Playoff Guillotine Leagues™ Strategy: Guilloteenie Sleepers, Round 1 Team Rankings and More

We are officially on to the NFL playoffs. That means there are just four weeks of real football left, so it’s our responsibility to get the most out of them. We will enter the dark age of the offseason in roughly five weeks' time, so let’s squeeze every last drop out of what we have left.

With the start of the postseason comes a shift in fantasy contests. There are plenty of different ways to play during the playoffs, and Guilloteenie contests are officially live to draft. If you’ve yet to partake in the Guillotine Leagues™ format, it is truly one of the most enjoyable ways to play fantasy football. The lowest-scoring team gets “chopped” each week until there is just one team left standing at the end of the season. The team that gets chopped has all of its players sent to the waiver wire, where all of the remaining teams are able to bid on them. It means that the team you finish with can look drastically different from the one you started with, as long as you’re able to survive the executioner’s blade.

Of course, there are some key differences between playoff Guilloteenies and the traditional season-long format. Let’s dive into everything you need to know to have a successful playoffs.

Guilloteenie Format Overview

Just like it season-long Guillotine Leagues™, Guilloteenies will start with one more team than there are weeks of the season. For the playoffs, which feature four separate rounds (Wild Card, Divisional, Conference Championships and Super Bowl), it means that leagues will start with five teams.

Each of the five teams will be required to draft a full starting lineup of eight players: one quarterback, two running backs, two receivers, two flexes and one tight end. However, those are the ONLY players that will be on your roster. Every player that is drafted will have to be started, so it is virtually impossible to “stash” players. For example, if you want to roll the dice on Jaxon Smith-Njigba, you’re going to have to eat a zero in your starting lineup for the Wild Card round.

After each week, you will be able to bid on free agents the same way that you do in regular-season Guillotine Leagues™. However, don’t expect the waiver wire to be nearly as plentiful as it is in those contests. While regular Guillotine Leagues™ feature rosters that consistently improve as the year progresses, the opposite is going to happen in Guilloteenies. Each week, the list of available players is going to be roughly cut in half. Once an NFL player’s team is eliminated from the postseason, those players become useless in Guilloteenies moving forward. If a team that gets chopped is full of players from losing teams, there aren’t going to be a ton of strong reinforcements available on the waiver wire.

By the time you (hopefully) reach the Super Bowl, you’ll be down to just two NFL teams for you and your opponent to fill out your roster. That means that there will need to be four running backs, four wide receivers, and four flex players from just those two squads. Instead of starting super teams in the championship, you might be debating which team’s WR4 makes the most sense as a “punt play.”

General Strategy For Approaching Guilloteenies

Survive and Advance … with a Twist

This is a carryover from standard Guillotine Leagues™, but it applies just the same. Each week, your goal is simply not to come in last place. You get no bonus points for coming in first, and you get to regroup each week on the waiver wire.

That means that there is no real need to consider “stacking” teams. In other playoff formats where there is no free agency, you have to go “all in” on who you think is going to make the Super Bowl. Where there is still clearly some upside in picking from Super Bowl contenders, it is not nearly as vital in this format. You can theoretically field a team with eight players who get eliminated in the first round, and you can simply grab a whole new team on the waiver wire for the Divisional Round.

Of course, if your entire roster gets chopped in Round 1, you’re going to be facing an uphill battle. The best remaining players in the postseason will be on the other rosters, while you’ll be selecting from the leftovers.

It creates a delicate balance for the draft. You want to build a team with core pieces who can advance deep in the playoffs, but you also don’t want to be too overreliant on one particular squad. Not only does that limit your weekly ceiling, but it also creates a scenario where you could be in real trouble if that team gets bounced sooner than expected.

2. Kittle or Bust at Tight End

Tight end is one of the toughest positions to fill in fantasy, and it is particularly brutal in this year’s postseason. Among the top 12 TEs in terms of PPR points per game, only two managed to qualify for the postseason: George Kittle and Dallas Goedert.

With all due respect to Goedert, there is a pretty massive gap between those two options. Kittle has been outstanding all year, particularly in games with Brock Purdy under center. Kittle posted a massive 27% target share after Purdy returned to the lineup in Week 11, and he scored double-digit PPR points in five of six outings. That includes three games with at least 22.8 PPR points. That makes Kittle the clear-cut top option at the position.

However, that isn’t to say that Kittle is without risk. His team will likely be on the road for the duration of the postseason, and they are underdogs in the first round. Do you want to use a first-round pick (potentially as high as the third pick overall) on a player who might get bounced in his first contest?

If you don’t go with Kittle, there is no real harm in waiting until your final pick to secure a tight end. There will likely only be five players drafted at the position, and there is minimal difference between Goedert (the No. 2 TE in our rankings) and whoever is the last TE taken.

