Who Should I Start? Kirk Cousins or Anthony Richardson

Tuesday, February 4, 5:57 PM

According to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (shoulder) dealt with a shoulder injury during the back half of the 2024 season, which hindered his play. Cousins said that he suffered this injury following their Week 10 contest against the New Orleans Saints. The veteran said he "Got hit pretty good in my right shoulder and elbow, and from there, it was kind of something I was working through." Then, over the final three weeks, the team opted to bench Cousins in favor of rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. Before this injury, Cousins performed quite well, averaging 263.4 passing yards per game with a 17:8 TD:INT ratio. However, over his final four contests, the 36-year-old averaged just 218.5 passing yards per game and threw just one score with eight interceptions. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status throughout the offseason as the team may look to find a trade partner, as Penix is viewed as their franchise option.

Tuesday, January 21, 1:08 PM

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Anthony Richardson, the fourth overall pick in 2023, dealt with more injuries in his second NFL season in 2024 and did nothing to solidify himself as the long-term franchise QB in Indy. Richardson regressed as a passer, with his completion percentage dropping more than 11% points from his rookie year. In addition, his interceptions went up and there were questions about his off-field preparation, which led to a two-game benching in the middle of the year. The good news is that Richardson is healthy this offseason after missing the last two games of the year with a back injury, and he's already resumed throwing. His work this offseason with include refining his throws and throwing with more touch. Richardson will also be focusing on overall technique and plans to work with biometric expert Chris Hess. If Richardson can stay healthy and improves his footwork and throwing mechanics, he absolutely has QB1 upside in fantasy.