IAYPA YTD (min 100 attempts)

The guard changes - five weeks into the NFL season, only three of the top 10 IAYPA quarterbacks are over 30.  The stalwarts of the past - Drew Bees, Ben Roethlisberger, even Aaron Rodgers, have drifted down the league table.  Even Alex Smith - for years the NFL's most resolutely median IAYPA performer - is a bit off his game.

In their place there comes an assortment of men who've taken different paths to the top.

• I don't know what's gotten into Matt Ryan, but I doubt if it's anything permanent.  The Falcons started 5-0 last year, and it all ended in tears - I suspect regression to the mean looms.
• Dak Prescott is another matter.  Watched him last night, first whole game I've watched in years.  He made every decision correctly, placed every throw exactly where it was supposed to be - went 18-for-24 with a TD and no interceptions.  That's 155 attempts without an interception since he came into the League, a record.  They say they don't make pocket passers anymore - well, in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.  There is no quarterback controversy, Romo has to go.
• Trading for Sam Bradford:  not a dumb thing to do, apparently.
• Russell Wilson - the 'man inside' the Seattle offense remains a top performer.
• Who is Trevor Siemian?  I have to find out who Tervor Siemian is.
• #11, Derek Carr, has brought the Raiders out of the wilderness and back to respectability.

At the other end of the scale we have the hapless Killer B's, Blake, Blaine, and Brock, along with the descending Ryan Fitzpatrick....and Joe!  Joe Flacco!  What are you doing here with these bums?  And Aaron...and Cam...!

Drew Brees and Eli Manning both get the Methuselah Award, delivering slightly-above median performance in their mid/late 30s.  Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota, both all of 22 years old, get a pass.