3. Get Aggressive in Free Agency

This is one of the biggest differences in my eyes between regular season and postseason Guillotines. In the regular season, there is massive value in hoarding every last dollar in your free agency budget. If you have the most money in your league down the stretch, you can control the waiver wire. That means that as the teams get more and more stacked and the waiver wire gets loaded with studs, you’ll be able to cherry-pick the litter.

There is definitely still some value in saving a few dollars for the later weeks of the playoffs, but the waiver wire will never be as fruitful as it is after the Wild Card round. In addition to adding the roster of the chopped manager, you will also have the two bye-week teams entering the mix. While the Broncos and Seahawks might not be the two most talented offensive rosters in football, they have the potential to provide reinforcements that could take you all the way to the Super Bowl. If guys like Kenneth Walker, Zach Charbonnet, RJ Harvey and Courtland Sutton go undrafted, they could be massive additions to your squads all the way to the end of the year.

Ranking Every Round 1 Team's Appeal in Guilloteenies

1. Los Angeles Rams

This is the clear-cut No. 1 team to target in Guilloteenies. They have the highest implied team total of the week (28.25 points), so they’re expected to do plenty of scoring. They’re also the largest favorites of the week, so you’re extremely likely to get multiple games from their players. The Rams also have the second-best Super Bowl odds overall, so these guys could very well make it all the way to the end.

Puka Nacua should undoubtedly be the first player off the board in all Guilloteenie drafts. Kyren Williams and Davante Adams should be gone by the end of the second round, while Matthew Stafford and Blake Corum should also be priority options. If there’s one team to consider stacking, it’s this one.

2. Buffalo Bills

After the Rams, there’s a pretty clear dropoff to the next tier. The Bills have the second-highest implied team total of the week, and they have a few blue-chip players who can anchor fantasy squads for as long as they’re alive. Josh Allen is the best quarterback in fantasy, while James Cook is a viable first-round selection at running back.

That said, the Bills are far from a guarantee to make a deep playoff run. They’re just 1.5-point favorites in their first contest, and they’ll likely be on the road for each of their outings. They do have the third-best odds to win the AFC, but it’s a pretty even market overall: five different squads are priced between +235 and +600 to win the conference.

3. Philadelphia Eagles

This might be the most polarizing team in the field. The Eagles have been a disaster at times on offense this season, but there’s no denying their talent. Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown and Goedert are no-doubt starts in the Wild Card round, while DeVonta Smith is also in the discussion.

The Eagles are also still getting plenty of respect from the oddsmakers. They’re the second-largest favorites of the week at -4.5 and the fifth-highest implied team total. They also have the third-best odds to win the NFC, checking in at roughly +475.

4. New England Patriots

The Patriots came up just short in their quest for the No. 1 seed, and they’ll have to navigate a tough Chargers’ defense in their first outing. That said, they’ve still been one of the best offenses in football this season, ranking first in the league in EPA per play. They have the fourth-highest implied team total on the Wild Card slate, and they’re also the third-largest favorites to advance.

The big question is, who on this roster can you trust outside of Drake Maye? TreVeyon Henderson, Stefon Diggs and Rhamondre Stevenson are their best options, but they’ve been far from infallible throughout the year. Hunter Henry is also in the mix at tight end.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars have had an extremely successful season in their first year under new head coach Liam Coen. Trevor Lawrence played the best football of his career down the stretch, and he’s a likely starter at quarterback in the Wild Card round. Travis Etienne is among the strongest flex options, while Jakobi Meyers, Parker Washington and Brenton Strange are also viable targets. Jacksonville will also have home-field advantage in Round 1, while they have the third-highest implied team total on the slate.

The only issue is that they are underdogs against the Bills in their first matchup. Buffalo is the most experienced team left in the AFC, so it’s possible that the Jaguars are here for a good time more than a long time. Still, they’re just 1.5-point underdogs, so it wouldn’t be a huge shock if they pulled off the upset either.

6. Houston Texans

This is where things start to get tricky. The next tier of teams all have pretty similar implied team totals, so I’m giving the edge to the team with the best chance to advance to Round 2. That would be the Texans. They’re listed as 3.5-point favorites over the Steelers, despite the fact that they’re playing on the road.

Pittsburgh has also been a quality opponent for fantasy purposes this season. They’ve allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, seventh-most to opposing receivers and third-most to opposing tight ends. It makes the Texans a sneaky team to target that shouldn’t be overly expensive. Nico Collins should come off the board somewhere in the first two rounds, while Woody Marks should go in around 20th overall. Those might be the only two players on the team drafted.

7. Chicago Bears

In terms of offensive talent, this is underselling the Bears a bit. They were excellent on that side of the ball for Ben Johnson this season, ranking sixth in yards per game, ninth in points and eighth in EPA per play. They have plenty of viable contributors in the Wild Card round, regardless of whether or not Rome Odunze is able to return.

