Guillotine Leagues™️ Cheat Sheet For Week 3: Can Rashod Bateman Do It Again?

It's Week 3, we've got the hang of this "best sweat in fantasy football" we've been hearing about. It's scary and intoxicating all at once. We want more, so to help you to keep surviving the chop in Guillotine Leagues™️, Kendall Valenzuela, Matthew Freedman, Pete Overzet and Alex Cupps got together for a round table discussion with several player recommendations for this week. Also, make sure to consult our fantasy football rankings and fantasy football projections when setting your lineup.

Who do you like as a strong "RB floor play" in Week 2?

Freedman: Jaylen Warren (Steelers) vs. Bengals

Warren had a career-high 1,291 scrimmage yards last year, and he's roughly on pace for a similar mark this year (150 yards on 21 carries, 10 targets, extrapolates to 1,284). Warren's far from a usage all-star (69 Utilization Score, per our Fantasy Life Utilization Report), but he has been the No. 1 RB for the Steelers through two weeks, and he could have more work than usual if No. 2 RB Rico Dowdle (toe) and No. 2 WR Michael Pittman (foot) are out. For the Bengals, DT B.J. Hill (Achilles) is uncertain after missing Week 2. The Bengals last year were No. 1 in largest fantasy boost allowed to RBs (+4.6).

Via my Week 3 RB Favorites

Kendall: David Montgomery vs. Colts

I know that David Montgomery's performance with Woody Marks last week was unimpressive, but this is the week that feels a lot better! First, the matchup puts Montogmery in a good spot—the Colts' run defense is bottom 3 in rush yards over expected per carry. Some people may say "yeah it's because they faced Kenneth Walker and Derrick Henry," which is totally fair, but Montgomery is still a solid talent who I'm willing to bet on in Week 3.

Pete: Chuba Hubbard (Panthers) vs. Browns

He's top 14 in Utilization across all RBs through two weeks with a score of 76–that's sandwiched between Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey–and now Jonathon Brooks is out. He'll get all the work he can handle in a plus matchup vs. a bad Browns defense.

Who do you like as a strong "WR floor play" in Week 2?

Freedman: Rashod Bateman (Ravens) vs. Cowboys (in Brazil)

With WRs Zay Flowers (hamstring) and Ja'Kobi Lane (wrist, IR) out last week, Bateman was one of my favorites, and he performed (7-88-1 receiving, 9 targets, 95% route rate, 93 Utilization Score). With Flowers still uncertain for this week, I like Bateman once again, especially since the Cowboys in the back seven could be without LB DeMarvion Overshown (hamstring), CB Cobie Durant (hamstring), FS Malik Hooker (forearm) and No. 3 S P.J. Locke (foot). Plus, at Maracanã Stadium the Ravens have an edge over the Cowboys playing on grass (vs. turf) and outdoors (vs. indoors). For the season, I have a bet that the Ravens will miss the playoffs, but I can't imagine them not beating my Cowboys this week in Rio de Janeiro. For his career, QB Lamar Jackson has been elite away from home (36-22 ATS, 20.2% ROI, per Action Network). The Cowboys last year were No. 1 in largest fantasy boost allowed to WRs (+5.1).

Via my Week 3 WR Favorites

Kendall: Devaughn Vele vs. Raiders

Until Jordyn Tyson returns it feels like Devaughn Vele is going to be a solid play for the Saints. Tyler Shough looks like he can get it done through the air and even though Vele's points went down from 19.9 points to 11.4 he still has a 19% target share on the season.

Pete: Josh Downs (Colts) vs. Houston. Downs' route participation jumped to 91% in Week 2 and he hauled in 30% of the team's targets, to boot. Now Alec Pierce is headed to IR and Downs will get peppered in the dome vs. the Texans. He might not be the best bet for a TD, but he gives us the floor we crave in this format.

Which "stud" are you considering benching in Week 2?

Freedman: Drake London (Falcons) at Packers

It's theoretically good for London that QB Michael Penix (knee) seems likely to play this week … but keep in mind that Penix 1) isn't all that good (7.2 AY/A for career), and 2) hasn't played football since November. And the setup is bad: The Falcons have a short week to prepare, and HC Kevin Stefanski is terrible on the road (19-33 ATS, -29.5% ROI). Additionally, the Falcons are significantly outside their primary play window (they have 13 games at 1 p.m. ET, whereas the Packers have six primetime games this year), and the Packers have an intensified home-field advantage because the Falcons are outside division, on grass (vs. turf) and outdoors (vs. indoors). London should improve upon his sorrowful production to date (6-80-0 receiving, 10 targets) … but maybe not by much.

