Johnson is our fantasy MVP

Now that the season is over, it is time to hand out our fantasy awards for the season. It was another intriguing year with several players posting huge season - guys that some people didn't expect to perform so well. But that is fantasy football. There are always going to be players like Matt Schaub and Miles Austin to emerge, carrying many fantasy teams to championship. Sometimes you have to take a chance to get ahead, right?

The wild 2009 fantasy season will make for an interesting '10 season. The rankings will look a lot different from last year. Things change, though, and seeing guys like LaDainian Tomlinson and Brian Westbrook way down the rankings is something fantasy owners are going to have to come to grips with in 2010.

Player of the Year: Chris Johnson, RB, Titans. Johnson did something rarely done in the NFL - rush for 2,000 yards. He had one of the best seasons in NFL history, finishing with more than 2,500 total yards and 16 touchdowns. He got about all the work at running back in the Titans offense. Johnson will be a top back for years to come. He has elite speed and great moves in the open field, making Johnson a guy to target for fantasy teams.

Bust of the Year: Steve Slaton, RB, Texans. Lots of choices here, but Slaton gets the nod. He had an average draft position of 13, making him a late first round or early second round pick in most drafts. He certainly didn't live up to his draft status, failing to have a 100-yard rushing game all season while losing his starting job at one point. He scored seven touchdowns, but failed to have 1,000 total yards. He will never be drafted this high again and we doubt he ever repeats his rookie season. The Texans are going to be looking for other options this season.

Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin, WR, Vikings. Harvin was a big factor in the Vikings offense. He was a top red-zone target many weeks, scoring six touchdowns. He finished with 925 total yards and was a big factor in the return game. Harvin did exactly what the Vikings hoped when they drafted him. He was a solid No. 3 for fantasy teams and should be even better next season with a year under his belt. Let's just hope he can control his migraines.

Breakout of the Year: Ray Rice, RB, Ravens. Rice grabbed the starting job before the season and never let go. He is going to be a mainstay in the Ravens offense for years to come. He posted huge numbers, having 12 games with 100 or more total yards. He finished with more than 2,000 total yards his second season in the league. Rice had just over 700 total yards his rookie season. Needless to say, he took a big step forward his second year in the league. The fantasy teams that took a chance on Rice in the mid rounds of their draft last season saw a huge payoff.

Free-agent pickup of the Year: Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys. Austin was undrafted in most leagues, but was a hot item on waivers after a huge Week 5 performance (10 catches for 250 yards). And kept up his hot ways after his huge game, having four more 100-yard games. Despite doing next to nothing his first four games, Austin was a top-five fantasy receiver in most formats. He was a huge find for fantasy teams, playing like a No. 1 fantasy receiver all season.

Late-round pick that lead your team to the playoffs: Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers. It took a while, but Davis finally lived up to his talent level. He had an average draft position of 160 (making him a 13th or 14th round pick), but ended up either one or two in the tight end rankings when the season was all said and done. Davis had touchdowns in 10 games and scores in six of the last seven to end the season.

Top Quarterback: Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers. Rodgers was so consistent for fantasy teams. He had touchdowns in all but a game and had two or more scores in 12 games. He also had 200-plus passing yards in all but three games. He finished with 4,434-passing yards and 35 total touchdowns to just seven interceptions. And Rodgers had some offensive line issues to start the season, which makes his numbers even more impressive.

Top Running Back: Chris Johnson, RB, Titans. Johnson was a 2,000-yard rusher, so this choice was easy. He had a breakout season, getting most of the chances at running back for the Titans. He finished the season with 11 straight 100-yard games. Johnson also had an impressive 50 receptions, showing he is more than a one-trick pony.

Top Receiver: Andre Johnson, TE, Texans. Johnson didn't have double-digit scores, but had 101 receptions and nearly 1,600-receving yards. He had six 100-yard games and three games with double-digit reception totals. Johnson was a consistent weekly target for fantasy teams. Having a healthy Matt Schaub all season also was a reason for Johnson's huge season.

Top Tight End: Dallas Clark, TE, Colts. It is always a huge bonus to have your No. 1 tight end perform like a elite fantasy receiver. That is exactly what Clark did, catching 100 passes for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns. His numbers were off the charts for a tight end. He shattered previous career highs, serving as Peyton Manning's safety net and top red-zone target all season.

Top Kicker: Nate Kaeding, K, Chargers. Kaeding had a playoff performance to forget, but his regular season was stellar. He made 91 percent of his field-goal attempts, finishing with 146 points. He had at least a field goal in all but two games and his lowest point total of the season was three. Kaeding was a steady factor for fantasy teams.

Top Defense/Special Teams: Green Bay Packers. The Packers were a bit of a surprise, being the top scoring fantasy defense/special teams in most formats. They really took to Dom Capers new 3-4 defense. It also didn't hurt that Charles Woodson had an MVP-type season. The Packers had four defensive touchdowns and a whooping 30 interceptions. Green Bay also had 37 sacks and 10 fumble recoveries. They were an opportunistic defense that made plays for fantasy teams.

If you have any questions or comments, please email Jeff Paur at jeff@rtsports.com