Sunday's Best: Week 16

Many fantasy owners aren't necessarily celebrating Peyton Manning breaking Dan Marino's single-season TD record, but wondering what took him so long. After putting up 44 touchdown passes through Week 13 (including a stretch of five straight games with at least three TDs), he had just two against the Texans, one against the Ravens and two Sunday against the Chargers. Those last three weeks coincided with many fantasy playoff weeks. In many leagues, this week is the fantasy Super Bowl.

Thankfully for Manning, he still put up decent yards in those games, including a nice 383 on Sunday to rally the Colts from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit. He struggled at times but picked it up when it mattered most in the fourth quarter and overtime. (If anything, his Week 16 performance this week far exceeded last year's Week 16 when he had no touchdowns and just 146 passing yards against the Broncos.)

Hopefully for your team, you weren't completely relying on Manning to carry your fantasy squad. You need other guys to step up as well if you are to win the league title. As much as Manning has been the fantasy stud, it's a team effort, whether on the field or in fantasy. And he definitely helped fantasy teams much more than late-season wonder Billy Volek, who barely cracked 100 passing yards.

On the other hand, if you rolled the dice on guys like Lee Evans, Willis McGahee, Muhsin Muhammad and Nick Goings, you may be on your way to a fantasy championship, especially if you couple them with No. 18.

1. Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks (30 carries, 154 yards, 3 TDs): With Matt Hasselbeck a very late scratch, Seattle relied heavily on Alexander, who came through with his fifth multi-touchdown game of the season. This is the type of performance you want from a stud running back when it matters most. (For those wondering, one of his scores was a recovery of his own fumble in the end zone, so that could affect some leagues.)

2. Reuben Droughns, RB, Broncos (22 carries, 91 yards, 2 TDs; 2 catches, 30 yards, 1 TD): Tatum Bell may be the running back of the future in Denver, but Droughns is the guy for right now. And this time, he did many owners well by scoring three touchdowns.

3. LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, Chargers (21 carries, 81 yards, 1 TD; 5 catches, 95 yards, 1 TD): He and Drew Brees tried to steal Manning's thunder by chewing up the Colts' defense early. Tomlinson was most impressive on a nice catch and long run that was his first TD of the game. Tomlinson has now scored a rushing TD in 12 straight games, an NFL record for a single season, and a stat that makes fantasy owners very happy.

4. Brett Favre, QB, Packers (30-43, 365 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT): Favre usually struggles in the Metrodome, but in front of a national TV audience and with the NFC North title on the line, he came up with a big game just in time for many fantasy owners.

5. Daunte Culpepper, QB, Vikings (16-23, 285 yards, 3 TDs; 3 carries, 21 yards): Lost in the Manning hoopla is the fact that Culpepper is finding his touch again, even with Randy Moss not necessarily at full strength. Culpepper has 37 TD passes this season, which would've made news if not for Manning.

6. Tony Gonzalez, TE, Chiefs (11 catches, 124 yards, 2 TDs): Gonzo isn't giving up title of best fantasy tight end without a fight. He was huge in the first half against a depleted Raiders defense and also made some key plays down the stretch for Kansas City