2026 Auburn Tigers Depth Chart
Auburn’s offense will hinge on the instant chemistry between Byrum Brown and the transplanted core from USF. Brown was the staff’s top portal target and brings three years in Alex Golesh’s system, making him a “proven starter” who knows the offense, terminology and expectations. That experience – plus Brown’s 14 rushing TDs last year – vaults him over any developmental QB options. (Former five-star Deuce Knight exited in the post-Freeze exodus, so there’s no blue-chip battle here.) Brown’s dual-threat prowess and grasp of Golesh’s uptempo scheme give him a high floor as QB1, with transfer Locklan Hewlett (another Golesh pupil) likely the next man up for continuity. The backfield is loaded with talent but projects as a committee. Returning junior Jeremiah Cobb ran for 968 yards in 2025 and provides a “veteran presence”, yet Auburn aggressively added competition. Baylor transfer Bryson Washington is a downhill runner who logged a 1,000-yard season as a freshman, and he’s “hungry to…play in the SEC” per Golesh. Cobb’s all-around game and familiarity keep him narrowly on top, but Washington’s Power-5 production will push for a co-lead role. Both backs should see ample work given Golesh’s fast pace. Behind them, former USF back Nykahi Davenport brings explosive efficiency (612 yards at 6.2 YPC) and inside knowledge of the playbook – a clear path to carve out a change-of-pace role. This depth means Auburn can deploy fresh legs and ride the hot hand, so while Cobb is the safest bet, the ceiling play might be Washington if he seizes goal-line duties. Davenport profiles as a high-upside wildcard who could become fantasy relevant if injuries strike or his raw talent continues to flash. Overall, we’re prioritizing the backs in the most stable roles while acknowledging this room’s newfound depth and rotation risk.
The receiving corps has undergone a radical makeover geared toward proven production over recruiting hype. Three of the celebrated “Freeze Four” recruits (including 5⭐ Cam Coleman and 4⭐ Perry Thompson) transferred out, leaving only Bryce Cain as a holdover, but Golesh responded by importing a cohort already in sync with Brown. Expect the top fantasy targets to be Keshaun Singleton, Jeremiah Koger, and Chas Nimrod – all transfers who played in Golesh’s offense last year and put up bigger numbers than Auburn’s entire 2025 receiving group. In fact, Brown’s four primary USF receivers combined for 2,275 yards and 20 TDs in 2025, and each of the top three (Singleton, Koger, Nimrod) out-produced every Auburn receiver except Coleman. That kind of established chemistry is invaluable; these wideouts already excel at tracking Brown’s deep shots and timing the RPO routes. We slot Singleton as WR1 due to his reliability and team-high production (he was USF’s go-to target, even exceeding Coleman’s output). Koger and Nimrod aren’t far behind – they both delivered starter-level stats at USF and should step into major roles from day one. Cain’s blazing speed and open-field burst give him a chance to break into the rotation as the field-stretcher, but he’ll need to refine his consistency to leapfrog the experienced trio. We’ve placed him at WR4, reflecting a high-upside gadget play role initially. Notre Dame import “Scrap” Richardson and fellow USF transfer Christian Neptune round out the two-deep. Richardson offers size and upside as a former Power-5 recruit, while Neptune was the fifth receiver at USF yet still nearly matched Thompson’s yardage at Auburn. Both will battle the younger Auburn-developed guys (like 6’6″ Erick Smith) for snaps. Ultimately, this receiving depth chart favors those with proven rapport and polish over raw talent – a calculated bet that Brown’s familiar targets will hit the ground running in 2026. At tight end, senior Brandon Frazier gets the nod for now thanks to his veteran savvy and blocking value in this tempo offense. Golesh’s scheme isn’t known for featuring the tight end heavily (more often using them in H-back roles or red-zone packages), but Frazier’s return provides a big 6’5″ frame for checkdowns and goal-line play-action. True freshman Ryan Ghea profiles as the more athletic receiving TE of the future (72 catches in HS), yet he may need time to develop strength and earn every-down trust. We’re cautiously ranking Frazier over Ghea given snap count certainty – with the understanding that if any tight end becomes fantasy-relevant here, it will be the one running routes on Brown’s few intermediate throws. Finally, at kicker, Alex McPherson remains K1. He’s an accurate leg with increasing opportunity now that Auburn’s offense projects to sustain far more drives under Golesh. In a year of massive transition, Auburn’s fantasy outlook centers on players who marry talent with opportunity: Brown’s instant command at QB, a deep RB room balancing experience and new firepower, and a receiving corps rebuilt around cohesion and proven output. We’ve weighed those factors to prioritize floor and familiarity (Brown, Cobb, Singleton) while still capturing the tantalizing ceilings of the newcomers like Washington and the USF wideouts. The result is a depth chart designed for fantasy players to capitalize on Auburn’s new-look, fast-paced attack without getting blindsided by unresolved position battles or hype that hasn’t yet translated on the field.
The QB1 situation in South Bend belongs to CJ Carr, who is firmly entrenched as the starter entering his redshirt sophomore year after a breakout 2025 campaign (2,741 yards, 24 TDs). With the departures of both Kenny Minchey (Kentucky) and Anthony Rezac (South Dakota State) through the transfer portal, the room behind Carr is wide open. True freshman Noah Grubbs enters as the most likely backup after an impressive recruiting profile, with redshirt freshman Blake Hebert rounding out the third spot — though the spring battle between the two will be worth monitoring. Notre Dame’s continuity under OC Mike Denbrock is a dynasty-relevant asset for Carr owners. The backfield projects as a three-way competition, with junior Aneyas Williams holding a clear edge as the workhorse RB1. Williams is the headliner after Gi’Bran Payne transferred to Cincinnati, leaving the path cleared. Redshirt freshman Nolan James Jr. is the most electric backup option, while a recovering Kedren Young (knee) enters as the RB3 with upside if he can stay healthy.
The receiver room is the most dynasty-compelling unit on the roster — Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse anchor the top two spots as proven targets, while the Ohio State transfer duo of Quincy Porter (former five-star, boundary WR) and Mylan Graham (speed/field) give Carr legitimate outside weapons for the first time. Porter, recovering from an undisclosed injury and absent during spring, enters the fall as the clear WR3 ceiling play. Micah Gilbert and Cam Williams compete for the WR5/WR6 snaps with injury questions remaining for Gilbert (hand). At tight end, Notre Dame leans on Cooper Flanagan returning to full health as the lead option, with redshirt freshman James Flanigan generating significant buzz from the coaching staff as the most impactful developmental piece in that room — a name to stash in dynasty leagues. Spencer Porath (Purdue transfer, 88.2% FG in 2025, 41-of-41 on PATs) is a near lock at kicker after Notre Dame’s 2025 struggles at the position.