Tristan H. Cockcroft's 2026 fantasy football Knockout league rankings will be updated throughout the season to reflect the latest news, trends and opinions. Use them to inform your own rankings, or as a guide to draft your team. Sign up for your team for free.
Knockout leagues are our newest offering for 2026, challenging fantasy football managers to avoid being the last-place scorer in any given week, with the final team standing winning the championship. For those new to the format, here's a strategy primer to help you fine-tune your game.
The rankings below will differ slightly from our standard offering in that Knockout leagues begin with 18 teams, creating more demand at thinner positions such as quarterback and tight end. Additionally, week-over-week consistency carries additional weight, players with injury or other availability concerns are less desirable, and later-year bye weeks can prove advantageous. A standard 18-team knockout league comprises 14 slots including a kicker and a defense, so the rankings began 252 deep at season's start, and are now 182 deep (13 remaining teams times 14 players) for leagues drafting to begin in Week 6, to take you from the first overall selection through to the final pick of the draft.
Remember that if you want to start a league that plays this week your draft must be completed by the time players lock for Thursday Night Football, otherwise your league will begin play the following week. A 14-team league lets you eliminate 13 players through Week 17, leaving only the winner standing.
Last update: Oct. 9, for leagues beginning Week 6.
1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions, RB1, Bye week: 6
2. Bijan Robinson, Falcons, RB2, Bye week: 11
3. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks, WR1, Bye week: 11
4. Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs, RB3, Bye week: 5
5. Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals, WR2, Bye week: 6
6. Jonathan Taylor, Colts, RB4, Bye week: 13
7. Puka Nacua, Rams, WR3, Bye week: 11
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions, WR4, Bye week: 6
9. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers, RB5, Bye week: 8
10. Josh Allen, Bills, QB1, Bye week: 7
11. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys, WR5, Bye week: 14
12. James Cook III, Bills, RB6, Bye week: 7
13. Chris Olave, Saints, WR6, Bye week: 8
14. Chase Brown, Bengals, RB7, Bye week: 6
15. Justin Jefferson, Vikings, WR7, Bye week: 6
16. Derrick Henry, Ravens, RB8, Bye week: 13
17. Lamar Jackson, Ravens, QB2, Bye week: 13
18. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders, RB9, Bye week: 13
19. Drake London, Falcons, WR8, Bye week: 11
20. Javonte Williams, Cowboys, RB10, Bye week: 14
21. Zay Flowers, Ravens, WR9, Bye week: 13
22. Trey McBride, Cardinals, TE1, Bye week: 14
23. Nico Collins, Texans, WR10, Bye week: 8
24. Saquon Barkley, Eagles, RB11, Bye week: 10
25. Brock Purdy, 49ers, QB3, Bye week: 8
26. Garrett Wilson, Jets, WR11, Bye week: 13
27. Brock Bowers, Raiders, TE2, Bye week: 13
28. Kyren Williams, Rams, RB12, Bye week: 11
29. Parker Washington, Jaguars, WR12, Bye week: 7
30. Malik Nabers, Giants, WR13, Bye week: 8
31. D'Andre Swift, Bears, RB13, Bye week: 10
32. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers, WR14, Bye week: 5
33. DeVonta Smith, Eagles, WR15, Bye week: 10
34. Breece Hall, Jets, RB14, Bye week: 13
35. George Pickens, Cowboys, WR16, Bye week: 14
36. Joe Burrow, Bengals, QB4, Bye week: 6
37. Bucky Irving, Buccaneers, RB15, Bye week: 10
38. Tyler Warren, Colts, TE3, Bye week: 13
