The World Cup has faded into memory. Now the real jeopardy begins.
After a summer of transfer drama, managerial changes and major squad turnover, the Championship is back — and for Final One Standing players, it promises to be a minefield.
On paper, this could be one of the closest Championship seasons in years.
There are plenty of familiar faces, but some genuine heavyweights have dropped into the division. West Ham are back, and it was only a few years ago that the Hammers were lifting a European trophy, while Wolves and Burnley bring recent Premier League experience. At the other end, Lincoln City, Cardiff City and Bolton Wanderers have earned their way back into the second tier with promotion from League One.
Naturally, the relegated clubs dominate the betting. But this is the Championship, and reputation only gets you so far.
And for Final One Standing, last season’s league table only tells part of the story.
Dig beneath the results, and the numbers reveal which teams were genuinely strong, which may have been better than their finishing position suggested — and which could have been living dangerously.
So, before making those early selections, here are six teams worth watching very closely.
The Hammers are unquestionably the biggest name to arrive in the Championship — and they begin the season as favourites… and the reason for this early season optimism: Jarrod Bowen.
Keeping a proven Premier League performer of his quality is enormous. Bowen ranked seventh for progressive carrying distance last season, created 27 shots through his dribbling, and once again demonstrated clinical finishing by scoring 1.74 goals above expected metrics.
More importantly, that wasn’t an isolated season. Bowen has repeatedly shown an ability to outperform his projected numbers, and dropping that kind of player into the Championship, West Ham immediately possess a game-changer.
Their summer has been relatively quiet in terms of arrivals, but significant sales have provided considerable spending power. Losing players such as Crysencio Summerville and Matheus Fernandes hurts, but it also gives West Ham the resources to address weaknesses before the window closes.
This was a side whose Premier League performances weren’t always reflected by their results. With Bowen still leading the attack and potentially more reinforcements to come, West Ham look equipped to bounce straight back.
For Final One Standing players, though, there could be another problem: when do you use them? They may quickly become one of the most valuable selections on the board.
Blackburn Rovers
Rovers survived by the skin of their teeth last season. But the underlying numbers suggest they might be considerably better than their 20th position indicates.
The problem was obvious: finishing.
Blackburn only scored 42 goals from 55.36 xG, which is an enormous −13.36 underperformance — the biggest attacking shortfall in the division.
And the biggest culprit: Yuki Ohashi.
He scored ten times from 14.04 xG, four goals less than the metrics suggest, and despite recording the fourth-highest xG in the Championship, 20 players scored more.
Defensively, however, the picture was much healthier.
They conceded 56 goals from 55.68 xGA, almost exactly where they should be, which represented the fifth-best defensive record in the division, while 12 clean sheets ranked ninth.
And that makes Blackburn fascinating.
They don’t necessarily need to become a dramatically better football team. Simply finishing chances at something approaching the expected rate could transform their season.
Potentially, there could be another 10+ goals waiting to be found, and this could be the difference between another relegation battle and a comfortable mid-table finish — or perhaps something more ambitious!
Blackburn could be one of the early-season teams whose results catch up with their numbers.
Queens Park Rangers
If Blackburn’s underlying numbers offer encouragement, the Hoops should set alarm bells ringing.
They finished 15th last season, but defensively, performances were considerably worse than that position suggests: conceding 73 goals from only 57.17 xGA — the second-most in the Championship. That is a staggering 15.83 goals above expectation.
Opponents also converted 13.20% of their shots, one of the highest rates in the division. Something clearly was not working.
And then there was their finish to 2025-26. QPR lost their final four matches, went six without a win and managed only three victories across their final 13 games.
That is worrying form!
Head coach Julien Stéphan has attempted to address the problem during the close season, bringing in three new goalkeepers alongside Premier League-experienced additions Glen Kamara and Tariq Lamptey.
Those changes could help.
But until QPR demonstrate that their defensive problems have been resolved, they look like a side to treat with considerable caution. And in a game where one bad selection ends everything, QPR may be one of those teams you want to avoid early doors…
Burnley
Burnley have become football’s ultimate yo-yo club: seemingly too strong for the Championship, but repeatedly unable to establish themselves in the Premier League.
This time, however, promotion might not be quite so straightforward.
Their attacking numbers from last season offer encouragement. The Clarets scored 38 goals from 32.51 xG, outperforming expectation by 5.49 goals. And against Championship defences, that attacking efficiency could translate into considerably greater output.
The concern, however, is at the other end.
Burnley conceded 75 goals from 75.36 xGA and allowed a huge 636 shots, including 216 on target.
That matters because this wasn’t simply bad luck or poor goalkeeping. Opponents were consistently creating good opportunities… and their vulnerability is clear to see.
But the drop in quality should help enormously, although anyone expecting another bounce-back promotion should tread carefully. The Clarets’ reputation makes them appealing, but their numbers suggest the team is built on shaky foundations.
Middlesbrough
If you’re searching for an established Championship side whose numbers point towards a genuine promotion challenge, then look no further than Middlesbrough.
The Boro narrowly missed out last season, and their push for a place at the top table was no fluke, with strong sustainable figures at both ends of the pitch.
Only 60.84% of the shots Middlesbrough faced came from inside the penalty area, and that was the lowest in the Championship. In short, the side was exceptionally efficient at forcing their opponents into lower-quality efforts.
And in attack, Tommy Conway and Morgan Whittaker combined for 27 goals, while their summer recruitment hints at a club determined to take the next step.
While others attract attention because of their Premier League pedigree, Boro offer something just as valuable: a proven Championship record with numbers to back up the hype.
They could become an extremely useful Final One Standing option.
Lincoln City
And finally, perhaps the biggest wildcard of them all.
Lincoln were the most convincing of the three promoted sides, but their League One numbers come with a sizeable warning.
They scored a remarkable 89 goals from only 68.31 xG, the biggest attacking gap in League One (+20.69), combined with a strong defence (less than a goal per game conceded).
It produced a brilliant 100+ point campaign. But can it continue?
History tells us that extreme overperformance is difficult to sustain, and Lincoln are now stepping into a division where the quality of opposition rises considerably.
Any regression towards expectation, and their attacking output would fall sharply, making the adjustment to Championship football brutal. But that doesn’t mean Lincoln are destined to struggle. It means their numbers demand caution.
Last season’s results tell you Lincoln were excellent. The underlying data asks whether they can be that efficient again!
That’s the beauty — and the danger — of the Championship.
West Ham have the star power. Middlesbrough have the underlying numbers. Blackburn could be primed for positive regression. Burnley’s reputation may disguise some vulnerabilities. QPR have defensive questions to answer. And Lincoln arrive carrying numbers that look almost too good to repeat.
And in Final One Standing, you don’t need to predict the entire season. You need to get one result right at a time. It sounds easy… until it isn’t.
The Championship campaign begins this weekend. Choose wisely.
