get on a roll, they put up a genuinely stunning stinker out of nowhere. Ryan was abysmal (271 YDS/0 TD/1 INT/1 FUM Lost) in a prime  home tilt against the Buccaneers hopeless pass D and eventually got yanked for Matt F'n Schaub in the 4th quarter of this ugly loss for the NFC's most underperforming team. Ryan will be a borderline QB1 this week versus a slumping Saints defense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Aaron Rodgers (Packers)

Running Back
MVP: Leonard Fournette (Jaguars)
Garbage time is a magnificent thing. Fournette took advantage of this especially extensive formality period in the Jags comical blowout loss to the Titans-registering 159 scrimmage YDS and a pair of rushing scores on 31 touches. Fournette has been pretty much the lone stable contributor on a Jaguars offense that seems to fluctuate in effectiveness on a week-to-week basis and as long as Nick Foles continues to struggle, he'll have to keep serving as the focal point of John DeFilippo's attack.  

Honorable Mentions: Derrick Henry (Titans), Christian McCaffery (Panthers), Mark Ingram (Ravens)

LVP: Todd Gurley (Rams)
With the Ravens putting the Rams in a coffin by the time the 1st quarter was over, poor Gurley didn't even have a shot to contribute. The Rams top back finished the night with a disheartening 19 YDS on 9 touches. He'll likely fare significantly better against a so-so Cardinals rush defense in Week 13.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Josh Jacobs (Raiders), Aaron Jones (Packers), David Montgomery (Bears)

Wide Receiver 

MVP: Chris Godwin (Buccaneers)
These Buccaneers receivers sure do know how to bust out of a slump in the most spectacular way possible. Godwin was blowing by the Falcons corners all game long and ended up posting an absurd 7 REC/184 YDS/2 TD statline when the day was done. With 70 receptions, 1,071 YDS and a league-leading 9 TD's through 11 games, Godwin is currently in the most valuable fantasy wideout conversation.    

Honorable Mentions: Jarvis Landry (Browns), DJ Moore (Panthers), DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)

LVP: Amari Cooper (Cowboys)
God awful weather conditions and a matchup with the great Stephon Gilmore rendered Cooper completely useless on Sunday against the Patriots as he failed to haul in either of his targets. His cold streak seems likely to continue in Week 13 as he draws another tough matchup against a stingy Bills secondary that has only allowed 4 TD's to WR's this season.

Dishonorable Mentions: Tyler Lockett (Seahawks), Courtland Sutton (Broncos), T.Y. Hilton (Colts)

Tight End

MVP: George Kittle (49ers)
A hobbled Kittle, who is playing through a broken bone in his ankle, feasted on the Packers porous secondary-securing 6 catches for 129 YDS and a TD. Unless his ankle manages to slow him down, Kittle will remain a top 3 TE1 option down the stretch. 
Honorable Mentions: Jared Cook (Saints), Zach Ertz (Eagles), Ryan Griffin (Jets)

LVP: Vance McDonald (Steelers)
Not even the absence of JuJu Smith-Schuster and James Conner opened up opportunities for McDonald in the passing game. The Steelers tight end caught his only target for 1 YD against the lowly Bengals on Sunday afternoon. Even in a dire time for the TE position in fantasy, McDonald simply isn't startable. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Darren Fells (Texans), Dallas Goedert (Eagles), Jacob Hollister (Seahawks)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Seahawks
What a vintage performance from the Seahawks this week. The physicality, speed and disruptiveness that they displayed against the Eagles was reminiscent of the Legion of the Boom and it made Carson Wentz and co. very uncomfortable, forcing 5 turnovers and registering 3 sacks in a hard-fought 17-9 victory. This group has looked a lot stronger over the past few games and will be in starting consideration most weeks if they continue to be a takeaway machine that allows under 20 points a  game.

