Week 15 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers: 2019 Edition

Quarterback
MVP: Lamar Jackson (Ravens)
Fantasy's biggest asset showed up big time for the semifinals. He casually torched the Jets for 298 total YDS (212 passing, 86 rushing) and 5 TD's through the air on an absolute farce of a Thursday Night Football finale. Jackson will be on the hunt for redemption in Week 16 when he squares off against a Browns team that he somewhat struggled against (2 INT, fumble, sacked 4 times) back in Week 4.
Honorable Mentions: Jameis Winston (Buccaneers), Drew Brees (Saints), Ryan Tannehill (Titans)

LVP: Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers)
Coming off a remarkable performance on the road against the Saints, Garoppolo reminded owners of the erraticism that makes him so frustrating. He was bizarrely pedestrian (200 YDS/1 TD) throughout a home date against the lowly Falcons- which was definitely a contributing factor in their shocking loss. He'll look to close things out on the high end of the roller coaster against a similarly erratic Rams D that just got embarrassed by the Cowboys.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Aaron Rodgers (Packers), Kirk Cousins (Vikings) 

Running Back
MVP: Kenyan Drake (Cardinals) 
Unlikely heroes have a tendency to emerge in the fantasy playoffs and Drake made a strong case to be 2019's with his inhuman performance this week. He ripped off a staggering 146 YDS (137 rushing, 9 receiving) and 4 TD's on 23 touches against an unsuspecting Browns defense that undoubtedly shifted a lot of outcomes this week. Drake will look to keep this points party rolling against a very banged-up Seahawks defense on Sunday afternoon.
Honorable Mentions: Christian McCaffery (Panthers), Miles Sanders (Eagles), Ezekiel Elliott (Cowboys)

LVP: Marlon Mack (Colts)
A combination of the Colts getting dusted from the jump and a lack of available rushing lanes rendered Mack useless in Week 15 as he registered a very sad 19 YDS on 11 carries against a tough Saints defense. Mack should have a much easier go of things this week when the DOA Panthers come to Lucas Oil Stadium.

Dishonorable Mentions: Melvin Gordon (Chargers), Phillip Lindsay (Broncos), David Montgomery (Bears)

Wide Receiver 

MVP: Julio Jones (Falcons)
After an extended absence, Jones returned to WR1 form with an absolutely monstrous performance. The entire Falcons offense ran through the star wideout against the 49ers as he posted 13 REC for 134 YDS and 2 TD's-including the controversial game-winner as time expired. Jones will look to end his good, but not great 2019 against a Jaguars defense that has allowed the 12th least points to receivers this season.

Honorable Mentions: DeVante Parker (Dolphins), Terry McLaurin (Redskins), Michael Thomas (Saints)

LVP: Julian Edelman (Patriots)
If there was any doubt remaining that Edelman was playing hurt, his alarmingly quiet week 15 outing against the horrific Bengals erased it. The Patriots top wideout had a hard time getting open and looked to be in considerable pain as he hauled in just 2-of-5 targets for 9 YDS. He'll be a risky WR2 for Saturday afternoon's date with the Bills excellent secondary.

Dishonorable Mentions: Amari Cooper (Cowboys), Emmanuel Sanders (49ers), Michael Gallup (Cowboys)

Tight End

MVP: Travis Kelce (Chiefs)
With snowy conditions and no running game to speak of, Patrick Mahomes turned to his safety net at tight end to sustain drives against the Broncos. While Kelce failed to reach the endzone, his 11 receptions for 142 YDS helped the Chiefs cruise to an easy W. The high floor/high ceiling stud at the most frustrating position in fantasy football will hope to end his post-bye TD drought against the Bears on Sunday night.   

Honorable Mentions: George Kittle (49ers), Darren Waller (Raiders), Zach Ertz (Eagles)

LVP: Hunter Henry (Chargers)
Good news: Henry caught both of his targets against the Vikings. Bad news: He only gained 29 YDS and lost a fumble on the latter reception. Despite this ill-timed dud, he'll remain a no-brainer TE1 this week when squares off against the Raiders porous pass D.

