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  • Black History
    • Black History: 400 Years
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Sports

Looking for a fresh, fun way to play fantasy football this season? Join a Yahoo Fantasy guillotine-style league!

Details
29 August 2025

One of the best things about the summer is that there's almost always a fantasy football draft in my world. Mock drafts, real drafts, snake drafts, salary cap drafts, slow drafts, fast drafts, keeper-league drafts, seasonal drafts. Heck, a few months back, we even did some magazine drafts. It's the best day of the year, why not keep doing it, over and over?

Are you looking for one more league, one more draft? Why not get together a Yahoo Fantasy guillotine-style league? It's a unique challenge for the fantasy football manager, a delicate dance between being good today and building a monster team for later in the season. It will test your skills and at times warp your brain — in a good way. You'll be forced to consider angles and nuances you've likely never dealt with before.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy guillotine-style football league]

Guillotine-style leagues are pools where everyone plays against everyone else each week, with just the lowest-scoring team eliminated. Everyone else advances. And here's the catch — when the bottom-scoring club is cut, all of its players are added to the waiver-wire pool for the next FAB run.

I fell for this format the first time I tried it. I think you will, too.

Some of the benefits of a Yahoo Fantasy guillotine-style league (in collaboration with Liquid Death) includes:

Although a big group is my preferred way to approach a guillotine-style league, you can make it work with pretty much any number of managers (and an odd number is no problem).

All you need to do is beat one team every week! If you're a consistent type or a floor-driven manager, this is the format for you. (You know I love this style; I'm that guy hitting a 3-wood off every tee.)

There's almost always a Monday night sweat as managers try to avoid being the low-scoring team headed for the exit. That final game takes on some extra juice.

The waiver wire is a blast every week when the surviving managers are sorting through all the cuts from the team most recently eliminated. In a traditional league, you'll never be able to land a healthy Ja'Marr Chase or Lamar Jackson from your FAB. Something like this is available every week in guillotine. And you always have to judge between grabbing the goodies for today or saving for the potential goodies of the future. It's tricky, and it's challenging, and if you do the dance right, it's very rewarding.

If you survive deep into a guillotine-style league, your roster will be loaded late in the year. While I'm all for the nuance of deep leagues and flex options, there's something to be said for building a Dream Team, every so often.

Reference links

  • Guillotine 101

  • Draft strategy

  • In-season strategy

Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy guillotine-style football league!

Read more …

Fantasy football sleeper candidates at running back for 2025

Details
29 August 2025

Fantasy football managers are smarter than ever, so finding a player who’s actually being slept on can be difficult. With that in mind, we’re shifting our focus to late-round targets who could drastically outproduce their ADP in 2025.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Over the next week, I’ll shine the spotlight on my favorite sleeper candidates at every key fantasy position. Today, we’re taking a look at running backs.


Justin Boone's Fantasy Sleepers

  • Quarterbacks

  • Running Backs 

  • Wide Receivers

  • Tight Ends


Braelon Allen, Jets

Allen flashed in his limited opportunities as a 20-year-old rookie last year and showed signs that he might be able to develop into a quality NFL running back.

From the moment the Jets’ offseason program began this spring, Allen was generating buzz and earning the praise of his new head coach Aaron Glenn, who has constantly talked about using a committee backfield. That’s not surprising considering both Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand are coming from a Lions organization where they had plenty of success using a two-back system.

The Jets have a long way to go before their run game is spoken about in the same vein as Detroit’s vaunted duo, but a scenario where Breece Hall is a less impressive version of Jahmyr Gibbs and Allen handles a David Montgomery-like role does make a lot of sense.

The third back on the depth chart Isaiah Davis has also had his name thrown into the mix at times, but he’s been sidelined with an ankle injury — and the missed practices are likely causing him to fall even further behind Hall and Allen.

So, Allen is entering his second season, has displayed improved abilities, is benefitting from better coaching, has an upgraded offensive line with first-round tackle Armand Membou who excels in run blocking and he’s playing behind a starter with an uncertain future in New York.

Hall is in the last year of his contract and there have been rumblings that he could be a trade candidate at some point between now and the deadline.

If that were to occur, Allen would be next in line to start. However, even if Hall stays, the 6 '1”, 235-pound Allen could handle valuable goal-line carries and possibly some third-down work based on how they were deployed in the preseason.

It’s understandable why some fantasy managers aren’t enticed by the Jets’ offense, but there’s zero risk taking Allen at his current ADP in the later rounds.

Everything we’ve seen and heard since last season points to Allen being a big part of this backfield next to Hall, with an outside shot to overtake him if the coaching staff gets disillusioned by the veteran or if the front office decides to move him.

At worst, Allen is one Hall injury away from being a fantasy league winner, which is more than enough reason to draft him.

