Week 16 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers: 2019 Edition

Quarterback
MVP: Ryan Fitzpatrick (Dolphins) 
Championship week streamers can't work out too much better than this. Outside of an INT in the 3rd quarter, Fitzmagic was on full display at Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday as the journeyman gunslinger threw for 419 YDS and 4 TD's in an insane shootout with the Bengals. While his future likely won't be in Miami as the team appears set to take a QB in the 1st round of the draft, this longtime folk hero is a solid bet to continue handing out unexpected triumphs and agonizing headaches to the fantasy community elsewhere in 2020.
Honorable Mentions: Lamar Jackson (Ravens), Patrick Mahomes (Chiefs), Ryan Tannehill (Titans)

LVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks) 
It was a bafflingly unproductive week for star QB's with terrific matchups, but none of those failures were more shocking than Wilson's dud against the Cardinals. He was mediocre at best against a horrid defense that has surrendered the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season by a wide margin, throwing for just 169 YDS and a TD, in a sloppy home less that makes their road to the top seed in the NFC that much tougher. Uninspired December aside, Wilson was a massive fantasy asset this season despite playing with arguably the worst supporting cast he's ever had during his 8 years in the league and should be among the top 3 QB's off the board next season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Deshaun Watson (Texans), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers)

Running Back
MVP: Saquon Barkley (Giants)
Well well well look who finally showed up to the party in Week 16. Barkley was a sheer force of nature against the Redskins on Sunday afternoon, picking up 279 scrimmage YDS and 2 TD's on 26 touches. Sure it was too little, too late for the vast majority of the owners that spend the top overall pick on him, but it was still a very encouraging sign for a guy that was hampered by injuries and being stuck in a low wattage offense for most of the season. If he's healthy heading into 2020, he'll likely be the #2 overall pick behind Christian McCaffery.
Honorable Mentions: Kenyan Drake (Cardinals), Aaron Jones (Packers), Devonta Freeman (Falcons)

LVP: Mike Boone (Vikings)

Not every streaming play can be a success... Boone was not the plug-and-play bellcow many expected him to be as the replacement for the injured Dalvin Cook. The sophomore back was wildly ineffective, mustering just 33 YDS on 12 touches and ended up getting benched for Ameer Abdullah in the second half of this pathetic outing for the Vikings offense against the Packers on Monday night. It would be a surprise if Boone ever graced a starting fantasy lineup again.

Dishonorable Mentions: Nick Chubb (Browns), Devin Singletary (Bills), James White (Patriots)

Wide Receiver 

MVP: Tyler Boyd (Bengals) 

On a day where Joe Mixon surprisingly struggled, Boyd emerged as the centerpiece of the Bengals offense-securing 9 catches for 128 YDS and 2 TD's in this sneaky great shootout against the Dolphins. A solid, versatile receiver with the speed to take the top of a defense and size to be a viable redzone target, Boyd should be a solid mid-round option next year-regardless of whose under center for the Bengals.

Honorable Mentions: Michael Thomas (Saints), DeVante Parker (Dolphins), Julio Jones (Falcons)

LVP: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans)

Deshaun Watson's unexpectedly brutal afternoon against the lowly Buccaneers passing defense resulted in Hopkins finishing the day with just 23 YDS on 5 catches. Hopkins may not have delivered on his mid 1st round ADP, but he's still an excellent fantasy receiver that will warrant top 10-12 pick consideration once again in 2020.  

Dishonorable Mentions: Tyler Lockett (Seahawks), Amari Cooper (Cowboys), Adam Thielen (Vikings)

Tight End

MVP: Mark Andrews (Ravens)

What a finish to a breakout season for Andrews. He was Lamar Jackson's favorite target once again against the Browns, reeling in 6 catches for 93 YDS and 2 TD's. Given his seemingly uncontested status as the top pass-catcher in the league's most exciting offense, he should be a strong contender for the honor of being the 1st tight end not named George Kittle and Travis Kelce drafted next year. 

Honorable Mentions: Jared Cook (Saints), Mike Gesicki (Dolphins), Dallas Goedert (Eagles)

LVP: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)

Rudolph was an unfortunate casualty of Kirk Cousins' latest horrific primetime showing, mustering just 1 catch for 7 YDS on only 2 targets. It's an unfortunate season-ending dud for a veteran guy who had been playing some of the best football of his career over the past month. Barring some unforeseen sorcery, Rudolph will continue to maintain his boom-or-bust TE1 status at the start of the next decade.

