A Dynasty Player's Take on Guillotine Leagues

It’s a tale of opposites. At least in theory.

On paper, Guillotine Leagues™ could not be more different from the dynasty format I know and love and spend arguably too much time and money on. 

Forget planning for the next five years. In Guillotine Leagues, you’re barely thinking beyond THIS WEEK.

If you don’t know, Guillotine Leagues operate exactly how they sound: Each week, the lowest-scoring team in the league gets the axe. The players on that team get put into the waiver pool. No head-to-head matchups. No bracketed playoff structure. Just be better than the worst active team in the league every week, and you’ll eventually win the whole damn thing. 

Sweet and simple, right?

But for the dynasty-minded it can also be a head trip. In dynasty, you’re constantly building for the future. In Guillotines, you’re playing like today is your last.

BUT…there is some overlap. Of course, the hottest names in dynasty are also rock-steady options at the top of our Guillotine rankings. Jahmyr Gibbs, Bijan Robinson, Ja’Marr Chase, Jaxon Smith-Njigba…you can’t go wrong in either format.

Beyond the obvious players, though, we can put our dynasty skills to work to help us avoid the dreaded chop.

Dynasty Strategy to Implement in Your Guillotine Draft

If my years spent playing dynasty have taught me anything, it’s the value of finding and acquiring players who are just on the verge of popping off. All offseason, I look for “buy low” opportunities on ascending players who have yet to break out OR players who are due for a career bounce-back.

A lot of these undervalued dynasty gems are also ideal draft candidates in your Guillotine Leagues. Here are a few dynasty darlings that should translate across formats:

Garrett Wilson | WR | NYJ 

I don’t know how many times I’ve said that Garrett Wilson is the most underrated wide receiver in our Earth’s atmosphere, but why not make it one more? Written off because…ya know, the Jets…Wilson has done nothing but post 1,000-yard seasons while catching passes from a host of QB understudies that just weren’t ready for the bright lights. 

Did you know Wilson was the WR6 in points per game last year before getting injured?? His role as top dog secures him a solid weekly floor, which is crucial when facing the Guillotine early on.

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Chase Brown | RB | CIN

I wrote about Chase Brown’s dynasty value in a recent mailbag article, but the TLDR is this: At a certain point, we just have to admit that the Bengals love this running back. He does exactly what they need him to do. He’s not getting replaced anytime soon. Certainly not this season!

But Brown also does exactly what risk-averse fantasy managers need him to do: TOUCH THE BALL. A lot. Last year Brown was one of ten players to tally 300+ touches. In a bombastic Bengals offense, he’s as reliable as he is undervalued.

Greg Dulcich | TE | MIA 

There’s immense talent hiding beneath that gorgeous head of hair, but with it comes the burden of bad health. The Dolphins tight end has missed more games than he’s played in his four-year career. But (knock on a forest full of wood) Greg Dulcich is healthy right now! 

And on a Miami depth chart lacking proven talent at WR, Dulcich has a good chance to be the top target in that offense to begin the season. It’s why I’m sending offers in my dynasty leagues and why, if I fade the TE position in Guillotine drafts, I’m making sure I get Dulcich in the late rounds.

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