is average league player just that good now?

back a few year ago i was able to reach platinum 3 as my highest rank. i then had a several year brake, started playing league again, and after a few months i was placed into iron. I used to watch montages of bronze players when iron wasnt a thing and it was a good dose of comedy, but nowadays, in none of my games i see any of that nonsense. The players do well, they invade, they harass, they do objectives and pressure you. they know how to play. i get stomped by bronze players.

the last time i played i placed silver in my placements and i was really bad at the game then. now im iron and stuck in iron. I started ranked because i thought i would play against similar people but they are all better than me.