X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Guillotine Leagues - How to Play and Win

Aaron Schillinger explains guillotine leagues - one of the newest forms of fantasy football. He breaks down draft strategies that could help fantasy owners win their leagues in 2019.

When it comes to newer forms of fantasy football leagues, Guillotine leagues are one of the more exciting up-and-coming formats. Just like any other fantasy football leagues, there are several different ways to go about drafting your team.

There is no right or wrong solution in terms of how to draft or in-season strategies, but there are some tips and different things to remember as you get into it.

If you're new to Guillotine leagues, there are a few things to note before you jump in.

Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:

 

What is a Guillotine League?

In a typical Guillotine league, there are no divisions and there is no schedule. Most leagues have 17 teams, which ends up making a 16-week league, where the top three finishing teams win cash. You can make the leagues smaller, but you'll have to make it a shorter season or come up with a more unique way for the playoffs. There is no head to head matchups every week in Guillotine leagues either, just don't be the team that scores the least points. Simple enough.

Just like any other fantasy football league, it is vital to understand the format and know the rules before your draft. The format and scoring for a Guillotine league are basically like any other fantasy league. Typically, you'll have a PPR scoring league with a roster something like this:

QB
RB
RB
WR
WR
WR
TE
FLEX

The starting lineup can vary and many are moving towards Superflex leagues. Leagues can vary in size, and many use a 13-week season, then have three weeks of playoffs with the remaining teams. The main thing that makes a Guillotine league so unique is that each week, the lowest scoring team is eliminated. Not only is that team eliminated, but their team is then dispersed into the free agent pool, and that's when things get interesting.

 

Roster Size

In a typical Guillotine league, one difference from a more traditional fantasy league is the roster size. Guillotine leagues have smaller roster sizes, which adds to the strategy and competitiveness of the league. This requires owners to work the waiver wire each week, and the added players to the free agency pool are part of what makes these leagues so fun.

You'll want to use FAAB for your free agency in a Guillotine league, otherwise, it wouldn't really work. Typically, you'll have a $200 budget. This is where the different strategies come into play. Do you burn your whole budget to grab a stud like Ezekiel Elliott if he hits free agency after Week 1? Do you budget your FAAB out and wait for another stud to become available later in the season? Like any other fantasy league, there isn't a perfect solution, but there are different strategies you can use.

 

Possible Strategies

Spend Your FAAB Early
One of the ways you can approach a Guillotine league is to burn your FAAB early on. Don't get crazy and blow all of it after Week 1, but if someone like Ezekiel Elliot or Christian McCaffrey happens to be available after Week 1, don't be afraid to break the bank. It's never a good idea to use all of your budget on one player, but burning 50% or more on a stud running back is hard to argue against. If you come out of your draft with someone like Melvin Gordon or David Johnson, don't pass up the opportunity to pair a couple of stud running backs together by using a good chunk of your FAAB. Having a combination of two stud running backs can be not only a difference maker but a potential league-winner.

Ration Your FAAB
Another way to approach a Guillotine league is to bank on nailing your draft and ration out your FAAB. The only way I'll really be looking to ration out my FAAB is if I come out of my draft absolutely loving my team, and I win the first few weeks handily. If you nail your draft and love your team, there's a good chance you will be struggling with the waiver wire and not sure who you want to cut. In this case, I'd stick with my main core of my team, and spend small amounts on lower-end players on my roster. Doing this can end up being extremely beneficial, as you can end up with more FAAB than the rest of the league, and have the ability to spend a lot on a high-end player towards the end of the season. You could be heading into Week 8 or Week 10 and have 75% of your budget left, and you're almost guaranteed to be able to pick up a stud player that ends up getting dropped late in the season.

Balanced Approach
Like most leagues, my recommended way to approach a league is to have more of a balanced approach. While it can make sense to burn your FAAB early, it really depends on your league and who happens to fall back into the free agency pool. It can also be beneficial to ration our your FAAB and wait; sometimes patience is hard to have in fantasy football, but it can really pay off. My recommendation is to have a balanced approach and let the league play out, then react. If a stud player is available early, don't be afraid to jump on them and use a good chunk of your budget, but don't get crazy with it.

Many owners won't hesitate to bid 50% of their budget on an elite fantasy asset, and sometimes you're better off using your set amount, and if you get the player, great. If not, sometimes you're better off letting someone else overpay. Set some guidelines beforehand and try not to go over, or too far under the amounts you've rationed out.

