All 24 EFL Championship clubs ranked by the quality of their strongest starting XI | OneFootball

FLW looks at how strong each club's best team is on paper, and whether current circumstances are having a positive or negative impact

The 2026/27 Championship season is currently on pause for its first international break, which has been extended by a further week in order for club action to be back on the agenda throughout the entirety of October.

Naturally, the second tier has already provided several eye-catching moments - both good and bad - in its first two months, with certain clubs either exceeding or massively underperforming in relation to the pre-season expectations that were placed on them by supporters and those on the outside.

Several sides will certainly fancy their chances of making the top eight at the end of the campaign as a result of an encouraging start, whilst for others, merely avoiding relegation to League One would also count as a successful season.

However, what the Championship is perhaps famed for, above all else, is that anyone is capable of beating anyone, irrespective of club stature or squad value.

But whilst that has continued to be the case this term, Football League World have ranked all 24 clubs on the strength of their strongest starting lineup.

24 ? ? Lincoln City

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Lincoln City have been a surprise package under the joint-management of Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw, particularly when comparing their squad to all 23 divisional counterparts.

The likes of Sonny Bradley, Adam Reach and Chiedoze Ogbene do provide extensive experience of the league, but as was showcased in their title-winning season last time out, the biggest asset at the ProAmpac Stadium is proving to be their togetherness over any individual quality.

23 ? ? Blackburn Rovers

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Blackburn Rovers have been on a downward spiral in recent months, and that was reflected by the fact Tony Mowbray was only able to add four new players to his squad at Ewood Park in the summer.

It has been a mixed start for the East Lancashire side, who have been heavily tipped for relegation, even though they have been able to retain the services of Balasz Toth and Todd Cantwell, whilst Dapo Afolayan and Ryoya Morishita have also shown glimpses of quality.

22 ? ? Preston North End

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Many would argue that the quality of Preston North End's squad has regressed in recent times, even if the club were able to permanently sign Alfie Devine on a club-record fee in July.

The rearguard at Deepdale haven't covered themselves in glory by shipping 15 goals in eight matches, whilst only averaging one goal per game so far after selling Milutin Osmajic to Genoa in the summer window, as well as seeing Daniel Jebbison and Lewis Dobbin's respective loans expire.

21 ? ? Cardiff City

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Cardiff City have endured a tough return to the Championship under Brian Barry-Murphy, who hasn't been able to call upon the services of many key players at the start of the season.

Yousef Salech was the latest to join an injury list which had previously included the highly-rated Welsh international centre-back, Dylan Lawlor, who made his return from the sidelines ahead of the international break to boost what had been a depleted defensive department due to various circumstances.

20 ? ? Bolton Wanderers

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Just ahead of the Welsh side are fellow newly-promoted side, Bolton Wanderers.

The Whites had been building towards a Championship return for many years, and after their promotion, several new additions have been made to Steven Schumacher's squad, including the high-profile trio of Gavin Bazunu, Ben Davies and Samuel Iling-Junior.

However, it is the duo of Thierry Gale and Sam Dalby, two of the club's promotion heroes who have stepped up to the plate so far.

19 ? ? Charlton Athletic

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Charlton Athletic are up next, and whilst Nathan Jones certainly doesn't have the strongest Championship XI at his disposal, it is one built on graft and spirit.

Despite losing several defensive and experienced players at the start of the campaign to injury, the Addicks have surprised many as they sit ninth at present, with Tyreece Campbell and Lloyd Jones certainly grabbing the headlines on an individual scale.

18

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Portsmouth have also not been able to utilise a settled XI so far this season, with the likes of Josh Murphy currently unavailable to John Mousinho with a groin problem.

As such, it has been a mixed start to the campaign for the South Coast side, who do still boast plenty of quality in midfield areas through the likes of Abu Kamara and Adrian Segecic, with the latter hoping to build on his 10-goal season last time out.

17 ? ? Watford

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Watford are certainly one of the hardest clubs to gauge when it comes to squad quality as a result of the turnover which always seems to occur at Vicarage Road, both on the pitch and in the dugout.

The more high-profile names currently in Alessio Dionisi's squad include Edo Kayembe, Stephy Mavididi, Myron Boadu and Michail Antonio, but after a difficult run of form, it remains to be seen if the Hornets can prove that their best starting lineup is worthy of a higher position in this particular ranking.

16 ? ? Queens Park Rangers

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In a similar position are Queens Park Rangers, currently under their second season of Julien Stephan's management.

That said, many would also argue that the Frenchman has made improvements in key areas which would strengthen his best possible XI in the form of Pierce Charles and Glen Kamara, in particular.

The duo of Rumarn Burrell and Richard Kone will also be viewed as the undisputed striking duo at Loftus Road when both are fully fit and firing.

15 ? ? Bristol City

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Bristol City are next, with Michael Skubala certainly shuffling his pack after being appointed at Ashton Gate.

The majority of changes have come in attack with the additions of Elijah Adebayo, Dom Ballard and Lorent Tolaj - all of whom were impressive figures in League One last season.

However, whilst Rio Cardines also leads the way in Championship assists, there are question marks over the defence in BS3 at present despite an encouraging start.