West Ham United lead the promotion market as the standout favorite following relegation from the Premier League, backed by parachute payments, squad depth, and continuity under manager Nuno Espírito Santo. Wolverhampton Wanderers sit close behind with similar financial advantages and recent additions including Raúl Jiménez, though both sides have endured uneven starts after two matchweeks. Middlesbrough, Burnley, and Southampton remain prominent contenders, with the latter facing a four-point deduction. Early table leaders Millwall and West Brom highlight the division's unpredictability, while the expanded six-team play-off format (third through eighth) broadens promotion pathways for sides like Birmingham and Sheffield United. Summer recruitment, managerial changes, and fixture congestion will shape the race across the 46-game schedule.