Second-year backs with new opportunities

Trey Benson, Cardinals — James Conner continues to be the heartbeat of the Arizona backfield, but even the 30-year-old himself has suggested Benson could be a potential starter alongside him. Kyler Murray has also highlighted Benson as a breakout candidate in 2025, which seems unlikely if Conner stays healthy, but is a good indicator of how the team feels about the second-year back. While it’s possible Benson could eat into Conner’s touches and turn into a weekly flex play, he will probably need the veteran to miss time in order to truly turn into a usable fantasy piece. There’s enough smoke here to stash Benson and see how this plays out, especially if you draft Conner.

Ray Davis, Bills — James Cook is back with the team after signing a new contract, but Davis is still ready to step up if he misses time. Davis has shown he can deliver when thrust into the starting role. In the two games where Davis played more than 50% of the offensive snaps last year, he finished as a top-15 fantasy RB both weeks.

Late-round rookies with paths to start

Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars — Tuten is an explosive playmaker who has answered the call in the preseason after missing some practice time with a hamstring injury. Remember, new general manager James Gladstone used Tuten as an example of the type of player he would select when he interviewed for the Jaguars’ job, before eventually adding him to this wide-open backfield. While Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne Jr. continue to split first-team snaps in the preseason, head coach Liam Coen has acknowledged it will be tough to dress four running backs on gamedays, which might hint at a potential trade coming for one of the veterans since their other rookie, LeQuint Allen Jr., is doing enough to earn a roster spot. Whether you like Tuten, Bigsby or Etienne — they all represent values at their ADPs. Tuten likely won’t be the guy in Week 1, but he might be the guy helping you make the fantasy playoffs in the second half of the season.

[Upgrade to Fantasy Plus and gain your edge from draft day to the playoffs]

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders — The man known simply as "Bill" has gone from a seventh-round rookie who people had never heard of when I brought him up, to a training camp darling and preseason star. Head coach Dan Quinn has made it clear the team plans to move on from starter Brian Robinson Jr., and use a committee that includes Austin Ekeler, Chris Rodriguez and Croskey-Merritt. Out of that trio, Ekeler is a past-his-prime, pass-catching weapon, Rodriguez is a big-bodied hammer and JCM is the one with an extra gear to make gamebreaking plays. While he’s not exactly being slept on any longer, Croskey-Merritt is still an intriguing fantasy pick who could take over this backfield during the season.

Jaydon Blue, Cowboys — It’s not surprising to hear that Blue is impressing in practice, when his main competition for touches are underwhelming veterans Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. As the fifth-rounder gets more comfortable, it’s possible the Cowboys will come to their senses and let him take on as much work as his 5-foot-9, 196-pound frame can handle. A committee seems likely, but there’s no risk given where Blue is going in drafts. Let's just hope his ankle injury isn't serious.

Dylan Sampson, Browns — Every day that Quinshon Judkins remains unsigned as he deals with his legal situation, is a step closer to Sampson having a major role this season. A likely committee with Jerome Ford could prevent Sampson from hitting the highest end of his range of outcomes, but he’s the most exciting option in the Browns’ backfield until Judkins suits up.

Ollie Gordon II, Dolphins — De’Von Achane is dealing with a calf injury that could impact his Week 1 status and backup Jaylen Wright is dealing with an injury of his own. Even before Wright went down, Gordon was outplaying him by a wide margin in the preseason. The 6’1, 226-pound Gordon is a better prospect than people gave him credit for after a disappointing final season in college. We know Mike McDaniel can scheme up a run game and there’s potential for Gordon to have a role right out of the gate with all these injuries. Just keep an eye on Brian Robinson Jr., who could complicate things if he ends up in Miami.

Kyle Monangai, Bears — The fact the Bears didn’t do more to address their backfield this offseason was puzzling. Maybe they knew something we didn’t about Monangai, who they drafted in the seventh round. D’Andre Swift will open the season as the starter, but his hold on the job seems very loose. We’re already seeing Monangai get first-team reps in practice and head coach Ben Johnson identified him as a player they’ll “be able to trust this fall.” Whether it’s Monangai, Roschon Johnson or a veteran they sign before the season, someone else is going to factor into Chicago’s run game in 2025.

Woody Marks, Texans — The Texans continue to be vague about the recovery timeline for Joe Mixon, and we now know he'll miss at least the first four games of the season. Head coach DeMeco Ryans recently gave a very honest assessment about veteran backup Nick Chubb, suggesting his best days are well behind him. That opens the door for Marks — a fourth-rounder with a three-down skillset, who could be especially useful in the passing game.

Justin Boone's Fantasy Sleepers

  • Quarterbacks

  • Running Backs

  • Wide Receivers

  • Tight Ends

Read more …

Fantasy football sleeper candidates at quarterback for 2025

Details
29 August 2025

Fantasy football managers are smarter than ever, so finding a player who’s actually being slept on can be difficult. With that in mind, we’re shifting our focus to late-round targets who could drastically outproduce their ADP in 2025.

Over the next week, I’ll shine the spotlight on my favorite sleeper candidates at every key fantasy position — starting with quarterbacks.