Dishonorable Mentions: Austin Hooper (Falcons), Jacob Hollister (Seahawks), Jack Doyle (Colts)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Vikings 
The Vikings defense got treated to an all time Chargers implosion on Sunday. Phillip Rivers and co. turned the ball over a whopping 7 times (3 INT, 4 FUM REC) while also surrendering 3 sacks and a TD in a commanding 39-10 road victory for the Norsemen. Expect a much quieter outing when they host the turnover-averse Packers on Monday night. 
Honorable Mentions: Patriots, Bills, Packers

LVP: Browns
Perhaps nothing encapsulates the many "surprising" lows of a season where the Browns were expected to become the AFC's next legit contender than getting dominated on both sides of the ball by a Cardinals team that had lost their previous 6 games. Outside of an INT, their defense was completely silent in a 38-24 loss that showed exactly why this poorly-coached band of arrogant clowns don't have the discipline or drive required to even flirt with greatness. Sever ties with this circus ahead of their Week 16 date with the team that actually has a legit shot of blossoming into the AFC's next perennial contender.    

Dishonorable Mentions: Rams, Bears, 49ers 

Week 15 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers (2018 Edition)

Quarterback
MVP: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
Ryan snapped out of a lengthy skid in empathic fashion by hanging 249 scrimmage YDS (231 passing, 18 rushing) and 3 TD's (2 passing, 1 rushing) on the Cardinals. Matty Ice finishes up the fantasy season with a pretty favorable matchup against the Panthers at home.
Honorable Mentions: Deshaun Watson (Texans), Phillip Rivers (Chargers), Mitch Trubisky (Bears)

LVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
The Saints signalcaller's December to Forget continued in Week 15. Despite an extremely favorable matchup against a poor Panthers defense that has particularly struggled to contain the pass this season, Brees was frustratingly average at best, finishing the night with just 203 YDS, 0 TD and an INT. Even with these recent struggles, it will be hard to bench him for this week's tantalizing home  matchup versus a wretched Steelers secondary.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Cam Newton (Panthers), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Andrew Luck (Colts)

Running Back
MVP: Derrick Henry (Titans)
Unicorns apparently do exist. Henry stunned the fantasy world by putting together his 2nd consecutive monster performance, torching the Giants for 177 YDS and 2 TD's on 33 carries.. He'll look to make it 3 straight dominant games against a respectable, but definitely beatable Redskins front this Saturday.
Honorable Mentions: Dalvin Cook (Vikings), Joe Mixon (Bengals), Marlon Mack (Colts)

LVP: Phillip Lindsay (Broncos)
Lindsay couldn't muster much of anything on 18 touches (44 scrimmage YDS) against the Browns last Saturday, which is a large reason why the Broncos came out on the wrong end of a 17-16 rock fight. These back-to-back poor performances have been an unfortunate late misstep in an otherwise exceptional rookie season where the undrafted rookie has been one of the most explosive backs in the league and arguably this year's most valuable waiver wire pickup in all of fantasy football. Expect him to be an early-to-mid 2nd round pick in next year's drafts.
Dishonorable Mentions: Saquon Barkley (Giants), Sony Michel (Patriots), James White (Patriots)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: Mike Williams (Chargers) 
Keenan Allen exited the game with a hip pointer at the start of the 2nd quarter, which opened up a lot more opportunities for Williams and boy oh boy did he make the most of them. The Chargers sophomore wideout was the hero in last Thursday's magical comeback win over the Chiefs, managing 95 scrimmage YDS, 3 TD's and the game-clinching 2-PT conversion. He's been up-and-down all year long, but his status as a frequent redzone target on a good offense should put him firmly on the WR3 radar for 2019.
Honorable Mentions: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans), Doug Baldwin (Seahawks), Alshon Jeffrey (Eagles)

