Guillotine League managers, welcome to Week 7. We’re getting deeper into the season, bye weeks are hitting hard, and every roster spot matters more than ever.
Last week, I made the case that even a quarterback like Joe Burrow could be a drop candidate if you needed immediate points to survive. This week, I’m drawing a very clear line: Josh Allen is NOT a drop. Not this week, not next week, and not because of a bye.
I’ve got four players I’m calling undroppable for Week 7, and then we’re going in the opposite direction. The Chargers and Commanders have me looking at their rosters and wondering if anybody is worth holding. Sometimes the best Guillotine move is to cut your losses, survive the week and try to buy a player back later.
There’s no middle ground this week. Let’s get into it.
The Week 7 Undroppables: Do Not Cut These Players
Josh Allen: The Quarterback Exception
I’ve been telling you that quarterbacks can be dropped in Guillotine leagues if you need to find points elsewhere. Last week, I even put Joe Burrow on the chopping block. But Josh Allen is a different animal.
Through six games, Allen has thrown for 1,504 yards, nine touchdowns and four interceptions, while adding 240 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns. That’s 17 total touchdowns in six games. He’s producing through the air and on the ground, giving him a fantasy floor most quarterbacks simply can’t match.
He just threw for 255 yards and two touchdowns against the Raiders in a 33-30 Buffalo win. Allen continues to be one of the most dangerous fantasy players in football because he can put up points even when the passing game isn’t perfect.
Yes, Buffalo is on a bye in Week 7. Yes, he gives you zero points this week. No, that doesn’t mean you drop him.
Guillotine leagues are about surviving, but they’re also about knowing which players are worth holding through a temporary problem. Allen is the kind of quarterback you want waiting for you on the other side of the bye.
Verdict: DO NOT DROP JOSH ALLEN. Find your Week 7 points somewhere else.
James Cook: A Stud Running Back You Don’t Throw Away
James Cook is another Buffalo player who won’t help your lineup this week, but that doesn’t change his value.
Cook is a difference-making running back, and his Week 6 performance was another reminder of what he brings. He finished with 95 rushing yards against the Raiders and scored the go-ahead touchdown in Buffalo’s 33-30 victory.
You don’t casually throw away a running back with that kind of ability because his team has a bye. Productive running backs are hard to replace, especially as the season wears on and the waiver wire gets thinner.
If you need a roster spot, look for the player giving you the least chance to survive. Cook isn’t that player.
Verdict: KEEP JAMES COOK. He’s a stud running back, and there’s no reason to let him go over a one-week absence.
Bhayshul Tuten: The Two-Touchdown Performance Matters
Tuten is exactly the kind of young running back I want to keep in a Guillotine league. His role is growing, and his two-touchdown performance in London this past weekend gives us another reason to pay attention.
Through six games, Tuten has averaged roughly 15.7 carries, 64.7 rushing yards and 21 receiving yards per game, good for about 14.7 PPR fantasy points per game. He’s already put together multiple top-12 running back weeks, and his Week 6 game against Houston was his best fantasy outing yet.
The important part isn’t just the two touchdowns. It’s the combination of opportunity, involvement and the possibility that his role keeps expanding.
Young running backs can be frustrating because their weekly production isn’t always consistent. But if you drop every young player before the workload fully develops, you’ll miss the payoff when the opportunity finally arrives.
Jacksonville is on a bye in Week 7, so you’ll need to cover his spot this week. That doesn’t mean you should give up on him.
Verdict: KEEP BHAYSHUL TUTEN. The role is growing, the touchdowns are coming, and I’m not ready to walk away now.
Parker Washington: A Potential True No. 1 Wide Receiver
Parker Washington is starting to look like more than a depth receiver, and there’s a real argument he’s growing into a true No. 1 wide receiver.
His recent breakout included six catches for 124 yards and two touchdowns. That’s the kind of performance that changes how managers view a player, especially when it comes alongside an expanding role in the offense.
