Top 15 best EFL League One players so far this season (Ranked) | OneFootball

Which League One players have started quickest out of the blocks this season?

The first international break is upon us, and while play doesn't completely stop in League One, it serves as a good point to reflect on a busy opening six weeks of the campaign.

In the third tier, every team, barring Reading and Oxford United, has played seven league games, and each week has been as unpredictable as the last. Currently, just three points separate the play-offs from 19th.

So, it's hard to pick out which side has been the best so far this season, but which players have stood out the most to open the campaign in the third tier?

Football League World has looked at WhoScored's player ratings, counting players who have made five or more appearances (four, when counting Oxford and Reading) this season, to see who, statistically, has been the best in the division thus far.

15 ? ? Connor Taylor - Wycombe Wanderers (7.22)

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It's not been the greatest season so far for Wycombe Wanderers, especially defensively, but they're starting to get some momentum under interim boss Tom Hounsell, and centre-back Connor Taylor has put in some good performances, even despite goals being shipped.

The 24-year-old has the most clearances in the division, has won duels in the air at an 81.8% rate and is in the top 5% of centre-backs for defensive contributions, too, per Fotmob. He also found the net against Plymouth Argyle, which will contribute to a 7.22 rating.

The first clean sheet of the season on Saturday against Wigan Athletic will have been a massive boost, and Taylor will be hoping it's the first of many.

14 ? ? Oliver Norwood - Stockport County (7.23)

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Ever since he set foot in League One back in 2024, Oliver Norwood has been one of the best players in the division, both when it comes to his stats and just from passing the eye test.

The 35-year-old dictates play like no other in the heart of the Stockport County midfield, and with new head coach Jimmy McNulty playing an even more possession-heavy playstyle than Dave Challinor, the Northern Irishman's strengths are highlighted even further.

No midfielder has played more passes, nor created more big chances, than Norwood, and you'd expect that to remain the case as the campaign progresses.

13 ? ? Kyle Wootton - Stockport County (7.24)

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Ditto Norwood's Stockport teammate Kyle Wootton when it comes to being one of the best players in his position over the past couple of years. It's quite a surprise that the 29-year-old isn't consistently being linked with making a step up, as he more than deserves it.

Wootton is someone who plays into the hands of statisticians and ratings-makers, as he wins duels more than most in his position; his hold-up play allows his teammates to get into goalscoring opportunities, and he plays alongside so many talented creative players that chances come pretty easily for him.

He could have easily won the Golden Boot last season if he didn't have to play centre-back for the final seven games last year, and with four goals in seven already this season, he'll more than definitely be in the conversation come May once again.

12 ? ? Matthew Pennington - Bradford City (7.26)

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The fact that Bradford City head into the international break top despite having a goalscoring record better than just three other sides is a testament to how strong defensively Graham Alexander's side has been.

Matthew Pennington won't be the only Bantams centre-back to appear on this list, and for good reason, too. The 31-year-old has missed just one game this season — their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Cambridge United — meaning the opposition has scored in just one of the six games he's played in.

The control that Bradford have had in games has meant that Pennington hasn't needed to put up incredible defensive numbers relative to his position, but his clean sheet record will do no harm in securing him a place on this list.

11 ? ? Yusuf Akhamrich - Leyton Orient (7.26)

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Tottenham Hotspur academy man Yusuf Akhamrich looked promising in his first loan spell with Bristol Rovers in League Two during the second half of last season, registering eight goal involvements in 19 games.

In just seven League One games at Leyton Orient, the Spurs loanee has six goal involvements already, netting three and assisting three, too.

The 21-year-old is already establishing himself as Orient's main point of attack, and a lot of the good stuff that Richie Wellens' side has done through seven games all comes down to his influence.

Akhamrich hadn't even made his EFL debut this time last year, but is already on his way to becoming one of the most exciting young prospects in the third tier.

10 ? ? Michal Helik - Oxford United (7.27)

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Over the past few seasons, Michal Helik has shown himself to be a very solid centre-back at Championship level for sides scrapping down at the bottom.

If not for the transfer embargo currently bestowed upon Oxford, perhaps the 31-year-old would have been in demand from a side in the second tier. Either way, the Yellows have been able to retain him, and he's already showing his worth in a side exceeding some pre-season expectations under Aaron Ramsey.

Helik's only made four appearances this season, so he's very much behind in terms of minutes compared to some of his peers. However, his per-90 stats have him in the top 12% of centre-backs for defensive contributions and clearances, per Fotmob.

9 ? ? Carl Piergianni - Stevenage (7.30)

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Carl Piergianni was the best-performing player in League One throughout last season, according to WhoScored, so it's no surprise to see the veteran centre-back in the top 10 in the early stages of the current campaign.

The Stevenage captain has been ever-present for Alex Revell so far this season and has once again been the lynchpin for a side that have been tough to beat ever since they came into the third tier back in 2023.

No centre-back has won more duels both in the air and on the ground this year, and he's doing both at a rate of at least 72%. After a bit of a wobble to start the season, too, the Boro are starting to get back to normal when it comes to being difficult to score past.

More games with just one goal conceded maximum will help boost Piergianni's rating, and it may not be long before he's back challenging at the top of this specific list.

8 ? ? Siriki Dembele - Oxford United (7.31)

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Oxford's transfer embargo has also allowed for some players who were on the scrap heap at the Kassam Stadium to reintegrate themselves back into the fold and repair the poor reputation they had amongst the fanbase.

In any other situation, Siriki Dembele would have left Oxford this summer. The 30-year-old played fewer than 650 minutes of Championship action last season and hardly featured in the second half of the campaign.

In reality, though, Dembele has started every game for the Yellows under Aaron Ramsey, scoring a couple, setting one up and having one of the best ratings across the division, according to WhoScored.

7 ? ? Derensili Sanches Fernandes - Huddersfield Town (7.31)

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Huddersfield Town fans felt they were being introduced to the best player in the entire division when Derensili Sanches Fernandes netted a brace on his league debut against AFC Wimbledon.

While he hasn't gone from strength to strength in front of goal since, and the Dutchman was actually benched by Martin Drury at Bromley on Saturday, the 25-year-old has been electric and is one of the best new signings a third-tier side has made this summer.

Sanches Fernandes was a coup for Huddersfield, signing after registering nine goal contributions for Excelsior in the Eredivisie last season, and he's shown qualities higher than League One in the short time he's spent at the club.

There's an air of excitement when he gets on the ball. No winger has created more chances in the league this year, and if he keeps that up, he could easily end this season with 10+ in both the goals and assists departments.

6 ? ? Finn Delap - Burton Albion (7.33)

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Burton Albion enjoyed a brilliant start to the new campaign, partly due to the emergence of academy graduate Finn Delap, who could only make eight league appearances last season due to a serious knee injury.

The 21-year-old, son of Rory and brother of Liam, is in the top 6% of centre-backs in League One in terms of his percentage of aerial duels won and his defensive contributions per 90. He also has a couple of goals, which will contribute to the overall 7.33 rating.

Unfortunately, he's missed the last two outings with another, less serious, knee injury, and Burton have conceded five in those games, compared to seven in the five he's played.