In a format where the method of elimination is a swift and efficient beheading of your roster, that almost seems preferable to the carnage we’re experiencing week-in and week-out. Staying alive feels like those failed executions, where we’re just waiting around, partially beheaded, hoping our players can even make it through their games. If that’s you, I’m with you—I had my first near-death experience in my home league last week, only to be rescued by my king Derrick Henry at the last minute.

With 11 teams remaining, we’re officially under the standard league size. Perfect timing, too, as this was one of the weaker waiver wire weeks (say that five times fast) for “regular” waiver wire guys. Thankfully there are no byes this week, but with all the injuries, you likely need some outside help. We’re here every week to help identify cheap, high-floor, replacement-level options to help you keep your head. Ground rules are that quarterbacks and tight ends will be outside the top 11 and running backs and wide receivers outside the top 22 in ownership on guillotineleagues.com.

Did you get chopped amidst the injury and bye-week fallout last week? Go join another Guillotine League and then come right back here!

Quarterbacks

Last Week:

  • Kirk Cousins: 7.18 points—pretty big whiff, but I’d be willing to go back to him in a rematch with a Tampa Bay defense he just lit up for 34.36 points in Week 5.
  • Drake Maye: 20.84 points—hit, but I’m not starting him against New England’s upcoming gauntlet through Week 12 until proven otherwise.

Caleb Williams at Washington Commanders (62.2% owned)

Heading into the bye, Caleb Williams had thrown multiple touchdowns in three of four and rushed for 30 or more yards in three of five. Those are two key ingredients for a high floor, and he has a good shot to cook up another safe outing in Washington. The Commanders have actually tightened up their early-season loose screws over the last four weeks, allowing only Lamar Jackson to eclipse 12 fantasy points, but I’m chalking that up as a product of playing the Browns, Panthers, and blowing out the Cardinals early. Williams’ weapons all have plus matchups outside, and Jonathan Allen’s season-ending injury has taken the teeth out of the pass rush. 

Russell Wilson vs. New York Giants (6.0% owned)

It’s easy to expect consistency from someone who’s in full uniform at literally every opportunity. While we probably can’t expect weekly QB3 performances, Russell Wilson has a matchup-driven high floor this week. Every QB to face the Giants has eclipsed 15 fantasy points, and each of the last three have topped 20. Wilson isn’t the runner he used to be, but the Giants allow the fourth-most rushing yards per game to opposing passers at 32 yards per game. Wilson and the Steelers have a bye next week, so don’t break the bank.

Running Backs

Last Week:

  • Javonte Williams: 26.10 points—massive W, and you can fire him up again this week against Carolina.
  • D’Ernest Johnson: 10.00 points—hit, relative to D’Ernest Johnson expectations. Still available in over 95% of leagues, Johnson is a guy you can spot start as long as Travis Etienne is sitting; the Jags will be underdogs in their next four matchups, opening up receiving work for Johnson.

Rachaad White vs. Atlanta Falcons (69.2% owned)

Reports of Rachaad White’s demise were greatly exaggerated. OK, not exactly—Bucky Irving (36%) and Sean Tucker (19%) are absolutely eating into his snap shares—but White (47%) still operated as the top dog in Week 7. Now, without both Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Tampa will need to lean on White’s pass-catching prowess more than ever. He could PPR scam his way to 10 points just from receiving work alone. Tack on the fact that, over the last four weeks, the Falcons have allowed the fourth-highest rushing success rate, and White’s floor is feeling very safe this weekend. I also like the aforementioned Irving, but White is actually more widely available.

Alexander Mattison at Kansas City Chiefs (68.1% owned)

I admittedly never thought we’d be here again, but this is officially Alexander Mattison’s backfield. Zamir White (13% snaps in his return last week) and Ameer Abdullah (17%) are non-factors, and Mattison has posted at least 10 fantasy points in five of seven. Be warned: this is Mattison’s toughest matchup yet. The Chiefs are the most difficult fantasy matchup for opposing running backs. However, most of Mattison’s success has come against top-half defenses, including the Chargers, Broncos, and Steelers. Mattison has the third-highest Utilization Score among Raiders in the post-Davante Adams era, and if Jakobi Meyers (ankle) sits again, Mattison is due for a bunch more work.

Wide Receivers

Last Week

  • Rashod Bateman: 22.10 points—great success, Bateman should no longer be on waivers.
  • DeMario Douglas: 3.40 points—N/A, overshadowed by Deebo Samuel, Douglas was another WR with an undisclosed gameday illness that limited his playing time and impact. And I’m not mad. Please don ’t put it on fantasylife.com that I got mad.

Wan’Dale Robinson at Pittsburgh Steelers (73.1% owned)

Wan’Dale Robinson is a known commodity at this point, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention him one more time. Robinson is operating one of the biggest PPR scams I’ve ever seen. There is no ceiling whatsoever, but the floor is as rock solid as they come. He’s scored between 8.3 and 18.1 fantasy points in every game this season. Averaging over 9 targets per game on a season-long 28% target share, Robinson is matchup-proof. He’s startable every week until his Week 11 bye, after which point, your lineup is going to need to chase more ceiling.

Jauan Jennings vs. Dallas Cowboys (40.8% owned)

Duh! With Brandon Aiyuk out for the year, Deebo Samuel likely to miss this game, and George Kittle questionable as well, that vacates over 18 targets. Jauan Jennings is going to be the primary beneficiary of those looks against a Cowboys defense allowing the seventh-highest fantasy point boost and second-highest targets per route run boost this season. It depends on your league, but it’s likely that Jennings got scooped up for a good deal of FAAB yesterday. I like Ricky Pearsall long term, but I’m waiting for him to prove himself before starting him in my Guillotine League unless Jennings himself sits, as he’s dealing with a hip injury.

Bonus Blade Bit

Obviously, there are a ton of vacated targets in Tampa with Mike Evans and Chris Godwin both out for the foreseeable future. I’m holding off on starting any of Jalen McMillan, Sterling Shepard, or Trey Palmer this week until we get more clarity on how the Bucs will deploy those three. They’re all worth a roster spot, though, so feel free to sprinkle a little FAAB. Keep an eye on a potential Cooper Kupp to Tampa deal; that would obviously diminish the value of these three substantially.

Tight End

Last Week

Cade Otton vs. Atlanta Falcons (42.0% owned)

A Buccaneers pass catcher I am willing to start in the wake of the Evans and Godwin injuries is Cade Otton. Otton is the only pass catcher standing who had a defined role in the fully healthy version of this offense: 86% route participation and a 17% target share. We can expect at least a slight boost to those numbers, allowing Otton to improve upon his 8.1 fantasy points per game. Otton has quietly been a safe option in this tight end hellscape, scoring at least 7.4 points in every game since Week 3.