[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]

Justin Boone's Fantasy Sleepers

  • Quarterbacks

  • Running Backs

  • Wide Receivers

  • Tight Ends

Geno Smith, Raiders

Smith is an underrated NFL quarterback and, unfortunately, that perception bleeds over into the fantasy world.

It’s true that his fantasy stats have taken a step back since his breakout campaign with the Seahawks in 2022, when he finished with the fifth-most points at his position and was a top-10 QB in fantasy points per game (18.5).

That year, he was eighth in passing yards, fourth in passing touchdowns and first in completion percentage.

There’s no denying his 2023 season was more of a struggle, but injuries to Seattle’s offensive line — including both starting tackles going down in the opener — increased the degree of difficulty. He stumbled to a QB25 result (15.7 fppg).

In 2024, Smith’s numbers bounced back and he ended the year among the top five in passing yards and completion percentage. He even graded out as Pro Football Focus’ eighth-best passer.

Fantasy-wise, that made him the QB17 on a per game basis (16.5 fppg). But the 34-year-old posted eight top-12 weekly performances, including six in the first half of the season before Tyler Lockett’s performance declined.

The Raiders liked what they saw and traded for Smith, believing he could be their solution under center. Now, he’s reunited with his coach during that career year: Pete Carroll. They’re joined by Chip Kelly, who is bringing his uptempo attack to Vegas, which should keep Smith’s arm busy.

You could also argue the supporting cast in the desert rivals the talent Smith had in the Pacific Northwest. Brock Bowers, Ashton Jeanty and Jakobi Meyers form the core, which will combine with a group of intriguing young wideouts vying for the No. 2 receiver job.

Remember when Jared Goff only had to play outdoors three times last year and it helped him deliver QB8 fantasy production? Well, Smith gets that cheat code this year, with 12 indoor games and just four outside. In addition, he gets the eighth-easiest slate in my fantasy strength of schedule matrix.

So, while he might be coming off two down years, it’s hard to justify Smith going off the board after the top-20 quarterbacks in ADP. He’s already proved he can be a low-end fantasy QB1 and, at worst, his situation in Vegas is setting him up to push for a high-end QB2 output.

Michael Penix Jr., Falcons

Penix is a bit of a forgotten man, overshadowed by the massive fantasy potential of the other five quarterbacks taken in Round 1 of the 2024 NFL Draft.

After being forced to wait his turn behind veteran Kirk Cousins last season, Penix finally slid into the starting lineup in Week 16 and showed improvement in each subsequent appearance. He was the QB24 in fppg during that stretch, mostly on the back of a strong Week 18 performance when he threw for 312 yards and two scores while adding another touchdown on the ground.

Rushing production will be limited from a pocket passer like Penix, but he finds himself in the kind of offensive environment where he could thrive.

Bijan Robinson is arguably the best all-around running back in the league, Drake London announced his presence as a true No. 1 receiver last year, Darnell Mooney (when healthy) is an above-average second option and tight end Kyle Pitts has clearly formed a bond with Penix, who told reporters KP will be getting targeted often this year.

Penix will also benefit from a top-10 offensive line, a solid play-caller in Zac Robinson and the 10th-friendliest fantasy schedule among quarterbacks.

Though Penix might not have the same fantasy ceiling as some other young QBs due to his lack of rushing stats, he can still far outproduce his current ADP of QB25.

Cam Ward, Titans

I would normally never put a first-round pick in a sleeper column, but has there ever been a quarterback taken first overall who received less hype than Ward entering their rookie season?

Fantasy managers don’t seem intrigued at all by the 23-year-old, and no one’s making the case that he could surprise and be fantasy relevant in Year 1.

While that’s still a long shot, let me remind everyone what Titans head coach Brian Callahan did when Joe Burrow went down for the last seven weeks of the 2023 season. Over that span, Callahan helped backup Jake Browning turn into a top-seven fantasy QB — though, it helps when you’re throwing to the Bengals' dynamic duo of Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.

To their credit, the Titans have made positive strides to improve their pass-catching corps — bringing in rookies Elic Ayomanor, Chimere Dike, Xavier Restrepo and maybe they can get something early in the season out of fading veteran Tyler Lockett. That new group will join star Calvin Ridley and promising tight end Chig Okonkwo. Tennessee also has two backs who are very capable in the passing game in Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears.

The Titans have even gone to great lengths to upgrade their offensive line, investing multiple first-round picks and many free-agent dollars in their blocking over the last couple of offseasons.

Whether that’s enough for Ward to find success as a rookie remains to be seen. He does have the confidence and arm talent required to be a franchise quarterback. And while he’s not the biggest threat as a runner, his pocket awareness allows him to buy time to make plays.

For fantasy, that might max him out as a mid-range QB2. However, that would make him a value where he’s going now as the QB23.

Justin Boone's Fantasy Sleepers

  • Quarterbacks

  • Running Backs

  • Wide Receivers

  • Tight Ends

Read more …

More Articles …

  1. Giants bring back Gunner Olszewski
  2. Inside the Kyle Hamilton deal
  3. Shilo Sanders hopes for another NFL opportunity, says he has talents outside football
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