Top 7 most exciting EFL League One teams to watch right now (Ranked) | OneFootball

Who are the best third tier sides to watch from an entertainment standpoint?

We are just a handful of games into the 2026-27 League One season, but the table is starting to take shape at both ends.

Leicester City's shock relegation to the third tier brought a new test for their divisional rivals, but under Russell Martin's management, they've not yet hit the ground running as perhaps expected.

It's left the door open for other clubs to steal a march in the early stages - but who are the SEVEN most exciting clubs at the level to watch? FLW takes a look...

7 ? ? Leyton Orient

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Leyton Orient decided to cash in on star striker Dom Ballard after a prolific season at League One level in 2025-26, and the rumoured £5 million deal with Bristol City gave Richie Wellens the funds to go out and bolster his attack.

They did that by bringing Jaze Kabia in from Grimsby Town for starters after an 18-goal haul at fourth tier level last season, and towards the end of the window, the O's landed another coup by signing Tottenham's Dane Scarlett - once tipped for the very top - on a permanent basis.

It gives Wellens plenty to play with up top, and Kabia himself has got four league goals already - the likes of Yusuf Akhamrich, Nick Oyekunle, Ollie O'Neill, Tony Springett, Aaron Connolly, Armando Dobra and Demetri Mitchell are all also part of the supporting cast, which makes for exciting reading.

The 5-0 drubbing of Bromley early on in the season was a sign of Orient's attacking intentions, and when everyone's fully fit, Wellens has a huge selection dilemma ahead of him.

6 ? ? Sheffield Wednesday

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It's still not quite fully clicked for Sheffield Wednesday in League One so far, but when it does, they could end up being unstoppable.

Arise Capital Partners' takeover at Hillsborough has brought a fresh sense of optimism on the terraces, even if not everyone is convinced by Henrik Pedersen as head coach, but the summer recruitment was certainly eye-catching on multiple levels.

No doubt the marquee addition is that of Louie Barry from Aston Villa on a permanent basis, especially as it was reported he was on £35,000-a week at the Premier League outfit, but his bright start to life in South Yorkshire has been put on hold due to an ankle injury.

There's plenty of depth going forward though, although back-to-back goalless home draws with Wigan Athletic and Stockport County have tempered enthusiasm somewhat - when things are fully firing though like they were in the 7-2 win over Bromley, Wednesday are going to be really fun to watch, especially as Barry Bannan is back conducting play in the middle of the park.

5 ? ? Oxford United

Under a registration embargo they may have been all summer, but Oxford United - for all their lack of transfer activity - still have a very energetic, forward-thinking squad for new head coach Aaron Ramsey to work with.

Losing wantaway pair Stan Mills and Brian De Keersmaecker to Preston North End and Bristol City respectively was a bit of a blow, but the team morale may end up being better for it - and the former's exit has led to the emergence of 18-year-old academy graduate Mo Missanga.

The U's have lost just one of their six league matches so far, and they still have exciting players like Tyler Goodrham, Siriki Dembélé and Cameron Brannagan on the books - the loan additions of Kai Andrews and Luka Lynch were approved by the EFL too, and they can both add youthful exuberance in the final third.

Add in the goals from the much improved Gatlin O'Donkor too, and Ramsey certainly has the tools to push a fun to watch Oxford side into the top six with limited resources.

4 ? ? Huddersfield Town

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A ninth-placed finish for Huddersfield Town in 2025-26 was not what owner Kevin Nagle would've had in mind, especially given some of the recruitment he sanctioned last summer.

There was also a big gamble taken on Lee Grant as the club's new head coach in what was his first leading job - he didn't see out the season though, and 2026-27 has seen Nagle go down the novice route again with Martin Drury taking charge after a spell in interim charge.

He's doing a fine job so far - the Terriers sit second in the xP (expected points) table, having secured 12 points from their first seven matches, finally slipping to defeat at the hands of Bromley recently, but it's fair to say that Drury has been given some exciting tools to work with.

Joe Taylor has finally found some form for Town, whilst the addition of Derensili Sanches Fernandes from Excelsior already looks to be a coup - if those two can keep on linking up for goals, then League One is in trouble.

3 ? ? Stockport County

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The top scorers in League One so far, with 16 goals at the time of writing, are Stockport County, who despite losing some key players over the summer certainly haven't lost their touch.

The likes of Louie Barry and Odin Bailey may have departed, but the key core of the squad, which includes Ethan Pye, Jack Diamond, Oli Norwood and Kyle Wootton remained, and sprinkled with a few new young signings, Dave Challinor's replacement as head coach - Jimmy McNulty - certainly knows how to get goals out of the Hatters.

Wootton and Diamond lead the way for now in the scoring department, but new recruits Harry Wood and Ryan Glover have chipped in with a handful already, whilst versatile ex-Man United youngster Ethan Ennis will likely be a handful out wide too - Adama Sidibeh is yet to take to the pitch either this season after injury, and that's an exciting player to return to the attacking unit.

Some would have expected County to perhaps fall away from the top six due to Challinor's exit, but they sit third in the xP table and ninth in the real one - there's plenty of data to suggest that they'll be in and around the promotion mix once more, and scoring plenty of goals along the way.

2 ? ? Plymouth Argyle

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It was always going to be hard to replace the goals and talent of Lorent Tolaj, even after just one season, but Plymouth Argyle are seemingly doing just fine without the Swiss maestro.

Bristol City have gained Tolaj's talents, and you wouldn't have necessarily pitched Mansfield Town's Will Evans as his replcaement, but whatever the Pilgrims are doing right now - it's working.

They may sit 13th in the xP table as it currently stands, but Tom Cleverley's side are third in the actual standings after seven games played, scoring 14 goals in the process.

Bim Pepple is starting to get firing again and Spurs loanee Oliver Irow has hit the ground running - expect a lot more goals from Argyle in their attack-minded 4-4-2 formation.

1 ? ? Reading FC

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Despite only sitting eighth in League One after six matches played, albeit with a game in hand on quite a few teams, Reading sit top of the xP table - and it's easy to see why.

Manager Leam Richardson came in for some flak from fans last season as the Royals finished 12th position, but he's been helped out with some good summer recruitment, with Kyreece Lisbie arriving from Colchester United, George Earthy from West Ham and Luton Town's Jacob Brown being some of the highlights.

Keeping their best players has helped Reading in the final third too. Lewis Wing and Charlie Savage provide creativity from the middle, but it's the goals of Jack Marriott that are the difference maker for the Berkshire outfit - the striker's support network around him is just as crucial though, and the ability that they've got in those positions make them perhaps the most exciting team in League One right now.