2026 Ohio State University Depth Chart

Ohio State’s backfield features a clear-cut star at quarterback and a youthful one-two punch at running back. Julian Sayin is cemented as the QB1 after a spectacular redshirt freshman season (3,610 yards, 32 TD) that made him a Heisman finalist. His job security is ironclad in this offense, and while he’s not a prolific runner, Sayin’s efficient passing and command of Ryan Day’s scheme give him elite fantasy upside. The QB depth behind him is talented but green – five-star Tavien St. Clair saw only mop-up duty (two passes in 2025) – underscoring that this is Sayin’s team. At running back, sophomore Bo Jackson projects as the lead workhorse (1,090 rushing yards, 200 receiving yards, 7 TD as a freshman). He’s ranked RB1 due to his proven big-play ability and three-down skill set, but fellow sophomore Isaiah West isn’t far behind. West came on strong late last year (5.3 YPC on 59 carries) and was also endorsed as a “three-down back” by Day. We give Jackson the edge for his higher explosiveness and volume, though West’s presence introduces some committee risk and caps Jackson’s absolute ceiling. Veteran transfer Ja’Kobi Jackson slots in as RB3 – a seventh-year bruiser from Florida who provides insurance and could vulture goal-line touches – but the fantasy relevance of anyone behind Bo and West remains limited unless injuries strike.

The wide receiver hierarchy hinges on a mix of proven production and incoming talent. Junior Jeremiah Smith is the no-doubt WR1 after back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons, including a dominant 87-catch, 1,243-yard, 12-TD campaign in 2025. Smith is an elite playmaker who will be the focal point of the passing game. The real question is who steps up as the second option. We’re banking on true freshman Chris Henry Jr. as the WR2 based on his immense upside and expected immediate role. At 6’5″ with game-breaking talent, Henry Jr. is slated to start right away to help replace NFL-bound Carnell Tate. This is a classic talent-vs-experience dilemma: Henry’s ceiling in this offense is higher than any veteran’s, even if there’s some freshman-year volatility. Meanwhile, senior Brandon Inniss profiles as a steady WR3 from the slot. Inniss is a former blue-chip who has earned the staff’s trust, but he managed just 271 yards last season, indicating a relatively low fantasy ceiling. He’ll provide a reliable underneath target – think PPR value – but likely won’t match Henry’s big-play potential. Rounding out the receiving corps, LSU transfer Kyle Parker and UTSA transfer Devin McCuin bring experienced depth as our projected WR4 and WR5. Parker was a complimentary piece in the SEC (330 yards, 4 TD in 2025), while McCuin was a volume producer at a smaller program (65 catches for 726 yards and 8 TD). They should rotate in behind the starters; McCuin’s slot prowess and Parker’s downfield ability make them intriguing wildcards if the freshmen or incumbents falter. Phillip Bell remains in the WR6 spot – a talented second-year player who barely saw the field last season. He’s a long-term upside stash, but until he proves otherwise, Bell sits at the fringe of fantasy relevance in this loaded unit.

At tight end, the Buckeyes are rebooting with transfer portal acquisitions, making this a fluid situation to monitor. Former Northwestern TE Hunter Welcing gets the tentative nod as TE1 due to his high pedigree (a top-5 ranked transfer at the position) and expected receiving role in the offense. Close on his heels is Mason Williams, a grad transfer from Ohio who posted back-to-back seasons of ~280 yards and a handful of TDs in the MAC. Both newcomers are capable pass-catchers, but Welcing’s athletic upside and Big Ten experience give him the edge for now. Still, we acknowledge this is a close competition – whichever tight end runs more routes and secures red-zone looks will carry fantasy value in an offense that traditionally funnels targets to its wideouts. Finally, at kicker, Ohio State brought in sophomore Connor Hawkins to replace long-time starter Jayden Fielding. Hawkins was 18-of-22 on field goals at Baylor last year with a demonstrated 50+ yard range, which should translate to ample scoring opportunities behind the Buckeyes’ high-powered offense. He projects as K1 and a top-tier fantasy kicker given the expected frequency of Ohio State scoring drives.