2026 Baylor University Depth Chart

Baylor’s 2026 fantasy ecosystem starts with the quarterback switch: Sawyer Robertson’s high-volume passing role (511 attempts, 3,715 yards, 31 pass TDs in 2025) is now inherited by former five-star transfer DJ Lagway, and the staff expectation is that he’s the starter from day one.

For CFBDynasty purposes, Lagway’s path to QB1 fantasy relevance is clearer than almost any Big 12 transfer QB: he walks into a proven pass-forward structure while bringing rushing/creation upside that raises both ceiling and weekly floor—even if the “clean” passing efficiency is still volatile given his turnover-prone 2025 at Florida.

The backup ordering matters mainly for injury contingencies; Baylor has been consistent that Nate Bennett is the primary No. 2, with the remaining options more developmental.

The backfield is the opposite of “set-and-forget.” Baylor lost Bryson Washington (team-leading 788 rushing yards, 6 rush TDs) to Auburn, and the remaining RB touches project as a true committee with role-based specialization.

Caden Knighten gets the RB1 tag because (a) he already handled meaningful volume as the 2025 No. 2, and (b) he flashed the specific fantasy lever you want in a committee—receiving usage (11 catches, 134 yards, 1 TD).

Dawson Pendergrass slots as the most direct threat to Knighten’s weekly consistency because he has previously shown feature-level production (671 yards, 6 TD in 2024) and profiles as the most natural early-down/goal-line stabilizer if fully back from the foot injury that cost him 2025.

Michael Turner is the swing piece: the pedigree is real and the staff clearly views him as part of a three-back rotation, but Lagway’s presence also creates hidden TD pressure (QB keepers/RPO goal-line carries) that can cap RB scoring equity week to week.

Receiver is where the target math gets extreme: Baylor’s top four 2025 pass-catchers by snap share (Josh Cameron, Ashtyn Hawkins, Kole Wilson, Kobe Prentice) are gone, and Trigg’s TE targets also vacate—so the new WR pecking order is as much about who can credibly command targets immediately as it is about raw talent.

Gavin Freeman earns WR1 on projected volume and role security: he just produced 53/481/4 in the same conference environment and profiles as a high-percentage slot/space winner, which pairs well with a new QB settling into a new offense.

Dre’lon Miller is WR2 because Baylor is almost certainly going to manufacture touches for him (slot/outside + backfield looks) and his Colorado production is better than the surface stats once you account for context (buried behind NFL-caliber receivers as a freshman, then limited by injury and a collapsing offense in 2025; plus elite YAC share).

Louis Brown IV is the best bet to lead the outside WR group in routes because Baylor intentionally positioned him to have a larger 2026 role, while Jadon Porter and the young talent (London Smith/Taz Williams) fill in as the most plausible “second wave” fantasy names.

Note: Hardley Gilmore IV was originally part of the portal overhaul, but he never enrolled and has returned to Kentucky—so he’s removed from the 2026 Baylor fantasy projection entirely.

At tight end, the fantasy call is straightforward: Baylor just supported an elite TE season (Trigg 50/694/6), and the staff view is that Tony Livingston is the closest “receiving TE” proxy for that role—so he’s TE1 over Klopfenstein (more blocking/secondary red-zone usage).

Finally, with 2025 kicker Connor Hawkins transferring to Ohio State, Rhett Armstrong is the best projection for K1 based on current special-teams deployment and early listing.