I’m trying a Guillotine league for the first time, and it’s looking like it will be a different experience. With 18 teams, the draft is more challenging – things dry up pretty quickly – and the decision-making on the waiver wire will be tricky.

I was introduced to the concept by Paul Charchian (who’s been in the industry since the early ‘90s) of GuillotineLeagues.com. The basic concept calls for the lowest-scoring team each week to be eliminated, until eventually there are two teams remaining that vie for the championship in the final week of the season. (If you have the lowest score in one of the weeks in September, that game occurs months after your season is over.)

The wrinkle comes on the waiver wire. Each time a team is eliminated, all of its players become free agents, available on the waiver wire. So by the time Week 6 rolls around, there will be about 10 players who were originally picked in the first or second round who have been allocated to new teams. Therefore you have to constantly improve your team to avoid dipping down to where you’ve got one of the lesser teams that finishes with a low score.

To tap into that consistent flow of waiver wire talent, each team is allocated $1,000 in spending money. I haven’t yet figured out how to spend it. It would be a huge advantage to be the money leader in November and December, allowing you to grab the great players falling off the other teams. On the other hand, if you get cashed out in September and October, all of that payroll simply goes unused.

For my first foray into this arena, we put together a Fantasy Index league. I’ve got one of the teams, with the other 17 operated by volunteers who were listening to the podcast. Each of the franchises donated $20 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and that’s very much appreciated.

The results of the draft appear at the bottom of this article. I ran a cross-check of my stat projections against the expected starting lineup for each team, and by that measure, Joe Cartan of the Jacobins franchise appears to have the strongest team. He started by picking two running backs (Ekeler, Conner), then went with three wide receivers (Mike Williams, Thielen, Renfrow) before grabbing Dak Prescott at pick 105 (one pick before I was going to take him). Joe went cheap at tight end, picking up Hayden Hurst in the 11th round.

By my metrics, Christopher Bowen finished with the worst team. That doesn’t mean his team won’t be good, of course (as these things tend to play out, it probably means that he’ll win the whole thing, with Cartan’s team and my own franchise being among the first to go). The team grade is just an indication that his opinions are different than mine on some of his key players. He used three of his first four picks on running backs (Kamara, Breece Hall, Stevenson) and Kyler Murray. His next five picks were all used on pass catchers: Elijah Moore, Jakobi Meyers, Mike Gesicki, Nico Collins and Christian Watson.

Guillotine Rankings
OwnerStrength
Joseph C100.0%
Ian Allan99.8%
Gary L97.9%
Shaun H97.9%
Kendall H96.5%
Greg H96.2%
Todd B96.0%
Scott A94.9%
Ben M94.6%
Joe H94.3%
Afi A93.8%
Derel S92.0%
Anthony D91.9%
Bill G91.8%
Jeffrey P91.6%
Victor K91.3%
Tyson T90.7%
Christopher B89.3%

For my own draft, I started with Cooper Kupp at No. 3 overall. I followed shortly after with Allen Robinson early in third. In this format, I don’t think you want to pair quarterbacks and receivers (if Josh Allen throws 4 TDs, you won’t need Stefon Diggs that week). But I thought there was some sense in a Kupp-Robinson combo. If Kupp has a down game, I would think Robinson would have to be busier in that week.

At the end of the second, with almost all of the running backs gone, I figured I’d better take Travis Etienne. Then I moved to more wide receivers, figuring I’ll be using them in the two flex spots each week (PPR format): Allen Lazard and Brandon Aiyuk. Derek Carr and Matt Ryan are my quarterbacks, Brian Robinson will start at running back for me, at least initially. I missed out on the tight ends, so I have three crappy dart throws at the position: Noah Fant, Albert Okwuegbunam and Irv Smith.

I missed out on a bunch of my favorites that I figured I might get. No Dameon Pierce, Nyheim Hines, Cole Kmet, Joshua Kelley, Romeo Doubs, Isaiah Likely or Isaiah McKenzie or Mike Davis. The other owners in this league, in general, seem like guys who are paying attention and making good picks.

