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 154 deep (11 teams times 14 players) for leagues drafting to begin in Week 8, 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. An 11-team league lets you eliminate 10 players through Week 17, leaving only the winner standing.
Last update: Oct. 22, for leagues beginning Week 8.
1. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions, RB1, Bye week: 6
2. Bijan Robinson, Falcons, RB2, Bye week: 11
3. Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs, RB3, Bye week: 5
4. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks, WR1, Bye week: 11
5. Puka Nacua, Rams, WR2, Bye week: 11
6. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers, RB4, Bye week: 8
7. Ja'Marr Chase, Bengals, WR3, Bye week: 6
8. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions, WR4, Bye week: 6
9. Jonathan Taylor, Colts, RB5, Bye week: 13
10. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys, WR5, Bye week: 14
11. Josh Allen, Bills, QB1, Bye week: 7
12. James Cook III, Bills, RB6, Bye week: 7
13. Chris Olave, Saints, WR6, Bye week: 8
14. Derrick Henry, Ravens, RB7, Bye week: 13
15. Brock Purdy, 49ers, QB2, Bye week: 8
16. Justin Jefferson, Vikings, WR7, Bye week: 6
17. Kyren Williams, Rams, RB8, Bye week: 11
18. Javonte Williams, Cowboys, RB9, Bye week: 14
19. Nico Collins, Texans, WR8, Bye week: 8
20. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders, RB10, Bye week: 13
21. Trey McBride, Cardinals, TE1, Bye week: 14
22. Drake London, Falcons, WR9, Bye week: 11
23. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs, QB3, Bye week: 5
24. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers, RB11, Bye week: 5
25. Zay Flowers, Ravens, WR10, Bye week: 13
26. Garrett Wilson, Jets, WR11, Bye week: 13
27. Chase Brown, Bengals, RB12, Bye week: 6
28. Brock Bowers, Raiders, TE2, Bye week: 13
29. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers, WR12, Bye week: 5
30. Malik Nabers, Giants, WR13, Bye week: 8
31. D'Andre Swift, Bears, RB13, Bye week: 10
32. Parker Washington, Jaguars, WR14, Bye week: 7
33. Jaylen Warren, Steelers, RB14, Bye week: 9
34. Christian Watson, Packers, WR15, Bye week: 11
35. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars, QB4, Bye week: 7
36. Bucky Irving, Buccaneers, RB15, Bye week: 10
37. George Kittle, 49ers, TE3, Bye week: 8
38. George Pickens, Cowboys, WR16, Bye week: 14
39. Tee Higgins, Bengals, WR17, Bye week: 6
40. Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars, RB16, Bye week: 7
41. Matthew Golden, Packers, WR18, Bye week: 11
42. DeVonta Smith, Eagles, WR19, Bye week: 10
43. Drake Maye, Patriots, QB5, Bye week: 11
44. Isaiah Likely, Giants, TE4, Bye week: 8
45. Rashee Rice, Chiefs, WR20, Bye week: 5
46. Saquon Barkley, Eagles, RB17, Bye week: 10
47. Mike Evans, 49ers, WR21, Bye week: 8
48. Jalen Coker, Panthers, WR22, Bye week: 5
49. A.J. Brown, Patriots, WR23, Bye week: 11
50. Sam LaPorta, Lions, TE5, Bye week: 6
51. Joe Burrow, Bengals, QB6, Bye week: 6
52. Aaron Jones Sr., Vikings, RB18, Bye week: 6
53. Michael Wilson, Cardinals, WR24, Bye week: 14
54. DJ Moore, Bills, WR25, Bye week: 7
55. Lamar Jackson, Ravens, QB7, Bye week: 13
56. Tyler Warren, Colts, TE6, Bye week: 13
57. Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers, WR26, Bye week: 10
58. Breece Hall, Jets, RB19, Bye week: 13
59. Jared Goff, Lions, QB8, Bye week: 6
60. Carnell Tate, Titans, WR27, Bye week: 9
61. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots, RB20, Bye week: 11
62. Luther Burden III, Bears, WR28, Bye week: 10
63. Jeremiyah Love, Cardinals, RB21, Bye week: 14
64. Travis Kelce, Chiefs, TE7, Bye week: 5
65. Omarion Hampton, Chargers, RB22, Bye week: 7
66. Jameson Williams, Lions, WR29, Bye week: 6
67. Quinshon Judkins, Browns, RB23, Bye week: 11
68. Jaylen Waddle, Broncos, WR30, Bye week: 10
69. Caleb Williams, Bears, QB9, Bye week: 10
70. Josh Jacobs, Packers, RB24, Bye week: 11
71. Colston Loveland, Bears, TE8, Bye week: 10
72. Ladd McConkey, Chargers, WR31, Bye week: 7
