Daniel Jones won the Colts’ starting quarterback job, edging out Anthony Richardson in a competition that underscored Indy’s veteran-versus-prospect dynamic. Jones signed this offseason to bring stability to a room that features Richardson, who struggled to finish his sophomore season. Jones will pilot the Week 1 showdown with Miami, signaling a shift toward a steadier, more accurate passing attack for fantasy managers to trust early. Richardson remains a high-ceiling talent, but Jones’ familiarity with pro offenses and a veteran presence could tilt the Colts’ Week 1 game plan toward safer passes and more efficient drives.

Richardson’s 2023 line was underwhelming by any fantasy standard: 11 starts, 1,814 yards, eight touchdowns and 12 interceptions on a 47.7% completion clip. Jones, by contrast, has started 69 of 70 games, with a career arc that includes over 14,500 yards and 70 TDs on roughly 64% completions. Indy’s decision leans toward immediate stability, which translates into clearer short- to mid-range targets and a potentially more balanced attack. For fantasy, this elevates the Colts as a Week 1 streamer, while Richardson remains an upside play whose value could rise as the offense grows into his strengths.

Daniel Jones will start Week 1 for the Indianapolis Colts against the Miami Dolphins, a surprising pivot given Anthony Richardson’s dynamic precamp upside. Richardson flashed big-armed darts and explosive plays, but injuries and accuracy concerns lingered, while Jones brings a steadier floor. In two preseason appearances, Richardson went 8-of-14 for 94 yards (Week 1) before an early injury, and Jones went 17-of-32 for 245 yards (Week 2) with no TDs or INTs. The betting market barely shifts, yet Colts odds to win the AFC South move from +310 to +300 and their win total holds at 7.5, signaling a cautious but optimistic view of the season ahead. Super Bowl odds stay long at +7000, underscoring the long road for the club. This starter change emphasizes Jones’s reliability to begin the year and preserves Richardson’s long-term upside; fantasy players should weigh Jones as a safer Week 1 option while holding Richardson for a higher ceiling as the season unfolds.

As Jones steps in, the Colts’ offense faces a demanding opener vs. Miami, nudging fantasy expectations toward efficiency and gradual ramp. The market reaction remains modest, reflecting a balanced view: the Colts gain steadiness in Week 1, but Richardson’s breakout potential remains in play behind the scenes. For fantasy managers, Jones offers a safe floor early, while Richardson keeps tantalizing upside for later weeks, making the Colts a duo to monitor closely all season.

Daniel Jones will start for the Colts in 2025, ending months of debate between him and Anthony Richardson. Jones, who joined Indianapolis in March after six seasons with the Giants and a brief stint in Minnesota, brings steadiness and decision-making that Shane Steichen values to run the operation and move the offense consistently.

Steichen signaled a safe path: trust the guy the coaching staff believes can execute, minimize splash plays, and push the ball up and down the field with fewer risks. Richardson, while explosive, lacked the consistency to win the job in camp. Indy faces Miami in Week 1 on Sept. 7, a test that will test the floor and the ceiling of Jones as a fantasy option behind a rebuilt Colts offense.

Fantasy managers should weigh Jones's higher floor against Richardson's higher ceiling, with an early leash likely shorter for Richardson. Indy’s Week 1 usage will hint at how often Jones is asked to attack through the air versus rely on a safer, methodical drive game, a dynamic that will shape QB pivots and WR targets early in the season.

Daniel Jones will start Week 1 for Indianapolis, diverting the job from Anthony Richardson after a brutal camp battle. Jones, on a one-year, $14 million pact, inherits a Colts offense that hopes his steady pocket presence can stabilize a unit that leaned on mobility and big plays in recent years. Richardson, entering Year 3, faced real competition and enters the season with flashes and health questions, especially after shoulder and back issues sidelined him at times. The addition of Xavien Howard to Indy’s depleted secondary adds veteran curb to a unit that will lean on a revamped defense as the season opens against Miami.

The Colts sit at 3-1 to win the AFC South and around +172 to reach the playoffs, per FanDuel, signaling a measured but improving outlook. The Jones decision reshapes Week 1 game plans and fantasy upside, with Howard’s presence giving the defense a higher ceiling in a pivotal opener. Richardson’s dynamic rushing profile remains a long-term variable, but the Week 1 reality is Jones under center as Indy looks to establish early control in a competitive division.