LVP: Adam Thielen (Vikings)
A rare dud from Thielen came at a really puzzling time. The Vikings offense was humming along for most of the day in a blowout win over the Dolphins, but Thielen somehow managed to only secure 2 catches for 19 YDS. Kirk Cousins' favorite target will look to rebound against a mediocre Lions secondary in Week 16.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tyreek Hill (Chiefs), Josh Gordon (Patriots), D.J. Moore (Panthers)

Tight End
MVP: Trey Burton (Bears) 
In a week that was largely devoid of huge fantasy performances across the board, the futile tight end position ended up being especially underwhelming. As a result, Burton's pretty pedestrian 4 REC/36/1 TD day ended up being the best line of any TE that was started in a sizable number of leagues. Burton has a date with the banged-up 49ers secondary for fantasy championship week.
Honorable Mentions: Evan Engram (Giants), Vance McDonald (Steelers), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

LVP: Eric Ebron (Colts)
TD-scoring machine Ebron was real quiet against the Cowboys, reeling in just 1 catch for 8 YDS, on a day where Marlon Mack was the focal point of the Colts offense as well as the only guy on the roster to hit paydirt. He has a decent chance of returning to the endzone against the Giants this Sunday.
Dishonorable Mentions: Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Rob Gronkowski (Patriots), Jared Cook (Raiders)

Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Falcons
A bad defense with a good matchup streaming success story? It's a holiday miracle! The Falcons feasted on the horrible, Josh Rosen-led Cardinals offense, getting 7 sacks, 2 INT's, a FUM REC and a TD in an easy 40-14 victory. They'll likely be on the streaming radar again in Week 16 when they go up against a Taylor Henicike-led Panthers squad.
Honorable Mentions: Colts, Titans, Vikings

LVP: Rams
Remember when the return of Aqib Talib was going to solidify the Rams defense? Welp, that miracle fix for this perpetually underachieving defense hasn't happened yet. Wade Phillips' group got torched by the Nick Foles-led Eagles for 30 points in a 2nd consecutive disheartening primetime loss last Sunday night. That long-awaited bounceback might finally occur this week against the aforementioned abysmal, turnover-happy Cardinals offense.
Dishonorable Mentions: Bills, Texans, Seahawks

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 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 15 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Cam Newton (Panthers)
Cam Newton's late season reign of terror on the NFL continued in Week 15 with his finest performance of the season to-date. Newton picked up 440 total yards (340 passing, 100 rushing) and 5 TD's against the Giants ailing defense. Newton has now picked up 40+ fantasy points in 3 of the last 5 games and he has a solid chance of making it 4 out of 6 against a Falcons defense that he blew up for 265 YDS and 3 TD's in their first meeting this season.
Honorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings), Tyrod Taylor (Bills)

LVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
What the hell is wrong with Aaron Rodgers in 2015? The usually-reliable Rodgers has been a liability for his fantasy owners for most of the season and his latest underwhelming performance (204 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT) against the Raiders prevented some of his fantasy owners from advancing in the playoffs. It's probably wise to find a streaming option to replace Rodgers for this upcoming week as he goes up against an elite Cardinals defense that hasn't allowed more than 2 TD passes to an opposing quarterback since Week 8.
Dishonorable Mentions: Carson Palmer (Cardinals), Tom Brady (Patriots), Matt Ryan (Falcons)

Running Back
MVP: David Johnson (Cardinals)
Cardinals rookie running back David Johnson has been a revelation for fantasy owners looking to make a late-season playoff push and his week 15 beatdown of the Eagles defense was easily his most impressive work since he took over as the starter in Week 13. Johnson proved to be the Cardinals primary source of offense during an uncharacteristically poor performance from Carson Palmer and their supremely talented receiving corps, picking up 239 total yards (187 rushing, 42 receiving) and 3 TD's on 33 touches in a 40-17 blowout victory that clinched the Cards their first NFC West title since 2009. Johnson's heavy volume of carries and status as a versatile, everydown back makes him a weekly top-end RB1 option. 
Honorable Mentions: Danny Woodhead (Chargers), Matt Forte (Bears), Devonta Freeman (Falcons)