Dishonorable Mentions: Noah Fant (Broncos), Jack Doyle (Colts), Darren Waller (Raiders)

Defense/Special Teams

MVP: Colts

On a week where streamers reigned supreme, the Colts rose firmly to the top of the pack. The hapless Panthers barely even showed a pulse as the Colts put up 6 sacks, 3 INT's and a pair of return TD's on them in a 38-6 blowout. A surprisingly high floor option for most of 2019, look for the Colts to be a very intriguing sleeper pick next season.

Honorable Mentions: Texans, Jets, Packers

LVP: Bills

After dominating the Steelers on the road a week ago, the Bills came back down to Earth in major fashion during their trip to Gillette Stadium. After forcing a fumble on the Patriots opening drive, their presence wasn't felt in the fantasy world the rest of the day as they generated 0 sacks or additional takeaways in a 24-17 loss. Despite this anticlimactic finale, the Bills D was a terrific fantasy option this season and they should absolutely be one of the 1st 5 defenses off the board in 2020. 

Dishonorable Mentions: Ravens, Chargers, Seahawks

Week 16 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers (2018 Edition)

Quarterback
MVP: Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
An underwhelming 2018 for the perennial MVP candidate ended on a triumphant note. Rodgers straight-up destroyed the hapless Jets defense (442 YDS, 2 TD, 32 Rushing YDS, 2 TD and a 2-PT conversion) in a come-from-behind OT win that prevented the Packers from going 0-8 on the road this season. Fantasy owners will hope the 35-year old star QB returns to dominance under a new head coach in 2019.
Honorable Mentions: Deshaun Watson (Texans), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Russell Wilson (Seahawks)

LVP: Phillip Rivers (Chargers)
Rivers burned the dice-rolling souls that rolled him out against a tough Ravens D during championship week. He failed to get anything going through the air (182 YDS, 0 TD) and threw 2 costly picks in an ugly loss that possibly ruined the Chargers dream of clinching the #1 seed in the AFC. This was a truly unfortunate end to Rivers' best season as a pro in at least 4 years, if not ever.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Mitch Trubisky (Bears), Josh Allen (Bills)

Running Back
MVP: Chris Carson (Seahawks) 
The Seahawks imposed their will on the Chiefs defense in an impressive primetime win on Sunday and Carson played a big part in that offensive dominance. His hard running helped control the clock and sealed his impressive bellcow performance (27 carries for 116 YDS) with a pair of TD's-including the eventual game-clincher. While his inconsistent pass-catching ability, durability concerns and constant threat of Rashaad Penny vulturing touches will likely prevent him from being selected in the first 2 rounds, Carson should end up being a 3rd-4th round pick next season.
Honorable Mentions: Alvin Kamara (Saints), C.J. Anderson (Rams), Jammal Williams (Packers)

LVP: Josh Adams (Eagles)
Prominent running backs had themselves an almost universally great week, which makes Adams the clear choice for this dreaded title. The undrafted rookie got eviscerated by the Texans tough front, managing just 21 YDS and losing a fumble on 11 carries. Despite this hiccup, Adams has been pretty decent this season and should have a role in the Eagles backfield committee next season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tarik Cohen (Bears), LeSean McCoy (Bills), Kalen Ballage (Dolphins)

Wide Receiver 
MVP: Antonio Brown (Steelers) 
Brown saved his best for last in 2018, delivering a monstrous 14 REC/185 YD/2 TD performance against the Saints that undoubtedly swayed a lot of outcomes during championship week. While his yardage total is a bit lower than usual (1,297), AB's career-best TD total (15) and continued consistency/durability in his age 30 season justified his top 5-7 ADP.
Honorable Mentions: Robert Woods (Rams), Robby Anderson (Jets), Doug Baldwin (Seahawks)

LVP: Amari Cooper (Cowboys)
For a 2nd straight week, the Cowboys top WR all but completely disappeared, managing just 20 YDS on 4 catches against a wretched Bucs defense. Cooper is as erratic as they come and will be a risky WR2 regardless of where he ends up playing next season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Antonio Callaway (Browns), Golden Tate (Eagles), Corey Davis (Titans)

Tight End
MVP: Kyle Rudolph (Vikings)
Unexpected explosions are the greatest fantasy gift of all. Rudolph led the Vikings in receptions (9), receiving YDS (122) and doubled his season TD total with 2 scores to cap off a sensational performance against the Lions on Sunday afternoon. If Big Country returns to the field in 2019, he'll remain a boom-or-bust TE1 option.
Honorable Mentions: Zach Ertz (Eagles), Chris Herndon (Jets), David Njoku (Browns)

