Three weeks to go and the usual suspects still rule the roost. It matters not, apparently, how many gazillion points The U’s Bengals put up each week; Alabama Men isn’t going to relinquish their lead in the QB Points and WR Points lists. And as for Dollz and their RB Points lead? Saquon and the fellas have now built a 100+ buffer. And that’s quite a buffer, Senator.

Thanks to his Bengals, Jose again takes down the Weekly Top Score prize. It’s two in a row and three for the year, and despite those 163+ points it was closer than U’d think. Tom put up 147+, and the difference is almost exactly the 18 points that The U’s Saturday waiver pickup Will Dissly scored on Sunday night. That’s surely the key to The U’s victory, no? Or maybe it’s the 89.7 from those damn Bengals.

So how many more 61-point outbursts does Ja’Marr Chase have in him? It’s All About The U parlayed Chase (and Joe Burrow’s) big day to jump up the charts, but it’s going to take more than one giant leap to overtake Alabama Men in the QB Points and WR Points lists. Indeed, Tom actually widened his lead in both categories this week.

Juice also outpointed Dollz in RB performance this week, and carved about a dozen points off Thurm’s lead there. Trouble is (for Juice, anyway), the Dollz lead is still about 85 points.

It was a rare bad week for Alabama Men. For only the second time this year, the team didn’t score at least 100 points. And while his Lamar Jackson made his usual outsized impact, Tom’s WRs pitched in their lowest points of their season so far, allowing Heavy Flight to shave some points from Men’s lead there. Still, Men remain atop the QB Points and WR Points rankings, and also claim a share of the Best Record Bonus with Buckguys and Three Stooges. So perhaps things aren’t really all that bad?

Dollz had a bit of a down week, too, but it didn’t stop them from leaping further ahead in the RB Points lead. Because it was Saquon doing most of the damage, can we assume it was a backwards leap?

It’s the same…old song. These same two guys, for it seems too long. Alabama Men and Dollz continue their run at the top of the charts for another week, with Tom’s guys again leading the QB Points and WR Points lists and Thurm’s fellas still atop the RB Points standings. Men also take sole possession of the Best Record Bonus! Meanwhile, Heavy Flight makes its first appearance on the Weekly Top Score Bonus with the season’s second-highest score to date. Guess the Champ had another hit in him after all.

C’est la chose, c’est la meme chose

Another week, another opportunity for Alabama Men and Dollz to lengthen their lead in the points bonuses. Dollz (take a bow, Saquon and Kenneth Walker III) continue to run away with the RB Points, and Men still rule the QB Points (thanks, Lamar!) and WR Points lists. Injuries to Chris Godwin and DK Metcalf certainly are a blow to Tom, but look who’s about to come off IR: It’s Puka! Still, the next couple weeks might be the best chance for The U and their bunch o’ Bengals to make up ground. Or air.

Alabama Men are on a Roll

Alabama Men aren’t just the current Apollo Division leaders and the playoff top seed, but are all over the Bonus standings, too. Tom’s guys lead the QB Points and WR Points rankings, and his 4-2 mark puts him among the Best Record bunch, too. Men have scored the most points so far this year, and along with S*Heads and Pain Train have fielded a dozen 20+ point scorers, also the most in the league. And get this: four of those 20+ scorers actually have gone for 30+, again the most in the league. (Dollz also have recorded four 30-burgers.) It’s a Men’s World, indeed. At least for now.

#TBJG

Yes, yes, yes — we all know that The Three Stooges are now the only unbeaten team in the league and, as a reward, now have claimed the Best Start Bonus at 4-0. No doubt, it’s an impressive debut. Certainly, they anticipated this year’s scoring trends by drafting the current RB 1 (Kamara) and RB 6 (Taylor) in the third and first rounds, respectively. Of course, we all are so very happy for them.

But. In this, the 24th year of the James Gang, it’s notable that the Old Guard — the Founders, as it were — are leading or have clinched almost all of the other Bonuses. To wit:

• Thurm and his Dollz lead the RB Points rankings, own the current Blowout Bonus, and have pocketed the Week 3 Top Score Bonus.
• Kurt and his S*Heads own the current Beatdown Bonus as well as the Week 4 Top Score Bonus.
• Tom and his Alabama Men own the Week 2 Top Score Bonus and are runners-up in both the QB Bonus and the WR Bonus.
• Bill and his Fartz own the Week 1 Top Score Bonus, and until S*Heads replaced him this week, had owned the Beatdown Bonus through the first three weeks.

The only other Old Head still with us is off to a rocky start. But Juice overturned his roster the past couple of weeks; who knows what great success await his new-look squad?

What’s new, Running Back?

In word (or two): not much. Dollz and Saquon continue to dominate the RB Points, and Stooges and Fartz continue to round out the top three. Although, it must be noted, Thurm has widened his lead.

Buckguys and Bama Men made a move this week in the QB Points and WR Points ranks, respectively. Josh Allen turned in his second thirty-burger of the season for Doug, vaulting him from fifth to first. Meanwhile, Chris Godwin and DK Metcalf continue to shine for Tom, and now playing the role previously performed by Puka Nacua (IR) and Isiah Pacheco (IR) is DARNELL MOONEY!?!

Defending Champ Heavy Flight fell this week, reducing the field of unbeatens to Bama Men and Three Stooges. Both remain alive for the Best Start Bonus.

Dollz (and Men) came close to eclipsing Fartz’s highest score to date, but Bill’s mark still stands. Thurm did take over the Blowout Bonus, however, with his big win over Hurt Locker. It helps when two of your guys (Saquon and Jauan Jennings) go for more between them than your opponent’s entire score. Also, Hounds and OverThinkers’ entire score, and nearly Commode and Flight’s.

Hey, Alviinnnnnn!

Two weeks in and one thing’s for sure: It helps to have a star. One guy (Saquon) accounts for more than half of Dollz’ leading RB Points, and another guy (Kamara) is responsible for nearly three-fourths of The Stooges’ runner-up RB total. Saquon was Thurm’s first-round pick, but Alvin last until round 3 for Rich, Bob and Perry.

The burden is more equally distributed in the WR Room, with Heavy Flight and S*Heads playing the same three heavy hitters both weeks; Alabama Men has had to change things up due to Puka’s injury.

Speaking of Flight and Bama Men, they’re joined by Three Stooges in the Best Start and Best Record bonuses. Stooges also stake an early claim to the Blowout Bonus.