JC Fantasy Football National Poll Week 4

Week 4 was the week the National Poll finally stopped looking anything like the preseason.

Only two teams remain perfect at 8-0, several of last week’s unbeaten teams finally took their first losses, and some enormous Week 4 performances completely reshuffled the middle of the rankings. At this point, preseason expectations and manager history have faded into little more than tiebreakers — actual wins, median results, normalized all-play, scoring, consistency and schedule difficulty are driving the poll.

And the playoff line is getting crowded.

Week 4 National Poll

1. Mark Handy — Division C

8-0 | Week 4: 133.74 points | Last week: #3 | ▲ 2

Handy takes over No. 1 after another clean 2-0 week, beating Colton Black and the Division C median to remain one of only two perfect teams in the entire league.

His 86.4% cumulative all-play rate is elite, and four straight weeks of strong production have completely erased any relevance of his preseason No. 40 ranking.

At this point, there is nothing fluky about it: Mark Handy has built the best four-week résumé in JC Fantasy Football.

2. Heath Strickland — Division B

7-1 | Week 4: 141.48 points | Last week: #4 | ▲ 2

Strickland finally suffered his first head-to-head loss when Raiden Weeks exploded for 164.58, but 141.48 still easily beat the Division B median.

His 86.1% all-play rate remains one of the best marks in the league, and he has now scored 598.22 points through four weeks.

Losing while scoring 141 is hardly a reason for concern, and the underlying résumé is strong enough to move Strickland all the way to No. 2.

3. Trey Matey — Division A

7-1 | Week 4: 125.92 points | Last week: #2 | ▼ 1

The defending champion finally takes his first loss, falling to Zac Grantham while still comfortably beating the Division A median.

Matey remains first in Division A in cumulative scoring and owns an 84.1% all-play rate, so one head-to-head loss does almost nothing to damage the larger résumé.

He slips one spot only because Handy and Strickland have been slightly stronger overall — this remains one of the league’s clearest championship contenders.

4. Julius Foster — Division A

7-1 | Week 4: 154.72 points | Last week: #8 | ▲ 4

Foster delivers another huge performance, scoring 154.72 to beat Ashton Matey and finish second in Division A for the week.

The newcomer is now 7-1 with a 79.5% all-play rate, and the questions about whether his unconventional draft could hold up are disappearing rapidly.

Four weeks into his first JC season, Foster is no longer a fun early story — he is legitimately one of the best teams in the league.

5. Zac Grantham — Division A

8-0 | Week 4: 142.78 points | Last week: #7 | ▲ 2

Grantham wins the biggest matchup of Week 4 by handing Trey Matey his first loss, clears the median again and remains a perfect 8-0.

His all-play numbers are not quite as overwhelming as some teams surrounding him, but continuing to turn every opportunity into a win matters.

There are only two perfect records left in the entire league, and Grantham has unquestionably earned his place among the national elite.

6. Chad Skipworth — Division E

7-1 | Week 4: 150.14 points | Last week: #5 | ▼ 1

Skipworth crushes Matt Billmeier, posts Division E’s second-highest score and earns both results for the third time in four weeks.

His 83.3% all-play rate remains excellent, and 591.90 cumulative points give him one of the strongest scoring profiles anywhere in JC.

Dropping one place despite another dominant week says much more about the teams moving around him than it does about Skipworth.

7. Raiden Weeks — Division B

7-1 | Week 4: 164.58 points | Last week: #12 | ▲ 5

Weeks makes one of Week 4’s biggest statements by handing Heath Strickland his first loss and posting the second-highest score in the entire league.

He is now 7-1 with a 75% all-play rate, and the hot start has lasted far too long to call it a surprise anymore.

Raiden entered the season at No. 30; four weeks later, he is firmly in the championship conversation.

8. Vikki Simpson — Division D

6-2 | Week 4: 115.22 points | Last week: #1 | ▼ 7

Simpson finally has a bad result, losing to Tryten Kelly and missing the Division D median for an 0-2 Week 4.

But her cumulative résumé remains outstanding: 80.6% all-play, nearly 600 total points and three dominant weeks before this one.

The former No. 1 takes a deserved hit, but one mediocre Sunday is nowhere near enough to remove her from the Top 10.

9. Shane Able — Division B

6-2 | Week 4: 151.78 points | Last week: #14 | ▲ 5

Able stays red hot with 151.78 points, beats Earnest Vincent comfortably and earns both Week 4 results.

After beginning the season 0-2, he has now won six straight results and owns a strong 72.2% all-play rate.

Able’s climb from an early-season disappointment to No. 9 has become one of the better comeback stories of the first month.