LVP: Lamar Miller (Dolphins)
The Dolphins vow to get Lamar Miller more involved in the offense once again proved to be false as Miller finished with just 24 total yards (12 rushing, 12 receiving) on 11 touches in a prime matchup against the Chargers porous defense on Sunday afternoon. A 23-0 halftime deficit for the Dolphins and Miller playing through a quad injury were certainly factors in his poor performance, but as a fantasy owner, you can't help be disappointed that Miller wasn't able to keep his recent hot streak alive in this game. Miller will be a mid-level RB2 play against the Colts if he's healthy enough to play.
Dishonorable Mentions: Javarious Allen (Ravens), Denard Robinson (Jaguars), Chris Ivory (Jets)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers)
Antonio Brown never ceases to blow my mind. In a matchup with a Broncos secondary that has allowed the least fantasy points to receivers this season (they had only allowed 2 receivers to go for 100+ yards against them coming into this week), Brown went off for a mind-boggling 189 yards and 2 TD's on 16 receptions. Brown burned Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr regularly throughout the game and served as the catalyst for the Steelers massive 34-27 comeback victory on Sunday night in the Steel City. As long as Ben Roethlisberger is healthy, Brown is the best wide receiver in real and fantasy football by a healthy margin.
Honorable Mentions: Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos), Amari Cooper (Raiders), Sammy Watkins (Bills)

LVP: Larry Fitzgerald (Cardinals)
The Cardinals receiving corps collectively underachieved against the Eagles horrific secondary, but Fitzgerald was the prime offender, finishing the game with just 43 yards on 3 receptions. Fitzgerald has cooled off considerably after his excellent start, but is still worth keeping in your starting lineup for a championship week matchup against the Packers middling secondary.
Dishonorable Mentions: Calvin Johnson (Lions), T.Y. Hilton (Colts), A.J. Green (Bengals)

Tight End
MVP: Jordan Reed (Redskins)
Jordan Reed duplicated his success from a week ago with yet another dominant performance in Week 15. Reed hauled in all of his targets for a 2nd straight week, gassing the banged-up the Bills defense for 84 yards and 2 TD's on 7 receptions. Reed is Kirk Cousins' favorite target at the moment and he should continue to be one of the few elite TE1 options as the fantasy season comes to a close.
Honorable Mentions: Delanie Walker (Titans), Greg Olsen (Panthers), Zach Ertz (Eagles)

LVP: Richard Rodgers (Packers)
Richard Rodgers' notoriously boom-or-bust play was once again on display in Week 15 as he picked up just 1 reception for 7 yards against a Raiders defense that has surrendered the 2nd most fantasy points to tight ends in 2015. Rodgers will be nothing more than an emergency play in a Week 16 tilt against the Cardinals.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jason Witten (Cowboys), Heath Miller (Steelers), Zach Miller (Bears)

Defense
MVP: Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs were the latest defense to take advantage of the depleted Ravens offense (14 points allowed, 2 sacks, 2 INT's, 1 FUM REC, 2 TD's) during the fantasy football stretch run. The Chiefs have been a top 5 fantasy defense over the past month and I fully expect that hot streak to continue against the trainwreck that is otherwise known as the Cleveland Browns in Week 16. 
Honorable Mentions: New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, Cincinnati Bengals

LVP: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers D appeared to be in line for another solid performance for the first 3/4 of Sunday's contest with the Giants, allowing 14 points and picking up an interception and fumble recovery in the first 3 quarters of play. The Panthers defense proceeded to piss away their decent fantasy outing with an uncharacteristic late-game implosion in which they surrendered 21 points and were alarmingly close to allowing the Giants to pull off a highly improbable comeback and end their perfect season. The Panthers D are strong contenders to bounce back in Week 16 against a Falcons offense that they absolutely destroyed just two weeks ago.
Dishonorable Mentions: Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, St. Louis Rams  