Knowing your league is a key part of fantasy football, and can be even more crucial in a Guillotine league. If there's someone in your league that you know loves a certain player, let them overpay for that player when they hit free agency. On the other hand, if there's a player you're crazy about that falls back into the free agency pool, don't overpay to a point that could potentially hurt your team or end up not being worth the cost. Sometimes knowing that someone in your league loves or hates a certain player can really benefit you. Whether it be reaching for them in the draft, or knowing that you can spend a smaller amount of your FAAB on them and still get that player.

The best way to approach a Guillotine, in my opinion, is to have a balanced approach and to let the league play itself out before overreacting. Use your FAAB wisely, but keep in mind that in a league where you can be eliminated from just one bad week, playing the waiver wire is crucial. Don't be afraid to spend your FAAB, as one bad week can end the league for you just like that. There is nothing more frustrating in a Guillotine league than getting eliminated and having all $200 of your FAAB remaining. Playing the waiver wire in your typical fantasy leagues separates the serious players from more casual players, and in a Guillotine league, it's even more important.

More Fantasy Football Analysis




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Brandin Podziemski

Not On Injury Report For Game 3
Jimmy Butler III

Warriors Optimistic About Jimmy Butler III Playing Saturday
Jae'Sean Tate

To Remain Out Saturday
Jock Landale

Unavailable For Game 3

Tyler Shough Could Come Off The Board Before Shedeur Sanders
Terry Rozier

Out On Saturday
Jrue Holiday

Ruled Out For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Orlando
Kevin Love

To Miss Saturday's Game
Jaylen Brown

Available For Friday Night's Game 3 Against Magic
Gary Payton II

Iffy For Saturday's Action
Jayson Tatum

Officially Available On Friday For Game 3 Against Magic
Will Smith

Back From Injury On Friday
Luke Kennard

Questionable For Game 4 On Saturday
Darius Garland

Listed As Questionable For Game 3
Ja Morant

To Miss Game 4 On Saturday
Rui Hachimura

Available For Game 3 In Minnesota
Aaron Ekblad

Available To Return Saturday
Erik Swanson

Ryan Burr Progressing
Daulton Varsho

To Return On Tuesday At The Latest
Max Scherzer

Takes Positive Step On Friday
Aleksander Barkov

Questionable For Saturday
Isaiah Spiller

Raiders Waive Isaiah Spiller
Gabriel Landeskog

Set For Larger Role In Game 4
Calvin Pickard

To Start Game 3 For Oilers
Randy Arozarena

Resting For First Time This Year
Jonas Siegenthaler

To Play Limited Minutes In Game 3
MLB

Red Sox-Guardians Game Postponed On Friday
Luke Hughes

Remains Out On Friday
MLB

Tigers-Orioles Postponed On Friday
Patrik Laine

A Game-Time Decision Friday
NFL

Several Teams Trying To Trade Up Early In Round 2

Bhayshul Tuten Could Be A Third-Round Pick
Yainer Diaz

Out On Friday Against Royals
Iván Herrera

Ivan Herrera Hopes To Start Rehab Assignment Next Week
Salvador Perez

Sitting Out For First Time This Season
Cleveland Browns

Browns Fielding Calls For First Pick In Round 2
Jaylen Brown

Questionable For Game 3 On Friday
Brendan Donovan

Back In Action On Friday
Jimmy Butler III

Could Miss Game 3 On Saturday
Coby Mayo

Getting On A Roll At Triple-A
George Pickens

Steelers Receiving Calls About George Pickens
Moises Ballesteros

Riding An 11-Game Hit Streak
Victor Mesa Jr.