GUILLOTINE DRAFT RESULTS
PkRdOwnerPosTmPlayer
11Afi ARBIND Jonathan Taylor
21Bill GRBCAR Christian McCaffrey
31Ian AWRLAR Cooper Kupp
41Joseph CRBLAC Austin Ekeler
51Greg HWRMIN Justin Jefferson
61Ben MWRCIN JaMarr Chase
71Derel SRBMIN Dalvin Cook
81Todd BRBTEN Derrick Henry
91Joe HWRDAL CeeDee Lamb
101Tyson TRBPIT Najee Harris
111Kendall HRBCIN Joe Mixon
121Anthony DRBDET D'Andre Swift
131Chris BRBNYG Saquon Barkley
141Shaun HRBGB Aaron Jones
151Victor KTEKC Travis Kelce
161Gary LRBDEN Javonte Williams
171Jeffrey PWRLV Davante Adams
181Scott AWRBUF Stefon Diggs
192Scott AQBLAC Justin Herbert
202Jeffrey PTEBAL Mark Andrews
212Gary LWRIND Michael Pittman
222Victor KQBBUF Josh Allen
232Shaun HWRLAC Keenan Allen
242Chris BRBNO Alvin Kamara
252Anthony DRBTB Leonard Fournette
262Kendall HWRSF Deebo Samuel
272Tyson TQBKC Patrick Mahomes
282Joe HWRCIN Tee Higgins
292Todd BWRTB Mike Evans
302Derel SWRMIA Tyreek Hill
312Ben MRBCLE Nick Chubb
322Greg HRBDAL Ezekiel Elliott
332Joseph CRBARI James Conner
342Ian ARBJAC Travis Etienne
352Bill GTEATL Kyle Pitts
362Afi AWRCAR DJ Moore
373Afi AWRPHI A.J. Brown
383Bill GRBGB AJ Dillon
393Ian AWRLAR Allen Robinson
403Joseph CWRLAC Mike Williams
413Greg HWRDEN Courtland Sutton
423Ben MRBLAR Cam Akers
433Derel SQBBAL Lamar Jackson
443Todd BWRMIA Jaylen Waddle
453Joe HRBCHI David Montgomery
463Tyson TRBBAL J.K. Dobbins
473Kendall HRBLV Josh Jacobs
483Anthony DWRDEN Jerry Jeudy
493Chris BRBNYJ Breece Hall
503Shaun HWRHOU Brandin Cooks
513Victor KWRSEA DK Metcalf
523Gary LWRPIT Diontae Johnson
533Jeffrey PRBDAL Tony Pollard
543Scott ARBHOU Dameon Pierce
554Scott ATEDET T.J. Hockenson
564Jeffrey PRBKC Clyde Edwards-Helaire
574Gary LQBCIN Joe Burrow
584Victor KWRWAS Terry McLaurin
594Shaun HWRDET Amon-Ra St. Brown
604Chris BQBARI Kyler Murray
614Anthony DTEDAL Dalton Schultz
624Kendall HWRCHI Darnell Mooney
634Tyson TWRBUF Gabriel Davis
644Joe HQBPHI Jalen Hurts
654Todd BTESF George Kittle
664Derel SWRBAL Rashod Bateman
674Ben MQBDEN Russell Wilson
684Greg HTELV Darren Waller
694Joseph CWRMIN Adam Thielen
704Ian AWRGB Allen Lazard
714Bill GRBMIA Chase Edmonds
724Afi ARBATL Cordarrelle Patterson
735Afi AWRTB Chris Godwin
745Bill GRBSF Elijah Mitchell
755Ian AWRSF Brandon Aiyuk
765Joseph CWRLV Hunter Renfrow
775Greg HQBTB Tom Brady
785Ben MWRARI Marquise Brown
795Derel SRBCLE Kareem Hunt
805Todd BQBGB Aaron Rodgers
815Joe HWRKC JuJu Smith-Schuster
825Tyson TWRNO Michael Thomas
835Kendall HTEPHI Dallas Goedert
845Anthony DWRJAC Christian Kirk
855Chris BRBNE Rhamondre Stevenson
865Shaun HWRCLE Amari Cooper
875Victor KRBSEA Rashaad Penny
885Gary LRBNE Damien Harris
895Jeffrey PQBMIN Kirk Cousins
905Scott AWRATL Drake London
916Scott ARBBUF Devin Singletary
926Jeffrey PRBPHI Miles Sanders
936Gary LWRPHI DeVonta Smith
946Victor KWRNYG Kadarius Toney
956Shaun HQBLAR Matthew Stafford
966Chris BWRNYJ Elijah Moore
976Anthony DWRNO Chris Olave
986Kendall HQBSF Trey Lance
996Tyson TTEBUF Dawson Knox
1006Joe HWRSEA Tyler Lockett
1016Todd BRBDEN Melvin Gordon
1026Derel SRBWAS Antonio Gibson
1036Ben MRBBUF James Cook
1046Greg HRBIND Nyheim Hines
1056Joseph CQBDAL Dak Prescott
1066Ian AQBLV Derek Carr
1076Bill GRBSEA Kenneth Walker
1086Afi ARBNYJ Michael Carter
1097Afi ARBMIN Alexander Mattison
1107Bill GWRPIT Chase Claypool
1117Ian ARBWAS Brian Robinson
1127Joseph CWRTEN Robert Woods
1137Greg HRBPHI Kenneth Gainwell
1147Ben MTEPIT Pat Freiermuth
1157Derel STEARI Zach Ertz
1167Todd BWRGB Romeo Doubs
1177Joe HRBWAS J.D. McKissic
1187Tyson TWRTEN Treylon Burks
1197Kendall HWRARI Rondale Moore
1207Anthony DWRNE DeVante Parker
1217Chris BWRNE Jakobi Meyers
1227Shaun HTECHI Cole Kmet
1237Victor KWRTB Russell Gage
1247Gary LWRARI DeAndre Hopkins
1257Jeffrey PWRKC Skyy Moore
1267Scott AWRPIT George Pickens
1278Scott ARBLV Ameer Abdullah
1288Jeffrey PWRDAL Jalen Tolbert
1298Gary LTENE Hunter Henry
1308Victor KRBLV Zamir White
1318Shaun HRBKC Jerick McKinnon
1328Chris BTEMIA Mike Gesicki
1338Anthony DQBMIA Tua Tagovailoa
1348Kendall HWRKC Marquez Valdes-Scantling
1358Tyson TRBATL Tyler Allgeier
1368Joe HTEJAC Evan Engram
1378Todd BWRCIN Tyler Boyd
1388Derel SRBLAR Darrell Henderson
1398Ben MWRNYJ Garrett Wilson
1408Greg HRBJAC James Robinson
1418Joseph CRBNO Mark Ingram
1428Ian ATEMIN Irv Smith
1438Bill GWRWAS Jahan Dotson
1448Afi ARBDET Jamaal Williams
1459Afi ATELAR Tyler Higbee
1469Bill GWRBUF Isaiah McKenzie
1479Ian AQBIND Matt Ryan
1489Joseph CWRNYG Kenny Golladay
1499Greg HWRDET DJ Chark
1509Ben MRBTB Rachaad White
1519Derel SWRTB Julio Jones
1529Todd BWRDAL Michael Gallup
1539Joe HRBBAL Mike Davis
1549Tyson TWRLAC Joshua Palmer
1559Kendall HRBKC Isiah Pacheco
1569Anthony DRBHOU Marlon Mack
1579Chris BWRHOU Nico Collins
1589Shaun HRBNE Ty Montgomery
1599Victor KRBCHI Khalil Herbert
1609Gary LTEBAL Isaiah Likely
1619Jeffrey PQBJAC Trevor Lawrence
1629Scott ARBCAR D'Onta Foreman
16310Scott AWRNE Nelson Agholor
16410Jeffrey PTELAC Gerald Everett
16510Gary LQBNE Mac Jones
16610Victor KWRDEN KJ Hamler
16710Shaun HWRKC Mecole Hardman
16810Chris BWRGB Christian Watson
16910Anthony DWRLAR Van Jefferson
17010Kendall HTETEN Austin Hooper
17110Tyson TWRIND Alec Pierce