2014 Week 15 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Drew Brees (Saints)
Drew Brees nicely recovered from a terrible outing against the Panthers in Week 14 by eviscerating the Bears under the bright lights of Monday Night Football this week. Brees caught fire out of the gate and didn't let up as he finished the night with 375 yards and 3 TD's. Brees has bucked his typical trend of being a quarterback that can only perform on his home turf, as his numbers away from the Superdome have been better (16 TD's, 5 INT's) than his numbers at the Superdome (15 TD's, 7 INT's) this season. While Brees has without question had a down year in 2014, he's still a great QB to have in fantasy. Brees is a very strong start in championship week for most fantasy leagues, as he faces a Falcons secondary that has been getting progressively worse as the season goes on.
Honorable Mentions: Eli Manning (Giants), Alex Smith (Chiefs), Matt Ryan (Falcons)

LVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Aaron Rodgers may have had a brutal matchup against the Bills this week, but having a career-worst day in the midst of the fantasy playoffs is more than enough to earn worst fantasy quarterback of the week honors. Rodgers was uncharacteristically sloppy on Sunday afternoon, as the Bills stout front consistently applied pressure and their underrated secondary was able to keep Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson mostly in check. Rodgers finished the day completing just 17 of his 42 passes for 185 yards, 2 INT's and a late fumble that ended in a safety that clinched the game for the Bills. With the lowly Buccaneers next up on the schedule, there's no doubt in my mind that Rodgers is going to come out pissed-off, focused and eager to make everyone quickly forget about his career-worst performance.
Dishonorable Mentions: Mark Sanchez (Eagles), Phillip Rivers (Chargers), Peyton Manning (Broncos)

Running Back
MVP: Jeremy Hill (Bengals)
Revenge was on the mind of Jeremy Hill this week as the Bengals traveled to Cleveland to face a Browns squad that held to him just 55 yards and forced him to lose an embarrassing fumble in their first matchup this season. Hill successfully got his revenge as he ripped up the Browns for 148 yards and 2 TD's on Sunday afternoon. Hill now appears to be locked in as the Bengals feature back, and he'll be a decent start this week against a good but not invincible Broncos run D.   
Honorable Mentions: Le'Veon Bell (Steelers), DeMarco Murray (Cowboys), Knile Davis (Chiefs)

LVP: Justin Forsett (Ravens)
2014's surprise fantasy stud of the year, Justin Forsett, put up a rare weak outing this week against the Jaguars- who he played for in 2013. Forsett got 16 carries for just 48 yards on the typically weak Jaguars rush defense. Forsett is a bit banged-up right now with ankle and knee ailments, but he should be in-line for a bounceback game against the Texans, another one of his former teams, in Week 16 barring any medical setbacks.
Dishonorable Mentions: Isaiah Crowell (Browns), Jammal Charles (Chiefs), Alfred Morris (Redskins)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
Can Odell Beckham Jr. be stopped right now? Beckham Jr. put up yet another week of video game numbers as he ruined the Redskins awful secondary for 143 yards and 3 TD's on 12 receptions. Beckham Jr. has already proven that he's a legit WR1 over the first 10 games of his career. With his streak of 7 straight games with at least 90 yards receiving and the fact that he's basically alone in the Giants receiving corps at the moment, he's about as strong of a fantasy start as you can have going into championship week. 
Honorable Mentions: Dez Bryant (Cowboys), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), Mike Wallace (Dolphins)

LVP: T.Y. Hilton (Colts)
Andrew Luck had a relatively quiet outing on Sunday against the Texans and no one was held back by that more than top wideout T.Y. Hilton. After a strong first drive where he caught 3 passes, Hilton practically disappeared as he finished the afternoon with 50 yards on just 4 receptions. Hilton is still the uncontested number 1 wideout on the Colts and he should be able to get back to his top-flight WR1 status this week against a middling Cowboys secondary. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Calvin Johnson (Lions), Jordy Nelson (Bills), A.J. Green (Bengals)