10. Tryten Kelly — Division D

7-1 | Week 4: 133.94 points | Last week: #10 | —

Kelly hands former No. 1 Vikki Simpson her first head-to-head loss and comfortably beats the Division D median.

His 7-1 record is excellent, although his all-play profile is a little less dominant than most of the teams ranked above him.

Still, Kelly has now defeated one of the league’s best teams directly and remains exactly where he belongs: comfortably inside the national Top 10.

11. Daniel Horn — Division C

6-2 | Week 4: 160.22 points | Last week: #15 | ▲ 4

Horn delivers Division C’s highest score of the week, destroying Robby Meek and sweeping both available results.

His 72.7% all-play rate validates the 6-2 record and continues an outstanding debut season for a manager who entered Week 0 with no JC history.

Horn is now much closer to the Top 10 than he is to falling out of the playoff picture.

12. DJ Billmeier — Division E

6-2 | Week 4: 129.50 points | Last week: #9 | ▼ 3

Billmeier loses head-to-head to Kent Larson but still clears the Division E median, salvaging a 1-1 week.

The 6-2 record and solid cumulative scoring keep him well inside the playoffs, although some of the teams surrounding him were considerably more explosive this week.

After beginning the year at No. 45, sitting at No. 12 one month later is still an extraordinary climb.

13. Allen Barnes — Division C

6-2 | Week 4: 149.48 points | Last week: #17 | ▲ 4

Barnes follows last week’s huge win over Todd Wilson with another excellent performance, scoring 149.48 and sweeping Israel Flores.

He is now 6-2 with a 65.9% all-play rate, and the newcomer’s early-season résumé continues getting stronger rather than fading.

Barnes was just outside the playoff line last week; this week he moves comfortably inside it.

14. Kent Larson — Division E

6-2 | Week 4: 152.50 points | Last week: #23 | ▲ 9

Larson posts Division E’s best Week 4 score, beats DJ Billmeier and earns both available results.

That performance pushes him to 6-2 and provides exactly the kind of ceiling week his résumé had been missing.

Larson jumps nine spots and suddenly looks far more like a secure playoff team than a bubble candidate.

15. Todd Wilson — Division C

5-3 | Week 4: 115.78 points | Last week: #11 | ▼ 4

Wilson beats Aiden Horn head-to-head but narrowly misses the Division C median, settling for a 1-1 week.

His 63.6% all-play rate and strong overall scoring profile keep the former No. 1 inside the Top 16 despite consecutive less-dominant weeks.

The margin for error is shrinking, but there is still far more good than bad in Wilson’s four-week résumé.

16. Dusty Glass — Division A

6-2 | Week 4: 121.08 points | Last week: #22 | ▲ 6

Glass beats Jen Grantham and sneaks above Division A’s 119.80 median, producing another clean 2-0 week and improving to 6-2.

His underlying all-play numbers are more average than most playoff teams, so there is legitimate pressure from the teams immediately behind him.

But wins count, and six of eight possible results are enough to put Dusty Glass on the right side of the playoff line for the first time.

— CURRENT PLAYOFF LINE —

17. Aaron Quarles — Division B

6-2 | Week 4: 84.50 points | Last week: #6 | ▼ 11

Quarles suffers the harshest fall near the top after Andy Miller beats him and 84.50 finishes near the bottom of Division B, ending his perfect start with an 0-2 week.

The 6-2 record keeps him inches from the playoff line, but his relatively light schedule and 58.3% all-play rate give the poll enough reason to place Dusty Glass ahead of him for now.

18. Robert Buchanan — Division D

5-3 | Week 4: 122.98 points | Last week: #25 | ▲ 7

Buchanan beats Darren Tankersley and clears the median, giving him a second straight strong week and pushing the newcomer to 5-3.

His schedule has been considerably tougher than several teams with similar records, making Robert one of the more dangerous teams sitting just outside the Top 16.

19. John Breeze — Division E

5-3 | Week 4: 156.38 points | Last week: #29 | ▲ 10

Breeze rebounds emphatically from last week’s 78.88-point disaster by posting Division E’s highest score and sweeping Trey Reynolds.

The bounce-back keeps him at 5-3 and sends him right back into the thick of the playoff race.

20. Jen Grantham — Division A

5-3 | Week 4: 109.52 points | Last week: #13 | ▼ 7

Grantham loses to Dusty Glass and misses the Division A median, creating her first full 0-2 week of the season.

Her history and excellent Week 3 prevent a larger collapse, but actual performance now carries most of the weight and she needs a bounce-back to return above the line.