17210Joe HQBCHI Justin Fields
17310Todd BRBBUF Zack Moss
17410Derel SWRJAC Marvin Jones
17510Ben MWRNO Jarvis Landry
17610Greg HTECLE David Njoku
17710Joseph CQBTEN Ryan Tannehill
17810Ian ATESEA Noah Fant
17910Bill GQBNYG Daniel Jones
18010Afi AWRDET Jameson Williams
18111Afi AQBNO Jameis Winston
18211Bill GWRNYG Wan'Dale Robinson
18311Ian ATEDEN Albert Okwuegbunam
18411Joseph CTECIN Hayden Hurst
18511Greg HQBDET Jared Goff
18611Ben MWRMIN K.J. Osborn
18711Derel SRBARI Eno Benjamin
18811Todd BTEGB Robert Tonyan
18911Joe HWRNE Kendrick Bourne
19011Tyson TRBSF Jeff Wilson
19111Kendall HQBHOU Davis Mills
19211Anthony DRBMIA Raheem Mostert
19311Chris BRBLAC Isaiah Spiller
19411Shaun HWRCAR Robbie Anderson
19511Victor KRBCLE D'Ernest Johnson
19611Gary LRBSF Trey Sermon
19711Jeffrey PRBTEN Hassan Haskins
19811Scott AQBCAR Baker Mayfield
19912Scott ATETB Kyle Rudolph
20012Jeffrey PWRIND Parris Campbell
20112Gary LWRNYJ Corey Davis
20212Victor KRBARI Darrel Williams
20312Shaun HTETB Cameron Brate
20412Chris BWRCLE David Bell
20512Anthony DWRGB Randall Cobb
20612Kendall HTENO Taysom Hill
20712Tyson TRBPIT Jaylen Warren
20812Joe HRBCIN Samaje Perine
20912Todd BWRBUF Jamison Crowder
21012Derel SRBLAC Joshua Kelley
21112Ben MQBWAS Carson Wentz
21212Greg HWRTEN Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
21312Joseph CWRBAL Devin Duvernay
21412Ian ARBMIA Sony Michel
21512Bill GQBATL Marcus Mariota
21612Afi ARBPHI Boston Scott
21713Afi AWRJAC Laviska Shenault
21813Bill GRBSF Tyrion Davis-Price
21913Ian AWRGB Sammy Watkins
22013Joseph CRBBAL Gus Edwards
22113Greg HWRJAC Zay Jones
22213Ben MTEDEN Greg Dulcich
22313Derel SRBCIN Chris Evans
22413Todd BRBATL Damien Williams
22513Joe HRBNYG Matt Breida
22613Tyson TWRBAL James Proche
22713Kendall HWRWAS Curtis Samuel
22813Anthony DWRFA Will Fuller
22913Chris BRBTB Ke'Shawn Vaughn
23013Shaun HWRMIA Cedrick Wilson
23113Victor KQBNYJ Zach Wilson
23213Gary LRBKC Ronald Jones
23313Jeffrey PRBTEN Dontrell Hilliard
23413Scott ARBSEA Travis Homer
23514Scott AWRFA Odell Beckham
23614Jeffrey PWRDAL Dennis Houston
23714Gary LTEWAS Logan Thomas
23814Victor KWRARI A.J. Green
23914Shaun HRBPIT Anthony McFarland
24014Chris BWRCHI Velus Jones
24114Anthony DWRTEN Kyle Philips
24214Kendall HRBHOU Rex Burkhead
24314Tyson TQBPIT Mitch Trubisky
24414Joe HWRCLE Donovan Peoples-Jones
24514Todd BRBMIA Myles Gaskin
24614Derel SWRNYG Sterling Shepard
24714Ben MWRSF Danny Gray
24814Greg HTEHOU Brevin Jordan
24914Joseph CWRCHI Byron Pringle
25014Ian ARBJAC Snoop Conner
25114Bill GWRNYJ Braxton Berrios
25214Afi ARBIND Phillip Lindsay