Week 11 of the NFL season brings significant change to the top ten of the draft order as teams begin to jump in and out due to shocking upsets and general malaise. Who will win the race for the top pick in this week’s action? Week 10 saw the chase for the top pick whittle itself down to nine possible contenders.
Chasing The First Pick In The 2026 Draft: Dressed To The Nines
1. Tennessee Titans (1-8)
SOS: .569
Week 11 Opponent: HOME vs. Houston
Tennessee waltzed its way into the first overall selection without having to lift a muscle after the previous holders, the Saints, surprisingly defeated the Panthers on the road. It appears the stranglehold will hold true for another week at least, with rival Houston in town. However unlikely an upset, the Texans required a miraculous comeback against the Jaguars last week and could be emotionally spent. Another factor that could play a role in a potential upset is that Tennessee provides a delicious trap game in Houston’s schedule. The away team must play Buffalo, Indianapolis, and evergreen Kansas City consecutively. Still, the Texans are a far superior team to the Titans and boast a fearsome pass rush against a laughably bad offensive line. Tennessee will look to score actual points in this one, as the last time these two played, they were blanked, 26-0.
2. New Orleans Saints (2-8)
SOS: .497
Week 11 Opponent: BYE
Turnabout is fair play, as this week the Saints will be intently watching the scoreboard in Nashville after the Titans finagled their way into the top pick last week while on the couch. New Orleans shocked the Panthers on Sunday with a laugh-inducing 17-7 victory, which knocked them out of the top spot. The Saints will also likely keep an eye on the two-win teams below them and root hard for victories in those contests. Next up in Week 12: a spiraling Atlanta squad after they share notes on the Panthers.
3. New York Giants (2-8)
SOS: .538
Week 11 Opponent: HOME vs. Green Bay Packers
New York became the second franchise to dethrone its head coach after blowing yet another double-digit lead and witnessing Jaxson Dart’s fourth concussion. Offensive coordinator Mike Kafka is entrusted with seeing out the rest of the season as the interim head coach. It’s entirely possible that he retains the role, as he has been a hot-to-lukewarm head coaching candidate over the past few cycles. Green Bay rolls into MetLife Stadium needing a get-right contest after being largely shut down by the Eagles on Monday night. If Dart is unable to go, it will be Russell Wilson manning the controls again. The Packers need a win to keep pace in an extremely competitive NFC North and could be caught looking ahead to a Week 12 showdown with Minnesota. Could the Giants receive the classic new head coach jump to propel them to a home upset?
4. Cleveland Browns (2-7)
SOS: .474
Week 11 Opponent: HOME vs. Baltimore Ravens
Just how bad is it for the Mistake By The Lake? It took Dillon Gabriel five games to surpass the yardage of a quarterback who plays for a division rival. They’re in a prime position to secure a top-three selection at the end of the season, if not earlier. The Browns had their chances to provide their fans with a salve for their woes last week, but couldn’t capitalize against a spirited Jets squad. Another fruitless adventure awaits defensive stud Myles Garrett and his merry Browns against the surging Ravens in Week 11. The lack of offensive punch forced head coach Kevin Stefanski to hand play-calling to OC Tommy Rees, to no avail. Watch this space for a possible competitive gambit for a top-two selection, with some luck.
5. New York Jets (2-7)
SOS: .503
Week 11 Opponent: AWAY @ New England Patriots (TNF)
A seven-game losing streak is in the rear-view mirror as Aaron Glenn’s Jets are in a feisty mood, winning two consecutive games. They somehow outlasted the Browns on Sunday, further hampering their chances of a top-three selection. No matter, as they visit the white hot Patriots on Thursday, who seized control of the AFC East after a brief sojourn into the hinterlands of no quarterback land. However, the Jets will be without the services of star receiver Garrett Wilson due to injury.
It’s quite remarkable how Justin Fields has regressed as a passer while in Gang Green. He threw for only 54 yards on Sunday afternoon and led his team to victory on the backs of the defense. Fields will need a lot more production to compete against possible MVP candidate Drake Maye. The Jets could pull off the upset if they catch the Patriots unawares as they look forward to lighting up Cincy’s porous defense in Week 12.
6. Las Vegas Raiders (2-7)
SOS: .553
Week 11 Opponent: HOME vs. Dallas Cowboys (MNF)
If not for the Eagles and Packers dueling to the displeasure of many eyeballs on Monday night, last Thursday’s action between the woebegone Raiders and rising Broncos would have set back football for decades. The sheer brutality of shamelessly offensive football put on display by the Raiders was awe-inspiring. Fresh off their discouraging loss to their archrivals from altitude, they face America’s Team fresh off a bye and needing a win. Dallas really needs the victory over the Raiders before facing a gauntlet of the Eagles, Chiefs (Thanksgiving), and Detroit. Las Vegas has a slight chance against Jerry Jones’ team since Dallas is wholly abysmal on defense. Quarterback Geno Smith needs a bounce-back game in the worst way possible to resuscitate what little hope of retaining his job in 2026. The Tank Bowl Of The Decade awaits next week when Cleveland visits the desert.
7. Miami Dolphins (3-7)
SOS: .500
Week 11 Opponent: HOME vs. Washington Commanders
Miami shocked the world and ruined many hopeless survivor pools on Sunday with an upset win over powerhouse Buffalo following a busy trade deadline. After a thrilling division win, they host the Commanders at the esteemed and renovated Santiago Bernabeu, who are enduring yet another lost season in their sordid franchise history. This matchup between two behemoths of mediocrity will go a long way in determining the draft order. Can Mike McDaniel and company pull off another win to escape the top ten?
8. Washington Commanders (3-7)
SOS: .513
Week 11 Opponent: AWAY @ Miami Dolphins
The Commanders trudged their way through a get-right game for the Lions last Sunday with a blowout loss at home. Interestingly, Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell stripped play-calling duties from OC John Morton and scored 44 points against the wounded Commanders’ defense. Washington travels to Madrid, where champions are built to last in the most ruthless sporting competition (the Champions League). The battle in Spain’s capital sets the tone for the loser of this contest to firm up a spot in the top five, depending on results elsewhere. Jayden Daniels is lost for the season, and backup Marcus Mariota is showing his age and declining talent. It could be projected that the Commanders pack it up and try again next season with better health and results. They have lost five consecutive games and six of seven.
9. Cincinnati Bengals (3-6)
SOS: .506
Week 11 Opponent: AWAY @ Pittsburgh Steelers
The Bengals return from their bye week with some good news as franchise superstar quarterback Joe Burrow is nearing a return. Will it be enough to give them a boost for a run to the playoffs after a horrific run of misery by the defense? Cincinnati is 3-6 and facing a gauntlet of four AFC contenders, beginning with a trip to eternal blood rival Pittsburgh, which also needs a win. Zac Taylor’s men dropped from eighth in the draft order to ninth this week due to the teams above them losing.
Main Image: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
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