39. Davante Adams, Rams, WR17, Bye week: 11
40. Jeremiyah Love, Cardinals, RB16, Bye week: 14
41. Tee Higgins, Bengals, WR18, Bye week: 6
42. Rashee Rice, Chiefs, WR19, Bye week: 5
43. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers, RB17, Bye week: 5
44. Christian Watson, Packers, WR20, Bye week: 11
45. DJ Moore, Bills, WR21, Bye week: 7
46. Cam Skattebo, Giants, RB18, Bye week: 8
47. Jaylen Waddle, Broncos, WR22, Bye week: 10
48. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, QB5, Bye week: 5
49. Ladd McConkey, Chargers, WR23, Bye week: 7
50. Omarion Hampton, Chargers, RB19, Bye week: 7
51. George Kittle, 49ers, TE4, Bye week: 8
52. Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers, WR24, Bye week: 10
53. Mike Evans, 49ers, WR25, Bye week: 8
54. David Montgomery, Texans, RB20, Bye week: 8
55. Luther Burden III, Bears, WR26, Bye week: 10
56. Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars, RB21, Bye week: 7
57. Jalen Coker, Panthers, WR27, Bye week: 5
58. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars, QB6, Bye week: 7
59. Quinshon Judkins, Browns, RB22, Bye week: 11
60. Carnell Tate, Titans, WR28, Bye week: 9
61. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots, RB23, Bye week: 11
62. Sam LaPorta, Lions, TE5, Bye week: 6
63. Matthew Golden, Packers, WR29, Bye week: 11
64. Terry McLaurin, Commanders, WR30, Bye week: 7
65. Jaylen Warren, Steelers, RB24, Bye week: 9
66. Michael Wilson, Cardinals, WR31, Bye week: 14
67. Jalen Hurts, Eagles, QB7, Bye week: 10
68. Colston Loveland, Bears, TE6, Bye week: 10
69. Aaron Jones Sr., Vikings, RB25, Bye week: 6
70. Dalton Kincaid, Bills, TE7, Bye week: 7
71. A.J. Brown, Patriots, WR32, Bye week: 11
72. Dak Prescott, Cowboys, QB8, Bye week: 14
73. Jameson Williams, Lions, WR33, Bye week: 6
74. Travis Kelce, Chiefs, TE8, Bye week: 5
75. Caleb Williams, Bears, QB9, Bye week: 10
76. Travis Etienne Jr., Saints, RB26, Bye week: 8
77. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns, TE9, Bye week: 11
78. Drake Maye, Patriots, QB10, Bye week: 11
79. Rome Odunze, Bears, WR34, Bye week: 10
80. Tucker Kraft, Packers, TE10, Bye week: 11
81. Jared Goff, Lions, QB11, Bye week: 6
82. DK Metcalf, Steelers, WR35, Bye week: 9
83. Isaiah Likely, Giants, TE11, Bye week: 8
84. Matthew Stafford, Rams, QB12, Bye week: 11
85. Dallas Goedert, Eagles, TE12, Bye week: 10
86. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots, RB27, Bye week: 11
87. Josh Downs, Colts, WR36, Bye week: 13
88. Tyler Shough, Saints, QB13, Bye week: 8
89. Juwan Johnson, Saints, TE13, Bye week: 8
90. Stefon Diggs, Commanders, WR37, Bye week: 7
91. Deebo Samuel Sr., 49ers, WR38, Bye week: 8
92. Jayden Daniels, Commanders, QB14, Bye week: 7
93. Tony Pollard, Titans, RB28, Bye week: 9
94. Mark Andrews, Ravens, TE14, Bye week: 13
95. Courtland Sutton, Broncos, WR39, Bye week: 10
96. Chris Godwin Jr., Buccaneers, WR40, Bye week: 10
97. Wan'Dale Robinson, Titans, WR41, Bye week: 9
98. Jakobi Meyers, Jaguars, WR42, Bye week: 7
99. Kyle Pitts Sr., Falcons, TE15, Bye week: 11
100. Bryce Young, Panthers, QB15, Bye week: 5
101. Xavier Worthy, Chiefs, WR43, Bye week: 5
102. Kyle Monangai, Bears, RB29, Bye week: 10
103. Denzel Boston, Browns, WR44, Bye week: 11
104. Bo Nix, Broncos, QB16, Bye week: 10
105. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys, TE16, Bye week: 14
106. Jordan Addison, Vikings, WR45, Bye week: 6
107. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders, RB30, Bye week: 7
108. Brenton Strange, Jaguars, TE17, Bye week: 7
109. Texans D/ST, Texans, DST1, Bye week: 8
