Fantasy Upside
Anthony Richardson was an uneven performer at Florida, throwing for 2,549 yards, 17 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in his final season last year, and completing just 53.8% of his passes. However, Richardson also ran for 654 yards and nine touchdowns and his athleticism is off the charts. He has a huge arm, he’s 6-foot-4, 236 pounds, and ran a ridiculous 4.43-second 40-yard-dash at the combine. The Colts have been searching desperately for a quarterback since Andrew Luck retired following the 2018 season, so the opportunity is there for Richardson to seize the reins.
Fantasy Downside
Richardson isn’t guaranteed to start in Week 1. New coach Shane Steichen brought Gardner Minshew with him from Philadelphia, and Minshew should have the leg up on early playing time given his familiarity with the offense and his experience. Richardson could definitely win the job outright, but it’s not a given. Additionally, if the Colts start winning with Minshew in what could be a struggling AFC South division, we may not see Richardson at all this year.
2023 Bottom Line
Even if Richardson takes a long time to develop as a passer, he could still put up dynamite fantasy numbers with his legs. His ADP is the 11th round right now in 12-team formats, so the upside is probably worth the risk at that cost. Fantasy managers should plan to carry two quarterbacks into the season, however, at least until we know for sure Richardson is going to be taking the snaps in Week 1.
Update: Richardson has been named the starter. He's a risky option, but has tremendous upside with the expected rushing production he brings.