Honorable Mentions: Bills, Ravens, Steelers

LVP: Jaguars
What a difference 2 months makes. After dominating the Titans (9 sacks/FUM REC/9 points allowed) in their 1st matchup, the Jaguars defense got absolutely destroyed in their 2nd meeting, surrendering 42 points while only registering a sack and a pair of fumble recoveries to offset the stink of their garbage performance. Todd Wash's group is playing their worst football of the year over the past 3 weeks (33.0 PPG allowed) and will be a risky start on Sunday against the Buccaneers turnover-happy yet often explosive offense.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Rams, Bears, Saints      

Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers (2018 Edition)

Quarterback 
MVP: Deshaun Watson (Texans) 
The dual threat capabilities of the Texans signalcaller were on full display last night as he gashed the Titans overrated defense for 210 YDS and a TD through the air and 70 YDS and a TD on the ground. Watson will look to keep rolling in a favorable matchup against the Browns this Sunday.
Honorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Vikings), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Baker Mayfield (Browns)

LVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Rodgers hasn't looked like himself recently and that troubling trend continued with a very poor performance in a must-win game against the Vikings on Sunday night. The star QB threw for just 198 YDS and 1 TD in a crushing 24-17 loss that dropped the Packers to 4-6-1 on the year. As disheartening as the last few weeks have been, a return to Lambeau Field to square off against a sad Cardinals defense could very well prove to be the cure for what ails #12.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carson Wentz (Eagles), Matthew Stafford (Lions), Eli Manning (Giants)

Running Back
MVP: Christian McCaffery (Panthers)
It's kind of insane that the Panthers managed to lose a game where McCaffery was borderline unstoppable. The sophomore running back picked up a ridiculous 237 scrimmage YDS (125 rushing, 112 receiving) and 2 scores on 28 touches against the Seahawks feisty albeit not overly talented defense. McCaffery has been a beacon of light during the Panthers current 3-game losing streak and it would be a huge shock if the current warpath he's on came to a halt against the Bucs league-worst D in Week 13.
Honorable Mentions: Saquon Barkley (Giants), Nick Chubb (Browns), Leonard Fournette (Jaguars)

LVP: Jordan Howard (Bears)
With starting quarterback Mitch Trubisky out with a shoulder injury and a prime matchup against a Lions defense that has consistently struggled to stop the run, this seemed like the perfect game for Howard to break out of his nearly season-long funk. In a not-so-surprising twist, he squandered the opportunity by only gaining 15 YDS on 8 touches. Howard has been a massive letdown after rushing for over 1,000 YDS in each of the past 2 seasons and if it wasn't for the trash depth at the position, he wouldn't even be a rosterable player in 10 team leagues.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dion Lewis (Titans), Duke Johnson Jr. (Browns), LeSean McCoy (Bills)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: Amari Cooper (Cowboys)
Cooper had one of his semi-annual explosions against the Redskins reeling secondary on Thanksgiving, registering 180 YDS and 2 TD's on 8 receptions. His owners can probably expect a nice 2 catch/30 YD line on Thursday night when the Cowboys take on the Saints.
Honorable Mentions: JuJu Smith-Schuster (Steelers), Corey Davis (Titans), Adam Thielen (Vikings)

LVP: Michael Thomas (Saints)
A combination of multiple Falcons turnovers, stronger-than-usual dedication to running the ball and rando receivers getting into the endzone on 4 separate occasions resulted in Thomas getting just 4 catches for 38 YDS on Thanksgiving. While the Cowboys have a sneaky good secondary, I believe Thomas has solid odds of putting up better numbers this week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Allen Robinson (Bears), Jarvis Landry (Browns), Alshon Jeffrey (Eagles)

Tight End
MVP: Eric Ebron (Colts)
Divine redzone entity Ebron returned to his home in Week 12 after a mysterious disappearing act last week against the Titans, hauling in a pair of scores that propped up his otherwise unexceptional statline (5 REC for 45 YDS) versus the Dolphins. The co-league leader in receiving TD's will look to find paydirt once again when the scorching hot Colts square off against a Jags D that seems to be getting more and more deflated by the week.
Honorable Mentions: Zach Ertz (Eagles), David Njoku (Browns), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)

LVP: Trey Burton (Bears)
Going into last Thursday's game with the Lions, Burton looked like he was going to be the focal point of the passing attack due to his familiarity with Chase Daniel from their time together with the Eagles. Instead, Taylor Gabriel led the team in receiving and Burton had himself an ugly afternoon that included a couple of inexcusable drops and a brutal fumble that derailed a potential scoring drive in the 2nd quarter helped turn an underwhelming fantasy day (4 REC/28 YDS) into a truly disastrous one. He'll remain a boom-or-bust TE1 when the Bears travel to MetLife Stadium to take on the Giants in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Vance McDonald (Steelers), Austin Hooper (Falcons)

Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Ravens
Scores on a punt return and their lone takeaway against (a fumble recovery by Terrell Suggs) catapulted the Ravens, who also got 3 sacks and allowed 17 points in a victory over the Raiders, to the top of the D/ST leaderboard. They'll be a low-upside start for this Sunday's road tilt versus the Falcons.
Honorable Mentions: Saints, Bears, Broncos

LVP: Jaguars
Reason #12,014,953 why the Jags D have lost their mojo: They failed to show up against the F'n Bills. That's right, the unit formerly known as Sacksonville got 0 sacks or takeaways and surrendered 24 points to the most generous offense in all of fantasy football. If you've been blindly holding onto this band of stiffs with the hope that they were going to get their swag from a year ago back at some point this season, it's time to sever the god damn ties.
Dishonorable Mentions: Colts, Steelers, Packers

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 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
The typically conservative Russell Wilson had an unusually strong passing day in Week 12, throwing for 345 YDS and a career-high 5 TD against the Steelers horrendous secondary. Wilson has taken advantage of his much improved pass protection of late by throwing for a whopping 605 YDS and 8 TD's and completing 76.1% of his passes over the last two games. Wilson's aerial hot streak paired with his top-notch rushing ability make him a very attractive QB1 option for his Week 13 matchup with the Vikings.
Honorable Mentions: Matthew Stafford (Lions), Philip Rivers (Chargers), Tyrod Taylor (Bills)

LVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees simply couldn't get anything going against the suddenly dominant Texans defense throwing for a pedestrian 228 YDS and finishing a game without a TD pass for the first time since 2012. Brees has fallen off quite a bit since his 7 TD performance against the Giants in Week 9 and I would strongly advise his fantasy owners to bench him for the Saints week 13 matchup with the Panthers.
Dishonorable Mentions: Matt Ryan (Falcons), Jay Cutler (Bears), Brian Hoyer (Texans)

Running Back
MVP: Adrian Peterson (Vikings)
The remarkable 2015 comeback campaign of Adrian Peterson continued in Week 12. The 30-yard old running back carried the Vikings offense on his back yet again, picking up 187 total yards (158 rushing, 29 receiving) and 2 TD's on 31 touches against the Falcons. The Vikings should continue to ride Peterson as they fight for a playoff spot in the ultra-competitive NFC and even with some rough matchups on the docket, he should continue to be best fantasy running backing option for the remainder of the season.
Honorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Eddie Lacy (Packers), DeAngelo Williams (Steelers)

LVP: DeMarco Murray (Eagles)
DeMarco Murray's turkey of a performance on Thanksgiving against the Lions (30 yards on 14 carries) was easily one of the worst outings in a beyond frustrating first season in Philadelphia for the 2014 NFL rushing leader. The combination of a banged-up offensive line that can't open up holes with any form of consistency and a terrible fit in Chip Kelly's uptempo scheme has made Murray one of the biggest fantasy flops of 2015. No team in the NFL has looked as incompetent as the Eagles over the past 2 weeks and I wouldn't bother starting Murray until they show some signs of life.
Dishonorable Mentions: Lamar Miller (Dolphins), Frank Gore (Colts), Todd Gurley (Rams)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)
Doug Baldwin was the primary beneficiary of Russell Wilson's career day, hauling in 145 YDS and 3 TD on 6 receptions. Baldwin should be more involved with the offense now that Jimmy Graham is out for season, but Wilson's tendency to have a new favorite receiver every week makes him nothing more than a boom-or-bust WR3.
Honorable Mentions: Sammy Watkins (Bills), Calvin Johnson (Lions), Brandon Marshall (Jets)

LVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)
DeAndre Hopkins' 5 reception/36-yard performance against the Saints in Week 12 might be the biggest single game disappointment of the 2015 fantasy season. Hopkins seemed primed to go off against the Saints 31st-ranked pass defense, but couldn't get anything going despite the fact that he was facing one of the worst cover corners in the NFL in Brandon Browner. Hopkins should draw the attention of excellent rookie cornerback Ronald Darby in a decent, but not overly great matchup with the Bills in Week 13.
Dishonorable Mentions: Michael Floyd (Cardinals), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), Dez Bryant (Cowboys)