LVP: Rob Gronkowski (Patriots)
Gronkowski's disheartening 2018 ended in appropriately heartbreaking fashion with a stinker against the Bills. He failed to catch any of his 3 targets on a day where Tom Brady was as bad as he could possibly be. With lingering health problems starting to take a notable toll on his production, it's entirely conceivable that the nearly 30-year old future Hall-of-Famer steps away from football at the end of the season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Jared Cook (Raiders), Cameron Brate (Buccaneers), Blake Jarwin (Cowboys)

Defense/Special Teams
MVP: Ravens
Phillip Rivers and co. were no match for the Ravens high-flying D. They held the Chargers dynamic offense to just 10 points while also racking up 4 sacks, 2 INT's, a fumble recovery and a TD. This group has been sensational for the bulk of the season and will likely be one of the first 3-5 defenses off the board next year.
Honorable Mentions: Jaguars, Falcons, Cowboys

LVP: Colts
A week after shutting out the Cowboys, the Colts struggled to contain the Odell Beckham Jr.-less Giants in a 28-27 comeback win. If Malik Hooker didn't make a clutch INT to ice the game on the Giants final drive, the Colts would've registered 0 sacks or takeaways on the day. While they've struggled with consistency all season long, there's a lot of young promising talent here that could help this long-suffering franchise build their most legitimate defense since Bob Sanders, Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis left town.
Dishonorable Mentions: Broncos, Browns, Eagles   

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 16 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2014 Week 16 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Russell Wilson (Seahawks)
In typical Russell Wilson fashion, he was at his best when it mattered most. Wilson had his best game through the air all season throwing for 339 yards and 2 TD's while adding another 88 yards and a score on the ground, as the Seahawks dominated the Cardinals on Sunday night, and reclaimed the lead in the NFC West. Wilson had his best season to-date from both a real life and fantasy perspective in 2014, and he delivered the goods for fantasy owners in a week where most elite QB's stumbled. 
Honorable Mentions: Ryan Tannehill (Dolphins), Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Tony Romo (Cowboys)

LVP: Andrew Luck (Colts)
What the hell happened to Andrew Luck this week? Luck, who has been the clear top fantasy quarterback all season long, had a disastrous outing at the worst possible time for his owners. A combination of bad play calling, a banged-up offensive line and a few really bad throws, led Luck to finish the day with just 109 yards, 2 INT's and to top it all off, 0 TD's as the Colts got shockingly decimated by the Cowboys on Sunday afternoon. Luck's performance no doubt cost a lot of owners a title (I was lucky enough to get doubly burned by Luck this week!) and ended what was an otherwise great season on the sourest of notes.
Dishonorable Mentions: Tom Brady (Patriots), Drew Brees (Saints), Matthew Stafford (Lions)

Running Back
MVP: Marshawn Lynch (Seahawks)
All hail Beast Mode. In a game where he was battling severe stomach pain and going up against a Cardinals rush defense that's one of the best in the league, Lynch still went off. On just 10 carries, Lynch picked up 113 yards and 2 TD's- the latter of which was a career-long 79-yard run that rivaled the infamous "Beastquake" run against the Saints in January 2011 as the finest of his entire career. Lynch was one of the very few bright spots at running back this season and for the sake of the NFL as a whole, he better not retire at the end of this season.
Honorable Mentions: Frank Gore (49ers), Matt Asiata (Vikings), Lamar Miller (Dolphins)

LVP: Jammal Charles (Chiefs)
Of all the top-tier running backs in the league, no one has had a more schizophrenic season than Jammal Charles. Like all of Charles' poor performances this season, he got a shockingly small amount of touches (14 total for 77 yards) and lost a key fumble in the Chiefs loss to the Steelers on Sunday. When Charles doesn't get the ball a ton, the Chiefs don't win games, so it was odd to see him be used so sparingly in a game where the Chiefs playoff hopes were at stake. Despite weak performances like this, Charles was still mostly an elite fantasy player this season and proved once again to be worthy of his high draft position. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Justin Forsett (Ravens), Daniel Herron (Colts), Bishop Sankey (Titans)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Odell Beckham Jr. (Giants)
The ridiculous reign of dominance by Odell Beckham Jr. continued in week 16. Despite being targeted by the entire Rams defense and falling victim to numerous late hits/dirty plays, Beckham Jr. still managed to put up 148 yards and 2 TD's on 8 receptions. Beckham Jr. has manhandled opposing defenses all season long  and if he continues to play like this in the future, he'll be one of the top wideouts in the league in no time.   
Honorable Mentions: Ruben Randle (Giants), Emmanuel Sanders (Broncos), Torrey Smith (Ravens)