110. Jordan Love, Packers, QB17, Bye week: 11
111. KC Concepcion, Browns, WR46, Bye week: 11
112. Seahawks D/ST, Seahawks, DST2, Bye week: 11
113. RJ Harvey, Broncos, RB31, Bye week: 10
114. Justin Herbert, Chargers, QB18, Bye week: 7
115. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings, TE18, Bye week: 6
116. Broncos D/ST, Broncos, DST3, Bye week: 10
117. Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars, WR47, Bye week: 7
118. Rico Dowdle, Steelers, RB32, Bye week: 9
119. Rams D/ST, Rams, DST4, Bye week: 11
120. Khalil Shakir, Bills, WR48, Bye week: 7
121. J.K. Dobbins, Broncos, RB33, Bye week: 10
122. Eagles D/ST, Eagles, DST5, Bye week: 10
123. Romeo Doubs, Patriots, WR49, Bye week: 11
124. C.J. Stroud, Texans, QB19, Bye week: 8
125. Dalton Schultz, Texans, TE19, Bye week: 8
126. Steelers D/ST, Steelers, DST6, Bye week: 9
127. Blake Corum, Rams, RB34, Bye week: 11
128. Quentin Johnston, Chargers, WR50, Bye week: 7
129. Michael Pittman Jr., Steelers, WR51, Bye week: 9
130. Ravens D/ST, Ravens, DST7, Bye week: 13
131. Hunter Henry, Patriots, TE20, Bye week: 11
132. Kyler Murray, Vikings, QB20, Bye week: 6
133. Kenny Gainwell, Buccaneers, RB35, Bye week: 10
134. Patriots D/ST, Patriots, DST8, Bye week: 11
135. Alec Pierce, Colts, WR52, Bye week: 13
136. Jaguars D/ST, Jaguars, DST9, Bye week: 7
137. Adonai Mitchell, Jets, WR53, Bye week: 13
138. Kenyon Sadiq, Jets, TE21, Bye week: 13
139. Jordan Mason, Vikings, RB36, Bye week: 6
140. Vikings D/ST, Vikings, DST10, Bye week: 6
141. Dontayvion Wicks, Eagles, WR54, Bye week: 10
142. Sam Darnold, Seahawks, QB21, Bye week: 11
143. Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals, WR55, Bye week: 14
144. Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys, K1, Bye week: 14
145. Chiefs D/ST, Chiefs, DST11, Bye week: 5
146. Tre Tucker, Raiders, WR56, Bye week: 13
147. Woody Marks, Texans, RB37, Bye week: 8
148. Ka'imi Fairbairn, Texans, K2, Bye week: 8
149. Malik Washington, Dolphins, WR57, Bye week: 6
150. Lions D/ST, Lions, DST12, Bye week: 6
151. AJ Barner, Seahawks, TE22, Bye week: 11
152. Jason Myers, Seahawks, K3, Bye week: 11
153. Malik Willis, Dolphins, QB22, Bye week: 6
154. Keenan Allen, Colts, WR58, Bye week: 13
155. Cam Little, Jaguars, K4, Bye week: 7
156. 49ers D/ST, 49ers, DST13, Bye week: 8
157. Chig Okonkwo, Commanders, TE23, Bye week: 7
158. Josh Jacobs, Packers, RB38, Bye week: 11
159. Eddy Pineiro, 49ers, K5, Bye week: 8
160. Rashid Shaheed, Seahawks, WR59, Bye week: 11
161. Cameron Dicker, Chargers, K6, Bye week: 7
162. Chargers D/ST, Chargers, DST14, Bye week: 7
163. Harrison Mevis, Rams, K7, Bye week: 11
164. Geno Smith, Jets, QB23, Bye week: 13
165. Darren Waller, Panthers, TE24, Bye week: 5
166. Makai Lemon, Eagles, WR60, Bye week: 10
167. Alvin Kamara, Saints, RB39, Bye week: 8
168. Tyler Loop, Ravens, K8, Bye week: 13
169. Browns D/ST, Browns, DST15, Bye week: 11
170. Evan McPherson, Bengals, K9, Bye week: 6
171. Tre' Harris, Chargers, WR61, Bye week: 7
172. Terrance Ferguson, Rams, TE25, Bye week: 11
173. Jake Bates, Lions, K10, Bye week: 6
174. Saints D/ST, Saints, DST16, Bye week: 8
175. Jadarian Price, Seahawks, RB40, Bye week: 11
176. Cairo Santos, Bears, K11, Bye week: 10
177. Devaughn Vele, Saints, WR62, Bye week: 8
178. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers, TE26, Bye week: 9
179. Will Reichard, Vikings, K12, Bye week: 6
180. Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals, QB24, Bye week: 14
181. Packers D/ST, Packers, DST17, Bye week: 11
182. Harrison Butker, Chiefs, K13, Bye week: 5
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