{"id":1074,"date":"2026-11-10T22:26:03","date_gmt":"2026-11-10T22:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mastersfantasyfootballleagues.com\/blog\/?p=1074"},"modified":"2026-11-10T22:26:20","modified_gmt":"2026-11-10T22:26:20","slug":"guillotine-league-strategy-week-10-do-not-drop-these-4-players-plus-two-surprising-names-to-cut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mastersfantasyfootballleagues.com\/blog\/guillotine-strategy\/guillotine-league-strategy-week-10-do-not-drop-these-4-players-plus-two-surprising-names-to-cut\/","title":{"rendered":"Guillotine League Strategy Week 10: Do Not Drop These 4 Players, Plus Two Surprising Names to Cut"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Week 10 of Guillotine fantasy football<\/strong>. The player pool has changed dramatically since September, and managers still treating their rosters like it’s draft week are putting themselves at risk of the chop.<\/p>\n

At this point, Guillotine league strategy<\/strong> is about maximizing every roster spot for the final push. You need players producing right now, players whose roles are growing, and players who can help you survive the weekly cut. Name recognition and draft position don’t matter if the points aren’t there.<\/p>\n

This week I’ve got four players I’m not dropping, including a couple of names that may surprise you, plus two established stars who are suddenly much easier to move on from than their reputations suggest.<\/p>\n

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Week 10 Quick Take<\/strong><\/p>\n

Do not drop:<\/strong> Bucky Irving (RB), Luther Burden (WR), D’Andre Swift (RB), Jonah Coleman (RB)<\/p>\n

Willing to drop:<\/strong> Saquon Barkley (RB), DeVonta Smith (WR)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

1. Do Not Drop: Bucky Irving, RB (Tampa Bay)<\/h2>\n

Bucky Irving has become exactly the running back you want in a Guillotine league: a true bellcow in a high-powered Tampa Bay offense with the explosiveness to turn a normal workload into a huge week.<\/p>\n

Since Week 5, Irving has been the RB1 in Masters fantasy scoring<\/strong>, and he sits inside the top five running backs for the season. That’s not a player I’m getting cute with.<\/p>\n

What separates Irving is that he offers both volume and big-play ability. He isn’t just collecting touches and hoping to fall into the end zone. He can make something happen every time he touches the ball, and playing in an offense that consistently puts points on the board raises his floor and his ceiling.<\/p>\n

In Guillotine leagues, a running back who delivers week after week is a massive advantage. You don’t want to be digging through the waiver wire every Tuesday hoping to find the next back who might get enough touches.<\/p>\n

Week 10 verdict: Undroppable.<\/strong> Irving is a true bellcow producing like an elite fantasy RB, and I’m not giving him up.<\/p>\n

2. Do Not Drop: Luther Burden, WR (Chicago)<\/h2>\n

I’m holding Luther Burden, even with his current concussion protocol situation.<\/p>\n

The expectation is that he’ll be ready after the bye, and I’m willing to be patient with that timeline. When he’s been on the field, Burden has looked like he’s becoming Caleb Williams’ No. 1 target<\/strong>. He’s currently WR10 in Masters fantasy scoring<\/strong>, and that’s not production you casually throw back into the player pool.<\/p>\n

The schedule makes him even more appealing. Chicago’s upcoming stretch includes Detroit twice, Buffalo, Jacksonville, Green Bay and New Orleans. Those are games with real shootout potential, and I want a piece of this offense.<\/p>\n

The growing chemistry with Williams matters too. A consistent target relationship becomes more valuable as the season goes on, and if Burden keeps establishing himself as the go-to option, he has plenty of room to remain a strong weekly starter.<\/p>\n

Monitor his status and make sure he’s cleared before starting him. But there’s a big difference between holding an injured player with no clear path back and holding a receiver who has already produced at a high level and should return after the bye.<\/p>\n

Week 10 verdict: Hold.<\/strong> Burden is WR10 in Masters scoring, looks like Caleb’s top target, and the upcoming schedule gives me every reason to stay invested.<\/p>\n

3. Do Not Drop: D’Andre Swift, RB (Chicago)<\/h2>\n

D’Andre Swift is currently RB9 in Masters fantasy scoring<\/strong>, and I’m not moving on.<\/p>\n

Yes, Swift has benefited from Kyle Monangai being out, and that has to factor into how you evaluate his workload. But he’s the lead back in a high-powered Caleb Williams offense, and that’s a situation I want exposure to. When an offense is moving the ball and creating scoring chances, the players getting consistent touches become valuable.<\/p>\n

Could the backfield split change when Monangai returns? Absolutely, and it’s worth watching. But Guillotine managers have to make decisions based on what’s happening now while weighing the next several weeks. I’m not dropping a top-10 producer over a change that hasn’t happened yet.<\/p>\n

Week 10 verdict: Keep.<\/strong> Swift is producing, the offense is strong, and I’m riding the situation as long as it keeps working.<\/p>\n

4. Do Not Drop: Jonah Coleman, RB (Denver)<\/h2>\n

Here’s the shocker of the week: Jonah Coleman<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Over the last two weeks, since taking over as a starter, Coleman has been the RB4 in Masters fantasy scoring<\/strong>. That’s the kind of emergence that can change a Guillotine roster.<\/p>\n

