Fantasy Football Champs and Chumps of 2016

With the fantasy playoffs around the corner, it's time to look back on some of the best and worst pick ups of the year. 

The fantasy season is coming down to the wire. Playoffs are on the horizon and your fantasy team is looking quite different from the one you drafted before Week One. So before the big bucks start being divvied up we look back on the season's best value pick-ups and those fell well short of there expectations.

Champs of 2016:

LeGarrette Blount, New England Patriots: Going into the season many experts and fans expected a very pass happy offense out of Brady's Bunch in Foxboro. What wasn't expected was the performance of New England's powerful running back. Blount is leading the NFL in rushing touchdowns with 14 and was a late round steal in most people's draft.

Terrelle Pryor, Cleveland Browns: The Browns' season has been historic this season, although for the wrong reasons. Cleveland is predicted to go 0-16 this season but they have one glimmering hope out of their Wide Receiver position. Pryor was undrafted by most fantasy owners but has had big impacts on the field. Pryor is a triple threat, receiving passes, rushing from the back field, as well as taking snaps behind center in the Wild Cat.

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders: Stacked into the tough AFC West, the Raiders find themselves fighting for a playoff position as well as a chance to clinch a first round bye week. Much of their success rests on third year quarterback Derek Carr's shoulders, who has been outplaying some stiff competition in the division. Carr's fantasy numbers have been great considering his divisional match ups versus reigning Super Bowl champs Denver Broncos, as well as a tough Kansas City Chiefs team anchored by their defense.

Chumps of 2016

Eddie Lacy, Green Bay Packers: Lacy was a second or third round talent in most fantasy drafts. His rookie year saw a tremendous work load resulting in fantasy numbers he has yet to replicate. Add in a season ending ankle injury Week 6, as well as an inability to keep in shape, Lacy's fantasy owners have much to complain about.

Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers: The reigning league MVP, "Superman" has found himself returning back to his Clark Kent form this season. Newton's 2015 season was full of highlight plays and late game heroics. But as seen in the Panthers season opener, Cam's kryptonite seems to be a hard hitting defense. Carolina's season has been floundering due to the spotty performance of their Quarterback.

DeAndre Hopkins, Houston Texans: This explosive Wide Receiver made himself a household name after his 2015 performance. Many anticipated the acquisition of Quarterback Brock Osweiler would increase Hopkins productivity, but that didn't seem to be the case this season. Much like Houston's mediocre season, Hopkins has been showing flashes of uncharacteristic performances. With Hopkins surpassing the 15 point output only once this year, many owners who took him early are finding alternatives to fill in his lack of production.