Guillotine Leagues - You should play (1 Viewer)

[Joe Bryant]

I get pitched a "new way to play fantasy football" often. Without question, the most fun new way I've seen in years is Guillotine leagues from my friend Paul Charchian. I know we've talked a little about them here but they deserve way more buzz.

It's an absolute blast and you should be playing. Here's how. https://www.footballguys.com/article/2023-a-guide-to-guillotine-leagues

(FWIW - This is a 100% unpaid endorsement. It's that good)

 

[Ghost Rider]

Not sure when these started, but we did one in both 2020 and 2021, and I am doing one again this year (I did not play FF at all last year). They are a lot of fun. I highly recommend them.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

I don't think any of my leaguemates are in here, so I can state this: Charch does a great podcast each week going over the bidding strategies for the week. Highly recommend.

CHOP: The Guillotine League Podcast

Listen to CHOP: The Guillotine League Podcast on Spotify. CHOP is the original guillotine league podcast, hosted by Paul Charchian, the fantasy football HOFer who popularized guillotine leagues. It provides advice for drafting, waiver wire, roster composition, and analyzes the big NFL stories...

open.spotify.com

 

[PIK95]

I would play I one of these if anyone needs someone, just hit me up. Seems like fun.

 

[FairWarning]

A good pool idea similar to this is you pick one qb, 1 rb, 1wr, 1te,and one defense, low score is eliminated. You can only use the player once also, so there is skill involved. Basically Survivor meets Guillotine. It works best if you have 18 players, winner take all.

 

[Golden Gopher]

Been doing these for about 3-4 years now, and started my own a couple of years ago. They're a lot of fun until you get knocked out after the first week.

Of course, the cool thing about them is that it's really easy to start another "round" about mid-year. After about Week 8 or 9, start a new league with the teams who have already been eliminated (those who want to "buy back in" essentially). If somebody isn't interested, it's usually pretty easy to get another player from the original league (those who are still alive).

Side note... Another format that I found to be sort of interesting last year was the "terminator" leagues. You start with a 26-man roster and have to drop a player after each week of the 14-week regular season. Total points, and top four teams make the playoffs. So, after 14 weeks, you're roster is down to a dozen. Then, Weeks 15-17, rosters freeze and your weekly points get added to your weekly average from Weeks 1-14. It really is a battle of attrition, and there is a lot of strategy involved in terms of which positions to draft depth, and which positions to maybe "punt" at some point. Ideally, you end up being able to still field a full lineup for the last three weeks, but that can be easier said than done, for sure.

 

[FairWarning]

I would play I one of these if anyone needs someone, just hit me up. Seems like fun.

Paul Charchian on Twitter is forming leagues every day on his site.

 

[nirad3]

Been doing these for about 3-4 years now, and started my own a couple of years ago. They're a lot of fun until you get knocked out after the first week.

Of course, the cool thing about them is that it's really easy to start another "round" about mid-year. After about Week 8 or 9, start a new league with the teams who have already been eliminated (those who want to "buy back in" essentially). If somebody isn't interested, it's usually pretty easy to get another player from the original league (those who are still alive).

Side note... Another format that I found to be sort of interesting last year was the "terminator" leagues. You start with a 26-man roster and have to drop a player after each week of the 14-week regular season. Total points, and top four teams make the playoffs. So, after 14 weeks, you're roster is down to a dozen. Then, Weeks 15-17, rosters freeze and your weekly points get added to your weekly average from Weeks 1-14. It really is a battle of attrition, and there is a lot of strategy involved in terms of which positions to draft depth, and which positions to maybe "punt" at some point. Ideally, you end up being able to still field a full lineup for the last three weeks, but that can be easier said than done, for sure.

Thanks for runnin' things. Always a fun league.

 

[tangfoot]

Been doing these for about 3-4 years now, and started my own a couple of years ago. They're a lot of fun until you get knocked out after the first week.

Fantasy football already feels like it's too fleeting. Turning a league into the equivalent of a survivor pool only exacerbates that problem.

 

[Golden Gopher]

Been doing these for about 3-4 years now, and started my own a couple of years ago. They're a lot of fun until you get knocked out after the first week.

Fantasy football already feels like it's too fleeting. Turning a league into the equivalent of a survivor pool only exacerbates that problem.

I agree. The problem is that the creators of the guillotine leagues are really on to something in the sense that it's almost like the FF equivalent of a cash poker game where you can "buy back in" if you lose/are eliminated. They have new leagues starting every week until about Week 10 or so.

 

[Proteus]

I get pitched a "new way to play fantasy football" often. Without question, the most fun new way I've seen in years is Guillotine leagues from my friend Paul Charchian. I know we've talked a little about them here but they deserve way more buzz.