LVP: Jeremy Maclin (Eagles)
The Eagles demise with Mark Sanchez at the helm has been swift and no player has suffered more from the Sanchize's presence than top wideout Jeremy Maclin. Maclin's numbers have been pretty mediocre over the last month and this week was no different as he put up just 62 yards against the horrid Redskins secondary. Despite his weak finish, Maclin was one of the top steals in fantasy drafts this year (he went somewhere between the 8th-10th rounds in most leagues) Maclin is a free agent after the season, but based on his production in Chip Kelly's offense this season, I wouldn't be surprised if he stayed with the Eagles for a long time.   
Dishonorable Mentions: DeAndre Hopkins (Texans), Kelvin Benjamin (Panthers), Mike Evans (Buccaneers)

Tight End
MVP: Antonio Gates (Chargers)
With Keenan Allen out for the season, someone in the Chargers receiving corps had to step up and fill the void and as you would probably expect, that man was Antonio Gates. Gates had one of his strongest outings of the season posting 92 yards and 2 TD's on 7 receptions in the Chargers insane come from behind win against the 49ers on Saturday night. The preseason rumors of Gates' demise proved to be completely unwarranted as he was once again one of the top TE's in the league, putting up 754 yards and 12 TD's on the year. In a year where tight ends were pretty much a non-factor in fantasy football, Gates was even more of a godsend to his owners than usual.  
Honorable Mentions: Jason Witten (Cowboys), Jordan Cameron (Browns), Zach Ertz (Eagles)

LVP: Martellus Bennett (Bears)
Martellus Bennett could not finish the fantasy season on a high note, as he got completely shut out against the Lions on Sunday. Bennett was targeted just 3 times and ended up with only a single reception for 0 yards as he was delegated to more of a blocking role to make up for the absence of injured guard Kyle Long. Bennett was one of the few highlights in a highly disappointing season for the Bears, and is on track to be a top-flight fantasy tight end again in 2015 if he can keep progressing in Chi-town.    
Dishonorable Mentions: Greg Olsen (Panthers), Dwayne Allen (Colts), Travis Kelce (Chiefs)

Defense
MVP: Cincinnati Bengals
Hold up the Bengals delivered in a primetime game for the first time in an eternity and it was against the mighty Broncos!?!?!?!?! The Bengals were highly productive on both sides of the ball as they shocked the Broncos and eliminated them from the chase for home-field advantage in the playoffs on Monday night. The defense got under Peyton Manning's skin all night with constant pressure that led to 4 interceptions, 2 sacks and a late pick-six that sealed the victory. The Bengals defense has been up-and-down all year long, but they closed out their season on a triumphant note in the toughest possible matchup. 
Honorable Mentions: Green Bay Packers, San Fransisco 49ers, Chicago Bears

LVP: Buffalo Bills
The Bills defense has been giving opposing offenses fits for the past month, but that all came to an end this week against the Raiders. The Bills allowed 26 points, got just 1 sack and failed to get a takeaway in what seemed like a golden matchup for this elite defense. The Bills D slipped up at a really bad time for their owners, but that doesn't put much of a damper on their otherwise excellent season. They'll be strong contenders in the conversation for top projected fantasy defense heading into the 2015 season.
Dishonorable Mentions: New England Patriots, St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals

Week 16 Fantasy Football Winners and Losers

Quarterback
MVP: Peyton Manning (Broncos)
It was fitting that Peyton Manning broke the single-season passing touchdown record with another excellent game. Manning threw for 400 yards and 4 TD's on the great Texans passing defense on Sunday afternoon. 2013 has been a dream season for Manning, who continues to perform at freakish levels at age 37. Manning definitely led a majority of his owners to victory this week and is probably responsible for fantasy football titles this year than anyone else.
Honorable Mentions: Andy Dalton (Bengals), Colin Kaepernick (49ers), Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers), Matt Ryan (Falcons)

LVP: Philip Rivers (Chargers)
Philip Rivers put up a rare dud at the worst possible time for his fantasy owners. Rivers manged only 201 yards, a TD and an INT against a Raiders defense that is absolutely horrid. Rivers surprised a lot of people (myself included) with his resurgence this season but he ended up being a disappointment when he was needed the most in the world of fantasy football. 
Dishonorable Mentions: Kirk Cousins (Redskins), Russell Wilson (Seahawks), Jay Cutler (Bears), Tony Romo (Cowboys)