The question is whether Washington can keep earning targets and turn this production into a consistent role. That’s fair, but it’s not a reason to cut him before we get more answers.
In dynasty formats especially, you want to pay attention when a young receiver shows he can handle a bigger workload. If he’s becoming a primary option, the time to roster him is before everyone else agrees on his value.
Like Tuten, Washington plays for Jacksonville and will be unavailable during the Week 7 bye. You need a plan for this week, but you don’t need to abandon a player whose stock may be rising.
Verdict: DO NOT DROP PARKER WASHINGTON. The production is encouraging, the opportunity is growing, and I want to see where this goes.
Surprising Week 7 Drop Candidates: Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert and Jayden Daniels
This might be the toughest part of the article because these aren’t quarterbacks without talent. Trevor Lawrence, Justin Herbert and Jayden Daniels all have the ability to put up big fantasy weeks. They have upside, and we’ve seen enough flashes to understand why managers want to hold them.
But there’s a difference between having the upside to be Josh Allen and actually being Josh Allen.
Allen is the exception. His combination of passing production, rushing ability and touchdowns makes him a player I’ll hold through a bye without a second thought. With these other quarterbacks, I’m not as comfortable making that bet.
All three are on a bye in Week 7, which means they give you nothing this week. In a Guillotine league, that’s a problem. You can’t get attached to what a player could do when your immediate goal is to still be alive next week.
I’m not saying Lawrence, Herbert or Daniels can’t have excellent games when they return. They absolutely can. But if I’m staring at a roster that needs points, I’m willing to make a move that feels uncomfortable.
My approach this week: I’d consider dropping one of these quarterbacks and picking up two quarterbacks who are actually playing. That gives me options and a better chance to put together the points I need to survive.
Josh Allen has earned the benefit of the doubt. The other three haven’t earned that same automatic pass. In a different format, I might hold all three without hesitation. In a Guillotine league, I’m looking at the matchup, the available quarterbacks and what my team needs right now.
Could I regret dropping one of them? Sure. But I’d rather take my chances finding points this week than get eliminated holding a quarterback who’s sitting at home.
Verdict: Lawrence, Herbert and Daniels are on my drop radar. Potential doesn’t score points on a bye.
Chargers and Commanders: Not Much Worth Saving in Week 7
Usually, there are a few players in the middle: guys you might hold if you have room but could cut if you’re desperate.
Not this week.
When I look at the Chargers and Commanders, I’m much more interested in getting through the immediate problem than holding players because of their names or what they might do later.
Los Angeles Chargers: Don’t Let the Name Fool You
The Chargers managed just six points and failed to score a touchdown in their Week 6 loss to Kansas City. That’s not the kind of offensive performance that inspires confidence when every week is a fight to stay alive.
In Guillotine leagues, you can’t keep paying for what a player or offense might become. You need production now. If a player isn’t scoring enough, isn’t getting the opportunities you need or is making you nervous about your weekly lineup, you have to be willing to move on.
The Chargers’ Week 7 bye makes the decision even tougher. Their players won’t contribute anything this week, and you have to decide whether holding them is worth sacrificing a roster spot you could use on someone who can help you survive.
I’m not saying every Charger is suddenly worthless in every format. In a dynasty league, long-term value matters. In a Guillotine league, the immediate goal is avoiding the lowest score.
If I need a roster spot and a Chargers player isn’t someone I’m confident starting after the bye, I’m willing to cut him. If I want him back later, I’ll try to buy him back.
Verdict: I’m willing to drop Chargers I’m not confident starting. Don’t let a recognizable name keep you from making the move that gives you the best chance to survive.
Washington Commanders: Same Problem, Same Approach
The Commanders are in a similar spot for me. Their players have name recognition, and some could still produce useful fantasy weeks, but I’m not interested in holding players just because I hope the offense turns things around.
The Week 7 bye means no points from Washington players this week. In a normal fantasy league, you might carry a player through the bye because you have a deep bench and a long-term plan. Guillotine leagues are different.