Allow me to contribute to that buzz. It's my first year trying it and it's week one with only two games gone and I am already completely riveted on another level.

I recommend trying it as a shadow league, parallel to your already existing leagues.

The button to "Create League" is still open and you can begin it any week really.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I’m in 2 guillotine leagues this year and I love them. 17 teams - super challenging.

 

[Proteus]

I’m in 2 guillotine leagues this year and I love them. 17 teams - super challenging.

I'm in an 18 teamer and wow was that draft tough. I followed the advice I studied about targeting floor for a 3-4 week window, which at the 2 spot landed me Bijan, Lamar, and Kelce. But then I had no choice but to go higher variance at WR1 . . . and I am now DEEElighted that that's where I took Xavier Worthy.

 

[Hot Sauce Guy]

I’m in 2 guillotine leagues this year and I love them. 17 teams - super challenging.

I'm in an 18 teamer and wow was that draft tough. I followed the advice I studied about targeting floor for a 3-4 week window, which at the 2 spot landed me Bijan, Lamar, and Kelce. But then I had no choice but to go higher variance at WR1 . . . and I am now DEEElighted that that's where I took Xavier Worthy.

Yeah, it’s not about building a winning roster. It’s about building a roster that survives for a few weeks so you can claim players off of the rosters that drop off every week.

I specifically targeted later BYE guys - short bench too with just 16 roster spots.

 

[Proteus]

I specifically targeted later BYE guys

I didn't ignore this advice per se, but the way things fell, I got a few Lions, a few Chiefs, a Charger, and big problems coming weeks 5 & 6.

But . . . I'm just gonna spend a little early maybe.

I mean . . . part of me is considering putting in a strong bid for Likely because Mr. Swift didn't look too Swift.

Edit: What am I thinking? Likely was taken in the draft w 18 teams. Best I could do at 2nd TE was Chig, and Rob Gronkowski is ranked 9th out of the TEs remaining. Get it together Mr. Swift!

 

[zed2283]

Guillotine League Strategy

As noted in my other post, I'm joining my first guillotine league this year (new league among friends, a first for all participants). I haven't seen any discussion of this format in the Pool, and as it seems to be gaining some steam the last couple of years I thought it might be a good thread...

forums.footballguys.com

 

[Johnny Rock]

Last year I asked Joe about adding GL to Sync. Would be awesome. Alas, didn’t happen.

 

[Proteus]

Don't know if it warrants a new thread, but as a Guillotine noob, I feel like I could use some feedback.

What % of FAAB are you unloading on:

Nabers?

Breece?

Nico?

 

[jm192]

Don't know if it warrants a new thread, but as a Guillotine noob, I feel like I could use some feedback.

What % of FAAB are you unloading on:

Nabers?

Breece?

Nico?

It's always a matter of how bad do you need someone.

If you NEED the guy, an elite player like Breece (and Nabers is probably in that territory too after last night), 250+.

The key to the game is to avoid spending when you don't need to. Guys that go for 250+ today go for 25 late in the season when everyone is short on money.

 

[Proteus]

Don't know if it warrants a new thread, but as a Guillotine noob, I feel like I could use some feedback.

What % of FAAB are you unloading on:

Nabers?

Breece?

Nico?

It's always a matter of how bad do you need someone.

If you NEED the guy, an elite player like Breece (and Nabers is probably in that territory too after last night), 250+.

The key to the game is to avoid spending when you don't need to. Guys that go for 250+ today go for 25 late in the season when everyone is short on money.

Jeezum Crow.

It's a hard knock life. I spent over 50% for Malik(the 5 foot freak. Let's say we get together by the end of the week. She simply said "no," labelled me a "ho," I said "how'd you figure?" "My friends tell me so.")

And so . . . I got my guy and wound up projected at the top of the heap. The dog's bollocks.

Next thing you know, that mental midget Brian Dabbol dials up my dude for 176 targets because he doesn't want to get fired and gets my dude injured. Will probably survive another week thanks to my dude. But had I not bid over 50 for him, I wouldn't have had him, and would have been close to the edge(down by the river) (seasons will pass you by) (I get up)(( get down)

 

[Pip's Invitation]

Don't know if it warrants a new thread, but as a Guillotine noob, I feel like I could use some feedback.

What % of FAAB are you unloading on:

Nabers?

Breece?

Nico?

It's always a matter of how bad do you need someone.

If you NEED the guy, an elite player like Breece (and Nabers is probably in that territory too after last night), 250+.

The key to the game is to avoid spending when you don't need to. Guys that go for 250+ today go for 25 late in the season when everyone is short on money.

Jeezum Crow.

It's a hard knock life. I spent over 50% for Malik(the 5 foot freak. Let's say we get together by the end of the week. She simply said "no," labelled me a "ho," I said "how'd you figure?" "My friends tell me so.")