Tight End
MVP: Julius Thomas (Jaguars)
After a pretty slow start since returning from minor offseason hand surgery in Week 5, Julius Thomas finally showcased why the Jaguars signed him to a massive deal this past offseason. Thomas was the Jaguars primary source of offense in a dogfight with the Chargers, securing 9 of his 10 targets for 116 YDS and a TD. Thomas' largely unimpressive numbers this year make him a pretty risky play, but his distinction as the Jaguars primary redzone threat makes him worth a look at the talent-barren tight end position.
Honorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

LVP: Jason Witten (Cowboys)
It's kind of unfair to pick on Jason Witten since his unproductive day (36 YDS on 4 receptions) against the Panthers stemmed from Tony Romo's nightmare 3 INT performance, but fantasy owners ultimately only care about the results, not what caused them. With Romo now done for the year after re-breaking his clavicle at the end of the 3rd quarter in this horrendous loss, Witten will be reduced to a low-end TE1/high-end TE2 moving forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Cameron (Dolphins), Richard Rogers (Packers), Charles Clay (Bills)

Defense
MVP: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers defense made Tony Romo and the Cowboys big Thanksgiving homecoming a massive nightmare. This widely disrespected defense took advantage of a clearly not 100% Romo by picking up 3 INT and 2 TD in the first half, basically ending the game the halftime. The Cowboys did ultimately put up 14 points (11 of which where scored in garbage time) on the Panthers D, but that was only a small victory for a team whose slim playoff hopes went up in flames after this crushing loss. The Panthers are an elite fantasy defense that could very well end up passing the Broncos as the top fantasy defense by the time the season is over.
Honorable Mentions: Cincinnati Bengals, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens

LVP: Philadelphia Eagles
The defensive issues the Eagles displayed in Week 11 somehow got even worse in Week 12. Matthew Stafford and the below-average Lions offense hung 45 points on the Eagles without even breaking a sweat. They couldn't even muster a single takeaway to salvage this terrible performance. A top-flight fantasy defense just a few weeks ago, the Eagles are now on the verge of being droppable in both 10-and 12 team leagues.
Dishonorable Mentions: Pittsburgh Steelers, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots 

2014 Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
This was the Drew Brees performance that his fantasy owners had been waiting for all season. Brees lit up a banged-up Ravens secondary for 420 yards and 3 TD's on Monday night. His night could've been even better if it wasn't for a dropped Jimmy Graham TD in the 2nd quarter and a a costly INT in the 3rd quarter. Brees has another solid matchup against an injury-riddled secondary in Week 13 as the Saints travel to Pittsburgh to play the Steelers.
Honorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Tony Romo (Cowboys)

LVP: Jay Cutler (Bears)
Jay Cutler found new ways to sadden his fantasy owners this week by putting up weak numbers in a game where he didn't turn the ball over multiple times. Cutler threw for a measly 130 and a TD and lost a fumble against a Buccaneers defense that has been pretty bad against QB's for a majority of the season. Cutler has a horrendous matchup against the Lions on Thanksgiving day, so avoid starting him unless you absolutely have to.      
Dishonorable Mentions: Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Joe Flacco (Ravens), Mark Sanchez (Eagles)

Running Back
MVP: Justin Forsett (Ravens)
There has not been a bigger pleasant surprise in fantasy football this year than Justin Forsett. Forsett's early success appeared to be a fluke, but he's been absolutely dominate in just about every game this season and rose out of the Ravens running back committee to become the clear-cut starter. Forsett had a career night against the Saints on Monday Night Football as he went for a ridiculous 182 yards and 2 TD's on 22 carries. Forsett should continue to get high volume for the rest of the season and will likely serve as one of the keys to a lot of fantasy player's success come playoff time.  
Honorable Mentions: C.J. Anderson (Broncos), Eddie Lacy (Packers), Matt Forte (Bears)