21. Cindy Able — Division E

5-3 | Week 4: 117.68 points | Last week: #18 | ▼ 3

Able beats Dwayne Landry but misses the median, ending her two-week 4-0 surge with a split result.

She remains within striking distance of the playoffs, but the 52.8% all-play profile gives her very little room to stumble again.

22. Nathan Nunley — Division E

5-3 | Week 4: 130.18 points | Last week: #31 | ▲ 9

Nunley beats Beverlye Landry and clears the median to improve to 5-3, continuing a season that has consistently outperformed his preseason No. 47 ranking.

He is not dominating all-play, but five wins and another solid scoring week put Nunley squarely on the bubble.

23. Kile Brandon — Division D

4-4 | Week 4: 168.50 points | Last week: #37 | ▲ 14

Brandon posts the highest score in all five divisions this week, destroys Eric Collier and jumps fourteen positions in one shot.

At only 4-4 there is still work to do, but performances like 168.50 make Brandon one of the most dangerous teams currently outside the playoff field.

24. Trey Reynolds — Division E

3-5 | Week 4: 116.18 points | Last week: #19 | ▼ 5

Reynolds draws John Breeze’s 156.38 and misses the median, leaving him 3-5 despite a stronger all-play profile than the record suggests.

A difficult schedule continues to hurt him, but the wins now have to start catching up with the underlying performance.

25. Ashton Matey — Division A

4-4 | Week 4: 118.52 points | Last week: #20 | ▼ 5

Matey loses to Julius Foster and misses the median by only 1.28 points, ending her two-week surge but leaving her firmly within reach of the Top 24.

26. Colton Black — Division C

4-4 | Week 4: 85.92 points | Last week: #16 | ▼ 10

Black falls out of the playoff field after Mark Handy overwhelms him and 85.92 produces a full 0-2 week.

27. Braxyn Smith — Division A

4-4 | Week 4: 155.00 points | Last week: #41 | ▲ 14

Smith produces Division A’s highest Week 4 score, crushes Steven Matey and makes one of the largest jumps in the poll.

28. Aiden Benge — Division D

3-5 | Week 4: 84.46 points | Last week: #21 | ▼ 7

Benge’s recent momentum disappears with the lowest score in Division D and losses to Lynn Burkhead and the median.

29. Aaron Crawford — Division C

4-4 | Week 4: 120.82 points | Last week: #30 | ▲ 1

Crawford clears the median but loses by 1.36 points to Mallory Crawford, leaving him exactly .500 and hovering in the middle of the national field.

30. Eric Collier — Division D

3-5 | Week 4: 146.78 points | Last week: #38 | ▲ 8

Collier loses to Kile Brandon’s league-leading 168.50 but beats the median easily, making his 3-5 record significantly worse than this week’s performance deserved.

31. SJ Buchanan — Division D

4-4 | Week 4: 96.22 points | Last week: #24 | ▼ 7

Buchanan’s 96.22 produces losses to Charissa Burkhead and the median, dropping her back to .500 after a promising 4-2 start.

32. Lynn Burkhead — Division D

5-3 | Week 4: 105.22 points | Last week: #26 | ▼ 6

Burkhead beats Aiden Benge but again misses the median, leaving her with an impressive 5-3 record that the underlying 33.3% all-play rate does not fully support.

33. Danielle Abbott — Division B

3-5 | Week 4: 104.20 points | Last week: #27 | ▼ 6

Abbott loses to Jay Robinson and the median, cooling the rebound that had briefly pulled her back to .500.

34. John Matey — Division A

3-5 | Week 4: 133.72 points | Last week: #39 | ▲ 5

Matey finally delivers the strong scoring week his résumé needed, beating Dustin Barnett and clearing the median comfortably to earn both results.

35. Tammie Simms — Division C

4-4 | Week 4: 125.02 points | Last week: #42 | ▲ 7

Simms beats Michael Russo and the median to move back to .500, continuing her climb after a difficult opening week.

36. Robby Meek — Division C

3-5 | Week 4: 106.06 points | Last week: #32 | ▼ 4

Meek runs into Daniel Horn’s division-leading score and falls below the median, snapping the progress he had built over the previous two weeks.

37. Charissa Burkhead — Division D

3-5 | Week 4: 135.48 points | Last week: #43 | ▲ 6

Burkhead earns her first full 2-0 week by beating SJ Buchanan and the median with a strong 135.48-point performance.

38. Andy Miller — Division B

3-5 | Week 4: 101.32 points | Last week: #34 | ▼ 4

Miller beats previously unbeaten Aaron Quarles head-to-head but misses the median, making Week 4 a strange but useful 1-1 result.

