Daniel Jones being named the Colts' Week 1 starter presumably is good news if you drafted Josh Downs and/or Michaeel Pittman Jr. It's also strange news for dynasty leaguers who've waited patiently for Anthony Richardson to make good on his early-career promise. What happens to him now?
It's a reminder that, despite the NFL's increased interest in young mobile quarterbacks, they often don't get much time to prove they belong. Trey Lance is one notable example. Despite being the #3 overall pick in 2021, and despite collecting a very respectable 603-5-2 passing line and 38-168-1 rushing line as a very green rookie coming off a brief college tenure, his NFL hopes effectively ended in Week 1 the following season, when his starting RB was Elijah Mitchell (in his second-to-last start to date) and with George Kittle sidelined.
Justin Fields was his QB opponent in that career-ending contest. The #11 pick in that same 2021 draft, Fields couldn't make it through his rookie contract in Chicago. The numbers were somewhere between decent and impressive. But the Bears kept losing. So he went to Pittsburgh, where he played very good football until Russell Wilson took over. Now Fields is manning the Jets' offense. A lot of transition and not a lot of support. Because it's hard to earn long-term credibility when -- whether fair or not -- your record as a starter is 14-30.
Richardson electrified in his NFL debut with a 223-1-1 passing line and 10-40-1 rushing line. The following game, he was knocked out after 18 snaps, but not before posting a 3-35-2 rushing line. When he returned in Week 4, Richardson racked up a 200-2-0 passing line and 10-56-1 rushing line. He was knocked out for the season the following week. Dynasty managers were excited to see him back under center in 2024. Re-drafters gave him a QB6 ADP.
His sophomore campaign wasn't the same. Questions about his passing chops grew louder. On the ground, he was one of the game's best. Through the air . . . Indy needed someone different, and now they've given the job to a guy who's arguably played worse than Richardson these past two years.
To be clear, I'm not a Richardson Truther. But taken collectively, his flaws and assets add up to "better" than some current #1 QBs. At merely 23 years old, he might never be a Week 1 starter again.
So now dynasty managers have to be wondering what to do. Dump a QB with a near-elite ceiling if he somehow gets back under center? Could another team view him as a worthwhile reclamation project, helping him shore up his passing weaknesses to become not just a full-time starter, but a *great* starter?
For example, Baker Mayfield was a reclamation project three years ago. He didn't play particularly well with the Panthers and Rams, which went a combined 2-8 during his starts. But he played well enough for the post-Tom-Brady Bucs to give him a one-year prove-it deal, and the rest (for now) is history.
Richardson seems like a no-lose addition on a team going nowhere -- like the Saints. Or an early-season injury to a starting QB might compel a team to take a chance. This is why I wouldn't give up on Richardson yet. Whatever deficits he has, his fantasy prowess remains solid. Maybe he'll be the next Trey Lance, or the next Justin Fields, or next year's Comeback Player of the Year. There's too much upside to toss him away.
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