Tight End
MVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Only someone of Rob Gronkowski's caliber can go the entire first half without a reception and still destroy a team. Gronkowski made the most of his 3 receptions (his lowest total since the Patriots horrific loss to the Chiefs in Week 4), picking up 99 yards and a touchdown as the Patriots throttled the Dolphins on Sunday. Gronkowski has been in kill mode since early October and unless something very bizarre happens, that won't change this week as the Patriots face the Jets- who are one of the strongest matchups for a TE in the league.
Honorable Mentions: Owen Daniels (Ravens), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Greg Olsen (Panthers)

LVP: Larry Donnell (Giants)
Larry Donnell was unable to recapture any of the magic of his 3 TD outburst in Week 4 in the Giants second meeting with the Redskins in Week 15. Donnell picked up a mere 11 yards on his only 2 targets of the day. Donnell continues to be wholly unreliable down the stretch, and is only worth a YOLO start against the Rams this week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jordan Reed (Redskins), Jared Cook (Rams), Jordan Cameron (Browns)

Defense
MVP: Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens became the latest defense to manhandle the Jaguars in Week 15, as they posted 8 sacks, an interception, a blocked punt and a touchdown. The Ravens have quietly been one of the best fantasy defenses this season thanks to their excellent pass rush (45 sacks, which ranks only behind the Eagles and the Bills for best in the league) and respectable number of takeaways (19). They should be a quality start this week as they face a Texans squad, who will be starting either Thad Lewis or Case Keenum at quarterback.
Honorable Mentions: New England Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals

LVP: Philadelphia Eagles
The Eagles were unable to recreate any of the magic they had 2 weeks ago in Dallas when the Cowboys traveled to Philadelphia this week. The Eagles allowed 38 points and finished with just 3 sacks and a fumble recovery in Sunday's night disheartening loss at the hands of the Cowboys. The Eagles have a strong chance at redeeming themselves this week as they face the wildly inept, turnover-prone offense of the Redskins. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams   

Week 15 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Nick Foles (Eagles)
Even in a down week for the Eagles, Nick Foles delivered the goods. Foles started off slow in the first half but went on to gouge the Vikings in the second half in route to a 428-yard, 3 TD performance. Foles also added 41 rushing yards and a 2 point-conversion to secure his spot as the number 1 fantasy quarterback of week 15. Foles continues to deliver in his breakout season and should be a high quarterback choice in next year's drafts.
Honorable Mentions: Alex Smith (Chiefs), Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Drew Brees (Saints), Jay Cutler (Bears)

LVP: Matt Ryan (Falcons)
2013 has just not been Matt Ryan's year in both fantasy and real football. Ryan looked to be in-store for a big outing against the sinking ship otherwise known as the Redskins on Sunday but that didn't end up working out. Ryan wasn't totally awful but his fantasy owners certainly expected more than 210 yards and a TD on a defense that is as awful as the Redskins are. Owners should consider other options like Kirk Cousins, Ryan Tannehill or Ryan Fitzpatrick this week as Ryan as the misfortune of going against the great 49ers secondary in San Fransisco this Monday night.
Dishonorable Mentions: Peyton Manning (Broncos), Phillip Rivers (Chargers), Cam Newton (Panthers), Matthew Stafford (Lions)

Running Back
MVP: Jammal Charles (Chiefs)
Jammal Charles's number on Sunday didn't even seem real. Charles hung 5 TD's on the Raiders (the Raiders also allowed the Doug Martin's record performance last season and Nick Foles's 7 TD, 158.3 passer rating performance earlier this year) and managed to get 195 of his 215 total yards in the passing game. Yes that's correct a running back did most of his damage catching passes. I was skeptical about how Jammal Charles would perform this year due to his injury history and Andy Reid's heavy workload on running backs but I was proven dead wrong. Charles's 18 total TD's and almost 1,700 all-purpose yards has made him a fantasy stud all year long and he's the current top contender for the top overall pick in 2014 fantasy drafts.  
Honorable Mentions: Eddie Lacy (Packers), DeAngelo Williams (Panthers), Rashad Jennings (Raiders), DeMarco Murray (Cowboys)