Via my Week 3 WR Fades

Kendall: Jaylen Waddle vs. Rams

It was so nice to see the Jaylen Waddle we know and love in Week 2—he scored 21.8 fantasy points, but now the Rams are on an upward trajectory AND Waddle gets Trent McDuffie. According to ESPN, McDuffie has given up only 9 targets and 4.2 fantasy points. While it was nice to see Waddle at the top of the fantasy winners lists last week, he scares me a bit more this week.

Pete: Emeka Egbuka (Bucs) vs. Minnesota. I think I've previously done Egbuka, so apologies for picking on him, but he's a very volatile play right now with the state of the Bucs offense and a tough matchup on tap vs. this Brian Flores defense. If he doesn't score a TD, he could really sink your lineup.

Who's the one guy who might not have a solid floor, but who makes you say, "Screw it, I'm starting him anyway"?

Freedman: Oronde Gadsden (Chargers) at Bills

Perhaps the NFL's most disappointing team of the season (so far), the Chargers are coming off back-to-back 26-14 home losses against two notably inferior opponents … and now they're traveling across the country for a 1 p.m. ET game against a Bills team that has three extra days of rest and is at home for a second straight game. On top of that, the Bills have a magnified home-field advantage against the Chargers, who are outside the division, on grass (vs. turf) and outdoors (vs. indoors). And Gadsden's 2026 numbers don't look great (4-50-1 receiving, 4 targets, 45% route rate, 48 Utilization Score). But TEs Charlie Kolar (forearm) and David Njoku (lower leg) both exited Week 2 with an injury and will miss Week 3. With his explosiveness (9.8 yards per target for career), Gadsden could have a big game.

Via my Week 3 TE Favorites

Kendall: Quinshon Judkins (Browns) vs. Panthers

Depending on where you drafted Quinshon Judkins you were probably starting him anyway, but this might be a week where you feel a little better about that. Judkins is taking on the Panthers, who, according to True Media, ranked dead last in yards per carry allowed on plus blocking plays in Week 1. Carolina has been a team that has struggled to contain running backs, so why not just feel a little happier starting Judkins this week?

Pete: Adonai Mitchell (Jets) vs. Lions

AD quietly posted a better Utilization score than Garrett Wilson in Week 2 (77 vs. 73) and had 12 targets. Now we get a more up-tempo spot in the dome vs. a Lions who should force the Jets to keep chucking. The floor is probably shaky, but the ceiling makes it worth the risk in your FLEX.

Cupps: Kaleb Johnson (Packers) vs. Falcons

This one might surprise some people … give me Kaleb Johnson. I’m facing significant RB issues in multiple Guillotine Leagues this week with all the injuries, and I really like Johnson as a freebie add off the waiver wire. He out-carried MarShawn Lloyd last week, and I think there’s a real chance he has the first crack at the RB1 role in week 3. Green Bay gets Atlanta this week, where it can hopefully find a bit more success on the ground. All we need is to not come in last. I think Kaleb can help us sneak through until more help is on the way.

Which player do you think will have the highest "chop rate" in Week 2?

Freedman: Bijan Robinson (Falcons) at Packers

It's not as if you're benching Robinson in Guillotine Leagues, but this is just a brutal spot. Penix (knee) could be beyond rusty in his return from a season-ending injury, the Falcons have a short week to prepare and HC Kevin Stefanski is terrible on the road (19-33 ATS, -29.5% ROI). Additionally, the Falcons are significantly outside their primary play window (they have 13 games at 1 p.m. ET, whereas the Packers have six primetime games this year), and the Packers have an intensified home-field advantage against the Falcons, who are outside division, on grass (vs. turf) and outdoors (vs. indoors). In Week 1, we saw Robinson's ceiling (173 yards, 1 TD). In Week 2, we saw his floor (81 yards, no TD). This week, I expect he'll be closer to his floor.

Pete: Malik Nabers (Giants) vs. Titans

At least if a guy doesn't play, you can bench him. I worry Nabers is going to tough it out with his shoulder injury and not do much damage.