Guillotine Leagues™ Rankings Risers And Fallers: George Kittle Gets A Healthy Bump

Welcome to the 2026 fantasy football season! We promise, there will be more points scored in games, though Jaxon Smith-Njigba did likely rescue those Guillotine Leagues^TM fantasy managers from the chop. Sometimes it just takes one player to perform to his norm to be one of the 17 teams to survive and move on.

This week, we’re looking at a group of players who are moving both up and down our fantasy football rankings. Some are well known, while others could be sneaky plays early in the season because of circumstances not necessarily in their control. Let’s take a look at these players on the move.

Rankings Risers in Guillotine Leagues^TM

Jacoby Brissett | QB | Cardinals

Rankings Move: +13

For the early portion of the season, Jacoby Brissett could be a QB who helps Guillotine League teams advance with little investment. He could even be available on the waiver wire. He’s coming off a season where in his 12 starts he averaged 40.3 pass attempts, 280.5 passing yards and 1.9 TDs.

He has a new, offensive-minded HC in Mike LaFleur who inherited a defense that will be a work in progress this season. Plenty of catchup ball for Brissett and an offense that’s loaded with weapons is on the horizon, so this move up makes sense.

Kaytron Allen | RB | Commanders

Rankings Move: +17

The rookie would have to bypass Jacory Croskey-Merritt and Rachaad White to get enough touches to warrant a start in Guillotine Leagues. Yet his training camp and preseason work were solid, and our benches right now are filled with meh players. Kaytron Allen could be a stash, and an easy cut later in the season if he’s not panning out.

Devaughn Vele | WR | Saints

Rankings Move: +14

This is likely tied Jordyn Tyson missing a chunk of the start of the season with a hamstring injury. Chris Olave and Juwan Johnson can’t catch all the passes, can they? Devaughn Vele could be a flex play in a high-scoring Lions-Saints game in Week 1.

George Kittle | TE | 49ers

Rankings Move: +4

Stephania Bell appearing with Matthew on the Fantasy Football Happy Hour might have been the reason for this move up for George Kittle. She described him as a player she’s targeting, and a great deal at his ADP in drafts. Maybe he starts slowly, but when it’s 18 teams, he should be able to contribute enough to reap the benefits later when he’s further recovered from his torn Achilles.

Michael Mayer | TE | Raiders

Rankings Move: +53

Wow, what a move up! This is very much related to the meniscus surgery and 1-2 week timeline for recovery for Brock Bowers. With Ashton Jeanty possibly limited because of an ankle injury of his own, there could be enough sneaky targets for Michael Mayer in the early going to warrant starts in Guillotine Leagues while Bowers is recovering.

Rankings Fallers in in Guillotine Leagues^TM

Brock Bowers | TE | Raiders

Rankings Move: -17

You spent what was likely a second-round pick on Bowers, so don’t rage drop him. Maybe utter a few expletives, but the only play for now is to hold him on your bench and play matchups at TE. Then when you’ve survived multiple chops—thinking positive—Bowers is like a big FAAB pickup at $0 cost.

TreVeyon Henderson | RB | Patriots

Rankings Move: -5

Could the vibes be any worse for TreVeyon Henderson? The downward move is completely blamed on his injury and missing Week 1. We know you didn’t start him. Look to survive the blade early, and if a top RB becomes available after a down week, a heavy FAAB bid might be the play to make. Because waiting on Henderson to pop, that might be a full-season endeavor.