Who Should I Start? Brock Purdy or Anthony Richardson

Friday, December 20, 6:50 PM

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is in Miami for a Week 16 contest against the Dolphins. In Week 15's Thursday night game with San Francisco clinging to playoff hopes against the Rams, Purdy did not play well, completing 14-of-31 passes for 142 yards, no touchdowns, an interception, and three yards rushing. The weather in Miami is expected to be mild and dry, which is ideal for Purdy as he has struggled mightily in precipitation, but that's where the good news ends. Jalen Ramsey and the Dolphins' pass defense have allowed the NFL's fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks (13.4). Purdy is the 12th-ranked fantasy quarterback in points per game this season, and projections this week are congruent with that number. Consider Purdy a suboptimal play on the QB1/QB2 fence for the fantasy playoffs.

Friday, December 20, 5:28 PM

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson found the end zone via the rush for the fourth time in the last four weeks in Week 15, but had another horrendous day throwing the football, completing 50% or less of his passes for the eighth time in the nine full games he's played in 2024 while throwing two interceptions. Things won't get any easier in Week 16 as the Colts have a divisional matchup with the Titans who have allowed the 11th-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Wide receiver Alec Pierce has been ruled out after sustaining a concussion last week, which actually may help improve the 22-year-old's completion rate since he likes to throw the ball deep and Pierce leads the entire NFL in average depth of target. Therefore, targets could be focused more on intermediate, higher-percentage throws. Regardless of whether or not that holds true, with fantasy titles hanging in the balance, managers who are streaming QBs will want to look elsewhere if possible as the former first-round draft pick projects only as a mid-range QB2 in Week 16.