The Colts are 0-2 after the first two weeks of the season, and second-year QB Anthony Richardson ($6,700) has had mixed results. Week 3’s matchup with the Bears should be a good spot to play the young quarterback, though, as he tries to help the Colts claim their first win of the season.
Richardson missed most of his rookie season due to injury, so he is still working through many of the inconsistencies common with rookie QBs. He has a dynamic skillset that makes him a dual threat, and he always brings a high ceiling.
Richardson showed off that high ceiling with a big Week 1. He was the No. 4 QB in that week with 27.1 fantasy points. He threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 56 yards and a third score.
Despite his big overall numbers, Richardson only completed nine passes in that game, but two were deep passes to Alec Pierce ($4,800).
After that big week, Richardson was riding high heading into his Week 2 matchup with the Packers, who didn’t have Jordan Love ($6,200). The Packers defense stepped up in the absence of their starting QB, though, and shut Richardson and the Colts down.
His growing pains were on display as he managed just 37 yards rushing and had two fumbles (none lost) while throwing three interceptions and just one touchdown while totaling 204 passing yards. After ranking in the top five QBs in Week 1, Richardson only had 12.9 fantasy points in Week 2, ranking in the bottom third of starting QBs.
Despite his inefficiency and inconsistency, he brings too high a ceiling to pass up at home against the Bears. Chicago’s defense has been solid against QBs so far this season, but it allowed 260 passing yards last week to C.J. Stroud ($7,100) and 36 rushing yards to Will Levis ($5,200) in Week 1.
Richardson’s receivers will also be an interesting group to watch this week. Josh Downs ($4,700) is set to make his season debut. Pierce has shown a strong connection with Richardson through the first two weeks, and was a hot name on this week’s waiver wire. However, he could lose playing time to Downs. Further complicating things, Michael Pittman Jr. ($6,100), who emerged as a WR1 for the Colts last season, has started the season slowly and is now listed as questionable due to back and calf issues. If Pittman is limited or out, that would leave more work for Downs, Pierce and possibly Ashton Dulin ($3,200) and Adonai Mitchell ($4,000) to pop as value plays.
Playing Richardson on a regular basis is most likely going to be a roller coaster throughout the season, but his ceiling is high enough for him to rank in the top 10 QBs any week in which he is healthy. This week, I have Richardson ranked as my No. 6 QB.
In his matchup against Caleb Williams ($5,600), Richardson’s Colts are a one-point home favorite. Richardson is +120 to score a touchdown and -105 to post over 200 passing yards for a third straight week.
Richardson is also a solid play to consider for DFS contests this week, including the NFL $3.5M Fantasy Football Millionaire [$1M to 1st]. He has the fifth-highest salary of all QBs on the main slate.
The Crown Is Yours: Sign up for DraftKings and experience the ultimate host for games and betting experiences!
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook and all odds subject to change.
I am a promoter at DraftKings and am also an avid fan and user (my username is z.thompson) and may sometimes play on my personal account in the games that I offer advice on. Although I have expressed my personal view on the games and strategies above, they do not necessarily reflect the view(s) of DraftKings and do not constitute a representation that any particular strategy will guarantee success. All customers should use their own skill and judgment in building lineups. I may also deploy different players and strategies than what I recommend above. I am not an employee of DraftKings and do not have access to any non-public information.
