Guillotine Leagues Mock Fantasy Football Draft: Breece Hall, Bucky Iriving Lead RB-Heavy Start

It’s time for another Guillotine Leagues™️ mock draft!

I made this mock even more challenging by drafting from the dreaded No. 18 spot. However, I was able to stack players with early opportunity, target players with stable weekly floors and prioritize those who can earn high-value touches immediately. You cannot afford to get cute early when one bad week can end your season.

Let’s dive into it, and if you want to try a mock draft of your own, try our Draft Champion.

Guillotine Leagues Mock Draft From Position 1.18

Rounds 1-2: Breece Hall and Drake London

After Omarion Hampton went at 17, I decided to take Breece Hall at the turn, then came back with Drake London.

We have heard optimistic coachspeak about Hall’s Week 1 availability, including the “bell cow” label being floated around. That is what you want in this format. Hall is one of the few backs with true three-down potential and a clear path to an every-week workload—even if the Jets stink this year.

London was an easy click for me. There is an outside shot Michael Penix returns for Week 1, but either way, London should be the primary target earner in Atlanta. He also opens against a Steelers defense that was vulnerable to wide receivers last season. In a Guillotine League, an alpha receiver with a favorable Week 1 draw is exactly the kind of player you want.

Rounds 3-5: Bet on Running Back Volume

I went very running back-heavy in this build: Bucky Irving in the third, Rhamondre Stevenson in the fourth and Jordan Mason in the fifth.

That was intentional.

A few months ago, things looked negative for Irving, but now he is healthy, is having a good camp and appears to have a strong hold on early-down work. There are rumors that Sean Tucker could be a cut candidate, but regardless, Irving is positioned for meaningful volume. The Week 1 matchup with Cincinnati is mouthwatering.

Stevenson is another player who makes perfect sense in a Guillotine format. The drumbeat keeps getting louder that he will lead the Patriots’ backfield, despite the fantasy community wanting TreVeyon Henderson to be the lead back. This may be a split backfield, eventually, but all indications point toward Stevenson being the better early-season bet.

I believe that Jordan Mason could have a 60/40 type of split with Aaron Jones, and there has been plenty of positive camp buzz surrounding him. He also profiles as the early-down option and could get the goal-line work. That is enough for me in Round 5. I want backs who will touch the football and have touchdown equity, especially in Week 1.

Rounds 6-8: Floor Receivers and Kelce

Michael Pittman Jr. was my next selection. Fantasy Life projects him as the WR32 in PPR, ahead of players such as Carnell Tate, Rome Odunze, and Courtland Sutton, and less than a point behind Jameson Williams.

It does not make you feel amazing to call Pittman your WR2 in an 18-team league, but this is not a traditional format. He is a chain-moving, high-floor player who can pile up easy targets and easy PPR points. He was back in pads this week, and the momentum seems positive for Week 1.

I waited at tight end and took Travis Kelce in the seventh. Outside of Rashee Rice, what does Kansas City truly have? Xavier Worthy is a big-play threat but has had difficulty staying healthy. Cyrus Allen is a rookie unknown. Kelce is still the ultimate security blanket for Patrick Mahomes. That kind of dependable target expectation is valuable in a format built around survival.

Baker Mayfield was my quarterback in Round 8. Tampa Bay against Cincinnati is a beautiful Week 1 matchup, and that is enough for me. I also grabbed Tyler Shough later as my QB2 because New Orleans versus Detroit could turn into a shootout or a negative-game-script situation for the Saints.

Late-Round Swings

I took Dontayvion Wicks in Round 11. Reports indicate he is operating as Philadelphia’s WR2 while Makai Lemon works his way back and learns the system. Wicks received real money from the Eagles and has immediate opportunity at pick 198.

The aforementioned Allen became a Round 12 dart throw. Kareem Hunt was a final-round stash after he visited with Detroit, especially with Isiah Pacheco dealing with more than the public may realize. And DeMarcus Robinson is one of those players who seems destined to become fantasy relevant at some point every single year.

Mike Evans is banged up, De'Zhaun Stribling is a rookie with his own minor camp battle wounds, and Robinson knows Kyle Shanahan’s system.

From the 18 hole, I like this build. Three of my first four picks were lead backs; I got a true WR1 in London, and the roster is built to survive with plenty of opportunity early in the year.