Our fourth week, already in the books. To think we're already almost 25% of the way through the entire season, pretty wild. I guess it's not too early to start thinking about the playoffs, huh? After this week, 5 people have fewer than 4 points: Mike (1), Austin (2), Nathan (2), John Luke (2), and Garrett (3). Why, pray tell, is that significant? I'll tell you why. Since the move to the Top 5 system in 2018, there have been 20 playoff teams, and of those 20 only two have had less than 4 points (both had 3) after week 4. Austin in 2020 (lost the MBB) and Mike in 2021 (won the MBB). In fact, if you disregard a bizarre 2019 season, those two are the only teams to make the playoffs with less than five points after week 4. So there's really two ways to interpret that. One way is that if you have less than four points your season is already basically toast and you should trade me Chris Olave because what do you need him for anymore?? The other way is that even if you only have 3 points, you still have a real chance of climbing your way into the playoffs.

50 Points Clubbers and People that Made My Sunday Afternoon Stressful

So no shit there I was just minding my own business, enjoying a comfortable weekend when I decide to take a quick gander at my Fantasy app. I had been doing yardwork so not really keeping up with it too closely, but wanted to see how things looked. Christian McCaffrey.... damn 31 points? AT HALFTIME?? Yes, that little prick was sitting at 31.3 points after one half of play. He wound finish with 50.7, marking the 4th highest score a RB has recorded in the league since 2019, and only the 6th time a RB broke 50. Let's fondly recall the other 5 times...

1. 2019 Week 5: Aaron Jones scores 50 for Nathan to beat Mike 127-126
2. 2020 Week 8: Dalvin Cook scores 50 for Garrett to beat Collin 139-109
3. 2021 Week 11: Jonathan Taylor scores 55.4 for Mike to beat Ryan 162.2-135.98
4. 2022 Week 9: Joe Mixon scores 57.1 for Ryan to beat Austin 164.1-109.32
5. 2022 Week 12: Josh Jacobs 51.3 for John Luke to beat Ryan 147.06-121.32

Notably, Collin is the only one to ever have a RB score 50 and still lose. Alright, fun little analysis aside, let's dive into the meat and potatoes of this scrumptious Tuesday morning meal. Tyler after I win again

Imperialism Map

Recaps

Garrett 91.34 - Tyler 154.78

This is one of those classic examples of sheer dominance. Garrett, who's had a turbulent season so far, was plagued by Mike Evans and Tee Higgins both going down to injuries, and Dak Prescott was suffering from success and only put up 16 because the Cowboys just throttled the Patriots so badly. Tyler, on the other hand, had four players break 20 including a 38.5 yard game from AJ Brown, so really this came out to a cakewalk for Tmo. Get this though. Tyler, the three-time champion who now sits one win away from 100 all-time, needed this win to tie the all-time series 10-10 with Garrett, who was just handed his 102nd loss. Tyler's kryptonite? Garrett's soft and smooth touch.

John Luke 108.7- Mike 111.22

"Mike buddy do something. This has been the worst start to a season for Mike ever, averaging only XXX PPG through four weeks. Congrats on the engagement and all but does Paige know this is what she's marrying into?? I can't imagine she does. John Luke didn't even do well! 108 points and that's a win?? Come on. If Mike continues this slide I may have to do a special look at where his draft went wrong (I'd guess somewhere around the time we made him auto-draft Javonte Williams)."

Ok so that is what I originally had typed up when I saw the score on Monday and was confident that Mike's defense wouldn't get him the 27.5 points necessary to complete a comeback and win. Boy was I wrong, I forgot that the Seahawks were playing a QB with a single-digit IQ. Not only did they have 3 turnovers (all from Daniel Jones), one of which went back for a 97-yard touchdown return, but they also got eleven sacks. ELEVEN. Now, Mike getting one point isn't the end of the world, but it does keep John Luke's position interesting as he is now tied with Austin and Nathan for 7th, instead of being up with Garrett like I originally thought.

Nathan 85.86 - Austin 146.66

Nathan I had such high hopes for you after week 1. Getting man handled by a pointless Austin is all the evidence I needed to know my hopes were misguided. Austin finally put it together with two 30+ showings from Jalen Hurts and Puka Nacua, though he can't quite get the timing on Jermone Ford (9.5) down. Mark Andrews also got his rhythm with a 25 point game, really just a good showing from Austin who finally gets on the standings scoreboard. Nathan saw some reversion to the mean with Kirk Cousins coming back to reality, and because he no longer has his best WR due to a trade that saw him collect a guy that hasn't played yet and a backup Eagles RB (solid move there). You'd better hope JT can turn your ship around because you're on a downward spiral, guy.

Ryan 100.7 - TK 122.62

The matchup between the top two teams wasn't the barn-burner we expected. These teams came in averaging almost 300 PPG combined, and they both fell a little flat. Josh Allen (46.5) did his part for Ryan, but two weak RB plays and only 1.9 from George Kittle did him in big time. TK, while not blowing us away, did scrape together over 120 despite some underperformances by Joe Mixon (8.6) and TJ Hockenson (14.7). Ryan doesn't really have to worry yet though, 6 points still leaves him in a tie for 2nd place. TK, however, now holds sole possession of 1st place after a perfect first four weeks with a floundering Nathan team on the horizon. Ryan, on the other hand, faces another team current in the playoff running this weekend in Jake before he gets a breather with John Luke in week 6.

Jake 123.08 - Collin 119.6

The only game that really came down to Monday night featured teams in a bidding war for Nathan's WRs. At first I was feeling myself with Stefon Diggs ripping a 36-bomb thanks to 120 yards and 3 touchdowns, but my tingly feelings soon evaporated when CMC had his aforementioned bullshit. Entering Monday night, Jake was down 14.32 points with his kicker and RB left to play. There were no shortcomings this weekend, however, and Breida's 12.8 with Jason Myers' 5 was just enough to get the job done. Collin, who lost by 1.96 last weekend, has now lost two consecutive games by a combined 5.44 points. His consolation is that in that span he's earned two Top 5s and BOTH weekly challenges, but the losses have got to be frustrating.