LVP: Alfred Blue (Texans)
Rookie Alfred Blue had a great day in Week 11 starting in place of the injured Arian Foster. That success did not carry over to Week 12 as Blue got held in check in his 3rd career start, picking up just 66 yards (46 rushing, 20 receiving) on 19 touches against the Bengals mediocre defense. Foster is on track to return this week, so unless Foster misses another game, Blue's fantasy value is very limited moving forward.
Dishonorable Mentions: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks), Andre Ellington (Cardinals), Jerrick McKinnon (Vikings)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)
Remember when Demaryius Thomas was asleep at the wheel for the first 3 weeks of the season? Didn't think so. Thomas has been electric since the Broncos return from bye in Week 5, picking up double digit fantasy points in every single game over that span. Thomas was once again fantastic this week as he put 89 yards and 3 TD's on a Dolphins secondary that has been suffocating wideouts all season long. Thomas is unstoppable right now and unless something inexplicably terrible happens, he will be a top 3 fantasy wideout for the rest of the 2014 season.  
Honorable Mentions: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants), Dez Bryant (Cowboys), T.Y Hilton (Colts)

LVP: Sammy Watkins (Bills)
The Bills unloaded on the Jets on Monday night, following a week of limited practice and emotional heartache due to the wild blizzard that dumped 60+ inches of snow on the Buffalo area. About the only Bill who didn't get in on the action was rookie wideout Sammy Watkins. Robert Woods took the brunt of the targets, leaving Watkins to finish with just 35 yards on 3 receptions. Watkins' groin injury has certain held him back and with a matchup against Browns shutdown corner Joe Haden on the horizon, don't look for Watkins to bounce back in Week 13. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Brandon Marshall (Bears), Percy Harvin (Jets),  Kendall Wright (Titans)

Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Saints)
Jimmy Graham certainly did not have his best outing on Monday night against the Ravens, dropping a number of passes and failing to get open in a couple of key situations that ultimately cost the Saints the game. That being said, Graham was still able to haul in a pair of TD's and put up the best TE performance of Week 12 by a pretty wide margin. The TE position has been absolutely awful this year, so even with Graham having a down year, he remains one of the very few good options at the position.  
Honorable Mentions: Delanie Walker (Titans), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)

LVP: Larry Donnell (Giants)
Oh Larry Donnell.... Donnell's up-and-down status was down once again this week as he got almost completely silenced by the Cowboys on Sunday night. Donnell didn't pick up a catch until the 4th quarter and finished with just 24 yards on 2 receptions on the evening. We've seen this movie before and Donnell will almost certainly bounce back and have a game where he puts up ridiculous numbers within the next couple of weeks. Donnell is an aggravating player, but his redzone ability in a terrible TE class makes him undroppable in most leagues.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Antonio Gates (Chargers), Coby Fleener (Colts), Martellus Bennett (Bears)

Defense
MVP: Buffalo Bills
As I mentioned earlier, the Bills came out and decimated the Jets after an emotional week for them as a franchise on Monday night. The defense was a large part of the beatdown as they allowed just 3 points and picked up 7 sacks, an interception, a blocked punt and a touchdown on the night. The Bills are an absolute force on defense and even with a tough remaining schedule that includes matchups against the Browns, Broncos, Packers and Patriots- who are all in the bottom 10 at allowing fantasy points to defenses, this a unit that must be started week after week.
Honorable Mentions: Philadelphia Eagles, Chicago Bears, San Diego Chargers

LVP: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs defense hasn't been nearly as good in 2014 as they were a year ago. This was perfectly evidenced by their shockingly poor performance against the Raiders last Thursday. The Chiefs allowed 24 points, picked up 1 sack and a fumble recovery in a game that gave the Raiders their first win since November 17th, 2013. The Chiefs have been a middling defense all season long and with a tough schedule over the last month season, they just can't be counted on to deliver.
Dishonorable Mentions: Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Denver Broncos

Week 12 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Philip Rivers (Chargers)
The resurgence of Philip Rivers continues. Rivers had arguably his strongest game of the season with an eye-popping 392 yards and 3 TD's on a stout Chiefs defense (it is worth nothing that their top pass-rushers Tamba Hali and Justin Houston left the game with an injury.) Rivers owners will hope he continues to come up big against tough defenses when the Chargers face the Bengals on Sunday.
Honorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Alex Smith (Chiefs), Cam Newton (Panthers)

LVP: Case Keenum (Texans)
Just when you thought the Texans had a legit starter in Case Keenum, he puts up another stinker against the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars. Keenum couldn't find the end zone for the second straight week and was out-of-sync with his receivers the whole game. With Keenum's inconsistency and opponents that include the Patriots, Titans and Broncos over the last month of the season, there is no use for keeping him on your fantasy roster.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Robert Griffin III (Redskins), Matt Ryan (Falcons), Peyton Manning (Broncos), Joe Flacco (Ravens)