Coleman is starting to look like a major piece of Sean Payton’s offense. Two weeks is a small sample, and I’m not claiming he’s a guaranteed rest-of-season star. But RB4 production while holding the starting job deserves your attention.<\/p>\n

This is exactly why you have to keep watching role changes and the waiver wire. The player who helps you survive in November often isn’t the one you expected to rely on in August.<\/p>\n

Week 10 verdict: Do not drop.<\/strong> The last two weeks have been too productive to ignore, and Coleman could become a huge piece of the Denver offense down the stretch.<\/p>\n

5. Surprising Players I’m Willing to Drop: Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith<\/h2>\n

Now for the uncomfortable part. These are two players most fantasy managers considered automatic holds before the season. But this is Guillotine football. You can’t hold players because of their names.<\/p>\n

Saquon Barkley, RB (Philadelphia)<\/h3>\n

Saquon Barkley just hasn’t looked like himself, and the Philadelphia offense is hurting. The quarterback situation has become a major concern with Joe Milton under center, and this team looks like it’s heading in the wrong direction.<\/p>\n

Barkley is currently RB38 in Masters fantasy scoring<\/strong>. Ugh.<\/p>\n

That’s a long way from where managers expected him to be, and at this point you have to ask how much longer you’re willing to wait. He’s talented enough to have a big week at any time, but in a Guillotine league you have to play the present, not last season.<\/p>\n

Week 10 verdict: Willing to drop.<\/strong> RB38 production and a struggling offense are tough to justify when the player pool is getting deeper.<\/p>\n

DeVonta Smith, WR (Philadelphia)<\/h3>\n

DeVonta Smith is another tough name to consider cutting, but this is a week to evaluate your roster honestly. He’s been dealing with injuries, and the quarterback play isn’t giving managers much confidence. That’s a bad combination in a format where every single week matters.<\/p>\n

Nobody is questioning Smith’s talent when he’s healthy and playing in a functional offense. But talent alone doesn’t earn a Guillotine roster spot. You need players who are available, involved and producing right now, and the waiver wire is deeper than it was earlier in the season.<\/p>\n

Week 10 verdict: Willing to drop.<\/strong> The injury concerns and quarterback situation make this too important a week to hold and hope.<\/p>\n

6. The Final Push: Make Every Roster Spot Count<\/h2>\n

We’re heading into the stretch run, and this is where you need to be aggressive about improving your roster.<\/p>\n

The four players I’m holding all bring something real: Bucky Irving is producing like an elite RB, Luther Burden is emerging as a top target, D’Andre Swift is a top-10 back in Masters scoring, and Jonah Coleman has been RB4 over the last two weeks. On the other side, Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith simply aren’t giving me enough confidence in their current situations.<\/p>\n

The bigger point: every roster spot needs a purpose.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  • Don’t hold a player just because you spent a high draft pick on him.<\/li>\n
  • Don’t ignore a breakout player because he wasn’t on your radar in August.<\/li>\n
  • Don’t be afraid to make a move other managers think is crazy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Look at your roster as a whole. Identify the players who can carry you through the stretch, replace the ones who aren’t producing, and take every opportunity to improve. You don’t need the best roster on paper. You need the roster that scores enough to survive.<\/p>\n

    Guillotine League Strategy Week 10: FAQ<\/h2>\n

    Who should I avoid dropping in Guillotine leagues in Week 10?<\/h3>\n

    Bucky Irving, Luther Burden, D’Andre Swift and Jonah Coleman are the four do-not-drop players this week. Irving is producing like an elite running back, Burden is emerging as a top target, Swift is RB9 in Masters scoring, and Coleman has been RB4 over the last two weeks.<\/p>\n

    Is Bucky Irving a must-start fantasy running back?<\/h3>\n

    Yes. Irving has been RB1 in Masters fantasy scoring since Week 5 and is inside the top five running backs for the season. His workload, explosiveness and offense make him one of the most valuable running backs to hold in Guillotine leagues.<\/p>\n

    Should I hold Luther Burden through the concussion protocol?<\/h3>\n

    If Burden is expected back after the bye and is medically cleared, hold him. He’s WR10 in Masters scoring and appears to be developing into Caleb Williams’ top target. Check his official status before putting him in your lineup.<\/p>\n

    Should I drop Saquon Barkley in a Guillotine league?<\/h3>\n

    It’s worth considering. Barkley is currently RB38 in Masters scoring, and the Philadelphia offense has struggled. His reputation doesn’t guarantee future production, so compare him against the running backs available to you.<\/p>\n

    Is Jonah Coleman worth holding in fantasy football?<\/h3>\n

    Yes. Coleman has been RB4 in Masters fantasy scoring over the last two weeks since becoming Denver’s starter. His growing role in Sean Payton’s offense makes him one of the most intriguing running backs for the rest of the season.<\/p>\n

    What is the biggest Guillotine league mistake to avoid in Week 10?<\/h3>\n

    Holding underperforming players because of their names or draft position. As the season moves into the final stretch, focus on current production, opportunity, health and weekly scoring potential.<\/p>\n

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    Read Last Week’s Guillotine League Article<\/h2>\n

    Want to catch up on last week’s Guillotine strategy, player decisions and waiver wire calls? Read Guillotine League Strategy Week 9: Don’t Drop Jaylen Warren, Midseason Moves and Getting Ready for the Stretch Run<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    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.<\/p>\n