Starting Rehab Assignment On Saturday
Ryan Weathers

To Begin Rehab Assignment On Sunday
Colby Thomas

Heating Up At Triple-A
Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys Don't Feel Forced To Draft A Running Back
Emmanuel Rodriguez

Has Quiet Start To 2025
Jeff McNeil

Hitting Eighth In Season Debut
Brandon Sproat

Coughs Up Six Earned Runs In Latest Start
Eury Pérez

Eury Perez To Start Rehab Assignment On Saturday
Bailey Falter

Good To Go To Start On Sunday Against Dodgers
Will Levis

Could Be Traded Soon
Bryce Young

Wanted Panthers To Take Tetairoa McMillan
Travis Hunter

Jaguars Plan To Start Travis Hunter In The Receiver Room
Detroit Lions

Lions Pick Up Aidan Hutchinson's Fifth-Year Option
Jameson Williams

Lions Exercise Jameson Williams' Fifth-Year Option
Carlos Prates

Looks To Remain Undefeated In The UFC
Ian Machado Garry

Set For UFC Kansas City Main Event
Cade Cunningham

Collects Double-Double In Loss
Jalen Brunson

Drops 30 Points In Game 3
Karl-Anthony Towns

Leads All Scorers In Game 3 Victory
Zhang Mingyang

Scheduled For Co-Main Event
Anthony Smith

Set For His Final UFC Bout
David Onama

Set For Featherweight Bout
Giga Chikadze

Looks To Bounce Back
Abus Magomedov

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Michel Pereira

Returns To Action At UFC Kansas City
Nicolas Dalby

An Underdog At UFC Kansas City
Randy Brown

A Favorite At UFC Kansas City
Andre Muniz

Set To Open Up UFC Kansas City Main Card
Ikram Aliskerov

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Sergei Bobrovsky

Shuts Out Lightning In Game 2
Cam Fowler

Finishes Thursday's Win With Five Points
Robert Thomas

Posts Four Assists In Game 3 Win
Pavel Buchnevich

Celebrates Hat Trick During Four-Point Performance
Dylan DeMelo

Battling An Illness
Marcus Johansson

Exits Early Thursday
Aleksander Barkov

Hurt In Game 2
Jameson Williams

Lions Didn't Entertain Trade Offers For Jameson Williams
Qadir Ismail

Raiders Sign Qadir Ismail
New York Giants

Giants Plan To Exercise Kayvon Thibodeaux's Fifth-Year Option
Russell Wilson

Will Be Giants Starting Quarterback
Kansas City Chiefs

Chiefs Close Out The First Round With Josh Simmons
Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles Trade Up One Spot In First Round To Select Jihaad Campbell
Buffalo Bills

Bills Address Secondary And Take Maxwell Hairston With 30th Overall Pick
NFL

Eagles, Chiefs Swap First-Round Picks
Washington Commanders

Josh Conerly Jr. Goes At No. 29 Overall To Commanders
Jrue Holiday

Tagged As Questionable For Friday
Jayson Tatum

Likely Out Again On Friday
Anthony Cirelli

Good To Go Thursday
Andrei Vasilevskiy

Looks To Bounce Back In Game 2
Rasmus Ristolainen

To Miss Training Camp
Jonas Siegenthaler

Returns To Practice
Aliaksei Protas

Traveling With Capitals
Gabriel Vilardi

Still Out On Thursday
Max Pacioretty

Set To Join Maple Leafs Lineup For Game 3
Cam Davis

Looking For Better Fortunes At TPC Louisiana
Adam Svensson

Making Third Apperence At Zurich Classic
Max Greyserman

Aiming For Similar Success At TPC Louisiana
Lee Hodges

A High-Upside Player In New Orleans
PGA

Nico Echavarria Looks To Ride Off Of Elite Putting In New Orleans
Gary Woodland

A Player Worth Watching In New Orleans
Max McGreevy

Returns To The Zurich Classic Of New Orleans
Rasmus Hojgaard

In Search Of Consistency Ahead Of Zurich Classic
Sam Stevens

A Boom-Or-Bust Candidate In New Orleans
Nicolai Hojgaard

Looking To Turn Season Around At Zurich Classic
Christiaan Bezuidenhout

Looks To Sway A Hot Putter In Teams Favor At Zurich Classic
Akshay Bhatia

Looking To Bounce Back At TPC Louisiana
Carson Young

Looks To Turn Things Around At TPC Louisiana
Erik Van Rooyen

Looking For Momentum In Louisiana
Andrew Novak

Making Start At TPC Louisiana After Near Miss At Harbour Town
Ben Griffin

Making Third Career Start At Zurich Classic
Taylor Moore

Competing With A New Teammate In New Orleans
Wyndham Clark

Making Return To New Orleans
Kurt Kitayama

Teeing It Up Again In New Orleans
Collin Morikawa

Back At Zurich Classic For Fifth Time
Thomas Detry

Making Third Appearance At New Orleans Team Event
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF