2026 Wisconsin Badgers Depth Chart

Wisconsin’s quarterback job belongs to Colton Joseph, whose dual-threat dominance at Old Dominion (302.6 total yards/game) makes him a clear upgrade. His rushing upside (1,007 yards, 13 TD in 2025) and experience should stabilize a spot that’s been a revolving door under Fickell. Carter Smith slots in next as the homegrown talent with starting experience gained late last year, giving him a slight edge in familiarity over Danny O’Neil (recovering from injury). O’Neil still has long-term upside, but Joseph’s proven playmaking and Smith’s live reps push O’Neil to QB3 for now.

At running back, the Badgers rebuilt with the portal to create a deep committee. Abu Sama III projects as the 1A option – a physical yet explosive runner who forced 48 missed tackles last season and posted 5.2 yards/carry at Iowa State. He’s ranked highest for his all-around game and likely volume. Behind him, Bryan Jackson brings 235-pound power to complement Sama. Jackson’s likely role as a short-yardage and goal-line hammer gives him fantasy value (think touchdown upside). Darrion Dupree, a former four-star, is the wildcard: he led the team in rushing in 2025 (albeit with only 363 yards) before a lower-body injury. Dupree’s receiving ability and open-field agility could earn him a change-of-pace role if healthy, but the additions of Sama and Jackson cap his ceiling. In short, talent meets opportunity here – Sama’s proven tackle-breaking and Jackson’s defined role edge out Dupree’s pedigree (and Nate Palmer looks like a future play with 2027 in mind). The committee approach and injury history keep this backfield ranked by upside more than seniority.

The wide receiver corps is essentially a brand-new puzzle, so we prioritized those with either production or pedigree. Jaylon Domingeaux claims the WR1 spot as a “steady hand” with a big frame and real production (57 catches, 802 yards, 11 TD in 2025). Even though that came at the FCS level, his experience and red-zone prowess should translate into being Wisconsin’s go-to target immediately. Opposite him, Shamar Rigby profiles as the field-stretcher – a 6’3″ junior who flashed 351 yards at Oklahoma State last year. Rigby’s shown he can win outside against Power-5 competition, giving him a slight edge in fantasy relevance over the talented but unproven transfers behind him. Next up is Malachi Coleman, whose 6’5″ size and four-star explosiveness scream upside if the Badgers can unlock it. He hasn’t broken out (just 8 college catches), but as a boundary athlete with high ceiling, Coleman is ranked WR3 for the potential payoff (especially in touchdowns) once he acclimates. Similarly, Zion Kearney slots in at WR4 – another former blue-chip with sub-4.4 speed and untapped talent. Kearney could thrive from the slot or Z if he finds consistency, but for now we temper expectations until we see him integrate. Rounding out the six are the best returning pieces: Chris Brooks Jr. and Eugene Hilton. Brooks is a senior with a clean bill of health and a slight experience edge (11 catches in 2025), likely to be in the mix as a possession receiver. Hilton (yes, of that Hilton family) was pulled back from the portal and brings speed that could earn him significant targets if he takes a second-year leap. Both Brooks and Hilton get nods over Tyrell Henry – Henry’s a veteran, but his minimal production (5 catches) suggests he’ll be rotated in more for special teams or depth. In summary, Wisconsin’s WR rankings favor the new faces with either proven stats or elite traits, while acknowledging that the pecking order could shift as roles become defined in fall camp.

At tight end, fantasy value skews toward the receivers at this position rather than the blockers. Jacob Harris earns TE1 as an immediate impact transfer from Bowling Green. He’s a reliable chain-mover with two years left and has a nose for the end zone (five TDs in 2025), which bodes well in Wisconsin’s pro-style scheme that loves to utilize TEs in the red zone. Harris’s veteran savvy in finding soft spots should give him the most routes run among the group. Grant Stec is our TE2 – the 6’6″ sophomore started five games last year and held up well as a true receiving threat-in-development. Stec’s size and athletic profile make him a candidate to expand his role (and he has the coaching staff’s trust after playing all 12 games as a freshman). He’s ranked just behind Harris because Harris’s track record and likely usage on scoring plays offer a higher floor. Other tight ends like JT Seagreaves or Jackson McGohan could factor in, but they project more as depth or blockers (and Ryan Schwendeman, a blocking specialist from SIU, won’t move the fantasy needle). In short, Harris and Stec should see the valuable targets while others do the dirty work.

Finally, at kicker, we tentatively list Nathanial Vakos as K1. Vakos has been the starter for three years and brings proven consistency (he followed Fickell from Ohio and has been reliable on extra points). There is some off-season eligibility drama, but if he’s suiting up for Wisconsin in 2026, his job security and experience put him atop the kicking depth chart. If for some reason Vakos isn’t available, the Badgers would likely turn to a newcomer, but none stand out yet – so the incumbent remains the fantasy pick. In a low-scoring 2025 offense, Vakos didn’t get many opportunities, but the expectation of improvement under Jeff Grimes bumps his outlook. In summary, you draft Vakos as a steady, veteran kicker attached to what should be a more efficient offense, and you know the job is his if he’s on the roster.

Overall, this fantasy-focused depth chart balances talent vs. opportunity at every position. We’re betting on Joseph’s playmaking and Sama’s workhorse potential, while acknowledging committee risks and new-system uncertainty for the pass-catchers. Wisconsin aggressively attacked their weaknesses via transfers, so we lean into those fresh playmakers where appropriate. There’s upside (and some volatility) with the influx of ex-four-stars at WR, but in fantasy you chase that ceiling. Meanwhile, established producers like Domingeaux and Harris get the benefit of the doubt to start the year. Keep an eye on fall camp reports – especially at receiver – but for now these rankings reflect a confident yet measured projection of how the Badgers’ roster overhaul will translate into fantasy relevance in 2026.