And so . . . I got my guy and wound up projected at the top of the heap. The dog's bollocks.

Next thing you know, that mental midget Brian Dabbol dials up my dude for 176 targets because he doesn't want to get fired and gets my dude injured. Will probably survive another week thanks to my dude. But had I not bid over 50 for him, I wouldn't have had him, and would have been close to the edge(down by the river) (seasons will pass you by) (I get up)(( get down)

Bonus points for the bolded.

 

[Dez]

I just listened to the final Fantasy Football Weekly show with Paul Charchian as the host with all the guys who I have been listening to for the past 31 years.

This was their last episode as they are handing it off to Fantasy Life.

Truly one of my all time favorite shows to listen to from the days they were live in 1995 on Saturday mornings to the current podcast forms on Friday nights.

I give a salute to Paul and all who have ever been on that show.

Thank you.

 

[Ilov80s]

I just listened to the final Fantasy Football Weekly show with Paul Charchian as the host with all the guys who I have been listening to for the past 31 years.

This was their last episode as they are handing it off to Fantasy Life.

Truly one of my all time favorite shows to listen to from the days they were live in 1995 on Saturday mornings to the current podcast forms on Friday nights.

I give a salute to Paul and all who have ever been on that show.

Thank you.

Damn, I had no idea. Charch is a good listen. Hopefully everyone involved is satisfied with how it ended and what the next steps are.

 

[rzrback77]

I play in only one guillotine league and I enjoy it more than season long leagues because of the format and the short benches.
We count 8 players per week QB/RB/RB/WR/WR/WR/TE/Flex no QB

Each week demands review of options, with wise choices so you still have blind bid $ at the end.

 

[TheWinz]

I play in only one guillotine league and I enjoy it more than season long leagues because of the format and the short benches.
We count 8 players per week QB/RB/RB/WR/WR/WR/TE/Flex no QB

Each week demands review of options, with wise choices so you still have blind bid $ at the end.

I've never played in a guillotine league, but will certainly try my first next year.

 

[Man In The Box]

Playing in one of these for the first time this year. We kind of threw it together last minute after our main league drafted, so we only have 8 teams. We are eliminating one team every two weeks (lowest two week cumulative score). It’s way more fun than I expected, although it probably helps that I’m still alive. We are definitely going to do it again next season and hope to add more teams. Definitely recommend.

 

[Smack Tripper]

Playoff game every week. Great juice.

 

[Krilons Resa]

Finally joined one this year and, I agree, it is definitely a good time.

 

[habman]

We are in our 4th year doing this.

Not sure how others run theirs but this is how we have it set up:

- Start off with 12 man rosters and 7 starters
- At weeks 5, 9 and 12 we expand rosters by 2
- At weeks 5 and 9 we add additional flex starter including superflex at week 9
- Best ball. This has been a great inclusion since you have the ability to pickup players late in the week if one of your regular studs lays an egg. Sometimes teams will leave an open spot so they can pick up a position of need.

Highly recommend these leagues.

 

[joey]

SharkPool Guillotine League next year?

 

[houston]

Why did Charch bounce before the end of season? Very odd timing.

Is he doing his Chop pod thru the end of season?

I’m sure it’s nice to be able to cash out, retire, move on to the next thing, but I’m guessing that this transition to fantasylife didn’t play out as expected.

 

[Hurl Bruce]

Why did Charch bounce before the end of season? Very odd timing.

Is he doing his Chop pod thru the end of season?

I’m sure it’s nice to be able to cash out, retire, move on to the next thing, but I’m guessing that this transition to fantasylife didn’t play out as expected.

I don't know any details. My baseless speculation was that the new owners killed his baby, and Charch couldn't stand to be associated with it anymore. GuillotineLeagues.com was such a ****show for this whole season, then it was nearly unplayable. It was great last year when Charch was still in charge of it all. My group moved to Sleeper, which BTW is great for this format. We aren't going back even if the bugs are worked out.

 

[Dickies]

Fun format for sure. I just got eliminated from my league, and I'm a bit salty about it as I basically cruised to top 2-3 points per week every single week and had by far the highest points average per week over the season, but one bad week and here I am out in 6th place. Rest of the league is going to have fun scooping up my roster.

 

[steelcityman]

After this year, I'd love to do one next year. What sites host those leagues?

 

[BearsFan4Life]

After this year, I'd love to do one next year. What sites host those leagues?

Sleeper is awesome for Guillotine

 

[BearsFan4Life]

Ours is 16 teams .. SF, start 10 with only 2 bench spots / $1000 FAAB

I am down to the final 5 and may have to drop London this week with Achane and McConkey on a bye or keep London and drop McConkey but not sure about when London actually returns