Every roster spot has a job. If a player isn’t helping you survive now and you’re not convinced he’ll be a reliable starter afterward, why are you holding him?
And let’s talk about Stefon Diggs and Terry McLaurin. I love both players when they’re healthy and producing, but neither has been consistent enough for me to rely on right now. Usefulness and availability concerns have alternated, which makes it hard to know what you’re getting when you put them in your lineup.
I don’t want to spend a week wondering whether one of them will be available, whether he’ll get enough opportunities, or whether the offense will deliver. They’re talented players, but talent alone doesn’t keep you alive in a Guillotine league.
If you have the room and want to hold one, that’s your call. But if you’re fighting to survive and need the roster spot, don’t be afraid to move on.
This is where managers get trapped by sunk costs. You drafted the player, spent FAAB on him or held him for weeks. None of that matters when you’re trying to avoid elimination. The only question is whether he gives you a better chance to score enough points than the alternative.
I’d rather use the roster spot on someone who can contribute immediately. If a Commanders player becomes attractive again later, I’ll try to acquire him. There’s no guarantee you’ll get him back, but there’s also no guarantee that holding him through a rough stretch will help you survive.
Verdict: I’m willing to drop Commanders I’m not planning to start confidently. I love Diggs and McLaurin when they’re playing, but I don’t trust the consistency or availability enough to hold them at all costs. Don’t hold players out of habit. Find points.
Week 7 Guillotine Strategy: Survive First, Worry About Next Week Later
The bye weeks are forcing difficult decisions, but the answer isn’t to drop every good player who can’t help you this week.
Josh Allen, James Cook, Bhayshul Tuten and Parker Washington are players I’d rather hold through the bye than throw back into the player pool. Allen and Cook have proven production, while Tuten and Washington are showing signs their roles and fantasy value are rising.
The Chargers and Commanders are a different conversation. If you’re holding players you don’t trust to start, this could be the week to clear those roster spots and chase points elsewhere.
Remember, the goal isn’t to build the prettiest roster. The goal is to still have a roster next week.
You don’t get bonus points for being loyal to a player you drafted. You don’t get a trophy for predicting a breakout that never arrives. And you definitely don’t get to keep playing after your team gets chopped.
Make the move that gives you the best chance to survive Week 7. Then worry about the next problem when it gets here.
Frequently Asked Questions About Guillotine Leagues
What is a Guillotine fantasy football league?
A Guillotine league eliminates the lowest-scoring team each week. That team’s entire roster goes to the waiver wire, giving surviving managers a chance to improve their teams. The goal is to avoid finishing last each week until only one team remains.
Should I drop a good player because he’s on a bye?
Not automatically. Consider the player’s long-term value, your roster depth, the available replacements and how badly you need points this week. A proven star like Josh Allen is worth holding through a bye, while a marginal player you wouldn’t confidently start may not be.
Should I prioritize immediate points over long-term upside?
In most Guillotine leagues, yes. Survival comes first. Young players with rising roles can be worth holding, but weigh their potential against the immediate points you could gain by using that roster spot on someone else.
Should I drop Chargers and Commanders players in Week 7?
It depends on the player and your roster, but I’m more willing to cut players I don’t trust to start confidently. Both teams are on a Week 7 bye, so their players won’t score this week. If you need a roster spot to improve your chances of surviving, don’t be afraid to make the move.
What is the biggest mistake Guillotine managers make?
Holding players too long because of their name, draft cost or past production. Your roster should be built around surviving the current week. Be willing to make uncomfortable decisions, and don’t confuse loyalty to a player with a smart fantasy football move.
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Catch Up on Last Week’s Guillotine Moves
Want to review last week’s roster decisions before making your Week 7 moves? Read Guillotine League Week 6: Undroppables, Cuts and Drops for my take on Burrow, LaPorta, Higgins and Chase Brown.
Good luck this week. Keep the players who can help you win, cut the ones holding you back, and remember: in Guillotine leagues, surviving is the only stat that matters.