Running Back
MVP: LeSean McCoy (Eagles)
Huge shocker: LeSean McCoy gouged the last-ranked Chicago Bears rush defense on Sunday night. McCoy displayed his dual-threat ability throughout the entire game racking up 162 total yards and 2 TD's. McCoy has really flourished in Chip Kelly's offense and been lights-out all season long. In my eyes, he's all but a lock for a top 3 pick in next year's fantasy drafts.
Honorable Mentions: DeMarco Murray (Cowboys), Donald Brown (Colts), Joique Bell (Lions), Eddie Lacy (Packers)

LVP: Matt Forte (Bears)
With the Eagles beating the Bears senseless on Sunday night, Matt Forte really didn't have much of a chance to do anything. The normally consistent Forte only had 13 touches (9 carries, 4 receptions) for 54 yards. Even though it was mostly out of his hands, Forte's underwhelming performance still stings especially since the Eagles are a very beatable defense and he had been coming off three straight games with 100+ yards.
Dishonorable Mentions: Giovani Bernard (Bengals), Reggie Bush (Lions), Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars), Lamar Miller (Dolphins)

Wide Receiver
MVP: Eric Decker (Broncos)
While all 3 healthy top Broncos receivers had a good game on Sunday, Eric Decker especially delivered the goods with 10 catches for 131 yards and 2 TD's. Decker has had a huge December that more than made up for his weak November and justified his status as a weekly WR2 and confirms him a relatively-high draft choice for next season.
Honorable Mentions: A.J. Green (Bengals), Pierre Garcon (Redskins), Roddy White (Falcons), Demaryius Thomas (Broncos)

LVP: Mike Wallace (Dolphins)
The Dolphins got straight-up embarrassed by the Bills on Sunday. While the entire Dolphins offense was abysmal, Mike Wallace's 38-yard performance was the most disappointing. Wallace had looked great for 4 of the last 5 games and was facing a Bills secondary that has been getting torched by wideouts all year long. Wallace was up-and-down all season long but he has started to click with Ryan Tannehill of late and could end up having a huge year next season.
Dishonorable Mentions: Calvin Johnson (Lions), Brandon Marshall (Bears), Alshon Jeffrey (Bears), Andre Johnson (Texans)

Tight End
MVP: Julius Thomas (Broncos)
Julius Thomas was at the receiving end of Peyton Manning's record-breaking touchdown on Sunday and headlined yet another subpar week for tight ends in the NFL this year. Thomas has been the biggest surprise this year going from unknown third-stringer to top 5 tight end over the course of a single season. As long as Manning is around and excelling, Thomas should continue to put up good numbers.
Honorable Mentions: Jimmy Graham (Saints), Tony Gonzalez (Falcons), Jermaine Gresham (Bengals), Martellus Bennett (Bears)

LVP: Vernon Davis (49ers)
What the hell happened to Vernon Davis this week? One of the very few breakout tight ends of 2013 did not the deliver the goods this week by failing to bring in a catch this week against the weak Falcons defense. This is especially odd since Davis has been such an integral part of the 49ers offense this season and he was completely ignored by Colin Kaepernick in this game. This blemish aside, Davis has been money in 2013 and should be one of the few tight ends to go in the first 5 rounds of fantasy drafts next season.  
Dishonorable Mentions: Jason Witten (Cowboys), Delanie Walker (Titans), Heath Miller (Steelers), Dennis Pitta (Ravens)

Defense
MVP: New England Patriots
It's about damn time the Patriots defense woke up. After failing to deliver the goods since their triumphant performance against the Broncos last month, the Patriots defense was dominating against the Ravens on Sunday. The Patriots registered 4 sacks, 3 INT's, a fumble recovery and 2 touchdowns on the afternoon and just outright dominated the Ravens from start to finish. The Patriots defense was ultimately a middling fantasy pick this season but they certainly had moments of dominance. 
Honorable Mentions: Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, St. Louis Rams

 LVP: Cleveland Browns
Now on the other end of the spectrum: The Browns defense was coming off a strong performance against the Bears last week before going right back to their disappointing ways against the Jets this week. The Browns couldn't even muster a sack or takeaway against a team that is known to turn the ball over like it's going out of style.  The Browns defense has ultimately improved in the real game this season, but their value in fantasy football is still very little at the moment.
Dishonorable Mentions: Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans, Green Bay Packers