Yahoo Fantasy guillotine-style leagues are here! — learn everything you need to know

Don’t finish last. It’s a mantra every fantasy football player tells themselves. Of course everyone wants to make the playoffs; everyone wants to win the ‘chip. But ultimately, no one wants to finish last. And nowhere is that mantra more important than in guillotine-style leagues.

Today, we're thrilled to announce the launch of Yahoo Fantasy guillotine-style leagues in collaboration with Liquid Death. In this killer fantasy football game, fans compete for survival every week.

This marks Day 1 of our 28 Days of Fantasy, so we wanted to kick things off with something huge!

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

The goal is simple in guillotine-style leagues: Don’t finish last. Each week, the lowest-scoring team is eliminated from the league. That’s right. No mercy. Game over. Off with the team’s head. You’ve gotta play in another Yahoo Fantasy guillotine league for a chance at glory.

Sounds intense? It is.

Don’t worry if this is your first time trying guillotine-style leagues — we’ve made it so you’ll feel super comfortable in the format. It’s your standard league scoring rules and you draft a team as you normally would, but that's where comfort ends … and you enter a battle for survival.

Here’s how it all works:

Dynamic Matchup

You are always matched up against the team with the lowest projected score. This means that one team is hunted by every other team in the league … but it's real-time and can change! So, one second you can be the hunter and, after a 40-yard touchdown, you become the hunted on every opponent’s lockscreen, scoreboard, live activity and computer screen.

Survival Meter

You can't have a guillotine-style league without a survival meter, which dynamically changes throughout the week so you know what your chances of survival are at any given moment.

Elimination Day

On Sunday night you’ll see which teams in your league currently have the bottom three projected scores — meaning they’re on the verge of elimination. Take this opportunity to send a message and wish them luck; they’re going to need it to make it to Tuesday morning. After the final game of the week, the lowest-scoring team is eliminated and their players hit the waiver wire. Everyone still standing gets a shot to bid on them and boost their lineups.

Whether you're fortunate enough to escape elimination or you’re the team cut, we've built a fun and twisted ritual that you'll just have to play to see. It'll murder your thirst and leave a grin on your face.

One slip-up and you’re toast.

One bad week and you’re dead to the league.

Let the eliminations begin. With a little help from our friends at Liquid Death, it’s going to be a killer season.

Guillotine Leagues mark day 1 of our 28 Days of Fantasy. Follow it all here.

FAQ:

Is this replacing H2H (head-to-head) leagues?

Nope, it’s an additional scoring format to consider playing in both public and private leagues!

How many teams can play?

For private leagues, up to 18, ending in Week 17. Private leagues can decide how many teams to play with and when to start.

Public leagues consist of 14 teams and will play for 13 weeks.

Can I play with friends?

Absolutely! Create or join a private guillotine league with your group and enjoy the weekly chaos together.

Can I join after the season starts?

Of course. Private leagues can start whenever they decide, as long as there are enough weeks to eliminate all teams but one. Public leagues will be available to start through Week 15 (4 teams, ending in Week 17, with 3 teams eliminated).

Why do I have an opponent? What happens if I beat them?

You win, you survive. Your opponent is whoever currently has the lowest projected score — that’s the team to beat. If you have the lowest-projected score, you better hope your team turns it around. Finish last, and you’re out.

Are Fantasy guillotine leagues compatible with Live Activities on iOS?

Yes. They show up right alongside all your other live Activities on your lock screen from Yahoo Fantasy.