"Before we close the books on another exciting/frustrating/awesome/unpredictable (circle one) fantasy season, we must take a quick stroll back through 2011 to examine the players we rooted for and against and - with as much objectivity as we can muster - give credit where credit is due.

As always, our annual accolades (and condemnations) have but a few important criteria:

Consistency on a weekly basis is next to godliness.

Production during the fantasy playoffs - for our purposes, NFL Weeks 14 through 16 - is given extra weight. Players who let their owners down at the worst possible time earn our eternal scorn. (Hear that, Eli?)

For the most part, Week 17 is dead to us. (Sorry, Matt Flynn.)

Without further ado, I am pleased to present the 2011 Biro's Heroes & Zeros Awards:

MVP: Rob Gronkowski, tight end, Patriots. I made my case for Gronkowski in a column three weeks ago, in which I examined the disproportionate advantage he gave his owners at the tight end position on a weekly basis. Though Aaron Rodgers might seem the obvious choice, Drew Brees was nearly his equal. LeSean McCoy was outstanding; but in any given week, other backs outproduced him.

Bust of the Year: Chris Johnson, running back, Titans. A top three selection who plays every game yet scores just four stinking touchdowns is the definition of a bust. "CJ1K" started off slowly and finished just about as poorly.

Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton, quarterback, Panthers. Everyone knows rookie QBs make awful fantasy passers, especially when they're drafted by the worst team in the league. Apparently nobody informed Newton.

Surprise of the Year: Marshawn Lynch, running back, Seahawks. Three years removed from fantasy respectability in Buffalo, all Lynch did was score in 11 consecutive weeks on his way to a Top 5 fantasy ranking.

Comeback Player of the Year: Steve Smith, receiver, Panthers. He played 14 games in 2010 and barely ranked among the top 70 fantasy receivers. Enter a rookie passer, and Smith once again resides among the elite."