2026 Akron University Depth Chart

Akron’s fantasy ecosystem is built around a tempo-capable, 11-personnel foundation that should keep the top two WRs and the primary RB live in weekly lineups (Moorhead explicitly tied their offensive “staples” to being in 11 personnel early, playing with tempo, and mixing run/pass).

With Ben Finley now out of the picture after a 2025 season that produced 2,475 passing yards and 19 passing TDs, the only QB outcome that really matters for fantasy is who gives you stable snaps plus enough rushing to avoid “empty” 200-yard passing lines.

Reese Poffenbarger is the clear QB1 bet because Akron went out and acquired an experienced, volume-proven passer (247 Composite 0.8283) who already showed he can handle heavy usage as an FCS starter, even if his most recent FBS reps were limited (5-of-7 for 36 yards + 20 rushing yards in 2025 at North Texas).

The defining question of the 2026 Mean Green offense is who emerges from a legitimate three-man quarterback competition. Tayven Jackson — a four-school senior with 10 starts at UCF in 2025 (2,151 passing yards, 10:8 TD-to-INT ratio, three rushing scores) — took first-team reps on Day 1 of spring practice and carries the experience edge Neal Brown covets, especially with a brutal Week 1 opener at national champion Indiana. However, Brown has been emphatic that Chris Jimerson Jr. is more than a warm body: “He was the fastest guy on the team last year … has a strong arm, is smart and a competitor.” Texas Football’s analysts are framing this as a Jimerson vs. Jackson battle that could bleed into fall camp. Chaston Ditta, who engineered a Military Bowl win over Pitt for ECU last December, is a capable emergency option. For dynasty investors, Jackson is the QB1 projection — but Jimerson is a legitimate sleeper with dual-threat upside.