The issue with the Bears is that they’ll be facing the Packers for the third time in their first playoff matchup. Those games have provided a slight edge towards the under in the postseason (16-14-1 since 2005). This game will also be played in Chicago, and the elements could always play a role at Soldier Field in January.

8. Green Bay Packers

On the other side of that matchup, the Packers are a team I have little confidence in heading into the playoffs. After losing Micah Parsons, I don’t think they’ll be able to get enough stops for a deep playoff run.

That said, there’s no reason they can’t at least put up some points vs. Chicago. Their defense has been a major question mark all season, so guys like Josh Jacobs and Christian Watson could have solid value in Round 1.

9. San Francisco 49ers

This is an extremely unfortunate ranking for one of the best offenses in football. Still, they’re 4.5-point underdogs and will have to go on the road vs. the Eagles in their first playoff matchup.

Christian McCaffrey is still a priority target in Guilloteenies; he should be the likely 1.02 after Nacua. Kittle is also a first-rounder, while Jauan Jennings is a definite starter at receiver. Ricky Pearsall could also be flex-worthy. I just wish I had more confidence in these guys giving us more than just one game against a really tough defense.

10. Los Angeles Chargers

The Chargers look like a great offense on paper … yet I don’t really want to draft any of their players. They were merely 24th in EPA per play for the season, and they will be on the road on the East Coast vs. a solid Patriots’ defense.

Omarion Hampton would be the best option of the bunch, but he’s currently dealing with an ankle injury. You’re not stuck with a zero if you draft him (there are free agency periods before Week 1), but you still don’t want to use an early pick on someone who might not be in the lineup. Guys like Ladd McConkey, Quentin Johnston and Kimani Vidal are also in the flex conversation, though they should be among your last picks.

11. Pittsburgh Steelers

The last two teams are the clear worst options. The Steelers have the lowest implied team total on the slate, and their offense has been bad for most of the year. However, they do at least have some flex options, especially with DK Metcalf rejoining the fold.

12. Carolina Panthers

I don’t blame you if you just avoid the Panthers altogether. Not only are they 10-point home underdogs vs. the Rams, but they don’t have much talent to get excited about. Tetairoa McMillan should be the only player drafted from their entire team, and don’t expect to get more than a week out of him.

Approaching the Bye Week Teams

I’m ultimately just pretending these teams don’t exist in my drafts, with one real caveat. Smith-Njigba is one of the best players in fantasy, and he has the potential to be a legit difference maker once the Seahawks come online. With only one team getting chopped in the first round, you can theoretically survive a zero from him and still make it out of Wild Card Weekend.

That said, he is the only player on either the Seahawks or Broncos who is worth that type of risk. Let your leaguemates use a pick on someone like Harvey; there’s a chance you’ll just be able to scoop him on the waiver wire before the Divisional Round anyway.

Sleepers for 2026 Guilloteenie Drafts

Steelers RB Kenneth Gainwell

Guilloteenie leagues are full-PPR scoring, so running backs that catch passes are extremely valuable. Gainwell has somewhat quietly been one of the best pass-catching backs in football this season. He finished the regular season with a 16% target share, which trailed only McCaffrey, Bijan Robinson, De’Von Achane and Jahmyr Gibbs at the RB position. Gainwell had eight catches in the team’s Week 18 contest, and he also punched in a touchdown on the ground. While he will likely lose some work to Metcalf, he should still be a featured piece of their passing attack. He’s really the only player on the Steelers that I’m looking to draft, but I like him more than our rankers.

Jaguars WR Parker Washington

Give me all the Washington heading into the playoffs. I’m not sure if the Jaguars can win their first playoff game, but Washington has emerged as the team’s best receiver down the stretch. He’s posted a target share of 28% or higher in three straight games, and he’s had at least 17.7 PPR points in all three contests.

Our rankers view him as barely draftable in Round 1, with an aggregate ranking of just 34th in the flex spot. I am more than happy to scoop him up with my seventh- or eighth-round pick. If he can produce anywhere close to the way he did at the end of the regular season, that would represent a massive value.

Bills TE Dalton Kincaid

In lineups where I’m not going with Kittle, I’m swinging for the fences. Among the remaining tight ends, Kincaid is the one with the most week-to-week upside. He was limited with injuries down the stretch, but don’t forget what he did at the start of the year. Even though he’s not an every-snap player, he was earning targets at an elite rate. He was targeted on 24% of his routes run before getting injured in Week 10, and he’s the Bills’ most talented pass-catcher. He could take on a larger role in the playoffs, and his first matchup vs. the Jaguars is a good one: they allowed the 10th-most PPR points per game to the tight end position.

Players Mentioned in this Article

ParkerWashington
WRJAC
PPG
9.95
JaxonSmith-Njigba
WRSEA
PPG
11.78
Proj
15.67
GeorgeKittleIR
TESF
PPG
10.96
DallasGoedert
TEPHI
PPG
8.13