Daniel Jones is Indy’s Week 1 starter for 2025, relegating Anthony Richardson to a veteran backup role and signaling a major shift in the Colts’ plan after a four-year era marked by Richardson’s raw potential and health concerns. Jones inked a $14 million free-agent deal and earned the coaching staff’s long leash, with Shane Steichen declaring there won’t be a quick pull of the trigger. Richardson’s rough follow-up season—low completion rate, high interception count, and durability questions—made Indy’s decision feel like a prudent, win-now pivot. The conversation isn’t confined to 2025, though; Richardson’s value will be a hot topic this offseason, with several teams rumored to be ready to pounce if the price is right.

Beyond Indy, a varied slate of suitors surfaces as potential Richardson destinations. The Rams could reevaluate a post-Stafford plan, the Saints could use a clearer long-term answer, the Raiders could reconsider their QB room, and the Steelers and Ravens loom as playoff-competitive fits if the price falls. The article also notes Richardson’s age (23) and pedigree, underscoring the probability that teams will chase upside in a favorable system. The broader takeaway for fantasy managers is clear: Jones in Indy tightens the Colts’ clock, Richardson’s market remains lively, and the quarterback market could swing several rosters this offseason.

Baltimore opens 2025 as the AFC North favorite for a third straight title, with Cincinnati as the next rung and Pittsburgh and Cleveland on the chase. ESPN Bet’s season-long odds give the Ravens high hopes to return to the postseason, while burrow-led Cincinnati aims to sustain a top-scoring offense despite OL concerns. The Steelers, boosted by Aaron Rodgers’ arrival in Pittsburgh, are built for a playoff push, but Cleveland faces a tougher path with quarterback instability in a brutal division.

Among the bets, Bengals over 9.5 wins stands out thanks to Joe Burrow and a potent aerial attack, while a Bengals under 9.5 wins appeals if the line holds against a tougher schedule and possible regression in the run game. Browns under 4.5 wins relies on qb uncertainty and aging O-line. MVP odds tilt toward Lamar Jackson, with Burrow close behind; Chase eyes Offensive Player of the Year, and Garrett eyes Defensive Player of the Year.

The Dallas Cowboys face a precarious preseason conundrum at quarterback as Joe Milton struggles to gain traction behind a sputtering offense. Milton’s rough showings have the coaching staff weighing a hard choice: keep him in the plan for live reps to accelerate growth or pivot to Will Grier to better evaluate the receiver room before roster cuts. Rumors of a backend option like Jameis Winston add another layer to the calculus, creating a tension between developmental reps and immediate roster implications. If Milton remains the plan, the Cowboys risk hindering receivers in the short term; if they pivot, the WRs could finally receive a fair chance to show their chemistry. A final dress rehearsal against Atlanta looms as the ultimate live test, with the clock ticking on Milton’s chance to prove the project is viable or justify a trade flirtation. The outcome will ripple through the fantasy outlook for Cowboys pass-catchers and the broader risk profile of the offense in 2025.

Fantasy-angle take: Milton’s ability to generate clean, efficient reps matters more than the box score. If Grier or Winston takes the reins, target distribution could shift toward the Cowboys’ wideouts and tight ends, making early-season targets murkier but potentially more volatile in the short term. The key names to watch remain Milton, Prescott’s health contingency, and how the receiving group uses routes, with John Stephens Jr. as a potential breakout if Milton can net confidence on timing. The Ravens’ defense and a Falcons tune-up will test this evolving plan in Week 3 of the preseason, potentially reshaping bold fantasy projections for DAL weapons as cuts approach.

Dallas faces a pivotal contract showdown as Micah Parsons sits in a hold-in, with ESPN’s Adam Schefter forecasting a divorce-like split between the star and the Cowboys. Dallas returned to Texas for a public practice after a 31-13 preseason loss to Baltimore, mirroring a pattern where top players have pushed for new deals before the season. Lamb struck a peak-like deal when practice started last year; Parsons’ path has been more combative, with talks stalled since spring. The Cowboys publicly deny trade talk, but the question remains where Parsons’ next move will land and whether Dallas would entertain a deal mid- or post-season. Fantasy managers should watch how the stalemate could affect defensive workload, usage in pass rush, and overall team health as the season unfolds.

Parsons’ situation sits between the Lamb and Prescott archetypes, creating a volatility zipper for DAL’s fantasy outlook. The hold-in keeps him engaged in meetings but away from practice, potentially dampening early-season reps or conditioning, while preserving ceiling for sacks and tackles when on the field. For fantasy, Parsons remains elite but risk-adjusted; Lamb’s secure situation offers stability in the receiving corps, while Prescott’s off-season path provides a template for expected production in an offense that could still lean on the run game. The Ravens game marks nothing conclusive, but timing and talks will shape DAL’s star-driven value as the season nears.

In short, Parsons’ contract saga adds a fresh layer of uncertainty to a Cowboys defense that has built around top-tier talent. Fantasy rosters should factor in potential trade scenarios, hold-in dynamics, and the likelihood that Dallas could leverage a deal to reset cap space. With public stances mixed and talks paused, the path to a resolution remains fluid, and the fantasy payoff hinges on the timing of any renewed negotiations and Parsons’ on-field role when the season begins.