Around the League – Week 4

Serenity Now (Howard / David) and The Pigskins (Diane) sit atop the overall standings across the entire Soleil Fantasy Football League as the only remaining undefeated teams, while Buzzing Jackets (Eric Strevel) hold third overall and the highest season scoring total. Week 4 also brought a scoring explosion from Carol, another touchdown dance for Denise, and a narrow escape for Diane.

Soleil Standings Watch

The top three in Soleil’s combined AFC and NFC standings after Week 4 are:

• 1. Serenity Now (Howard / David), NFC: 4-0, with 458.16 season points.
• 2. The Pigskins (Diane), AFC: 4-0, with 438.04 season points.
• 3. Buzzing Jackets (Eric Strevel), NFC: 3-1, with 505.32 season points.

Howard / David take over first overall across Soleil, while Diane holds second overall and leads the AFC. Soleil’s undefeated club is down to two after Eric and Jim’s Fantasy Force (Jim Kappes) suffered their first losses.

Eric still owns the highest season scoring total across both leagues, but Denise is closing fast. Her 502.62 points leave her just 2.70 behind Eric. The standings favor the undefeated teams; the scoring race gives these two plenty of bragging rights.

Seven teams sit at 3-1, keeping the pressure on the leaders. Behind Eric and Denise are 2-Min Drill (Jim Meeder), Senior Football (David McCleskey), Ground & Pound (Carol), Overtime RICHARD, and Jim’s Fantasy Force (Jim Kappes). There’s quite a crowd waiting for the top two to blink.

Soleil High Score: Carol Brings the Ground—and the Pound

Ground & Pound (Carol) scored 155.22 points, topping both leagues and defeating Barking Dawgs (Michael Parker), 85.38.

The 69.84-point margin was also Soleil’s largest victory of the week. Carol followed her Week 3 win with another strong performance, improving to 3-1 and reaching seventh overall.

Apparently, “Ground & Pound” was more than a team name this week.

AFC High Score: Denise Keeps Dancing

Touchdown Dance Denise scored 137.72 points, earning the AFC scoring crown and moving to 3-1, good for fourth overall across Soleil.

After edging Tipsy Tacklers (Angie) by just 6.02 points in Week 3, Denise traded the suspense for a place atop the Week 4 scoring highlights. With 502.62 season points, she’s also within striking distance of Eric’s Soleil scoring lead.

Carol finished 17.50 points ahead in this week’s comparison of conference high scorers. Both gave the rest of Soleil something to chase.

Motor City Cats Find Another Gear

Motor City Cats (Rick) defeated NO Kneelers (Joe), 126.00–92.72, earning the AFC’s largest victory with a 33.28-point margin.

After starting 0-2, Rick has won two straight to reach 2-2. The Cats appear to be finding their stride.

Joe went from Soleil’s highest score last week to running into Rick’s revved-up lineup this week. At 2-2 with 491.54 season points, Joe still has plenty of scoring power—but fantasy football rarely lets anyone keep the bragging rights without a fight.

Closest Finish: So Close, Sheila / Mitch!

The Pigskins (Diane) slipped past Brooke View Trailblazers (Sheila / Mitch), 92.32–90.62, in Soleil’s tightest matchup of Week 4.

Just 1.70 points from knocking off the undefeated AFC leader—so close! Diane escaped with her perfect record intact, but Sheila / Mitch gave her all she could handle. That’s close enough to study the bench—and wonder where two more points might have come from.

Keep at it, Sheila / Mitch. Taking one of Soleil’s top two teams down to the wire deserves some recognition. We’re rooting for that first win, and this week showed it could be right around the corner!

The NFC’s closest finish went to FowlBall (John Fowler), which defeated Buzzing Jackets (Eric Strevel), 113.42–106.24, a 7.18-point margin.

John improved to 2-2 and handed Eric his first loss. The Jackets remain third overall, but FowlBall gets this week’s last word.

AFC vs. NFC: The NFC Crowds the Top

The NFC holds two of the top three overall spots and five of the top seven. The AFC counters with undefeated Diane in second and Denise in fourth.

For Week 4, the NFC claimed the highest team score and largest victory, courtesy of Carol. The AFC supplied the closest finish.

Each conference has one undefeated team left. Neither side should have trouble finding something to talk about in Chat.

Player Spotlight: A Disturbance in the Force

Tetairoa McMillan delivered 38.2 fantasy points, topping the player highlights in both leagues—and putting a serious disturbance in the Force for Jim’s Fantasy Force (Jim Kappes).

Jim was hoping the Force would be with him. Apparently, McMillan had other plans. An undefeated start, interrupted by 38.2 points from one player, will do that.

Around the League Notes

2-Min Drill (Jim Meeder) has won three straight since an opening-week loss and sits fifth overall at 3-1. Senior Football (David McCleskey) is right behind in sixth, also at 3-1.

Brown Paper Baggers (Brian) posted the AFC’s lowest score at 78.02 points. At 0-4, they’re starting to channel those old New Orleans “Aints” fans who wore paper bags over their heads. Hang in there, Brian—one win and those bags can go back to carrying groceries.

Waddle we talking about here (Dan Gillis) finished lowest in the NFC at 79.82 points and sits at 0-4. Waddle it take to get that first win? Hopefully just one more week, Dan—we’re rooting for you to waddle into the win column.

Dan joins Brown Paper Baggers (Brian) and Brooke View Trailblazers (Sheila / Mitch) in the hunt for a first victory.

For the two teams sitting at 4-0, enjoy the view—but don’t get too comfortable. Seven teams are just one win behind.

Got a victory speech, a bench-player regret, or a little friendly trash talk? Bring it to Chat. Week 4 supplied plenty of material.