39. Israel Flores — Division C

3-5 | Week 4: 73.70 points | Last week: #28 | ▼ 11

Flores gives back much of last week’s rise with Division C’s lowest Week 4 score and a full 0-2 result.

40. Mallory Crawford — Division C

3-5 | Week 4: 122.18 points | Last week: #44 | ▲ 4

Crawford beats Aaron Crawford by just 1.36 points and clears the median, giving her a badly needed 2-0 week.

41. Michael Russo — Division C

2-6 | Week 4: 116.42 points | Last week: #33 | ▼ 8

Russo loses to Tammie Simms and narrowly misses the median, extending a stunning fall after beginning the season 2-0 and ranked No. 4.

42. Jay Robinson — Division B

3-5 | Week 4: 123.18 points | Last week: #47 | ▲ 5

Robinson earns both results against Danielle Abbott and the median, giving the talented preseason roster its best week since opening day.

43. Steven Matey — Division A

2-6 | Week 4: 114.54 points | Last week: #36 | ▼ 7

Matey loses to Braxyn Smith and misses the median, and his spectacular Week 1 performance is becoming increasingly distant.

44. April Marlow — Division B

3-5 | Week 4: 121.86 points | Last week: #46 | ▲ 2

Marlow beats Mark Bentley and clears the median for a clean 2-0 week, offering the first significant sign that the preseason No. 4 manager may be stabilizing.

45. Beverlye Landry — Division E

2-6 | Week 4: 110.02 points | Last week: #40 | ▼ 5

Landry loses to Nathan Nunley and the median, halting the steady progress she had made over the previous two weeks.

46. Mark Bentley — Division B

2-6 | Week 4: 69.32 points | Last week: #35 | ▼ 11

Bentley posts Division B’s lowest Week 4 score and loses both results, sending him sharply down the rankings.

47. Tanner Harris — Division A

1-7 | Week 4: 102.66 points | Last week: #45 | ▼ 2

Harris finally earns his first head-to-head victory by beating Michael Matey, although he remains below the median and sits at 1-7 overall.

48. Matt Billmeier — Division E

1-7 | Week 4: 104.22 points | Last week: #49 | ▲ 1

Billmeier runs into Chad Skipworth’s 150.14 and misses the median, but the stronger Week 4 score at least keeps him moving slightly upward.

49. Earnest Vincent — Division B

0-8 | Week 4: 100.34 points | Last week: #50 | ▲ 1

Vincent remains winless after drawing Shane Able’s 151.78, though he has also faced one of Division B’s toughest cumulative schedules.

50. Dustin Barnett — Division A

1-7 | Week 4: 40.78 points | Last week: #48 | ▼ 2

Barnett’s difficult start hits another low with 40.78 points, but there is still enough season remaining for waiver moves and roster changes to create a very different second half.

51. Darren Tankersley — Division D

0-8 | Week 4: 109.82 points | Last week: #51 | —

Tankersley loses to Robert Buchanan and the median, keeping him without a result despite a Week 4 score that was considerably more competitive than some of his earlier outings.

52. Michael Matey — Division A

0-8 | Week 4: 73.94 points | Last week: #53 | ▲ 1

Matey remains winless after losing to Tanner Harris, and an extremely difficult early schedule has combined with low scoring to make the opening month especially unforgiving.

53. Aiden Horn — Division C

0-8 | Week 4: 82.78 points | Last week: #54 | ▲ 1

Horn remains 0-8 after Todd Wilson beats him and the score again lands near the bottom of Division C.

54. Dwayne Landry — Division E

0-8 | Week 4: 58.82 points | Last week: #52 | ▼ 2

Landry falls to No. 54 after the lowest Week 4 score in Division E, but one breakout performance can still change the direction of a season with nine regular-season weeks remaining.

Four Weeks Down

Only Mark Handy and Zac Grantham remain perfect at 8-0.

And perhaps more importantly, the rankings are now being built almost entirely by what managers have actually done. Mark Handy started the year at No. 40. Heath Strickland was No. 36. Raiden Weeks was No. 30. Shane Able was No. 29. Four weeks later, all four are legitimate national contenders.

Week 4 also showed how unforgiving the poll can become. Vikki Simpson fell from No. 1 to No. 8 after her first 0-2 week. Aaron Quarles fell from No. 6 to the wrong side of the playoff line. Meanwhile, Kile Brandon, Braxyn Smith and John Breeze exploded for huge scores and immediately changed the shape of their seasons.

There are still nine regular-season weeks left, but the playoff race is beginning to become very real.

Sixteen teams get in. Thirty-eight do not.

Check back every Tuesday morning for the updated JC Fantasy Football National Poll.