Drafting an 18-Team ESPN Knockout Fantasy Football Team: Round-by-Round Breakdown

Let's keep the fantasy football draft content rolling by doing a knockout league on ESPN!

This 18-team snake draft randomly gave me the 14th pick. It's a full PPR setup, with a 14-player roster. It has five bench slots and nine starters: one QB, two RBs and WRs, one TE, one flex, one DST and one K.

Let's see what we can come up with!

Get ready for draft season! Practice Mock Drafts, check out ADPs and get advice for trades with our trade analyzer!

Round 1 - Chase Brown

I felt like a running back was needed early after receiving the 14th pick, and I was happy to land Brown right away.

He's a great fantasy lead back, and should help me avoid being eliminated with a big Week 1 showing.

Round 2 - Derrick Henry

I got Henry for a second straight draft, but again, I really like him in this kind of format.

I think I'm set up super well now with Brown and Henry at running back. I debated Ashton Jeanty as well, but given his injury concern, I decided to take Henry instead.

Round 3 - Jaylen Waddle

I'm not the biggest Waddle fan this year, but he was easily the best fantasy option at this pick, so he's my WR1 here.

In the knockout format, I can always address the position if Waddle isn't a true fantasy WR1. I'll need more wideouts later, but for now, Waddle will suffice.

Round 4 - Quinshon Judkins

Judkins is already my third running back pick - with such a late pick to start the draft, I think this is the best way to go about things.

He doesn't share the same bye week as my other two backs, which also helps. Judkins could be a swing pick for me, and I believe in him enough to try him in round 4 and to at least be a weekly flex-level starting option.

Round 5 - TreVeyon Henderson

I'm continuing to pile up the running backs, and landed Henderson in round 5.

There simply wasn't anyone else worth a fifth-round pick in my eyes, so I grabbed my fourth RB, and first bench slot. As long as I survive Week 1, I should be set with backs for a while, but I'm getting a bit worried about my wide receiver spot.

Round 6 - Matthew Stafford

I still didn't like the value of anyone in round 6, so I got my top quarterback in Stafford.

I believe he's a big-time draft value and probable steal this coming season. Stafford was great a season ago, and I don't see him regressing that hard in 2026, so he should be my near every-week starter.

Round 7 - Khalil Shakir

I got another wideout here with Shakir.

I think he'll still have a big role with Buffalo despite the team acquiring D.J. Moore in a trade this offseason. I needed a WR, so this was yet another needed pick to bolster my wideout room.

Round 8 - KC Concepcion

I landed a third wide receiver in round 8 with Concepcion.

He might not be on a great team, but he has a good outlook on a team lacking playmakers at skill positions. I might have the top-two Browns' fantasy assets in Judkins and Concepcion, but more importantly, I have a couple wideouts to use in Week 1 now.

Round 9 - Pat Freiermuth

Tight end options are running thin, so I decided to finally nab one here by selecting Freiermuth.

He's the starter for Pittsburgh, and can hopefully hold me over long enough until I can get another tight end.

Round 10 - Kayshon Boutte

I landed another wideout in round 10 with Boutte, who is emerging as a very late favorite fantasy wideout of mine.

The trade that sent him to Houston opens the door for him to contribute more this season, and he could be a flex-level starting option in time. To start the year, he's just depth, but we'll see if it ends up being a draft steal.

Round 11 - Mike Washington Jr.

There's really nothing great available at these picks, so I'm just taking stabs on potential upside guys for Week 1 now.

Washington has the chance to start for Ashton Jeanty if he cannot go because of an injury, and that alone makes him worth stashing in such a deep format. It'd likely take an injury-riddled season from Jeanty to prop Washington up to fantasy relevance, but early on, I don't mind stashing him.

Round 12 - Jordyn Tyson

I took another high-upside guy here in Tyson, who is out the first four weeks at least. I'll stash him on the IR spot I have available to me.

If he can return shortly after that and delivers, then it could really benefit me in the long run. Tyson is truly a stash option being unavailable for Week 1 though.

Round 13 - Trey Smack

My final two picks are going for the least valuable fantasy positions, and I filled one spot here with Smack.

The rookie had good results in the preseason, and kicking for a possibly high-scoring offense, I think Smack is a good Week 1 option.

Round 14 - Titans DST

I capped my draft with a DST, grabbing the one who I believed has the best Week 1 matchup, and that's the Titans.

Tennessee plays the New York Jets, which should be enough said. That could be a very low-scoring, and ugly game, and I think the Titans DST will score several fantasy points.

Final Thoughts

After the draft ended and I was able to take a look at my team (especially the starting lineup), I feel pretty solid going into the year. At the very least, I don't anticipate getting eliminated after a week, and then I can start improving my team from there.

I ended up with just one quarterback (Stafford), so hopefully he suits up in Week 1, and ideally, he fills my starting spot all year. I'd need a replacement for his bye week, but that's not until Week 11, so I have time to figure that out.

At running back, Brown, Henry and Judkins is really a pretty strong trio, especially considering this was an 18-team setup. Throw in Henderson and I have four potential starting RBs every week. Washington is there as a possible flex-level guy early on, or if Jeanty battles injuries.

Wide receiver is a little weak overall, but with five options, I'm covered for a couple weeks, at least. Waddle, Shakir and Concepcion are the best Week 1 starting options, and Boutte and Tyson could be options down the line.

I landed just one tight end in Freiermuth, so I'm taking a bit of a risk there as well. I'll be looking to replace him early on, but won't burn my entire budget early.

As for the kicker and DST spots, I plan to stream there all season. Smack and the Titans DST are good options for Week 1.

I have definite areas of weakness, but how couldn't you after doing an 18-team league draft? As long as I can survive a couple weeks, I'll be able to start addressing those weaknesses, and then start improving the overall talent on my roster.

As for the knockout format, I feel good about my chances in Week 1, and am currently projected to score the ninth-most points in the league. I'll have waiver wire priority No. 5 after that, so I can start improving right away!

Best of luck if you join any knockout, death, or guillotine leagues of your own!