Daniel Jones Named Colts Starter: What It Means for Fantasy

The Colts made waves this week by announcing Daniel Jones as their Week 1 starter over Anthony Richardson. It’s a move that shifts the fantasy landscape more than you might think, and it’s worth breaking down how it affects your draft board.

Daniel Jones’ Fantasy Value

Let’s start with Jones himself. Fantasy managers have a short memory, but it wasn’t long ago—2022, to be exact—that Jones finished as a top-10 quarterback thanks to his legs. He piled up over 700 rushing yards and seven scores that year, proving he can provide a solid floor even when the passing numbers are underwhelming. Now in Indy, behind a strong offensive line and paired with Jonathan Taylor to keep defenses honest, Jones has a real chance to revive that dual-threat production. Don’t expect fireworks through the air, but 40 rushing yards a game with a handful of designed runs could make him a sneaky late-round value.

Where does that put him on draft day? Think QB2 with upside. In single-QB leagues, he’s a bench stash or matchup streamer. In superflex or best ball formats, he deserves more respect—he should now be drafted inside the top-25 quarterbacks, and if you’re punting the position late, you could do worse than Jones as your fallback option.

Impact on Colts Playmakers & Richardson

The bigger fantasy ripple is what this means for Indy’s pass catchers. Jones has always leaned on slot and underneath routes, which is music to Josh Downs’ ears. Downs is suddenly one of my favorite late-round sleepers, especially in PPR formats. Michael Pittman Jr. remains the alpha, but his ceiling doesn’t change much—Jones simply doesn’t take the same downfield chances Richardson would. If anything, Pittman’s value shifts slightly toward safety rather than boom potential.

And then there’s Anthony Richardson. His rushing upside made him a top-10 fantasy QB when healthy last year, but now he’s nothing more than a speculative bench stash. If Jones falters or gets hurt, Richardson could explode back onto the fantasy radar—but drafting him now requires patience and belief in the Colts pulling the plug mid-season. For redraft leagues, that’s a tough sell unless you’ve got deep benches. In dynasty, of course, you still hold.

Draft Recommendation

• Daniel Jones: Draft as a QB2 (top-25 QB). Solid floor, limited ceiling.

• Josh Downs: Strong late-round sleeper in PPR formats.

• Michael Pittman Jr.: Still safe as a WR2, but ceiling capped with Jones.

• Anthony Richardson: Dynasty stash only; in redraft, treat as a lottery ticket for deep benches.

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