73. Dak Prescott, Cowboys, QB10, Bye week: 14
74. Rome Odunze, Bears, WR32, Bye week: 10
75. Tucker Kraft, Packers, TE9, Bye week: 11
76. Cam Skattebo, Giants, RB25, Bye week: 8
77. Jayden Daniels, Commanders, QB11, Bye week: 7
78. Dalton Kincaid, Bills, TE10, Bye week: 7
79. Tony Pollard, Titans, RB26, Bye week: 9
80. Stefon Diggs, Commanders, WR33, Bye week: 7
81. Juwan Johnson, Saints, TE11, Bye week: 8
82. DK Metcalf, Steelers, WR34, Bye week: 9
83. Bryce Young, Panthers, QB12, Bye week: 5
84. Dallas Goedert, Eagles, TE12, Bye week: 10
85. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns, TE13, Bye week: 11
86. Kyle Monangai, Bears, RB27, Bye week: 10
87. Denzel Boston, Browns, WR35, Bye week: 11
88. Matthew Stafford, Rams, QB13, Bye week: 11
89. Jordan Love, Packers, QB14, Bye week: 11
90. Xavier Worthy, Chiefs, WR36, Bye week: 5
91. Brenton Strange, Jaguars, TE14, Bye week: 7
92. Wan'Dale Robinson, Titans, WR37, Bye week: 9
93. C.J. Stroud, Texans, QB15, Bye week: 8
94. Mark Andrews, Ravens, TE15, Bye week: 13
95. Ollie Gordon II, Dolphins, RB28, Bye week: 6
96. Jakobi Meyers, Jaguars, WR38, Bye week: 7
97. Tyler Shough, Saints, QB16, Bye week: 8
98. Josh Downs, Colts, WR39, Bye week: 13
99. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers, TE16, Bye week: 9
100. Jordan Addison, Vikings, WR40, Bye week: 6
101. Khalil Shakir, Bills, WR41, Bye week: 7
102. Kyler Murray, Vikings, QB17, Bye week: 6
103. Woody Marks, Texans, RB29, Bye week: 8
104. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings, TE17, Bye week: 6
105. Deebo Samuel Sr., 49ers, WR42, Bye week: 8
106. Seahawks D/ST, Seahawks, DST1, Bye week: 11
107. Hunter Henry, Patriots, TE18, Bye week: 11
108. Steelers D/ST, Steelers, DST2, Bye week: 9
109. KC Concepcion, Browns, WR43, Bye week: 11
110. Bo Nix, Broncos, QB18, Bye week: 10
111. Texans D/ST, Texans, DST3, Bye week: 8
112. Tre Tucker, Raiders, WR44, Bye week: 13
113. J.K. Dobbins, Broncos, RB30, Bye week: 10
114. Kyle Pitts Sr., Falcons, TE19, Bye week: 11
115. Dontayvion Wicks, Eagles, WR45, Bye week: 10
116. Broncos D/ST, Broncos, DST4, Bye week: 10
117. David Montgomery, Texans, RB31, Bye week: 8
118. Vikings D/ST, Vikings, DST5, Bye week: 6
119. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers, QB19, Bye week: 9
120. Chris Godwin Jr., Buccaneers, WR46, Bye week: 10
121. Rams D/ST, Rams, DST6, Bye week: 11
122. Travis Etienne Jr., Saints, RB32, Bye week: 8
123. Jake Ferguson, Cowboys, TE20, Bye week: 14
124. Ravens D/ST, Ravens, DST7, Bye week: 13
125. Keenan Allen, Colts, WR47, Bye week: 13
126. TreVeyon Henderson, Patriots, RB33, Bye week: 11
127. Jaguars D/ST, Jaguars, DST8, Bye week: 7
128. Kenyon Sadiq, Jets, TE21, Bye week: 13
129. Courtland Sutton, Broncos, WR48, Bye week: 10
130. Braelon Allen, Jets, RB34, Bye week: 13
131. Chiefs D/ST, Chiefs, DST9, Bye week: 5
132. Kirk Cousins, Raiders, QB20, Bye week: 13
133. Patriots D/ST, Patriots, DST10, Bye week: 11
134. Germie Bernard, Steelers, WR49, Bye week: 9
135. Jordan Mason, Vikings, RB35, Bye week: 6
136. Brandon Aubrey, Cowboys, K1, Bye week: 14
137. Dalton Schultz, Texans, TE22, Bye week: 8
138. Malik Washington, Dolphins, WR50, Bye week: 6
139. 49ers D/ST, 49ers, DST11, Bye week: 8
140. Ka'imi Fairbairn, Texans, K2, Bye week: 8
141. Malik Willis, Dolphins, QB21, Bye week: 6
142. Jason Myers, Seahawks, K3, Bye week: 11
143. Blake Corum, Rams, RB36, Bye week: 11
144. Eagles D/ST, Eagles, DST12, Bye week: 10
145. Mike Gesicki, Bengals, TE23, Bye week: 6
146. Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals, QB22, Bye week: 14
147. Cam Little, Jaguars, K4, Bye week: 7
148. Makai Lemon, Eagles, WR51, Bye week: 10
149. RJ Harvey, Broncos, RB37, Bye week: 10
150. Will Reichard, Vikings, K5, Bye week: 6
151. Browns D/ST, Browns, DST13, Bye week: 11
152. Michael Mayer, Raiders, TE24, Bye week: 13
153. Evan McPherson, Bengals, K6, Bye week: 6
154. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks, RB38, Bye week: 11
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