Running Back
MVP: Knowshon Moreno (Broncos)
With Peyton Manning having a subpar game by his standards, the Broncos needed someone to step up and Knowshon Moreno answered the call. Moreno got the ball an astronomical 37 times for 224 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots on Sunday night. Moreno continues to get a ton of touches and a has nose for the endzone making him about as valuable of an RB2 as you can have right now.
Honorable Mentions: Jammal Charles (Chiefs), Eddie Lacy (Packers),  Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars), Danny Woodhead (Chargers)

LVP: Frank Gore (49ers)
This caught me completely my surprise. A workhorse like Frank Gore has had strong outings against elite run defenses like the Cardinals and Panthers gets all but completely shut down by a below average at best unit in the Redskins. This isn't all Gore's fault, he only had 13 touches in the game but his 2.4 yards per carry is a bit disconcerting. Hopefully the 49ers get him more involved in the coming weeks, especially with the Rams coming up this week, who Gore absolutely smashed in their first meeting this season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Ben Tate (Texans), Matt Forte (Bears), Stevan Ridley (Patriots), Alfred Morris (Redskins)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Josh Gordon (Browns)
Bold claim alert: Josh Gordon is the most underrated wide receiver in the NFL. Gordon had another explosive outing this week against the Steelers with 237 yards and a TD. Just about every week Gordon is putting up crazy numbers, which is beyond impressive considering that he has a bunch of weak quarterbacks throwing him the ball. With Jordan Cameron slumping and a nonexistent running game, Gordon is the lone playmaker on the Browns offense and should continue to put big numbers as long as he is getting the ball.
Honorable Mentions: Julian Edelman (Patriots), Anquan Boldin (49ers), Mike Wallace (Dolphins), Brandon Marshall (Bears)

LVP: Victor Cruz (Giants)
What the hell happened to Victor Cruz? After starting the year on a hot streak, Cruz has done next to nothing in the past month or so. This week against the Cowboys is easily the most disappointing performance of the season for Cruz so far. With Hakeem Nicks inactive and a matchup against the abysmal Cowboys secondary, Cruz should've went off. Instead, Cruz mustered a whopping 27 yards and a fumble on the afternoon. Cruz has a big redemption chance against the Redskins this week, but given the fact that he has only 1 breakout game over the past month and a half, it's far from a guarantee. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Andre Johnson (Texans), Vincent Jackson (Buccaneers), Jordy Nelson (Packers), Eric Decker (Broncos)

Tight End
MVP: Jimmy Graham (Saints)
Jimmy Graham went off again last Thursday night against the Falcons and broke the goal post when he was celebrating a touchdown. In other words, Jimmy Graham is pretty much the most terrifying player in the league.
Honorable Mentions: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Martellus Bennett (Bears), Jason Witten (Cowboys), Jared Cook (Rams)

LVP: Heath Miller (Steelers)
It was a feast for the Steelers offense in a blowout win over the Browns, but Heath Miller was left starving again with just 41 yards on the day. Miller simply just has not been himself this season since returning from the torn ACL he suffered late last year and is a respectable TE2 at best with his current production level.
Dishonorable Mentions: Delanie Walker (Titans), Garrett Graham (Texans), Charles Clay (Dolphins), Tony Gonzalez (Falcons)

Defense
MVP: Pittsburgh Steelers
Hold the phone, the Steelers defense is capable of getting sacks and takeaways? The Steelers managed to get 5 sacks, 3 fumble recoveries and a pick six against the rapidly-declining Browns on Sunday. This rare explosion is almost a certainly a fluke from a defense that is normally useless for fantasy purposes.
Honorable Mentions: Baltimore Ravens, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals

LVP: Cleveland Browns
The Browns pass rush is basically nonexistent the past couple weeks and it hit a new low with no sacks on a Steelers offensive line that is absolutely horrid. The Browns weren't even able to salvage the afternoon with a takeaway. Their last 5 games have too many favorable matchups to get rid of them, but they are going to need show more consistency to warrant starting week-by-week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Chicago Bears, Kansas City Chiefs, Carolina Panthers, Tennessee Titans