LVP: Alfred Morris (Redskins)
Alfred Morris just can't a break these past couple weeks. Morris seemed like he was in for a huge game with RG3 out and a friendly matchup with the Falcons. Morris did end up running for 95 yards but fumbled twice and didn't get in the endzone. Morris has been the lone bright spot for the Redskins this year but even he has been stumbling of late. Morris gets another chance to redeem himself this week against another awful defense in the Cowboys.
Dishonorable Mentions: LeSean McCoy (Eagles), Shane Vereen (Patriots), BenJarvus Green-Ellis (Bengals), Andre Brown (Giants)

Wide Receiver
MVP: DeSean Jackson (Eagles)
DeSean Jackson was the beneficiary of the Nick Foles's second-half explosion against the Vikings on Sunday. Jackson had 191 yards and a touchdown on-the-day and once again got to show off his incredible deep-threat abilities. Jackson has been one of the biggest steals of 2013 and has more than solidified himself as a weekly strong WR2/borderline WR1 play.
Honorable Mentions: Greg Jennings (Vikings), Julian Edelman (Patriots), Pierre Garcon (Redskins), Dez Bryant (Cowboys)

LVP: Andre Johnson (Texans)
Last time Andre Johnson played the Colts, he put up 229 yards and 3 TD's and had a major impact on the game. This time around Johnson was a complete nonfactor picking up just 16 yards on the afternoon. Johnson has made the best out of the quarterback insecurity the Texans have had this season but this has also led to him putting some stinkers along the way. If his quarterback can get him the ball, Johnson certainly has bounceback potential against the Broncos middling secondary this week.
Dishonorable Mentions: Demaryius Thomas (Broncos), Eric Decker (Broncos), Roddy White (Falcons), Steve Smith (Panthers)

Tight End
MVP: Vernon Davis (49ers)
Vernon Davis continues to make his mark as an endzone magnet with a flair for the big play getting 52 of his 79 yards on a bomb TD pass from Colin Kaepernick in the first half. Davis has been one of the few consistent performers at tight end this season and should continue to deliver the goods as long as he's healthy.
Honorable Mentions: Jason Witten (Cowboys), Tony Gonzalez (Falcons), Delanie Walker (Titans), Greg Olsen (Panthers)

LVP: Charles Clay (Dolphins)
Fresh off 2 huge games, Charles Clay had a major setback against the Patriots. Clay was held to only 1 reception for 6 yards on the day. It was a huge catch for the team and led to their game-winning drive, but if you started him this week in fantasy, you were certainly expecting a lot more especially since the Patriots had been slaughtered by Jordan Cameron the week before.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jimmy Graham (Saints), Antonio Gates (Chargers), Jordan Cameron (Browns), Coby Fleener (Colts)

Defense
MVP: Seattle Seahawks
This is the type of stifling defense you've come to expect from the Seahawks. The Seahawks got their first shutout of the season on the Giants on Sunday. They punctuated the shutout by picking off Eli Manning 5 times and sacking him 3 times. If anyone was questioning if they were the best defense in the league, this should answer your question. 
Honorable Mentions: Kansas City Chiefs, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, San Fransisco 49ers

LVP: New Orleans Saints
The improving Saints defense has not looked worse all year than they did against the Rams on Sunday. They picked up zero sacks or takeaways and allowed a bevy of big plays to an offense that is not really that frightening. It doesn't get any easier for the Saints as they travel to Carolina this week to face Cam Newton and the high-flying Panthers offense. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Tennessee Titans, Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals