Fantasy football highlights: The best of Week 16

• Calvin Johnson rewarded fantasy owners in Week 16 with another big performance.
• Drew Brees and Tony Romo dueled on the field and both put up big numbers.
• Tony Gonzalez was one of the weekend's big disappointments.

In NFL Week 16, the outcomes of most games would determine playoff spots and positioning. In fantasy football Week 16, whichever team to score the most points would matter in only one contest. For the fortunate owners in that all-important matchup, some studs showed up. Really showed up.

Calvin Johnson's Saturday night was fantastic not because of the records he broke but because of his 11 receptions for 225 yards. And still, his marks didn't quite measure up to Roddy White's eight catches for 153 yards and two touchdowns or Matt Ryan's four scoring passes for the Atlanta Falcons.

Tony Gonzalez (one reception for nine yards) failed to make an impact, however, making him the opening number for some other disappearing acts. Hopefully, the Oakland Raiders' Darren McFadden, Tennessee's Chris Johnson and the New York Giants' Eli Manning weren't your disappointing entrants on this holiday weekend.

For fantasy owners who made it this far, it's unlikely. Megatron, White and Ryan set the stage for some outstanding performances, especially from a few of fantasy's top QBs. The Green Bay Packers' Aaron Rodgers threw for 342 yards and three TDs in a blowout of the Tennessee Titans. Peyton Manning racked up 339 yards and three scores to push the Denver Broncos past the Cleveland Browns rather easily.

Perhaps if either of their teams had locked horns with the New Orleans Saints or Dallas Cowboys, one of them would've been a little more productive. In the Saints-Cowboys overtime duel, Drew Brees was 37-for-53 for 446 yards and a trio of touchdowns, while Tony Romo passed for 416 yards and a quartet of scores.

Naturally, that Saints-Cowboys tilt yielded other fantasy stars. Marques Colston caught 10 balls for 153 yards, and Darren Sproles piled up 152 total yards. Yet neither's ledger measured up to Dez Bryant's, which listed him with nine grabs, 224 yards and two TDs in his team's heartbreaking loss.

Two of Manning's scoring tosses went to wideout Eric Decker, and the other to receiver Demaryius Thomas, who reeled in nine total passes for 102 yards. The Philadelphia Eagles' Jeremy Maclin and the Packers' James Jones also reached 100 yards as well as the end zone. And Lance Kendricks' rumbling 80-yard scoring reception propelled him to a 119-yard day, making the St. Louis Rams' tight end an unexpected fantasy hero. But did anyone feel safe starting Larry Fitzgerald? The Arizona Cardinals' top target hauled in eight throws for 111 yards.

The star running backs (and perhaps players, period) of this Sunday originate from teams that didn't harbor NFL playoff aspirations, however. The Miami Dolphins' Reggie Bush picked up 107 total yards as well as three touchdowns - one on the ground and two receiving. Jamaal Charles scored only once for the Kansas City Chiefs, but it came on an 86-yard carry to help him outdo Bush in yards from scrimmage with 230. (Charles' backfield-mate Peyton Hillis racked up more than 100 yards rushing against the Indianapolis Colts, too.)

The Baltimore Ravens' Ray Rice had one of his biggest fantasy days when it mattered most, too: 158 total yards and his first receiving touchdown of the season. (His fellow runner Bernard Pierce also broke the century mark against the Giants.) LeSean McCoy (nine catches and 122 total yards) turned in a superb day, at least for those in point-per-reception leagues, in his return from a concussion. Shonn Greene owners were thrilled to get a pair of one-yard scoring plunges from the New York Jets' running back. But perhaps no one is celebrating like the folks who picked up 114 total yards and two touchdowns from Green Bay's ... Ryan Grant?

Finally, fantasy DSTs have stolen the show occasionally this season, and Week 16 may have put the exclamation point on their contributions. Units from Indy, St. Louis and the Cincinnati Bengals scored once on defense, and special teams plays for the San Diego Chargers and Arizona resulted in TDs. The Packers were less than two minutes from pitching a shutout against Tennessee.

Minnix writes for KFFL.com.

PHOTOS: BEST OF WEEK 16